How Do I Talk to My Child About a Daycare Injury?

Why Does Communication with Your Child Matter After a Daycare Injury?

Ongoing open communication can reveal your child’s positive and negative experiences with caregivers and classmates at a local daycare center. And, following a daycare injury, these conversations can be telling and help you intervene and notify the proper authorities.

Sadly, daycare injuries in Texas are more common than any parent would like to imagine. Texas Health and Human Services reported the agency conducted 4,158 investigations at daycare and childcare centers after children 4 years old and younger were harmed at facilities across the state in 2023. That is why age-appropriate approaches to discussions with your child can help you understand if your child’s injury was an accident or caused by safety failures at the center, such as negligence or abuse at the hands of a caregiver.

Our experienced daycare injury lawyers recommend parents take an age-appropriate approach, which includes using simple words, telling a story, and remaining calm. This is important when a child informs you of disturbing incidents such as physical or sexual abuse at the hands of a caregiver or even another child. A calm demeanor signals to your child that you understand and are not angry or upset with them, thus making them feel safe with you and able to trust you. It is also vital to reassure your child that they are not in trouble and that you are there to help them by using comforting phrases like “It’s okay to tell me what happened” and “You’re safe now, and I want to make sure you’re okay.”

Patience is also key. After a traumatic incident at a daycare center, some children take time to process their experience and speak about it. Be careful not to press them to share all details with you immediately. It may take a few short conversations to help your child feel comfortable discussing what happened to them.

Also, the time of day you speak one-on-one with your child is important. Choosing a quiet and private time, like bedtime, to connect with your child allows them to be open about their experiences at the daycare center.

What Are Leading Questions and Why Should They Be Avoided After a Daycare Injury?

Leading questions are questions that could influence your child’s responses by directing them to answer in a specific way. For example, a leading question after a daycare injury can sound like: Was your teacher not paying attention when you fell?

These types of questions can confuse your child and prevent you from getting the correct information. Instead, our experienced daycare and child injury lawyers recommend asking open-ended questions that allow your child to share details about what happened. Some great starter questions include:

Can you tell me what happened before you got hurt?
What were you doing when you got the boo-boo?
How did your arm feel after that happened?

How Can I Talk to My Young Child with Limited Speech After a Daycare Injury?

Communication can be a challenge for nonverbal children and toddlers who are still developing their language skills.

To help you navigate conversations about experiences at a local daycare center with children who have limited speech, our team of daycare and child injury lawyers advise you:

Choose words that are age-appropriate and easy for your child to understand.
- Did something hurt you today?
- Who was with you when this happened?

Use visual aids if your child struggles to articulate their experience. Pictures of the daycare center, classroom, or playground can help prompt their memory.
Pay attention to nonverbal cues such as body language or gestures. Watch for signs of discomfort, hesitation, or distress when discussing certain topics or people at the daycare center.

Did Your Child Reveal an Injury or Traumatic Experience at a Daycare Center? Contact The Button Law Firm.

If your child reveals they were physically or emotionally injured a daycare center anywhere in Texas, our team of experienced and compassionate daycare and child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm can help. We’re dedicated to advocating for you and your family. We are ready to listen and fight for your family to get justice and move forward. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Get a free case evaluation by calling us at 214-699-4409, emailing us at [email protected], or filling out a contact form.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Texas Daycare Abuse Attorney Today

If you or someone you know has a child who was harmed by their daycare teacher, contact our firm. We know how difficult getting through this can be. Our experienced team wants to help guide you – as we have helped guide many parents and families within Midland, Houston, Dallas, and the surrounding areas.

You can give us a call at (214) 699-4409 or email us at [email protected]. You can also reach out to us by filling out the form below or by starting a chat with a member of our team.

Helping Parents: How to Talk to Your Child About a Daycare Injury

Why Does Communication with Your Child Matter After a Daycare Injury?

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What Are Leading Questions and Why Should They Be Avoided After a Daycare Injury?

How Can I Talk to My Young Child with Limited Speech After a Daycare Injury?

Did Your Child Reveal an Injury or Traumatic Experience at a Daycare Center? Contact The Button Law Firm.

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