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Original poster

Call from nursery : your daughter's hair has been cut off

213 replies

emoo777 · 08/10/2013 15:35

DD is 3 1/2 and we have been growing her lovely blonde hair, so that it was easy to put into a ponytail. I have just had a call from nursery to say the children were 'playing hairdressers' and before they saw what was happening her hair had been massively cut off. It was several inches below her neck and now apparentely can't be put into a ponytail and they suggested I book a hair appointment to even it up!?? WTF?! 3 year olds with scissors and not properly supervised? I haven't seen it yet as I have to work ahead of picking up the children. I can't work though as am furious - I don't know whether to cry or shout. What do I say to them when I pick her up? Surely this shouldn't have happened?
Help!!!
xx

OP posts:
hettienne · 08/10/2013 22:00

soverylucky - are you not happy if they don't supervise her ever? Do you expect an adult to be watching her at all times?

soverylucky · 08/10/2013 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 08/10/2013 22:07

I don't think the level of supervision/ access to scissors was necessarily wrong - I've worked in nurseries where 3 and 4 year olds had saws - but that did make me slightly nervous I must say.
But it's very understandable you would be upset about this.
The nursery should apologise, and offering to pay for a hair appointment would be a nice gesture.
But as a parent I think you have to see that accidents will happen, and at least no-one was hurt - and it will gradually grow back ?

Permanentlyexhausted · 08/10/2013 22:12

I imagine it's a shock and I'd be sad if it happened to my DD because she has beautiful hair now.

I say 'now' because a large proportion of it fell out a couple of years ago as a result of a serious illness she had. On top of everything else she went through, it was pretty crap to have her hair fall out just as she was getting better.

It will grow back.

Scarifying · 08/10/2013 22:18

OP

That does sound pretty bad. I would be pee'd off about it but I can also understand that things like this can happen. The kids could have been hiding out in the Wendy house (or whatever) and they could well have been quiet as they were doing it.

I just don't think its realistic to think your child is going to be actively watched at all times Confused.
I would still complain to the nursery and I would expect them to pay for a good haircut (possibly the cut after that too)
It is only hair and, if you can get over the shock, I hope you find that your DD looks just as beautiful with a very short haircut. I find short haircuts on little girls are often absolutely stunning.

I hope your DD is ok.

Scarifying · 08/10/2013 22:22

Id forgot to put the guard on the hair lipped when I went to cut his hair Blush I did a big long sweep right along the top of his head. He looked like a badger Sad. I had to shave all his very dark, vary thick hair off which made him look like a thug.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I did it.

Scarifying · 08/10/2013 22:23

Agghh typos galore!

I forgot to put the guard on the HAIR CLIPPERS when I went to cut my DS's hair

level3at6months · 08/10/2013 22:31

I do sympathise, but there are some terribly hysterical reactions on here. Yes, your nursery aged child will use scissors. They will be supervised but they might be one of 39 with staff dealing with sand in eyes, wet pants, bumped heads and all the other daily occurrences in Nursery. A pair of round ended scissors might ruin a lovely hair do but they are no more likely to be horribly dangerous than a pencil or a child's nails. Accidents happen.

And breathe...

utreas · 08/10/2013 23:14

Its not the end of the world is it

landrover · 08/10/2013 23:23

Blimey, you are all very relaxed here! Children with scissors in nursery should be supervised, end of! yes fortunately for the nursery it will grow back but no way should that have happened!

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/10/2013 23:27

The one thing know one has mentioned is that once you cut their hair it grows back thicker. How do I know this DD snuck paper scissors and cut her hair off in only a few minutes. When it grew it was so much thicker than before. Soon she will have a fabulous pony tail. And then suddenly they are 9 wanting side fringes and the such like.

mathanxiety · 09/10/2013 01:15

Hettienne, I don't know what chaotic nurseries you are familiar with, but I know I wouldn't want any of my DCs to ever have the misfortune to spend time in them.

If there are not enough staff to adequately supervise the children, and if sharp objects can be reached by anyone who fancies using one, then those nurseries are dangerous places, poorly laid out if there isn't a direct line of sight for the adult into every square inch of the room, and badly run if activities do not include all the children at the same time so nobody can go off to do their own thing.

DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved · 09/10/2013 01:30

Oh dear, I would be cross too, and be asking some serious questions about supervision and time left on their own.

But I'd hope the nursery were really apologetic and then I'd let it go (plus money for hair dresser obviously). Accidents do happen and though a shocking one not an accident that has left tears or blood I hope...

loveandsmiles · 09/10/2013 02:31

Haha this brought back memories! When my eldest DC in pre school they were sitting on carpet for storytime and one little boy at back had scissors - he went along row cutting back of everyone's hair and clothing. To this day - 6 years later, mum's still refer to it as scissor gate and some still don't speak to each other - big argument followed the incident!! I can chuckle cos my DC was sat at the front.........

I would be mad if I were you, but these things can happen very quickly but no-one was injured and hair will grow Smile

kali110 · 09/10/2013 03:37

I cut my hair twice when i was little.very badly.
Everyone saying they should inly use safety scissors that only cut paper, they can cut hair aswell!!!

kali110 · 09/10/2013 03:41

And no ot really doesnt take that long to cut hair that short as i demonstrated many moons ago

festered · 09/10/2013 04:06

Hair grows back.

Supervision issue though, definitely. Scissors (if any!) at that age should be the plastic covered ones that don't cut owt but paper.
They should address the issue-you should make sure they do if only for the protection against children getting hurt in the future. If you can, keep your child off for a few days and make it clear how angry you are (calmly!) make them see that this is unacceptable.

prissyenglisharriviste · 09/10/2013 04:23

Hundreds of kids give each other hair cuts every single day.
I have yet to hear of a three year old that wants to play stabbing or gouging. They are too busy being hairdressers.
They are using their imaginations, gaining brilliant fine motor skills, and are playing together cooperatively. Usually the kids don't mind their wacky hair cuts at all - it's just the mummies that weep and wail and gnash teeth.

Unfortunately, the child getting the hair cut is usually just as keen on the experiment as the kid with the scissors. Grin and often has asked the other kid to cut their hair....

Chill out. I hope you laughed and said 'goodness me, dd, that's a bit of a hair cut, sometimes it's better to let a grown-up hairdresser cut your hair - she'll we go and find one to tidy you up a bit?' Sharp intakes of breath, shocked faces, and upset would really be making a mountain out of a molehill.

Yes, I have daughters. Their hair is usually waist length. I have a really short pixie cut. It's hair. No one was in any danger at all. Lots of girls with very long hair here are choosing to have it all cut off and donate it for wigs for children with cancer, even the little tiny ones.

mrssprout · 09/10/2013 04:33

My niece had her hair cut by another child at the same age. My sisters partner picked her up that day & he was furious.She had never had a haircut before & the other child had hacked off a big chunk of curls at the front. He couldn't believe 2&3 year olds had been given scissors that cut like this. The scissors had been put out at a craft table that was one of a few choices that children could do, the teachers were wandering between the activities so no one was at the table supervising when the hair was cut. Just lucky it was hair & not finger, face etc.

monkeynuts123 · 09/10/2013 07:57

Oh whoops! Those safety scissors can cut hair? I let my dd play hairdressers with me the other day and she merrily did me a 'haircut' at the back. I've got rather a lot of hair and wonder now if there is a bit missing, I haven't checked and at moment am at work nowhere near 2 mirrors, wtf! Ha ha. Agree with advice to arrange as a meeting and be very stern indeed and they def have to pay for haircut. I thought I did hear snipping but thought it was just the sound of my bristly hair on blunt scissors, I have a sinking feeling I've got a bit missing.

Ragwort · 09/10/2013 08:19

Nursery fees do not enable staff to supervise the children 100% of the time, OFSTED rules actively encourage 'free play' - if you don't like that fact you need to employ a one to one nanny or stay at home with your own child.

I still want to hear more about the situation where the OP herself admitted to cutting off someone's plait when she was 6.

This is such a massive over-reaction, and expecting the nursery to pay for a hair cut Hmm - this will only be passed back to you via the fees.

SkodaLabia · 09/10/2013 08:30

Is it short all over, OP, or where the pony tail was tied? What does your DD say happened?

MrsLettuce · 09/10/2013 08:36

Confused are people not seeing that the OP said that all her DD's hair has been cut off, all over? Shortest bits 1cm and longest bits an inch?

That takes ages, I know, I did it to my own hair as a child.

Beastofburden · 09/10/2013 08:42

Sharp metal scissors as well. Looks incompetent to me, I am afraid. This is not a trivial swipe with some child safe scissors. I think this is a health and safety issue.

Grennie · 09/10/2013 08:50

Some of the reactions on her are way OTT. At nurseries there should be a range of activities on offer, and children choose what they do. This kind of free play is essential to young children's development. At 3.5 they are young, but they do not need an adult hovering over them every time thye use safety scissors. Safety scissors will not cause real harm, but yes they will cut hair.

Really, this is no big deal. It is just one of those accidents. In terms of supervision, it may have been one of those chaotic times where half the children had bumped their head, or had an accident, etc.