Blogger's kindergarten video draws mixed reactions in Yekaterinburg
Tuayana criticized teachers for urging early pickups despite being paid for full shifts.
Russian blogger Tuayana asked her social media followers why some parents pick up their children too early from kindergarten. A teacher called her and asked, «When will you pick up the child?» By 5:30 PM, no one was left in the group:
«Don«t you have anything to do? I could have done so much in that hour and a half: bring in firewood, light the stove, cook dinner, go to the gas station, pump up tires. And I»m driving to the kindergarten at 5:30 PM, and I«m not happy that my child is alone there,» Tuayana said in the video.
The controversial video quickly spread on social media and found a response even among Yekaterinburg residents. We publish the opinions of E1.RU readers.
A Real Problem!
Some Yekaterinburg residents supported the blogger and shared that they had encountered similar situations in their kindergartens.
«It«s especially “delightful” when they write in the chat: “There will be no water in the kindergarten tomorrow,” so children shouldn»t be brought to kindergarten. I wonder where working parents without grandparents are supposed to put them?» Elizabeth said indignantly.
In Yekaterinburg, kindergartens operate until 6:00 PM, with paid extended care from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.
«We always picked up our daughter last; everyone else was already taken by 5:00 PM. And I was always surprised that no one works. We agreed with the teacher on an extra payment for an hour, and she stayed with the child until we arrived. Then she took our daughter to her home, and we came to the teacher«s house,» shared another Yekaterinburg woman. — «Later, they made an extended-day group until 7:00 PM, and we breathed a sigh of relief. The problem resolved itself.»
«We have a nanny who is a former teacher. She engages with the child all day. She constantly has creative lessons, drawing, playdough, toys, educational activities, sports, communication, reading, and music,» wrote Elizabeth. — «When I come home from work, the child is engrossed. When she leaves, he gets upset, and in the morning he greets her. Because the child finds it interesting with her. I think the same kind of education should be in kindergarten.»
«Even though I can pick up earlier, sometimes I get delayed somewhere. At 4:55 PM, they already call me and ask where I am so that I can pick up the child quickly because she«s alone. By the way, this annoys me too,» shared another E1.RU reader.
Some parents express frustration over teachers requesting early child pickups.
«My daughter woke up during nap time and was crying because she couldn«t fall asleep,» gave an example Alena. — «They call me: “Pick her up, she»ll wake everyone up.” The time was 2:00 PM. I had to come at 2:45 PM, and she«s sitting quietly and drawing. I ask what to do now. They answered: “Since you»ve come, take her.” Moreover, another teacher came down and quickly calmed my daughter down. As soon as she returned to her own group, she started crying again.»
«We had a very strange teacher in our kindergarten who categorically demanded that children be picked up earlier because she has a lot to do at home, and for such a salary, she doesn«t intend to sit in the kindergarten until night! A conversation with the head after our complaint removed all her claims,» shared with E1.RU Victoria.
«We really had a problem. Up to the teacher yelling when mine was left alone from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, and I would run in for her at the last minute. The children were taken by grandparents and non-working mothers almost at lunchtime, and mine always stayed until the end,» says another E1.RU reader.
«And Why Did She Have a Child?»
Other readers responded to the blogger«s video with indignation, because kindergarten employees are also people and want to go home. And parents might have their own activities with the child, for example — clubs and sections. Why not pick him up earlier?
«Kindergarten is not a storage room for children. If I«m home, came back from work early, and have nothing to do — I always pick up early,» said an E1.RU reader.
Mothers appear unconcerned about early pickups by other parents affecting teachers.
«I worked in a kindergarten. Everyone picks up their children at 4:30 – 5:00 PM, only one comes exactly at 6:00 PM. A two-year-old child sits alone and gets bored for an hour. And they complain to me why she«s alone,» shared Daria. — «The working day is from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, but the teacher comes at 7:00 AM and leaves at 6:30 PM.»
«And why did she have a child? If the child isn«t really needed,» believes Sergey Valeryevich.
«I would be happy if the kindergarten worked until 7:00 PM; from work, neither I, nor my husband, nor many parents from our group could make it in time. Those who are at home on maternity leave or have an earlier work schedule, or have grandparents, manage,» assured Yulia. — «In short, the problem for working parents is the kindergarten schedule until 6:00 PM.»
«Teachers also want to finish early; they might have their own children and grandchildren at home,» assured Nikita Pankin.
Some parents forget to pick up their children from kindergarten after hours.
«I had the opportunity to pick up the children at 4:00 PM — I picked them up at that time. I really missed them and as soon as I finished work, I went for them immediately. If you don«t have the opportunity or desire — pick them up at the last moment. What»s the problem?» doesn«t understand Svetlana.
«According to parents, for a payment of about 4,000 rubles (approximately $40 at current rates), “all-inclusive” is provided,» stated Svetlana, a former teacher. — «Once, a child was left alone with me; the kindergarten is until 6:00 PM, and it was already 6:15 PM on the clock.»
Parents can seek assistance from teachers or other parents if unable to pick up children promptly.
«Everyone picks up as they want,» assured Irina Sukhanova. — «When I worked in the kindergarten, in our group, one boy was always forgotten, and once I took him home and left a note, so his parents came for him at 10:00 PM. Children get very upset when parents come late for them, because they want to spend time with them. Why do parents first dump their children on kindergarten, then on school, and when will parents devote at least a little of their time to their children?»
Another Yekaterinburg woman shared a tip with others:
«Life hack for working people: find a mom from the group who is on maternity leave, working remotely, or a homemaker. Become friends. Persuade your child to be friends with that mom«s child. Ask to “take along” your child with them. That»s it, you«ll pick up a happy child from a friend, not from the duty group,» wrote Christina.
Recall that recently, parent chats in Yekaterinburg kindergartens were moved to MAX. We also told how to reduce the fee for kindergarten.
Read the honest stories of Ural teachers about their salaries.
