Blue Bird of Alexandria II

8VAC20-780-410-1 Complaint related: Yes

“Based on observation and staff interview, a staff member engaged in a forbidden action by roughly handling and forcing a child to assume an uncomfortable position. Evidence: 1.On or about 7/25/2023, during outdoor waterplay, Staff #1 was observed spraying down Child #1 (3 years) with a water hose. The child was heard screaming and crying in response. 2. A video recording of the incident shows a staff member grabbing a child’s wrist with one hand and spraying the child over the head and in the face with the water hose. The child is seen trying to pull away from the staff as the staff continues to hold the child’s wrist/hand. The child can be heard crying as the staff continues to spray the child. The staff sprays the child for about 8 seconds then walks away from the crying child. 3. On 7/28/2023, management identified the staff person on the video as Staff #1 and the age group as 2 ?- 3-year-olds. 4. When interviewed, Staff #1 stated the following: a. On Tuesday, 7/25/2023, the class went outside around 10:45 am for pool day with herself and 2 other staff members. They went back inside around 11:30 am. b. The 2 pools were filled with water; they don?t use the hose for anything but filling the pools. They split the children in 2 groups to play in the pool. When the children are done playing, Staff #3 dries them off and takes a group inside. c. There is one child (Child #1) that does not like to play in the pool. ?He does not like the water, he does not like the splashing, he separates from the others?. Child #1 ?is the only one to cry when they splash water, he cries?. d. Staff #1 initially denied spraying a child with the hose and said ?I didn?t see any staff put the hose on any child?. When shown the video, Staff #1 verified it was herself in the video holding the hose, spraying the child, and named the child as Child #1 who is 3 years old.”