Why Can't They Let Kids Be Kids?

[SilverSabre25]

I let the kids stomp in an enormous puddle of water on my patio yesterday. They had a BLAST! Splashing, stomping, jumping, making footprints...it was great. I had to coax one little 3 yo into jumping but once she did, you can't even imagine the look of unbridled joy on her face! (I also taught her to pedal a tricycle the same day).

Well, at pick-up, her mom yelled at her for her boots being soaked. These are stupid fashionable boots with fabric uppers that the kid can barely run in! She has been wearing them all winter. "WHY are your boots wet? Were you playing in water? That is NOT okay!"

I explained that I let them jump in a puddle on the patio and was trying to explain about how much FUN they had and mom cut me off, saying directly to dcg, "NO MORE STOMPING IN PUDDLES! Your boots are SOAKED!"

I felt like sticking out my tongue at her! It was a puddle of water...dumped out of a toy box on the porch. It wasn't muddy. It was *water*. They jumped, they splashed...they are CHILDREN.

WHY?????

(I mean, it doesn't entirely surprise me...this is the child that is dressed in the dumbest clothing for an active, playful, potty-training child, fussy stuff that is hard to manage...but still. Good grief, get a clue, folks! I let the kids play! She's been here for two years you should KNOW that by now!)

[Francine]

I use to have a Mom that would send her little girl in all kinds of frilly stuff, white sundresses in the summer etc. Those were the days that we went outside to roll in the grass I told her and told her so she knew what I expected so I didn't feel bad about getting her clothes dirty.

[Ariana]

That ****s I hate parents like this!! I always tell the parents to send their kids in clothes that can get dirty and muddy. I also tell them that we go outside and JUMP IN PUDDLES so good boots and a one piece rain suit is what they should be wearing if they don't want them to get wet. This mom obviously has bizarre expectations

[Blackcat31]

I had my share of parents like that too.....now I have a special section in my PHB that talks about things like that.

I make sure they understand before signing on that we DO play in the rain, we DO make mud pies, we DO dig in black dirt and we DO all kinds of things that most parents wouldn't dream of letting their kids do.

I make sure I tell the parents I do it so they don't have to....

Ooooh, now I can't wait until our snow starts melting a bit more and we have mud and puddles! happyface

[Soupyszoo]

That's sad! Poor little girl was just having fun

[AmyLeigh]

I have one mom who sends her son in clean, white shoes, with an extra pair for when he goes outside. He basically changes shoes as soon as he comes in and wears the grubby ones all day. Then, changes back before pick up time. Whatever makes her happy, huh?

[Oneluckymom]

My yard has mud at times and there are puddles after heavy rains in other parts of my play area.

I tell parents from day one...your child WILL get dirty and their shoes may come home with mud at times (although I try to keep them clean) I can promise you. So dress them to come and play.

They always start out bringing them looking "nice" and then when they come home dirty they start bringing them in play clothes.

Your poor little girl. I hope her mom changes her tune and eases up on her

[SimpleMom]

Oh no! That's awful. Man, she really would have been quite upset at me today (). My boys went and SAT in a MUDDY puddle!!! Not just wet boots, but socks too!!! But they had a BLAST and were safe and warm.

Tell Mom to bring rain gear and old boots for splashing in.

Poor kiddo. Way to push her down

All of my families are just fine with it at this time. I have had very few that have been irritated by the messy stuff.

Sorry that happened---good thing that little gal has you to give her some fun kid-friendly times!

[SimpleMom]

I had my share of parents like that too.....now I have a special section in my PHB that talks about things like that.

I make sure they understand before signing on that we DO play in the rain, we DO make mud pies, we DO dig in black dirt and we DO all kinds of things that most parents wouldn't dream of letting their kids do.


I make sure I tell the parents I do it so they don't have to....

Ooooh, now I can't wait until our snow starts melting a bit more and we have mud and puddles! happyface

I have this too. I am very upfront with them in my handbook, at the interview, and periodically throughout the year It helps a lot.

[MrsB]

Oh Silver you are soooo right! This is one of those issues that makes my blood boil!

First, of all I would have called the mom later and asked why you would get mad at the poor little girl for something you allowed her to do. So the little girl is supposed to tell her daycare provider. "No I can't do that my mom wont let me" Really? If she has an issue with something that happened while you were in charge then she needs to come to you!

Secondly, I also would have highlighted to her in the contract where I have that they come to daycare in PLAY clothes that may get water, paint, or dirty. If you want them in nice clothes/shoes when they leave. Bring them with you, I have a bathroom you can use to change in!

Thirdly, I would have WANTED to say, this is a daycare where we have fun and explore new things, SAFELY. If you want a daycare that bubble wraps kids and they sit all nice and pretty in pretty clothes, this isnt the place for your child!

Good thing your not me!:::: You would probably have one less enrolled child.

Poor you! Poor little girl! Sorry don't think I am coming off on you harshly! This is one of those things that fires me up. And they wonder why so many kids these days have sensory issues, dont know how to drink out of normal cups, can't stand to have a little dirt on their hands, etc. I could go on forever.

Exiting soap box now! Phew that felt good!

[daycare]

I make parents bring extra clothing for when we have crazy dirty messy days.

I can't stand it when they show up in all white clothing...makes me want to let them find the biggest mud puddle and jump in.....hahah jk

I so hear you on what you are saying. Just like the others, I had to add it to my PHB.

NOw if I could only come up with an easier way to wash the kids up so that they can all come back in for the day and still be clean enough to return to the daycare room...

Monday we went to start our farming and gardening project and we were so dirty I had to change everyones clothes and we all stunk soooooo bad...GROSS

[Kaddidle Care]

This reminds me of a picnic we had - oh some 15 years ago. It was summer and we were at a local park and a sudden unexpected rainstorm came. It was one of those storms that lasts 15-20 minutes but totally douses everything.
We hung out in a covered picnic table area while the rain came down.

As a result, there were flooded areas in a field and the kids went out after the storm and started jumping and splashing and having a wonderful time. They were even running and sliding into it on their bellies - oh what fun! Mud? Yes, Dirt? Yes! Water YES! The experience was priceless! We Moms were in stitches watching them.

I felt so bad for the one child who's mother refused to let him get wet and he watched wistfully while his friends had so much fun. We tried and tried but nobody could convince her that it was worth the mess for the fun they had.

Too bad that this Mom sounds the same way.

I've never been one of those Moms that insisted on having my kids pristine. Perhaps it was because I had boys. Do I dare show you the picture I took of my 2 after I caught them digging and pouring dirt on top of each other? They looked like sad little orphans - of course I had to take a picture before I threw them in the shower. LOL

[Hmorsag]

I would totally make the mom bring and extra set or two of "mud approved" clothing - the kid shouldn't be punished for the mom's style issues.

I also keep extra clothes on hand (old hand me downs and re-sale shop stuff) for little instances like this. The parents always comment when their kid comes home in my clothes because they are far from fancy or stylish or the crocs may be a size too big. But they are clean and the kids don't care.

I had one parent out right refuse to bring in extra clothes -- one day I sent their son home in pink sweat pants because he had an accident in his regular clothes -- next day I they brought two extra outfits for him.

[Bookworm]

We had a mom get mad because her kid had a shoe full of sand. The shoes in question-Crocs. You know the shoes with holes on the side and the back open. We can't win with this family. Even his extra clothes are top dollar.

[Hunni Bee]

My kids go home with green knees and muddy shoes every day. And I live in an area where kiddie designer wear gets a LOT of play. And I don't care. I'm not going to restrict their outside time. I take care of kids, not clothes.

I mean, I don't let them pelt mud at each other. But, I mean, if they crawl through the tunnel twice, their pants are shot. If they run through a puddle, their shoes are going to get dirty. Sorry, moms.

I used to care, and do a lot of unnecessary laundry, too. But I stopped when I had the absolute worst kid of my life. I threaten to quit over this child. He would wear a Ralph Lauren polo shirt, sweater or button-down, often white, nearly every day. And his mother would insist that we keep it clean. Soo, along with keeping him from punching, kicking, spitting on and cursing at me and the other kids every second, I had to keep his clothing spotless too? Nahhh, sister. And she would definitely complain if I didn't.

After that, I let em play. If its horrible, (black paint, swam in the spaghetti, etc.) I'll change them and rinse it, but other than that...I let kids be kids.