Outdoor Play

[Country Kids]

My contracted hours dont have a window. So I know what time they will get dropped off and picked up. Or do you mean 1 kid is at this time kid 2 is at this time, between those times??

If that is the case I am with crystal..Let them go home dirty. I tell parents when they start, YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO GET DIRTY.

We went to our farm to start our garden project the other day and OMG the kids were so nasty dirty. I washed them up when we got home well enough to eat and return to the house, but they were still super dirty. I don't have time to change each and every child. As long as the kid is not complaining about it, I leave them be. My 4 year old DCG hates being dirty she can't stand it, so I do change her clothes to keep the rest of us sane.

The kids have back up clothes there, if the paretns want to change them let them.....

Yes, each child has a time they are being picked up by. Parents are great about being on time also.

We are having absolutely wonderful weather today!!!!happyfacehappyfacehappyface I was very tempted to skip nap and let them stay outside the rest of the day but one was doing so well, so we came in and they are now all sleeping!!!!!

[daycare]

Yes, each child has a time they are being picked up by. Parents are great about being on time also.

We are having absolutely wonderful weather today!!!!happyfacehappyfacehappyface I was very tempted to skip nap and let them stay outside the rest of the day but one was doing so well, so we came in and they are now all sleeping!!!!!

we are doing green eggs and ham today and I almost threw naps out the window so we could get it all done, but I would hate myself tomorrow when they all said but I dont want a nap, we didnt take a nap yesterday.....lmao ugh

[Texasjeepgirl]

when we play outside until pickup the parents are responsible for changing them if they want their kid clean before getting in the car. I've yet to have anyone complain.

ditto...
Same here

[Mom&Provider]

Really?? Parents are upset that their child has been having fun, playing and exploring? :confused: Kids get messy, they attract dirt and stains! ::

I've never worried. If we're outside and it's close to pick-up we stay out! No one has ever commented to me about their child being messy and having been on both sides (sending my child to daycare and now having a daycare) I have always thought it's to be expected! I'm not talking from head to toe dirt, but pants are going to get dirty (bums and knees), shoes are not going to stay white and winter/rain gear is going to get wet...they are kids having fun after all!

I would let their comments slide...or maybe respond with something like ya he/she has had alot of great fun today!

[Countrygal]

Like most of the others, the parents are told to expect them dirty here. If it is a problem, they have a spare set of clothes here that they are welcome to change into. Thankfully, I've had no issues.

[Solandia]

We do the real messy stuff in the morning (sprinklers, bubbles, garden). The afternoon is still somewhat messy, after all, I do have a huge sandbox. . If a parent has someplace to go directly after daycare, they change the child themselves before they leave. I have had a few passive-aggressive/muttered under the breath comments about all the sand in their car...but unless one chooses to actually address an issue, it doesn't exist. Seriously, complain about your car all you want muchacha, you should see all the sand in my house! No sympathy from me.


Wintertime fun isn't all that messy, just wet. And no one complains, because it seems I am the only one that actually wants to play outside in the snow with the kiddos. Otherwise, unless the child is old enough to play outside by themselves, most of my past parents never took them out in the snow, sledding, etc...

[Cat Herder]

We get dirty playing outdoors and with art supplies here, too, but my DCK's go home in clean, fresh clothing everyday.

I also comb/style hair and keep nails trimmed and clean. My clients appreciate it as few go straight home after pick-up. It is one of the perks of coming here. I remembered it being one of the biggest parent complaints from when I worked in centers .

My clients all pick-up within a 30 minute time frame so it is very simple for me to do (Open-Close Hours, Full-Time Only). We come indoors at 5 and I change their clothes, shoes/socks and do their hair as I do diaper changes. After that we do felt boards, puzzles, blocks, etc...until they are all gone by 5:50.

I toss the days clothes/shoes into the wash with their sheets and blankets from nap. They are ready, in their cubby for the next day when I open the next morning. I used to keep black/green/brown cotton sweat suits, shorts and T-shirts for the playground (just kept their clothes in the cubby for going home time) but these past few groups outgrow the 2t-3t so fast (by age 2!!) it was costing me money to keep them stocked.

Country, It is the same way here... If we go outside, we get wet and muddy, year round. There is no way around it and we are required to go out at least 30 minutes everyday barring inclement/dangerous weather according to the chart. This is how I adapted. It also saves my dining room and living room from being trashed as they pass through to go home. Win-Win...

[LK5kids]

We go out twice a day but kids really don't get very dirty. But if they do get dirty I expect parents to understand that outside play is very important and also required by the state. And yes, parents HATE sand in the hair!

My state requires we go out every day unless colder than 1 degree wind chill (2 yrs. and and up) brrrrrrrr. ( we are suppose to stay in if there are wind chills of 20 degrees or under if some kids are under 2yrs.). I usually have under 2's, so that keeps us from going out in bitter cold. To me, 0-10 is bitter cold! This may be a northern state, but we're not that darn hardy!

[Angelsj]

I would have told the parent to make sure she has a towel in the vehicle for situations such as this. If we play outside at the end of the day the children go home dirty, wet, etc... I sometimes do water play (once in a while) and on those days the children go home in their bathing suits. Parents are welcome to keep a spare set of clothes in the vehicle to change their children into, otherwise, I don't clean them up.

Yes. Kids leave here muddy, wet, once they all left painted (my dd painted their face to look like Navi from the movie Avatar.) I have offered parents old towels to put in their cars, but most have them.

My policy book tells parents the kids WILL leave here dirty!! Though when it is cold, I do try to keep them dry. The only parent who complained stopped when I showed her the policy she signed, and started putting the child in play clothes.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have a parent that will take her child's shoes and wash them off in the sink. When the child attempts to do it, I let them know that shoes are meant to have little pieces of grass stuck to the bottom and it is perfectly ok!

My kids don't get too dirty. We are only outside 50 min. in the morning and 40 in the afternoon at playgrounds. If they were to get very dirty, I'd have some very upset parents.

[daycarediva]

We have rain boots/snow boots for outdoor play. My early pickup is gone at 3:30, so after that we head outside. We come in at 5 and everyone gets changed/cleaned up as needed and then indoor free play (usually puzzles, manipulatives, felt board, etc) but in general, they aren't picking up from the backyard. Maybe you could go outside after your early pickup? or send a note home saying that you are outside during that time, so if you need to go somewhere bring a change of clothes and be prepared to spend a few minutes cleaning up your lo?