I'm a preschool teacher and this photo shows why parents are 'infuriating'

"The parents insist the child's behaviour is not the problem," the frustrated carer captions the photo.

A preschool teacher has shared her concern about how parents handle their children’s behaviour. 

In a candid post on social media, the 40-year-old teacher shared an alarming image of her classroom in utter disarray due to a toddler’s tantrum. 

The comments show that this incident has highlighted a more extensive issue, where parents frequently downplay or dismiss their children’s disruptive behaviour as just ‘kids being kids’.

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"The child is not the problem"

The shared image shows a scene of toys scattered across the classroom floor, with tubs flipped over and shelves left empty. 

In the midst of this chaos, the teacher voiced her exasperation, noting that, “The parents insist the child’s behaviour is not the problem.

“I’m 4 ft 11 in., (150cm) and I’ve had five-year-olds come up to my chin and a seven-year-old who can look me in the eye. "

Recounting her experiences, she mentioned incidents like having “metal bottles swung at her head,” leading to injuries.

She also described how a young child could swiftly wreak havoc, “Stomping on toys, ripping up books, biting markers and pencils, hanging off doorknobs, tearing squishy or fiddle toys in half.

"Kids are not innocent lambs; they can experience anger, vengeance, and jealousy, sometimes causing deliberate harm."

Image: Reddit

"It infuriates me"

The comments section was filled with expressions of frustration and concern, stressing the effect of lenient parenting practices.

“F**king infuriates me that one child could take away my own son’s right to education and safe environment,” one shared.

“Just knowing there’s idiotic parents like this out there is so depressing,” added another. 

Some commenters offered an alternative perspective. 

One person with experience in early childhood education emphasised the need for consequences, stating, “If a child behaves like this, everything should stop until the kid cleans everything up - no class, no lunch, no going home.” 

This approach aims to instill a sense of accountability in young children.

Childcare professionals also added their voices to the ongoing conversation. 

Some believe that children with disruptive behaviour could benefit from tailored, one-on-one guidance, with their interactions with peers managed during recess and snack times. 

These experts share deep concerns for both the child experiencing challenges and the well-being of their playmates, highlighting the importance of fostering a nurturing environment in early education.

Whose job is it anyway?

Amid the passionate debate, some questioned whether the issue might be attributed to classroom management rather than parental neglect. 

They raised the possibility that the teacher might have overlooked certain aspects leading up to the child’s explosive outburst.

One mother urged caution in immediately blaming parents, stating that extreme situations often stem from a series of events: “Reddit just loves to blame parents because it’s easy, and many don’t know any better."

Finally, this parent noted, "I want to know how much this teacher has missed. This doesn’t just happen - things have to escalate to get to this point."

Originally published as I'm a preschool teacher and this photo shows why parents are 'infuriating'