Case Study

Marie, a mother coming to pick up her child from the nursery, is horrified to see Jasmeena, one of the staff, waking one of the children from what appears to be a deep sleep. Jasmeena woke the child very gently and cuddled her for some time, but Marie is still very concerned since she feels that a sleeping child should always be left to wake when they are ready. What Marie did not know was that the child’s parents had specifically requested that the child be woken after 1 hour of sleep. Marie comes to talk to you about her concerns.

• What do you think about this matter? Should children be woken from sleep during the day?
• We know sleep is essential for good health and concentration so could we just say it’s our policy to let them sleep and disregard the parents’ wishes?
• Why do you think Marie was unhappy about this situation? After all, it wasn’t her child she saw being woken?
• How would you deal with Marie’s concerns? How would you involve Jasmeena in the conversation? It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.