What started as a normal school day for 4-year-old Ella Thompson quickly turned into a nightmare that her parents say they’ll never forget.
Ella, a bright and shy preschooler at Sunnybrook Early Learning Center, came home one afternoon with a large yellow sticker on her shirt that read “SLEEPY” in bold, black letters — a label her teacher had given her after she yawned during circle time.
At first, her mother, Jessica Thompson, thought it was part of a classroom game — until she saw her daughter’s tear-streaked face.
“She told me, ‘Mommy, the teacher said I’m the sleepy kid,’” Jessica recalled. “She said everyone laughed at her. My heart broke instantly.”
According to the parents, Ella’s teacher had a practice of labeling children with stickers meant to “encourage behavior improvement” — including tags like “Silly,” “Shy,” “Messy,” and “Sleepy.”
However, the Thompsons argue that such labels amount to public humiliation and emotional harm, especially at such a young age.
“She’s four years old,” said her father, Michael Thompson. “She’s supposed to feel safe and loved at school — not bullied by the adults who are supposed to care for her.”
When the parents confronted the preschool’s administration, they were stunned to learn that the sticker policy was informal but known among several teachers.
One staff member admitted that the stickers were used to “help children become more self-aware,” but conceded it might have gone too far.
The Thompsons immediately filed a formal complaint with the local Department of Education, calling the incident “a form of emotional abuse.”
Child psychologists have also weighed in, saying that labeling children, even in playful ways, can have long-term effects on self-esteem and identity.
“At that age, children internalize words and labels deeply,” explained Dr. Renee Walters, a child development expert. “Calling a child ‘sleepy’ or ‘lazy’ might sound harmless to adults, but to a preschooler, it becomes part of how they see themselves.”
The incident has since gone viral on social media after Jessica shared a photo of the sticker online, sparking outrage from parents nationwide.
Thousands of comments poured in, demanding accountability from the school.
Some called it “teacher bullying,” while others said it highlighted a deeper problem in early education — a lack of empathy and training in emotional awareness.
Sunnybrook Early Learning Center has since suspended the teacher involved and issued a public statement saying they were “deeply sorry for the distress caused” and that new guidelines would be introduced to prevent such behavior.
But for the Thompsons, the damage is already done.
“Ella cries when it’s time to go to school,” Jessica said softly. “She keeps asking if she’ll get another sticker for being bad. No parent should have to hear that.”
The family is now considering legal action, saying they won’t stop until schools take emotional safety as seriously as physical safety.