There is a child at Spencer's preschool who is dropped off and picked up mostly by a caregiver other than his parents---whether it's a relative or other babysitter or daycare person, I'm not sure. This caregiver also usually has two other children with her, both younger than preschool age. I've seen her leave both smaller children in the car alone while she walked the older child inside, which bothered me, but I'm most upset by the fact that the four year-old rides in the front passenger seat of the car. I'm pretty sure that by law, the child should be in a carseat, and whether or not it's actually a law in Ohio, there's no way he should be riding in the front of the car. I do know that the preschool handbook states that all children have to arrive at and leave school in carseats.

I'm not sure what to do. My instincts tell me that I should mention it to the school's director. On one hand, am I sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong? On the other hand, I'm genuinely concerned about the safety of this child (not to mention the other two, but I think that while leaving them alone in the car for several minutes might be foolish, it's not illegal), and if something happened to the child, I'd never forgive myself for not saying something. What do you think?

Comments

[Meg]

I would mention it in case the parents do not know the situation.
I looked up car seat laws for Ohio and it states this: "Children must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system (safety or booster seat) until they are at least 4 years old or over 40 pounds.
Thus, under the Ohio car seat law, children over 4 years old or 40 pounds may ride in a vehicle using a standard adult safety belt."

It does not mention whether the child needs to be secured in the back seat.

[Meg]

I would mention it in case the parents do not know the situation.
I looked up car seat laws for Ohio and it states this: "Children must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system (safety or booster seat) until they are at least 4 years old or over 40 pounds.
Thus, under the Ohio car seat law, children over 4 years old or 40 pounds may ride in a vehicle using a standard adult safety belt."

It does not mention whether the child needs to be secured in the back seat.

[Amy]

It's your duty as a parent to say something to the daycare director. That is appalling that the woman is leaving her own children in the car unattended. Most definately say something.

[sherry]

I would say something because of the very last sentence - what if something happened?

[Ali]

I'd say something too, especially because the parents may be totally unaware that this child isn't riding in a car seat.

How disturbing.

[gabby]

Say something, say something, say something. At least then you know you tried. I think a lot of us tend not to speak up when our gut instincts say to. No harm done if you do speak up, but maybe harm done if you don't, you know?

[Kim]

Go with your instincts as a parent: Say something.

In any event, my guess is that you'd never forgive yourself if God forbid something happened to one of those children and you hadn't said something.

[Alex]

Go with your gut instinct and say something.

[Patty]

By all means, speak up. Imagine how the parents might react if they knew (I can't imagine they know).

This woman is breaking the law and this poor child is her victim.

Please speak up!

[Generic Viagra]

Hi, I think your article its very important and interesting,good work, thanks for sharing!! Have a nice day!