I Love My House, But...

[Mary Poppins]

It kinda bothers me because it is a split level and I almost always meet parents at the foyer which offers very little view of my home. They rarely come down into my dc (which is the entire downstairs and soon the garage too hopefully). They see it at interview and obviously love it but I worry that they might want to see the dc again, to make sure I keep it clean and stuff but because of the way my home is, they might feel sort of kept out (not intentionally, really, I mean they are welcome to come down but none ever ask).

Would you feel awkward as a parent? I certainly have nothing to hide but when I think about it, all most of them really see is a glimpse up/down the stairs (which are always immaculate) and the occasional around-the-corner peeker.

[Meyou]

My parents ask to step beyond the front entryway. They can only see a non-daycare part of my home from the door. They don't find it wierd and I don't require them to ask...they just do because this is my home as well as my work I guess.

[Heidi]

Yeah, I know what you mean. You go to all the trouble of having this super-cool set up and have art work hanging up, or things you are learning, or a new center, and no one sees it....

[Mary Poppins]

Yeah, I know what you mean. You go to all the trouble of having this super-cool set up and have art work hanging up, or things you are learning, or a new center, and no one sees it....

Yes! That's another problem. I wonder if I should host a monthly "open house" or something?

[lil angels]

My house is a different style but my parents are never able to see ether. I guess I don't think a lot of it though. Maybe every once in awhile you could say oh jimmy made something really cute today and he would like you to see do you mind. That way then you won't be having parents walking all over you don't want to open up that can of worms. Then there will be another thread started about how parents are tracking mud all over your house.

[Heidi]

I imagine you don't want to move your entry area/cubbies, or whatever you have to the bottom of the stairs, because of the dirt they will drag in?

How about send out a text once a week or two, before pick up...

"parents, please come on down and take a peek at our classroom. The kids have been working on xx, and would love for you to see"

is that 160 characters or less?

You could rotate parents, like so-and-so's family on Wednesdays, and someone else's on Fridays, or you could just make one day a week "take a peek" day. Maybe send home a note first, then a reminder text on the day. Dont forget...it's sneak a peek day!"

[MNMum]

My main playroom is right off of the front entrance, but I use my kitchen, dining, and office (baby nap room). All the toddlers and preschoolers spend most of their time in the playroom, but before the baby was big enough to sit up, she spent very little time there. She is a first child and the parents were a little untrusting (as many great parents are!). So if their baby was napping or in the other room, I gave them the option to come with me to go get her. It was more of an invitation for them to see her area. The first couple times they took me up on it, after that not so much.

[REWALKER04]

My parents are welcome to come in> But most just stand in the door entry way while I round up there children. I think because they dont want to take off there shoes and we all take are shoes off to walk on the carpet! My main part of the daycare is downstairs also so I also have wondered if they wonder if the rest of my house is as clean as my living room !

[Springdaze]

I have a separate room with its own entrance and they can see the whole room, but never come in and look closely at anything. i figured if they cared, they would!

[cheerfuldom]

If a parent has a problem and wants to see more, they should speak up. you are going to drive yourself crazy worry about who likes or does not like what. You cant change your home so if it really bothers them, there isnt anything you can do about it anyway. i like the suggestions given by others. we do a big party at Easter and all the parents come and hang out in the playroom and meet each other. Perhaps some opportunities like that can help the situation. its controlled so there arent parents wandering in your house on a daily basis, makes them feel better and more "in the know" and makes you feel that you at least reached out

[Mary Poppins]

So I decided to put up a "wall of fame" at the bottom of the stairs, where there is an empty wall. It turned out so cute! I will put up things the kids want to show off and invite parents to come down and look now and then. Then if they want to look around they can.

I'm also planning to do open houses, maybe not monthly, but perhaps to coincide with our seasonal carnivals we're doing.

[My3cents]

It kinda bothers me because it is a split level and I almost always meet parents at the foyer which offers very little view of my home. They rarely come down into my dc (which is the entire downstairs and soon the garage too hopefully). They see it at interview and obviously love it but I worry that they might want to see the dc again, to make sure I keep it clean and stuff but because of the way my home is, they might feel sort of kept out (not intentionally, really, I mean they are welcome to come down but none ever ask).

Would you feel awkward as a parent? I certainly have nothing to hide but when I think about it, all most of them really see is a glimpse up/down the stairs (which are always immaculate) and the occasional around-the-corner peeker.

I would put out a note to everyone and explain to them that you appreciate them gathering at the door, but you want them to see what and where the kids are playing so you will be putting a come on down sign up every so often so they are able to do this. This way you can expect tracking shoes, parents in your home, and it still says thank you for not invading me 100% After doing daycare all day I wouldn't want to do an open house, weekends and after close time are valued to me and my family, but once in a while........sure. Put up a sign or individually meet them and say come on down we want to show you blah blah blah. I love the show and tell board. I also love that you have a separate entry. For me pick up time can sometimes be chaos, because the parents stand in my entryway, which is my kitchen(we don't play in the kitchen unless we are eating or doing a craft) and they let the kids go wild. Kids love this, they are like ok, lets see who is in control, my mom or you- Irritating as all can be. I love to chat with the parents but I don't like the destructiveness that happens in those minutes and the fact that I am ready to be done- love your children, but its bye bye time... I want to go home too. It makes me feel caught- because I love the parent, love to chat, but also just want to be done. She takes forever to go, saying goodbye to every unliving thing, over and over, and telling her child to say bye to all these things. UGh- So I love the idea that you can invite them into your space. My space is all open, gated, but open.

When I worked in a center, we would have parents that would come in and live with us for a while. Trying to get stuff done and you have a parent relaxing out. There was nothing I could do about that, working for someone else- but it was annoying as all can be- Be-careful that this doesn't become an issue for you, sometimes you give an inch and before you know it you have a yard on your hands....

Best-