Hi all,

I have a situation that I am not sure how to handle. I have talked to my neighbor who suggested termination, however, I don't know if that's the route I need to take.

I have a 5 year old, that started about four weeks ago. He was loud and aggressive his first day. He was rude and bossy and tried to convert all my awesome, great, fantastic kids into little sh*t disturbers. They all thought he was funny, as he was rhyming their names with other things, until they asked him to stop and he wouldn't. Calling one child Stinky Ella, so often that she cried. The first week went terrible, and I sent a long email to the parents outlining the behaviour issues with him. Including his demanding behaviour, dominant personality ( "we are not playing your game, we are playing mine!" "You can't do that when you're pretending to be the Mom!"), competative-ness (such as racing to wash hands and pushing other children down) and an overall loudness, sneakiness, and lack of listening skills. I also said that he has sneaky behaviour as he does things when he thinks I can't see or hear. I have not had to yell since I have been open, 8 months now, until this child started to attend.

After this email, the parents called me and discussed for TWO hours how they want to move forward, they are pleased with my care, and patience so far, and they really want me to work with him to make him settle in better. They had issues when he started preschool and those settled with 'firm assertive reinforcement of negative behaviour' and that I should 'parent him as I do my children'. The next week or so was tough but he was making progress. Starting to listen better and I could see him check himself before he started to race. He also quiets down and slows down if I am standing by them, or in the room, as he knows that I will not allow him to behave negatively.

Rules have had to change since he's been here and more toys have had to disappear as he becomes aggressive when specific ones are out. I told my husband, that I have made the commitment to make this work. They are great parents to deal with, its just the child's behaviour that is frustrating. Also, if I give them notice, I have to give four weeks. (this family has read the child care act in my province, and it states four weeks. YES FOUR WEEKS)

Nearly three more weeks into this and he's still trying my patience. My daughter is frustrated with him and will hide out in her room to get a break. My son is picking up aggressive type behaviors and I am reaching the end of my rope....I have to be on him every second of the day. I have to remind him to call children by their real names, to share toys, to not dominate play. I can't even go to the bathroom as he is 'sneaking' because he thinks I can hear him, by running or taking the toy he wants from a younger child.

If I do terminate care, I will have him until school starts and he's only here every other day full and two hours on the opposite days. I've tried sticker charts, time outs, yelling, loss of privileges. Parents are on board with all of this and are doing same at home.

Suggestions? I feel like I am not sure if I can actually do this.