Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

I have been hearing complaints from my daughter about another girl (let’s call her Jackie) ‘not being nice to her’ in the camp every couple days since the camp started. My daughter told me a few times that the girl is hitting her and the teachers. They are the same age, but Jackie is much taller, bigger and stronger.
 
About two weeks after the start of the camp I stopped by at the office and asked that they keep an eye on both my daughter and Jackie in case there are any tensions. The complaints about Jackie did not go away, and then I got a note from the camp yesterday that my daughter was hit by a swimming board in the pool, taken to the infirmary and that the icepack was applied.
 
I initially thought it was an accident, but my daughter told me that he Jackie hit her. I asked if it was done accidentally or on purpose, she responded it was done on purpose and that Jackie was told to apologize, which she never did, and kept hitting her instead.
 
Spoke to the camp director this morning, who told me this girl will be kept away from my daughter. The director says Jackie is trying to be her friend. They both go to the camp 5 days extended hours, and will both be returning for the pre-school program in the fall.
 
My question is do you think there is anything else I can do to make sure my daughter is safe in the camp and pre-school? Would you speak to the girl’s parents? I have previously told my daughter to stay away from Jackie, but she tells me that Jackie is coming to her. How can I teach her to stand up for herself without teaching her to hit back?

Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

I would request that she be in a different group- away from Jackie. Sorry you are going through this.

Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

I would also tell your DD to tell the teacher or another adult when Jackie hits her.

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

Thanks, I keep telling her this all the time. And the director will put them in different classes in the fall.

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

People won't like my answer but when my DD was having a similar problem I told her to walk away, tell a teacher, tell the kid she wasn't going to play with her if she isn't nice, all of that but I also told her if she ever felt trapped by this kid that she could hit/kick do whatever to get away. This came after the kid covered DD's mouth so she couldn't yell for help and then punched her in the ribs (left a bruise).

After the last incident it never happened again. I don't know if talking to the parents will help but I would try it. In my case the mother was completely out of it.

I still tell her that the only time she can hit is if she is trapped. She is not a hitter at all though.

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

Message edited 7/24/2013 11:26:24 AM.

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

I think the camp is dropping the ball. While Jackie may be trying to be her friend, she is lacking the social skills at this time to accomplish that. I would keep on speaking to the camp and director and ask that Jackie be shadowed by a counselor since she is being physical with your daughter. I had a similar situation with my son and another child where there was an incident 3 weeks in a row with the same child. The center did make arrangements to make sure that the child did not have ample opportunity to her my child.

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp

Re: Almost 4 year old complaints about problems in camp