Despite good preparation, a loving approach, and a professional setting, some conflicts in everyday daycare life cannot be resolved alone. Persistent behavioral issues, strong emotional distress, or family difficulties can indicate that external professional support is necessary. In this eleventh part of our blog series, we highlight the signs of deeper issues and explain how educators or parents can take the right steps towards support.
When is external support necessary?
Children who are regularly aggressive over a long period or withdraw significantly require special attention. If pedagogical measures and discussions with parents do not lead to improvement, professional help should be considered. The same applies to severe emotional issues such as persistent anxiety, tantrums, or mood swings. Sleep and eating disorders or constant sadness may indicate deeper psychological distress.
If a child stagnates in their development and does not progress linguistically, motorically, or socially, this can be a sign that further support is needed. Challenging family circumstances such as parental separation, addiction problems, or domestic violence often affect the child’s behavior and well-being. If parents also feel overwhelmed and ask for help, daycare centers should encourage them to seek external support.
First steps for educators
Observing and documenting is essential. Recording problematic situations in writing helps identify patterns and provides a solid basis for external professionals. Team discussions are equally valuable – different perspectives can lead to new solutions and support well-founded decisions.
A sensitive conversation with parents can help identify causes and develop initial joint measures. If previous approaches prove insufficient, it is important to gently encourage parents to seek external help. Early intervention can prevent escalation and provide valuable assistance to affected families.
External professional services and their offerings
Early intervention centers and counseling services provide specialized diagnostics, support programs, and parental counseling, particularly for developmental delays or uncertainties in language, motor skills, or social behavior. Child and adolescent psychological services assist with persistent behavioral abnormalities such as anxiety, aggression, or sleep disorders. Parenting counseling centers offer support for family conflicts and parenting issues, while social pediatric centers conduct comprehensive medical and therapeutic assessments, such as in cases of suspected developmental disorders or neurological problems.
Supporting parents in seeking external help
Open and empathetic conversations make it easier for parents to take the step toward seeking support. Understanding their potential fears or feelings of shame is important, as is emphasizing that a professional assessment serves the child's well-being. Providing concrete information about professional services and sharing contact details facilitate the first steps. If desired, the daycare center can assist parents in making appointments or initiating initial discussions with professionals.
A shared plan helps monitor progress. Agreements on feedback about improvements or changes ensure close coordination between educators and parents, offering the child the best possible support.
Knowing limits and handing over responsibility
Educators already contribute significantly in daycare life, but not every challenge can be managed with internal resources alone. Seeking external support is not a sign of weakness but rather a reflection of professional responsibility. The daycare center’s role is to provide a stable environment, observe and document, advise, and mediate – while diagnosis and therapy should be left to qualified professionals.
The child’s well-being is always the top priority. If there is suspicion of serious endangerment due to neglect or abuse, educators are legally obligated to inform child protection authorities or other relevant institutions.
Conclusion
Some challenges in daycare life cannot be managed alone. A trusting collaboration between educators and parents is crucial for seeking the right support at an early stage. Acting in a timely manner and utilizing external support services can prevent much suffering and ensure a child's healthy development in the long term.
In the twelfth and final part of our series, we summarize the key insights and take a look into the future: How can a continuous learning and development process be designed to sustainably strengthen children’s conflict resolution skills and emotional maturity?
