Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Tobias has enrolled in your school/centre. He is 4 and both parents are professionals and speak mandarin at home. Tobias seems to lack focus towards the end of the week and is very tired. After discussing how Tobias is progressing you observe they speak to him in mandarin, as they have very limited english. You recognise that some of the comments you make may not be interpreted as you intend them. finally after 30 mins Tobias tells you that he attends another service after he finishes at yours 5 days a week, and finishes that school at 7. His grandmother picks him up at 7 and his parents pick him up at 9 that night.
What are some of the issues you need to consider?
how can you support Tobias at the centre?
how can you discuss and educate the parents with respect to their cultural differences about adequate sleep and how this may be affecting Tobias?
how will you approach the issue of Tobias attending another service (which is a school preperation service)
how does the centre approach the expectations that Tobias pearents may have on him?

Does anyone have an opinion on this one. Im really struggling a bit on this one and just wondered if anyone had some ideas or anything. The language is a bit of a barrier and im not sure how to approach the parents without offending them??

Hi Batman
Firstly I would enquire as to whether there is someone on staff or a family member that speaks mandarin and english so they can act as an interpreter for you both. this could alleviate any misinterpretation on either your or the parents side.
I would ask about tobias sleeping schedule at home and perhaps implement a nap time (if appropriate) for him during the day. If this is not appropriate perhaps some quiet time, where he just reads a book whilst relaxing on a beanbag or something similar. You could suggest to Tobias parents that if possible could he only attend the other centre a few days a week rather than every day due to the fact that Toby is overly tired. Perhaps he could start off a few days a week and work up to going every day as he gets a bit older and also gets a bit more used to it.
Hope this is of some use
Cathiek