| The vast majority of day care facilities provide | | | | care. |
| excellent service and are staffed with caring | | | | For example, they were always happy with the |
| professionals who have your child's best interests | | | | day care and suddenly they are telling you they |
| at heart. | | | | don't like it and they don't want to go back. This |
| However, accidents do happen. Sometimes those | | | | could indicate something happened. Try to get as |
| "accidents" are a direct result of inadequate child | | | | much information from your child as possible, |
| supervision and the failure of day care staff on | | | | especially if they have any existing signs of |
| multiple levels. The first instinct in these situations | | | | possible neglect or abuse. |
| is to protect the facility instead of doing what's | | | | It can be hard to determine if neglect might be |
| right. | | | | occurring, but never ignore any change in your |
| Even if you don't suspect possible neglect from | | | | child's behavior. If your child tells you something |
| your day care provider, you should still watch for | | | | happened, request an immediate conference with |
| signs that could indicate otherwise. The following | | | | the staff and their immediate supervisors, if any, |
| are physical and emotional signals to look for | | | | to clarify exactly what might be happening. |
| which might indicate possible abuse or neglect. | | | | It does happen at times that your child or children |
| - Continued unexplained bruising or other visible | | | | are just not getting what they want or not |
| injuries | | | | wanting to follow a specific rule. Your child could |
| - Dirty face and hands | | | | be exaggerating or even making stuff up to |
| - Clothes that are torn or ripped | | | | exhibit his anger for not getting his way. Having |
| - Your child cries every time you leave | | | | this initial meeting will help determine if this might |
| - Withdrawn behavior from friends and/or family | | | | be the case. |
| - Acting out | | | | Use your best judgment. No one knows your child |
| - Inability to get along with other children | | | | better than you do. If you feel your child is telling |
| - Fighting | | | | the truth and the day care insists there is nothing |
| - Crying almost daily | | | | wrong, pursuing legal action to resolve the |
| Some signs are not as noticeable as others and | | | | problem is the best course of action to take. |
| you may think it's normal behavior or that your | | | | Contact an experienced attorney immediately and |
| child occasionally has a "bad day" when they are in | | | | get local authorities involved. Various state and |
| day care. It is possible that is exactly what is | | | | local agencies should have more information on |
| happening, but don't ignore any changes in your | | | | exactly what to do in this situation. |
| child's behavior that you can't attribute to a | | | | Never disregard any changes in your child's |
| specific source. | | | | behavior, even the smallest, because, if unnoticed, |
| If your children are old enough, it is very | | | | the consequences to your child could become |
| important to discuss their day with them every | | | | more severe and damaging over time. Don't let |
| day they attend day care. This will help identify | | | | your child become a victim of day care negligence. |
| possible changes in their feelings towards day | | | | |