Hi everyone... I am new to this forum. Just joined looking for a place to connect with other home daycare providers.
I would like your advice/ opinions on a matter, please!!
I have been doing in-home childcare for just about a year now. The first couple of months, I had all older kids (ie. 3 1/2 and up). This worked out well, because my own older kids (9, 7 and 3) were all home for the summer. So they played well, for the most part. And it was easier to find activities that everyone enjoyed.
In the fall, I took in an entirely new group of families. I now have a wide age-variance; from 14 months up to age 9 1/2. Only 2 of those kids (siblings) are full time, Monday to Friday. My issue is with the oldest, a 5 yr old boy.
His parents are great. They pay on time, they are super understanding when I need flexibility, etc. I love his little sister, in fact I always say that I would take 4 or 5 more of her, haha. But....
He is constantly picking on my 3 1/2 year old daughter. It started out with him complaining that she hit him, or took something from him, etc. I began watching a little closer and it really seems to be instigated by him 99% of the time. Don't get me wrong, I know my little girl, she's no angel all the time!!!! But anyone who has been around the 2 of them has noticed the same thing, he goes after her intentionally. If she is playing with something, he wants it, if only to try to break or damage it. If she is playing on her own, he will bug her to play with him. Only though, if it's what he wants to play, and only for a few minutes until he gets mad at her and tells her to go away. He does things when my back is turned or I am busy with the other kids to make her cry. He just won't leave her alone!! It goes on and on.... He gets along fine with the other kids, for the most part. He is a little "intense"; he likes things a certain way, gets wound up fairly easily and has no concept of personal space!! I don't know why he chose her as a target. It's almost as though he is jealous. Of what, I don't know, because he is fairly "spoiled" with both attention and material goods.
I am having a very hard time dealing with this. We have discussed proper "friendship skills" again and again. I just don't want my daughter picking up bad habits (I have seen it begin!) or learning that this is how to play with someone. I also don't want her own self esteem to suffer.
So how do I get past this??? What do I do?