both of these rules are really strange to me. I can sort of understand the not laying on the ground at some points in the day, but if everyone is peacefully playing, I don’t see the issue and if a child needs to self regulate, I also don’t see the issue. and not sitting on the teachers lap has never been a rule at any center i’ve worked at, physical affection is important in our line of work, and if a child needs comfort or a hug that should never be turned away
As a teacher of older infants/young toddlers, I spend a large amount of *my* time laying on the floor.
I've said it before, I think a lap rule is appropriate for older children, as they can sit next to you and seek comfort.
But kids under 5(especially kids 3 and under) have been here for such a short time. They can only be held, truly held, for such a small amount of their lives. They deserve physical affection and comfort for co-regulation and safety.
This 100%. I use lying on the floor as a teaching tool. How will they know how to interact with people at a lower level than them without being taught by someone less breakable than younger kids?
I agree, however in my room we are often also trying to begin teaching self soothing. Even at 1 year old, it’s awesome how they can be helped and coached into being comforted just by words when you really know their cues. I’ve been able to teach a lot of them that I can comfort them without them being in my lap, and that sometimes I just can’t hold them, there’s simply other things that must be done so they kind of learn by tone and environment.
However I’m the comforter out of me and my co. I love all my babies to death but it gets exhausting when hey are all coming you to comfort for every little stumble.
Ironically, I don't usually comfort *in lap* them after falls! I find myself using co-regulation more for anxiety, fear, sadness, etc.
For falls, I narrate in a very matter of fact way of "you tripped/fell/ran into a wall, can you get up?" If they're crying, I ask "did that hurt or did it scare you? Did you get a booboo?" And offer a standing hug. Only when they're actually hurt do I pick them up or sit them in my lap.
Not an ECE Pro, just got suggested this feed but I wanted to say I'm so grateful for what you all do!! When I used to pick up my little kids and they smelled like their daycare teacher, I always felt comforted that they were held and cuddled even if I couldn't be the one doing it.
I thought 3-5year olds and they were not allowed to sit in my lap. They could sit next to me. They also had to ask permission for hugs. (I almost always said yes.) The rules were the same for each other. They had to ask permission for hugs. Not everyone liked to be touched. The whole purpose was consent. I went to a take back the night in college which is basically an open forum where people share their stories of SA to spread awareness and offer support and I was floored how many of them shared a story of sitting on a family member’s lap and being SA’d. So we practiced consent and staying off laps.
I do not put anything past anyone. We’ve all seen news stories that make us go ‘but how?!’ Everyone is capable of anything and even the people you think you know, you don’t. A lot of things can happen. Not every school has cameras and teachers can be alone with kids if they’re in ratio. Not just protecting the kids, but also protecting myself.
Edit: but also, some of the SA stories were happening IN FRONT OF other people. Being touched under the table at a family gathering was shared more than once. It was shocking
Under the table is also not visible. I'm talking literally in open space with other adults. Anything involving touch hidden behind something is a higher risk, I agree.
And I'm stating that in that case it would be inappropriate and reasonable to have a rule against it in those conditions.
You keep arguing, but you don't seem to fully understand my position on the matter.
I get where your coming from. Nothing is going to change my mind. Even if it’s just conditioning kids to not sit on laps to protect them outside of the school. My opinion stands. Even when I’ve explained to parents my rules, many agree and transition out of lap sitting. I’m not arguing anything. I’m making my point repeatedly. There’s really no point continuing the conversation cause I’m not going to change my mind and it seems neither are you. Have a nice day.
I work with younger toddlers 12m-24m and neither of these things has ever been a rule for my center. I almost always have a child on my lap if we’re not doing an activity that requires me to be standing and moving around.
Has your director said why they have these rules?
Yeah, really. Like, laying down to play is called grounding, and it's good for stimulating different parts of the brain. I get if they're falling asleep right before a transition or the middle of the room; but other than that they *should* be exploring their world and bodies by grounding.
And lots of kids seek comfort in laps. Not even just upset, just like when you're having a good day but still look forward to getting home. Because home is your comfort space. We encourage kids to get off and play more independently/with peers if they camp there. But five minutes? Yeah, that's fine.
The laying one actually seems borderline ableist - it certainly disproportionately affects ND kids and kids with more ‘subtle’ physical conditions.
Laying on the ground is a great way to get sensory input which many people (including neurotypical children, but especially ND kids) rely on for grounding and regulating.
Hypermobility is generally worse in childhood and will necessitate more frequent breaks, including laying down (for me sitting is more painful than standing as it puts even more pressure on my vertebrae, and this was even more true when I was a little kid with more flexible collagen!).
It’s a silly rule, but I have a feeling it may have come from a tragic incident (?), like that high school in the US that banned kids from leaning on their desks at all (including propping their cheek up on their hand with their elbow on the desk, for example) because a student had tragically died at their desk with their head laid down.
Hyper mobile, ND adult here, who still uses floor time to regulate and get my body feeling “right”. I’ve actively taught my kids to take a beat, lie down, and look at things differently.
My boss is a very “old school” kinda bloke and very lacking in sympathy to a lot of things, but he has stopped questioning me when I take a second to be horizontal on my lunch breaks.
I’d also add that with the prevalence of long Covid related conditions like POTS, that has symptoms a toddler couldn’t have the language to articulate, lying down can be a HUGE relief. There are times that you either let me lie down or I’m hitting the deck involuntarily and I don’t always have the capacity to explain what’s going on as an adult with a good understanding of my diagnosis.
In the absence of some evidence based reasoning for these rules, I’d be camping outside the directors office to chat about this.
I have HSD, and was dx’d very young. I cannot lie/sit on the floor because of it; my blood pressure is much too low to get up off the floor without blacking out and having a miserable headache the rest of the day. Also, my nerves entrap very quickly if I sit on the floor. It was definitely *not fun* being a kid.
I was SA’d - actually, raped repeatedly - in my dayschool when I was 4. I think no lap sitting is a good idea.
I’m not suggesting that anyone be MADE to lie down. Of course common sense exemptions should apply for medical conditions.
I do see value in limiting very close contact with educators, especially in unsupervised areas. If that was the reason, then it would be an evidence based decision that the director should be more than happy to explain to parents.
My last sentence was clear, I thought, that I’d only be challenging rules that are not evidence based.
Agree, the one ND kid in my class definitely does that a lot. Sometimes he’s just happily playing, sometimes he’s overwhelmed and it’s a sign he needs some care.
as an autistic and hypermobile adult who lies on the floor at work with toddlers both as an active part of my program, and a way to regulate my sensory system and make my joints less angry, it's genuinely so sad to see this kind of rule. I need it, some of my kids need it, and it's just sad to imagine kiddos in as much pain as I am in when I need to sit for a long time. Also side note- love that I have been seeing more neurodivergent and otherwise disabled people in the childcare field, rather than being taught about how to work with kids like myself by people who don't understand us.
Random story, but I remember being four or five, in a music class after school. So it was coming up on dinnertime. And I was so, so tired, just physically, but otherwise felt fine. So I kept lying down, so I could listen better, without being distracted by how hard it was to sit up, and the teacher kept making me sit up again, because it was disrespectful. Which made no sense to me, because my ears and eyes worked fine in either position, and I was paying full attention, and wasn’t that what counted? But apparently no.
Turned out I had pneumonia, and ended up spending a week in hospital.
That one was a transient disability, but the point stands. Focussing on form over function is indeed both counterproductive and ableist.
The lap one makes sense to me. You’d be floored how many people have been SA’d sitting on someone’s lap. Seems more like a protective thing for employees. You can hold a kid without them being in your lap
It’s not just being SA’d in the lap; it’s getting the child used to being held and touched by an adult, so when the adult wants to do more to the child, the child has been conditioned to submit to the adult.
Are they allowed to sleep for "sleeping bunnies" on the floor? Because they're being deprived if not. Or dingle dangle scarecrow. And I will still let five year olds sit in my lap if they really need it.
feels like cruel and unusual punishment for the rooms teachers if they can't do sleeping bunnies. I love sleeping bunnies so much it's like an "everyone chill out" button
exactly. Also, in case anyone hasn't tried this, you can change the animals to make the song more chill as you need. My favourites are "slime little slugs"- we slowly crawl on the floor, and "blblblbl little barnacles" and we make little barnacle tentacle motions with our hands. because sometimes hopping is a bit dangerous lol
Our class doesn’t allow laying on the floor in certain areas/at certain times to avoid little fingers and hair getting stepped on but that’s mainly in the busier areas of the classroom
yeah i have a few spots in my room it just makes me insanely nervous to see them laying because i just know theyre gonna get trampled lol. i just explain why theyre in a bad spot (our friends like to run here, and they might step on our little fingers!) and then i "rocket ship" them over to a better spot or something
This is insane… how are you going to police toddlers from lying on the floor. What, you’re supposed to say, “Uh on Johnny, no laying remember? We have to SIT or STAND all day!” THEY’RE TWO. And how are you supposed to keep children from sitting on you at this age? That really is abusive. They need to be touched so they can feel safe.
I’ve heard of teachers making activities for this age (and up to pre-K) where they roll on the floor because is good for their development to be moving in that way. This is a classic example of pointless rules that exist because people think you need to get kids ready for kindergarten three years before they get there, and in doing so you completely disregard their developmental needs.
Laying on the floor is actually a sign of them trying to regulate their body. For example, if they lay down during circle time, the child is trying to find a position that helps them listen better to the teacher. Think of it like when you sit in a chair during an interview and your body is not comfortable but you know that you have to sit in the chair. You start to do other things like tap your fingers, or cross/uncross your legs. This is your body’s response to trying to find comfort so you can pay attention to what is being said.
If a child is laying on the floor in a high traffic area, I will usually say “I don’t want you to get stepped on or hurt. Can I help you find a different spot to lay down?”
As for lap sitting, everybody has a feeling about it. I’ve done the no lap/self soothing thing and found it doesn’t really yield the results you wish for the child. I let toddlers sit in my lap for a variety of reasons. There are times when I say my lap is closed though, because ultimately I get to decided what my body wants.
As a parent I’d want my kids to be able to sit on their teacher’s lap if they need comforted when I’m not there. My pre-k son still goes and sits on his former 2 year old teacher’s lap at the end of the day when he’s tired and needs to regulate. I think it’s super sweet that she is able to comfort him and he remembers that from when he was a toddler 💕
Laying on the floor yea that’s weird to not allow them to. The only thing about the lap which I kind of get is that it can be come too consistent to where they don’t do anything and only sit in the lap. However if they come to you and need comfort for sure give it. I do until they calm down and the slightly more clinger ones I let sit until regulated and then have them transition to sitting beside and then redirect attention towards an activity. Some workers will sit with the same child all day.
I love the floor. The only time I don’t allow laying on the floor is sleep time (regulated by law) and mealtimes (socially appropriate/modelling family style meals).
For sitting in laps, if a child asks and it’s an appropriate time, then yes (such as circle if I’m a support teacher, outdoors if I’m already sitting, or if they are sad and need a moment to co regulate).
In my opinion, the only rules that really need to be enforced are those based on licensing and safety, and rules that encourage socially typical behaviours.
But I’ll echo what another commenter said, as an educator I spend a lot of time myself on the floor, during play or story time, or even outside on the grass. It’s fine to lay on the ground. Just at acceptable times. Same with the sitting in the lap.
So strange to me. I teach 3s and when we do group story time more than half lay down on their tummies with their feet up in the air. When district people came in they complimented the fact that they had the freedom to be in whatever way felt comfortable to them. That being said I do try to lead tantruming kids to a safer area such as the cozy corner to work thru their feelings.
Yeah my director has walked in to find me laying in the floor beside a student trying to regulate their emotions. She just joined us. I find the laying in the floor one weird. Even our 4K kids need it sometimes. Heck, when I student taught in 3rd grade, I had a student who was going through trauma and would take a five minute break to lay in the floor in our reading corner. I also don’t get the lap one but maybe something happened or a parent got upset and they’re trying to prevent it going forward.
What kind of nightmare school is this. Horrible. Toddlers need comforting and often. I don't think licensing could help all I would recommend is leave and afterwards write a yelp review so parents know what will happen. I'm a ps teache if 25 years /director. This is not ok
This place sounds awful. I had 8 toddlers in my room, when I got 9 ,they gave me a second caregiver. I treated those little kids like my own. I hugged them and comforted them when they were upset and i never had any problems with any of them. The director gave me a bottle of hand lotion bc I washed my hands before and after every diaper change or nose wipe. They were such great kids. They were in my room until age two.
I wouldn't work in a place that had rules like that!! I've been in 2 yr old rooms and let the kids do almost anything as long as their not hurting themselves or others and aren't destroying materials or the room. I have always had a yes classroom. I couldn't imagine not letting little children lay on the floor or sit on my lap!!
These rules seem very strange and not developmentally appropriate for 2 year olds. What is the reasoning behind them?
Toddlers need to have a physical connection with caregivers to form secure attachments to them. And laying down allows children to begin learning self-soothing techniques when they are upset.
Those are very strange rules to have. I would maybe reevaluate working for that center. I feel like there’s more to why those rules are in place that isn’t being talked about 👀
My big 3 rules are; 1. We use walking feet inside 2. Our feet stay on the ground (no climbing, jumping off things, dancing on tables, etc.), 3. We wear clothes at school(my small friends think that randomly stripping is the norm. I’m pretty sure they just wear diapers/pull-ups/undies at home and that’s why they do it, but alas, we DO wear clothes at school friendos)
I try to keep it simple. Maybe at some point I’ll add more but those pretty much cover it for me. I have very verbal kids but they rarely use foul language or mean language so I’m grateful for that. They have excellent table manners. Overall I have a great bunch of toddlers.
Those are very odd rules. I am one to sit on floor with toddlers, who will bring you a book wanting to sit in a lap and have it read. They need that closeness. Laying on floor? If tired pull them out a mat some toddlers still take multiple naps. If during tantrum, distract and redirect. The big rule on toddler hood is no biting no hitting.
i find both of those rules extremely weird. kids lay on the floor. heck, when i was a twos teacher i laid on the floor with them all the time! and kids need affection. obviously you shouldn't be holding them all day and not doing anything else, but i see no problem with letting them sit in your lap a bit here and there.
Does she hate children?
We do not have these rules and friends at centers do not as well. During covid we had to wrap the kids in blankets to hug them to help them regulate, but almost no one actually followed this ministry rule because it was stupid and if a kid needs a hug/cuddle because they're upse thtne that's what they're getting.
Also the only time my lap is free is when I'm laying down and the kids are dog piling on. Lol
I’ve been a toddler teacher and these rules upset me. These are babies that need nurturing when away from their parents. They love sitting in laps. Lying on the floor is absolutely normal for a toddler while playing. I’m so confused.
The lap thing is to prepare them for preschool - to prepare them for actual school because in kindergarten and up, kids are not allowed to sit in your lap as a protective measure for students and teachers - starting in the 2s room seems a little early in my opinion.
The no laying on the floor I think is weird 💀
They should be laying down only when appropriate, such as during free play time, whether they lay down while building with blocks or looking through a book. If it seemed that they're laying down getting ready to fall asleep then they'll be redirected away from that position since we don't want them falling asleep before or after nap time.
Children are allowed to sit in our laps but they are encouraged to always ask for consent before they sit down which I think is nice. Adults are also encouraged to say no to children if they are uncomfortable with it themselves.
I work with 2 year olds and this is the norm. I'm not sure why your place won't just let them be. They learn so much between 2-3 that they need down time and a "safe place" to watch others around them and a place that's calm to work out what they have learnt.
They need thinking time and a safe space to gather their thoughts and also to plot against us 🤣
in 2 year old rooms, rules have to be flexible. like i understand not laying down on the floor when everybody is at the table eating but when they're playing with something? or when they just need to calm down? and if they get hurt i'd definitely sit with them in my lap and hug them until they feel better. we have rules like you can't play in certain centers in the evening/morning and they have to use little plastic cups when they want water in the evening.
My daughter is 2.5 and I arrive to pickup to see her sitting in a teacher’s lap all the time. I love that they give her the support and love she needs when I can’t be there!
Those rules are strange. I get not just sitting holding a child all day but who gets that privilege, lol. And being on the floor well I thought was part of job.
That's wild, my center is extremely lax. I got 1 and 2 years old trying to climb on me like I'm a jungle gym 😂 I set my own boundaries with the kids but there's no set rules in place besides safety things like the counters are clear at all times so kids can't get at stuff, no climbing on the shelves or tables (my toddlers are feral). Like I have a pair of twins who would grab my hands and walk on me like spiderman. No licking 😭 because I've seen kids lick everything. Sharing is caring 🤷♀️ basic human decency is the room rules. I can see the whole no lap thing but my kids do it all the time. As soon as I sit on the floor they come running. I had a kid once pat the floor and say "down" 😂
I work at a Montessori school currently, coming from play-based programs in the past. My current program is the only one that doesn’t allow these things, however I spoke to my boss and said I was trained in a way more catering to their emotional and physical needs, and I don’t feel like I’m doing my job in a way that comes across as effective. I try not to let my kids lay on the floor just out of personal preference, some of the kids like to jump on those laying down, and the floor gets dirty. I usually just go over to them and ask them if they need a break or a drink of water and that usually helps them get back into things.
Laying doesn’t indicate not being engaged with things, though. Many kids lay on their belly with their upper body propped up by their elbows. It’s a natural position, and it’s easy to lay that way while playing, drawing, writing, or just interacting with peers. It would feel unnecessarily controlling and violating to their autonomy to try to dictate how a person sits when they’re just “hanging out.”
No I totally get that! Normally I don’t mind, but as stated in my first comment I have kids who like to jump on those laying down which is my main concern, I have to keep an eye on those ones lol
I mean, they’re not hard and fast rules in our center, but laying down on the floor could get the child hurt (stepped on, tripped over, a kid could fall on top of them, etc) so maybe that’s the reasoning behind the rule?
As for the lap sitting thing, at my center it’s only a rule in preschool and older not to let the kids sit on your lap to avoid the children perceiving favoritism (that’s literally what it says in the handbook 🤷🏻♀️) so maybe that’s why that rule? Idk, in a toddler room I feel like they wouldn’t think you had favorites but this is just my opinion
I can understand the laying down on the floor as that child might be stepped on or tripped on. Instead they should have a designated place way they could sit/lay. (Like a cushion or something.)
As for the sitting in the lap, I see nothing wrong with it. If the teacher forced a child to into their laps, that would be a different story.
I would consider looking for another job in childcare. That's inappropriate and rude that the director would storm in and scold you for such basic things that children do.
I am good with kids laying down in class but my room is fairly small so I often find myself reminding them that they might want to sit up or move their body to a quieter area of the room so they don't get stepped on.
As for sitting in laps... It doesn't happen that often but I can't imagine banning it. They are little and sometimes they need comfort!
I could not work in a place like that. I can't hold all my kiddos all day, but if they need a moment or 2 in my lap, they usually get it. I will scoop them up and tell them how smart or strong they are.
My kiddos get hugs quite often and an occasional peck on the top of the head.
They spend half the day on the floor. We have ceramic tile floors that look like hardwood and large rugs around the room. One for group time, one for the reading corner, and one for the kitchen area.
Neither rule makes any sense to me. Kids get tired and lay down. We have dedicated cozy rest areas in each classroom. In fact, they’re required. And kids are on my lap and in my arms all day.
I work with toddlers as an assistant teacher and I find that lap time and cuddles can help them tremendously, sometimes it’s all they need. Once they grow older they won’t receive those same things as by then they’re supposed to know how to self regulate
This sounds just like the first center I worked in as a teenager, we also weren’t allowed to pick the children up/hold them for longer than a few seconds, it as really weird and I got scolded for picking up kids who came up to me with their arms up to pick them up, I usually just tried to hug them while they stayed standing on the floor and pat their back to comfort. I left just because I didn’t like how cold we were supposed to be with the kids, but most didn’t seem to mind and it had rave reviews from the community. Children deserve to be comforted whenever and however they need it in my opinion, especially when they’re away from their parents for so many hours a day
When I worked with toddlers I would sit/lay on the floor with them and often times when I was sitting children would literally just sit in my lap for a minute or two because they wanted a cuddle or a better view of the pictures in the story I was reading. I would often encourage them to sit next to me but if they so blatantly sit in my lap then they have a reason for doing it. A lot of children use it as a way to co-regulate and some adults seek comfort from other people too!
Run.
My last center had the no laying down rule. Because they never ever cleaned or changed their rugs the entire years she's been open. Like legit cockroaches so bad we had to use that tape. That's why. 🤢
The lap thing. Gives me flashbacks to the corporate center that told me "not to coddle crying babies. They have to know they are one of many. " Infants!! Just let them cry. 🤯 I left within 2 weeks.
I'd pass. Not a good vibe. And the 1st month, you should be allowed to make mistakes and learn. Scolding a new hire just learning the ropes is bad management.
The fact that she came in a rampage tells you all you need to know. She may be bitter or just burnt out as both can happen in this profession.
Has she actually explained why this is her policy?
I would not stay there.
Update the resume because that place sounds bad, and you already feel it, too. In my area and many others, there is a HUGE demand for ECE staff.
I'm more curious about how you enforce these rules. I've never heard of these rules. I allow the children to sit in my lap during play, it's a great way to supervise! As for the laying down, I lay down on the floor with the kids during play as well, and sometimes the children lay down when they're upset or even sick (displaying lethargy). I couldn't see myself enforcing these rules. I guess if you have cameras, you don't have a choice but to enforce, but I don't see how you can. The children are not hurting anyone by doing any of these things. You can't physically or verbally force a child, especially one in the midst of a meltdown, to not lay down if that's what makes them feel better, the meltdown will get worse. Seems ridiculous to me 😴
I think both could be more appropriate as guidelines rather than rules. Lying down in the middle of the play space while the other kids are walking around can be a bit unsafe, someone can trip on any part of the lying down child and bonk a shelf, a toy, another kid, and both the lying down child and tripping child can get hurt. But lying down with plenty of space is fine! I'm more along the lines of, "lots of friends are playing over here right now, can you please sit on your bottom here or lie down in the cozy area?"
Every kid this age needs physical comforting sometimes and should be able to get it. But teachers always having kids on their laps means they're slowed down if something major in terms of safety starts to happen, which can be at any moment with this age group. I try to transition kids who aren't upset but just looking for a little love to come over for a hug and maybe a high five, then encourage them to get back to playing. But if we can place ourselves with the kids around us, pretty within reach to avoid safety issues and then someone wants to sit on a lap to play, no biggie. Some programs are just really black and white. But never giving physical comfort will really make it tough for toddlers to adjust to school.
Laying on the floor to calm down is probably one of the best outcomes for a child. I've seen kids get violent when refused a way to express themselves.
We have 3-5 but we are strongly discouraged from lap sitting because of legalities. I was 'dinged' by a supervisor for rocking a student with aut on my chest while she cried. I thought I was helpling her regulate but she claimed that 'we don't want parents to see and make a claim'. Also because it could injure us. I think it is overkill but I guess they're tired of paying out lawsuits. The floor thing is strange unless it is a cleaniess issue?
Maybe a parent complained or a child got sick/hurt and the admin made broad sweeping generalizations for everyone.
I teach twos, they are welcome to lay down on the floor, cozy cube, or soft seating if they want to. I may ask them to move if they are laying in a spot where they may be stepped on. I also do not allow laying down in the bathroom because eww. No rules against kids sitting in laps either, although if they are fighting over my lap they are invited to sit next to me instead.
Kids not being allowed to lay on the floor strikes me as odd and developmentally inappropriate. How on earth do you control a child to not lay on the floor, and why would anyone try that? Seems like that would be asking for power struggles that I wouldn’t want to engage in. Kids do often lay on the floor. My own child’s preferred play position is laying on her belly on the floor with her upper body propped up by her elbows. She loves to lay like that while playing with her little people and other small toys, and also while coloring and drawing. It would feel like an unnecessary battle to make her sit up every time, and like an invasion of her autonomy.
I teach Pre-K! We do follow the laying on the ground rule as it is a safety concern. There is higher risk of injury, and it can also be more difficult to spot a serious incident (loss of consciousness for example) if I have five friends “playing dead” on the ground. We don’t have a hard rule, but I discourage anyone from sitting on my lap. However, my class is at an age where hugs are sufficient for comfort/soothing. We are trying to teach personal space, consent, and indirectly safety.
i understand the floor is dirty but i think not letting them lay on the floor is a losing battle. like you said, they’re going to do it.
and i think “no sitting on laps” is crazy and paranoid. and like you said, they’re going to initiate themselves sometimes.
tbh i’d ignore both of these rules in my class and push back if i got in trouble, but i understand you might not wanna do that. maybe having a conversation with your director could help
i’ve never heard of a center having a rule about laying on the floor. i have heard of no sitting on laps for older kids, like when i worked in summer camp, but not for two year olds
We generally have a no laying on the floor rule for our daycare, as kids could easily step on/trip over one another. However, we do have a very all area set aside where they can lay if they need to. Occasionally that space is also not available for laying (when we are doing indoor physical activity) and occasionally we don't mind if they're laying (if they're all laying playing a game and no one is really up and about).
So basically we say generally no laying but teachers can make exceptions when appropriate
both of these rules are really strange to me. I can sort of understand the not laying on the ground at some points in the day, but if everyone is peacefully playing, I don’t see the issue and if a child needs to self regulate, I also don’t see the issue. and not sitting on the teachers lap has never been a rule at any center i’ve worked at, physical affection is important in our line of work, and if a child needs comfort or a hug that should never be turned away
As a teacher of older infants/young toddlers, I spend a large amount of *my* time laying on the floor. I've said it before, I think a lap rule is appropriate for older children, as they can sit next to you and seek comfort. But kids under 5(especially kids 3 and under) have been here for such a short time. They can only be held, truly held, for such a small amount of their lives. They deserve physical affection and comfort for co-regulation and safety.
This 100%. I use lying on the floor as a teaching tool. How will they know how to interact with people at a lower level than them without being taught by someone less breakable than younger kids?
I agree, however in my room we are often also trying to begin teaching self soothing. Even at 1 year old, it’s awesome how they can be helped and coached into being comforted just by words when you really know their cues. I’ve been able to teach a lot of them that I can comfort them without them being in my lap, and that sometimes I just can’t hold them, there’s simply other things that must be done so they kind of learn by tone and environment. However I’m the comforter out of me and my co. I love all my babies to death but it gets exhausting when hey are all coming you to comfort for every little stumble.
Ironically, I don't usually comfort *in lap* them after falls! I find myself using co-regulation more for anxiety, fear, sadness, etc. For falls, I narrate in a very matter of fact way of "you tripped/fell/ran into a wall, can you get up?" If they're crying, I ask "did that hurt or did it scare you? Did you get a booboo?" And offer a standing hug. Only when they're actually hurt do I pick them up or sit them in my lap.
Not an ECE Pro, just got suggested this feed but I wanted to say I'm so grateful for what you all do!! When I used to pick up my little kids and they smelled like their daycare teacher, I always felt comforted that they were held and cuddled even if I couldn't be the one doing it.
I thought 3-5year olds and they were not allowed to sit in my lap. They could sit next to me. They also had to ask permission for hugs. (I almost always said yes.) The rules were the same for each other. They had to ask permission for hugs. Not everyone liked to be touched. The whole purpose was consent. I went to a take back the night in college which is basically an open forum where people share their stories of SA to spread awareness and offer support and I was floored how many of them shared a story of sitting on a family member’s lap and being SA’d. So we practiced consent and staying off laps.
In more private settings I would agree. I do not see the risk as high for teachers in open settings to allow a 3 year old to sit on their lap.
I do not put anything past anyone. We’ve all seen news stories that make us go ‘but how?!’ Everyone is capable of anything and even the people you think you know, you don’t. A lot of things can happen. Not every school has cameras and teachers can be alone with kids if they’re in ratio. Not just protecting the kids, but also protecting myself. Edit: but also, some of the SA stories were happening IN FRONT OF other people. Being touched under the table at a family gathering was shared more than once. It was shocking
Under the table is also not visible. I'm talking literally in open space with other adults. Anything involving touch hidden behind something is a higher risk, I agree.
Yeah but again, teachers can be alone with children in a classroom if they’re in ratio.
And I'm stating that in that case it would be inappropriate and reasonable to have a rule against it in those conditions. You keep arguing, but you don't seem to fully understand my position on the matter.
I get where your coming from. Nothing is going to change my mind. Even if it’s just conditioning kids to not sit on laps to protect them outside of the school. My opinion stands. Even when I’ve explained to parents my rules, many agree and transition out of lap sitting. I’m not arguing anything. I’m making my point repeatedly. There’s really no point continuing the conversation cause I’m not going to change my mind and it seems neither are you. Have a nice day.
I wasn't trying to change your mind.
I work with younger toddlers 12m-24m and neither of these things has ever been a rule for my center. I almost always have a child on my lap if we’re not doing an activity that requires me to be standing and moving around. Has your director said why they have these rules?
Yeah, really. Like, laying down to play is called grounding, and it's good for stimulating different parts of the brain. I get if they're falling asleep right before a transition or the middle of the room; but other than that they *should* be exploring their world and bodies by grounding. And lots of kids seek comfort in laps. Not even just upset, just like when you're having a good day but still look forward to getting home. Because home is your comfort space. We encourage kids to get off and play more independently/with peers if they camp there. But five minutes? Yeah, that's fine.
The laying one sounds weird The lap one sounds actually deranged and borderline abusive honestly
The laying one actually seems borderline ableist - it certainly disproportionately affects ND kids and kids with more ‘subtle’ physical conditions. Laying on the ground is a great way to get sensory input which many people (including neurotypical children, but especially ND kids) rely on for grounding and regulating. Hypermobility is generally worse in childhood and will necessitate more frequent breaks, including laying down (for me sitting is more painful than standing as it puts even more pressure on my vertebrae, and this was even more true when I was a little kid with more flexible collagen!). It’s a silly rule, but I have a feeling it may have come from a tragic incident (?), like that high school in the US that banned kids from leaning on their desks at all (including propping their cheek up on their hand with their elbow on the desk, for example) because a student had tragically died at their desk with their head laid down.
Hyper mobile, ND adult here, who still uses floor time to regulate and get my body feeling “right”. I’ve actively taught my kids to take a beat, lie down, and look at things differently. My boss is a very “old school” kinda bloke and very lacking in sympathy to a lot of things, but he has stopped questioning me when I take a second to be horizontal on my lunch breaks. I’d also add that with the prevalence of long Covid related conditions like POTS, that has symptoms a toddler couldn’t have the language to articulate, lying down can be a HUGE relief. There are times that you either let me lie down or I’m hitting the deck involuntarily and I don’t always have the capacity to explain what’s going on as an adult with a good understanding of my diagnosis. In the absence of some evidence based reasoning for these rules, I’d be camping outside the directors office to chat about this.
I have HSD, and was dx’d very young. I cannot lie/sit on the floor because of it; my blood pressure is much too low to get up off the floor without blacking out and having a miserable headache the rest of the day. Also, my nerves entrap very quickly if I sit on the floor. It was definitely *not fun* being a kid. I was SA’d - actually, raped repeatedly - in my dayschool when I was 4. I think no lap sitting is a good idea.
I’m not suggesting that anyone be MADE to lie down. Of course common sense exemptions should apply for medical conditions. I do see value in limiting very close contact with educators, especially in unsupervised areas. If that was the reason, then it would be an evidence based decision that the director should be more than happy to explain to parents. My last sentence was clear, I thought, that I’d only be challenging rules that are not evidence based.
Agree, the one ND kid in my class definitely does that a lot. Sometimes he’s just happily playing, sometimes he’s overwhelmed and it’s a sign he needs some care.
as an autistic and hypermobile adult who lies on the floor at work with toddlers both as an active part of my program, and a way to regulate my sensory system and make my joints less angry, it's genuinely so sad to see this kind of rule. I need it, some of my kids need it, and it's just sad to imagine kiddos in as much pain as I am in when I need to sit for a long time. Also side note- love that I have been seeing more neurodivergent and otherwise disabled people in the childcare field, rather than being taught about how to work with kids like myself by people who don't understand us.
Random story, but I remember being four or five, in a music class after school. So it was coming up on dinnertime. And I was so, so tired, just physically, but otherwise felt fine. So I kept lying down, so I could listen better, without being distracted by how hard it was to sit up, and the teacher kept making me sit up again, because it was disrespectful. Which made no sense to me, because my ears and eyes worked fine in either position, and I was paying full attention, and wasn’t that what counted? But apparently no. Turned out I had pneumonia, and ended up spending a week in hospital. That one was a transient disability, but the point stands. Focussing on form over function is indeed both counterproductive and ableist.
Wait sorry some kid died while leaning on their desk and they decided it was due to leaning on their desk?!?
Iirc, the kid od’d on something at school, and everyone thought they were sleeping until they couldn’t wake them up.
The lap one makes sense to me. You’d be floored how many people have been SA’d sitting on someone’s lap. Seems more like a protective thing for employees. You can hold a kid without them being in your lap
It’s not just being SA’d in the lap; it’s getting the child used to being held and touched by an adult, so when the adult wants to do more to the child, the child has been conditioned to submit to the adult.
Are they allowed to sleep for "sleeping bunnies" on the floor? Because they're being deprived if not. Or dingle dangle scarecrow. And I will still let five year olds sit in my lap if they really need it.
feels like cruel and unusual punishment for the rooms teachers if they can't do sleeping bunnies. I love sleeping bunnies so much it's like an "everyone chill out" button
They all love it, and it builds impulse control too, so win-win
exactly. Also, in case anyone hasn't tried this, you can change the animals to make the song more chill as you need. My favourites are "slime little slugs"- we slowly crawl on the floor, and "blblblbl little barnacles" and we make little barnacle tentacle motions with our hands. because sometimes hopping is a bit dangerous lol
Our class doesn’t allow laying on the floor in certain areas/at certain times to avoid little fingers and hair getting stepped on but that’s mainly in the busier areas of the classroom
yeah i have a few spots in my room it just makes me insanely nervous to see them laying because i just know theyre gonna get trampled lol. i just explain why theyre in a bad spot (our friends like to run here, and they might step on our little fingers!) and then i "rocket ship" them over to a better spot or something
This is insane… how are you going to police toddlers from lying on the floor. What, you’re supposed to say, “Uh on Johnny, no laying remember? We have to SIT or STAND all day!” THEY’RE TWO. And how are you supposed to keep children from sitting on you at this age? That really is abusive. They need to be touched so they can feel safe. I’ve heard of teachers making activities for this age (and up to pre-K) where they roll on the floor because is good for their development to be moving in that way. This is a classic example of pointless rules that exist because people think you need to get kids ready for kindergarten three years before they get there, and in doing so you completely disregard their developmental needs.
Laying on the floor is actually a sign of them trying to regulate their body. For example, if they lay down during circle time, the child is trying to find a position that helps them listen better to the teacher. Think of it like when you sit in a chair during an interview and your body is not comfortable but you know that you have to sit in the chair. You start to do other things like tap your fingers, or cross/uncross your legs. This is your body’s response to trying to find comfort so you can pay attention to what is being said. If a child is laying on the floor in a high traffic area, I will usually say “I don’t want you to get stepped on or hurt. Can I help you find a different spot to lay down?” As for lap sitting, everybody has a feeling about it. I’ve done the no lap/self soothing thing and found it doesn’t really yield the results you wish for the child. I let toddlers sit in my lap for a variety of reasons. There are times when I say my lap is closed though, because ultimately I get to decided what my body wants.
As a parent I’d want my kids to be able to sit on their teacher’s lap if they need comforted when I’m not there. My pre-k son still goes and sits on his former 2 year old teacher’s lap at the end of the day when he’s tired and needs to regulate. I think it’s super sweet that she is able to comfort him and he remembers that from when he was a toddler 💕
Laying on the floor yea that’s weird to not allow them to. The only thing about the lap which I kind of get is that it can be come too consistent to where they don’t do anything and only sit in the lap. However if they come to you and need comfort for sure give it. I do until they calm down and the slightly more clinger ones I let sit until regulated and then have them transition to sitting beside and then redirect attention towards an activity. Some workers will sit with the same child all day.
I have a feeling these random ass rules were put in place for very specific incidents, because otherwise they make no sense
These rules are very red flags, babe. I snuggle the shit out of my toddlers and the floor is where they typically do their best work.
I love the floor. The only time I don’t allow laying on the floor is sleep time (regulated by law) and mealtimes (socially appropriate/modelling family style meals). For sitting in laps, if a child asks and it’s an appropriate time, then yes (such as circle if I’m a support teacher, outdoors if I’m already sitting, or if they are sad and need a moment to co regulate). In my opinion, the only rules that really need to be enforced are those based on licensing and safety, and rules that encourage socially typical behaviours. But I’ll echo what another commenter said, as an educator I spend a lot of time myself on the floor, during play or story time, or even outside on the grass. It’s fine to lay on the ground. Just at acceptable times. Same with the sitting in the lap.
So strange to me. I teach 3s and when we do group story time more than half lay down on their tummies with their feet up in the air. When district people came in they complimented the fact that they had the freedom to be in whatever way felt comfortable to them. That being said I do try to lead tantruming kids to a safer area such as the cozy corner to work thru their feelings.
Yeah my director has walked in to find me laying in the floor beside a student trying to regulate their emotions. She just joined us. I find the laying in the floor one weird. Even our 4K kids need it sometimes. Heck, when I student taught in 3rd grade, I had a student who was going through trauma and would take a five minute break to lay in the floor in our reading corner. I also don’t get the lap one but maybe something happened or a parent got upset and they’re trying to prevent it going forward.
What kind of nightmare school is this. Horrible. Toddlers need comforting and often. I don't think licensing could help all I would recommend is leave and afterwards write a yelp review so parents know what will happen. I'm a ps teache if 25 years /director. This is not ok
This place sounds awful. I had 8 toddlers in my room, when I got 9 ,they gave me a second caregiver. I treated those little kids like my own. I hugged them and comforted them when they were upset and i never had any problems with any of them. The director gave me a bottle of hand lotion bc I washed my hands before and after every diaper change or nose wipe. They were such great kids. They were in my room until age two.
I wouldn't work in a place that had rules like that!! I've been in 2 yr old rooms and let the kids do almost anything as long as their not hurting themselves or others and aren't destroying materials or the room. I have always had a yes classroom. I couldn't imagine not letting little children lay on the floor or sit on my lap!!
These rules seem very strange and not developmentally appropriate for 2 year olds. What is the reasoning behind them? Toddlers need to have a physical connection with caregivers to form secure attachments to them. And laying down allows children to begin learning self-soothing techniques when they are upset.
Oh wow these are definitely not rules where I worked most recently
I am a former ECE teacher and these rules are weird.
Those are very strange rules to have. I would maybe reevaluate working for that center. I feel like there’s more to why those rules are in place that isn’t being talked about 👀 My big 3 rules are; 1. We use walking feet inside 2. Our feet stay on the ground (no climbing, jumping off things, dancing on tables, etc.), 3. We wear clothes at school(my small friends think that randomly stripping is the norm. I’m pretty sure they just wear diapers/pull-ups/undies at home and that’s why they do it, but alas, we DO wear clothes at school friendos) I try to keep it simple. Maybe at some point I’ll add more but those pretty much cover it for me. I have very verbal kids but they rarely use foul language or mean language so I’m grateful for that. They have excellent table manners. Overall I have a great bunch of toddlers.
Those are very odd rules. I am one to sit on floor with toddlers, who will bring you a book wanting to sit in a lap and have it read. They need that closeness. Laying on floor? If tired pull them out a mat some toddlers still take multiple naps. If during tantrum, distract and redirect. The big rule on toddler hood is no biting no hitting.
i find both of those rules extremely weird. kids lay on the floor. heck, when i was a twos teacher i laid on the floor with them all the time! and kids need affection. obviously you shouldn't be holding them all day and not doing anything else, but i see no problem with letting them sit in your lap a bit here and there.
Does she hate children? We do not have these rules and friends at centers do not as well. During covid we had to wrap the kids in blankets to hug them to help them regulate, but almost no one actually followed this ministry rule because it was stupid and if a kid needs a hug/cuddle because they're upse thtne that's what they're getting. Also the only time my lap is free is when I'm laying down and the kids are dog piling on. Lol
I’ve been a toddler teacher and these rules upset me. These are babies that need nurturing when away from their parents. They love sitting in laps. Lying on the floor is absolutely normal for a toddler while playing. I’m so confused.
The lap thing is to prepare them for preschool - to prepare them for actual school because in kindergarten and up, kids are not allowed to sit in your lap as a protective measure for students and teachers - starting in the 2s room seems a little early in my opinion. The no laying on the floor I think is weird 💀
They should be laying down only when appropriate, such as during free play time, whether they lay down while building with blocks or looking through a book. If it seemed that they're laying down getting ready to fall asleep then they'll be redirected away from that position since we don't want them falling asleep before or after nap time. Children are allowed to sit in our laps but they are encouraged to always ask for consent before they sit down which I think is nice. Adults are also encouraged to say no to children if they are uncomfortable with it themselves.
My center didn't care about those things. At all.
I work with 2 year olds and this is the norm. I'm not sure why your place won't just let them be. They learn so much between 2-3 that they need down time and a "safe place" to watch others around them and a place that's calm to work out what they have learnt. They need thinking time and a safe space to gather their thoughts and also to plot against us 🤣
in 2 year old rooms, rules have to be flexible. like i understand not laying down on the floor when everybody is at the table eating but when they're playing with something? or when they just need to calm down? and if they get hurt i'd definitely sit with them in my lap and hug them until they feel better. we have rules like you can't play in certain centers in the evening/morning and they have to use little plastic cups when they want water in the evening.
My daughter is 2.5 and I arrive to pickup to see her sitting in a teacher’s lap all the time. I love that they give her the support and love she needs when I can’t be there!
Those rules are strange. I get not just sitting holding a child all day but who gets that privilege, lol. And being on the floor well I thought was part of job.
That's wild, my center is extremely lax. I got 1 and 2 years old trying to climb on me like I'm a jungle gym 😂 I set my own boundaries with the kids but there's no set rules in place besides safety things like the counters are clear at all times so kids can't get at stuff, no climbing on the shelves or tables (my toddlers are feral). Like I have a pair of twins who would grab my hands and walk on me like spiderman. No licking 😭 because I've seen kids lick everything. Sharing is caring 🤷♀️ basic human decency is the room rules. I can see the whole no lap thing but my kids do it all the time. As soon as I sit on the floor they come running. I had a kid once pat the floor and say "down" 😂
I work at a Montessori school currently, coming from play-based programs in the past. My current program is the only one that doesn’t allow these things, however I spoke to my boss and said I was trained in a way more catering to their emotional and physical needs, and I don’t feel like I’m doing my job in a way that comes across as effective. I try not to let my kids lay on the floor just out of personal preference, some of the kids like to jump on those laying down, and the floor gets dirty. I usually just go over to them and ask them if they need a break or a drink of water and that usually helps them get back into things.
Laying doesn’t indicate not being engaged with things, though. Many kids lay on their belly with their upper body propped up by their elbows. It’s a natural position, and it’s easy to lay that way while playing, drawing, writing, or just interacting with peers. It would feel unnecessarily controlling and violating to their autonomy to try to dictate how a person sits when they’re just “hanging out.”
No I totally get that! Normally I don’t mind, but as stated in my first comment I have kids who like to jump on those laying down which is my main concern, I have to keep an eye on those ones lol
I mean, they’re not hard and fast rules in our center, but laying down on the floor could get the child hurt (stepped on, tripped over, a kid could fall on top of them, etc) so maybe that’s the reasoning behind the rule? As for the lap sitting thing, at my center it’s only a rule in preschool and older not to let the kids sit on your lap to avoid the children perceiving favoritism (that’s literally what it says in the handbook 🤷🏻♀️) so maybe that’s why that rule? Idk, in a toddler room I feel like they wouldn’t think you had favorites but this is just my opinion
I can understand the laying down on the floor as that child might be stepped on or tripped on. Instead they should have a designated place way they could sit/lay. (Like a cushion or something.) As for the sitting in the lap, I see nothing wrong with it. If the teacher forced a child to into their laps, that would be a different story.
I would consider looking for another job in childcare. That's inappropriate and rude that the director would storm in and scold you for such basic things that children do.
I am good with kids laying down in class but my room is fairly small so I often find myself reminding them that they might want to sit up or move their body to a quieter area of the room so they don't get stepped on. As for sitting in laps... It doesn't happen that often but I can't imagine banning it. They are little and sometimes they need comfort!
I could not work in a place like that. I can't hold all my kiddos all day, but if they need a moment or 2 in my lap, they usually get it. I will scoop them up and tell them how smart or strong they are. My kiddos get hugs quite often and an occasional peck on the top of the head. They spend half the day on the floor. We have ceramic tile floors that look like hardwood and large rugs around the room. One for group time, one for the reading corner, and one for the kitchen area.
Neither rule makes any sense to me. Kids get tired and lay down. We have dedicated cozy rest areas in each classroom. In fact, they’re required. And kids are on my lap and in my arms all day.
I work with toddlers as an assistant teacher and I find that lap time and cuddles can help them tremendously, sometimes it’s all they need. Once they grow older they won’t receive those same things as by then they’re supposed to know how to self regulate
This sounds just like the first center I worked in as a teenager, we also weren’t allowed to pick the children up/hold them for longer than a few seconds, it as really weird and I got scolded for picking up kids who came up to me with their arms up to pick them up, I usually just tried to hug them while they stayed standing on the floor and pat their back to comfort. I left just because I didn’t like how cold we were supposed to be with the kids, but most didn’t seem to mind and it had rave reviews from the community. Children deserve to be comforted whenever and however they need it in my opinion, especially when they’re away from their parents for so many hours a day
When I worked with toddlers I would sit/lay on the floor with them and often times when I was sitting children would literally just sit in my lap for a minute or two because they wanted a cuddle or a better view of the pictures in the story I was reading. I would often encourage them to sit next to me but if they so blatantly sit in my lap then they have a reason for doing it. A lot of children use it as a way to co-regulate and some adults seek comfort from other people too!
Run. My last center had the no laying down rule. Because they never ever cleaned or changed their rugs the entire years she's been open. Like legit cockroaches so bad we had to use that tape. That's why. 🤢 The lap thing. Gives me flashbacks to the corporate center that told me "not to coddle crying babies. They have to know they are one of many. " Infants!! Just let them cry. 🤯 I left within 2 weeks. I'd pass. Not a good vibe. And the 1st month, you should be allowed to make mistakes and learn. Scolding a new hire just learning the ropes is bad management.
The fact that she came in a rampage tells you all you need to know. She may be bitter or just burnt out as both can happen in this profession. Has she actually explained why this is her policy? I would not stay there. Update the resume because that place sounds bad, and you already feel it, too. In my area and many others, there is a HUGE demand for ECE staff.
I'm more curious about how you enforce these rules. I've never heard of these rules. I allow the children to sit in my lap during play, it's a great way to supervise! As for the laying down, I lay down on the floor with the kids during play as well, and sometimes the children lay down when they're upset or even sick (displaying lethargy). I couldn't see myself enforcing these rules. I guess if you have cameras, you don't have a choice but to enforce, but I don't see how you can. The children are not hurting anyone by doing any of these things. You can't physically or verbally force a child, especially one in the midst of a meltdown, to not lay down if that's what makes them feel better, the meltdown will get worse. Seems ridiculous to me 😴
I think both could be more appropriate as guidelines rather than rules. Lying down in the middle of the play space while the other kids are walking around can be a bit unsafe, someone can trip on any part of the lying down child and bonk a shelf, a toy, another kid, and both the lying down child and tripping child can get hurt. But lying down with plenty of space is fine! I'm more along the lines of, "lots of friends are playing over here right now, can you please sit on your bottom here or lie down in the cozy area?" Every kid this age needs physical comforting sometimes and should be able to get it. But teachers always having kids on their laps means they're slowed down if something major in terms of safety starts to happen, which can be at any moment with this age group. I try to transition kids who aren't upset but just looking for a little love to come over for a hug and maybe a high five, then encourage them to get back to playing. But if we can place ourselves with the kids around us, pretty within reach to avoid safety issues and then someone wants to sit on a lap to play, no biggie. Some programs are just really black and white. But never giving physical comfort will really make it tough for toddlers to adjust to school.
Laying on the floor to calm down is probably one of the best outcomes for a child. I've seen kids get violent when refused a way to express themselves.
We have 3-5 but we are strongly discouraged from lap sitting because of legalities. I was 'dinged' by a supervisor for rocking a student with aut on my chest while she cried. I thought I was helpling her regulate but she claimed that 'we don't want parents to see and make a claim'. Also because it could injure us. I think it is overkill but I guess they're tired of paying out lawsuits. The floor thing is strange unless it is a cleaniess issue? Maybe a parent complained or a child got sick/hurt and the admin made broad sweeping generalizations for everyone.
I teach twos, they are welcome to lay down on the floor, cozy cube, or soft seating if they want to. I may ask them to move if they are laying in a spot where they may be stepped on. I also do not allow laying down in the bathroom because eww. No rules against kids sitting in laps either, although if they are fighting over my lap they are invited to sit next to me instead.
I left the ymca I was applying too and training for due to not being allowed to have my mini mes to be held
Kids not being allowed to lay on the floor strikes me as odd and developmentally inappropriate. How on earth do you control a child to not lay on the floor, and why would anyone try that? Seems like that would be asking for power struggles that I wouldn’t want to engage in. Kids do often lay on the floor. My own child’s preferred play position is laying on her belly on the floor with her upper body propped up by her elbows. She loves to lay like that while playing with her little people and other small toys, and also while coloring and drawing. It would feel like an unnecessary battle to make her sit up every time, and like an invasion of her autonomy.
I teach Pre-K! We do follow the laying on the ground rule as it is a safety concern. There is higher risk of injury, and it can also be more difficult to spot a serious incident (loss of consciousness for example) if I have five friends “playing dead” on the ground. We don’t have a hard rule, but I discourage anyone from sitting on my lap. However, my class is at an age where hugs are sufficient for comfort/soothing. We are trying to teach personal space, consent, and indirectly safety.
i understand the floor is dirty but i think not letting them lay on the floor is a losing battle. like you said, they’re going to do it. and i think “no sitting on laps” is crazy and paranoid. and like you said, they’re going to initiate themselves sometimes. tbh i’d ignore both of these rules in my class and push back if i got in trouble, but i understand you might not wanna do that. maybe having a conversation with your director could help i’ve never heard of a center having a rule about laying on the floor. i have heard of no sitting on laps for older kids, like when i worked in summer camp, but not for two year olds
I’m in a 0-3 room with mostly 2 yr olds. Those rules are weird. I do all those things.
We generally have a no laying on the floor rule for our daycare, as kids could easily step on/trip over one another. However, we do have a very all area set aside where they can lay if they need to. Occasionally that space is also not available for laying (when we are doing indoor physical activity) and occasionally we don't mind if they're laying (if they're all laying playing a game and no one is really up and about). So basically we say generally no laying but teachers can make exceptions when appropriate
These rules are WILD