Daycare grapples with five-year-old’s outbursts, choking incidents

A Windsor Park child-care facility is weighing a five-year-old’s right to care versus the safety of other children who have been choked.

Little People’s Place expelled a pre-schooler in the spring in response to his aggressive behaviour toward other children and staff.

The child’s family has appealed to the province for him to be reinstated.

The case is raising concerns about inclusion support resources and measures to protect everyone at the Cottonwood Road daycare.

“I’m worried there’s been some trauma, which is every single parent’s worst (nightmare) — lots of problems stem from childhood trauma,” said one parent whose child has been physically assaulted at the publicly funded centre.

A workplace safety and health officer showed up on July 7 to inspect the daycare’s violence prevention protocols after a complaint was filed.

Correspondence obtained by the Free Press indicates employees, at least one of whom had to take time off to recover from an injury, were hit and kicked by the child this year.

Documents say “unpredictable” behaviour has worsened despite increased staffing ratios and classroom strategies to help prevent further blowups, including relocating the child to a different part of the class or another room.

“I’m worried there’s been some trauma, which is every single parent’s worst (nightmare).”

Multiple sources confirmed there have been repeated incidents in which students have been forced to leave the classroom during an outburst and a care agreement was terminated after a May 28 altercation between children — an adult was targeted when they intervened — that began with a dispute over a toy.

The boy reportedly choked a classmate before throwing them onto the ground and making a threat.

Parents spoke about their concerns, including the lack of support available to children who’ve observed violence or been subject to it, on the condition of anonymity to protect the minors involved.

Jodie Kehl said asking an early childhood educator about the province’s status quo approach to funding inclusion is a surefire way to elicit a reaction.

“Children in early learning and child-care facilities are demonstrating more and more complex needs,” said the executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association.

Licensed centres can seek out advice from provincial inclusion co-ordinators and apply for extra funding to support children who require one-on-one supervision. There are grants for staff enhancements, equipment modifications or renovations and training programs.

Kehl noted provincial dollars may be provided to cover the cost of hiring a child-care assistant, not an early childhood educator — who is equipped with training to de-escalate situations.

“It’s just really unfortunate, all around.”

The executive director said it’s upsetting whenever a family is asked to make alternative arrangements for daycare at a time when waitlists are lengthy.

“It’s just really unfortunate, all around,” she said.

Manitoba’s child-care centre database indicates Little People’s Place has a “very large” waitlist for pre-school spots with “very long” standby times. It is not currently accepting school-aged applications.

“Our priority is protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and well-being of the children, families, and staff in our care,” centre director Alana Perrault said in an email.

Citing that reason, Perrault said Little People’s Place cannot comment on the child’s behaviour.

Parents with different perspectives about whether a five-year-old with a history of choking others should be allowed to attend the daycare have contacted Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning.

A government spokesperson said formal complaints are reviewed, and there is follow-up where necessary to ensure daycares are maintaining behaviour management policies and safety plans and following them.

Licensed facilities are required to support the participation of all children and ensure attendees “feel safe, valued, and included,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca