parents throwing a fit over new rule

[daycare]

I do field trips all of the time. I plan these for the DCK.

Well most of my mom's are SAHM. They often want to attend these functions with us, which I don't have a problem with, as long as they take their kid with them when they leave.

THe new rule that was added is that I am not allowing for the DCP to bring siblings, young family members or friends. I need to be able to focus on the group that I have and not have to deal with a ton of other kids.

Do you think that I am being out of line? Some of my DCP always have young friends or family with them at pick up and several times I have had to ask them to go outside do to behavior.

What is your thought on this? Should I drop it or should I continue to put my foot down.

[Country Kids]

Stick with it!!! Alot of schools, centers, etc have this very same rule so why wouldn't it apply to you. Anytime I do anything with my child in the schools, I always checked to see if I could bring siblings/dcks to the function first. They were usually pretty good because they knew my circumstance but I always checked first.

[cheerfuldom]

I do field trips all of the time. I plan these for the DCK.

Well most of my mom's are SAHM. They often want to attend these functions with us, which I don't have a problem with, as long as they take their kid with them when they leave.

THe new rule that was added is that I am not allowing for the DCP to bring siblings, young family members or friends. I need to be able to focus on the group that I have and not have to deal with a ton of other kids.

Do you think that I am being out of line? Some of my DCP always have young friends or family with them at pick up and several times I have had to ask them to go outside do to behavior.

What is your thought on this? Should I drop it or should I continue to put my foot down.

continue to put your foot down. you could get in a huge mess if one of these random kids get hurts on an activity you planned, whether they are daycare kid or not. There is some liability involved in having these extra people along for the trip that you dont necessarily have control over. Plus, your service is a daycare service, not a play group.

Are people complaining about this rule and getting confrontational? or are they just disappointed that things are changing a bit?

I would follow up with a letter explaining why, if you havent done that already. Focus on stating that you are doing your best to take care of the children currently enrolled in your daycare and are not able to do your job to the fullest if you have other kids tagging along. You can also blame it on licensing or insurance rules...being out of ratio and whatnot. OR you might consider offering a few spots for each trip where the parent pays your daily drop in rate so their child can come with your group for the day and be assured to have the supervision/ratio that you feel okay handling.

[Willow]

I'm surprised you even let parents come along! I'd worry about having too many cooks in the proverbial kitchen spoiling the dynamic of the group.

You're not at all out of line, and in my opinion you've already been beyond accommodating as it is!

[youretooloud]

I wouldn't mind the field trips so much, but there is NOTHING I hate more than parents who come in with a pack of older kids who want to come in and play. I've had kids i've never seen come in and trash a cleaned room in less than five minutes, then the parents just think it's no big deal. Like I'm a free playground or something. The chaos it causes is huge.

[Heidi]

Well...we recently had this same situation at school.

One of my dcm's mom was attended a field trip, and had to bring dcb along because I was closed that day. He is the younger sib of her schoolager. It was take dcb or she couldn't go to chaperone.

Since she was providing her own transportation and it was a public place, and she was paying any admission, I don't think the school should say "you cannot bring younger sibs". Nor do I think it's very nice, really.

When my oldest two were in school, sibs were always welcome on field trips. It was part of the family-friendly atmosphere at the school.

BUT....


I do understand what you are saying, though, and it is your daycare, so you have to decide your rules. For me, personally, I would say as long as the parents are meeting us there and providing their own transportation, and as long as they take ALL their children home afterwards, I wouldn't say no. Last winter, I organized a trip to a local (indoor) water park. Because we had so many dck's, sibs, and friends, they gave us a great deal!

[Blackcat31]

What does your liability insurance say about it?

My insurance covers enrolled/registered daycare children and their custodial parent only. This is for any funtion or activity we are doing during normal business hours.

Maybe you could use insurance as a reason to not have sibs tag along if you don't want them to.

[daycare]

What does your liability insurance say about it?

My insurance covers enrolled/registered daycare children and their custodial parent only. This is for any funtion or activity we are doing during normal business hours.

Maybe you could use insurance as a reason to not have sibs tag along if you don't want them to.

my insurance is kind of grey about this because of the fact that it is off site in a public meeting area. So I could use that excuse, however, LIC states that I have to be within my regulations at all times. Off site or on....

HOWEVER, LIC also states that since the parent is present, that they are the one assuming the responsibility. What ****s is if that kid does something to one of my kids, I am still responsible.........Not too sure how that is fair....

[cheerfuldom]

my insurance is kind of grey about this because of the fact that it is off site in a public meeting area. So I could use that excuse, however, LIC states that I have to be within my regulations at all times. Off site or on....

HOWEVER, LIC also states that since the parent is present, that they are the one assuming the responsibility. What ****s is if that kid does something to one of my kids, I am still responsible.........Not too sure how that is fair....

well obviously licensing is holding you responsible to a certain extent because you are responsible for your own kids and that includes their environment and who they are around. Its vague but definitely a reason that you can use in order to give some sort of explanation to the parents.

[grandmom]

As a family provider, I'm always bugged by older siblings coming in with the parent. They run for the toys. I'm always worried that they will get hurt, leave the gate open, anything. I'm thinking of adding a statement to my parent handbook saying children not currently enrolled must be right with the parent. Anyone got any ideas?

[daycare]

well obviously licensing is holding you responsible to a certain extent because you are responsible for your own kids and that includes their environment and who they are around. Its vague but definitely a reason that you can use in order to give some sort of explanation to the parents.

When I told the parents this, they came back with well what are you going to do about all of the other people and children that will be present in the PUBLIC place that you are taking them. They have a point, just not valid enough for me.

[BumbleBee]

I do field trips all of the time. I plan these for the DCK.

Well most of my mom's are SAHM. They often want to attend these functions with us, which I don't have a problem with, as long as they take their kid with them when they leave.

THe new rule that was added is that I am not allowing for the DCP to bring siblings, young family members or friends. I need to be able to focus on the group that I have and not have to deal with a ton of other kids.

Do you think that I am being out of line? Some of my DCP always have young friends or family with them at pick up and several times I have had to ask them to go outside do to behavior.

What is your thought on this? Should I drop it or should I continue to put my foot down.

Personally I think it's a great rule. Many people do not like change if it affects them but does not benefit them. Last year at the center we did our annual field trip to the pumpkin patch and many parents came along. They also brought siblings who were not enrolled at the center. At one point a number of parents got to chatting and not watching their kids. I ended up having to supervise 10 kids, 6 of whom were not enrolled at the center. Nobody got injured but what if they had? This is exactly the reason I think you should put your foot down and keep the rule.

[daycare]

Personally I think it's a great rule. Many people do not like change if it affects them but does not benefit them. Last year at the center we did our annual field trip to the pumpkin patch and many parents came along. They also brought siblings who were not enrolled at the center. At one point a number of parents got to chatting and not watching their kids. I ended up having to supervise 10 kids, 6 of whom were not enrolled at the center. Nobody got injured but what if they had? This is exactly the reason I think you should put your foot down and keep the rule.

This is exactly why.....Parents come in and want to make it social hour, while I would love to, it takes away from my ability to care for the other kids in care. I told the parents that if they want to socialize they need to do it off of my property. My insurance will consider it my problem, until they are completely off my property.

I quit going to the library reading hour because all of the SAHM woudl come and use it as a time to socialize, let their kids run around the room and poor lady running it had no control over any of it....It was pure chaos..

Thanks everyone for responding, I am really happy that I am not feeling alone with this policy.....I will continue to enforce it...

[Willow]

When I told the parents this, they came back with well what are you going to do about all of the other people and children that will be present in the PUBLIC place that you are taking them.

You are not affiliated with nor responsible for any of those kids though.

For me it would be just as much of a liability issue as a reputation one. If you're seen around town with a bunch of non-enrolled kids acting any which way they want to people are going to start assuming things about the type of care you provide.

Your group. Your rules. Your control.

That's why I'd have a very hard time blurring the lines and even letting parents come along. Too many of mine, although very well meaning, allow their kids to get away with things I never would. Who would be responsible for taking control of a situation like that? I know I'd have a difficult time disciplining a child right in front of the parent if they were choosing not to act. Consider how confusing that would be for the child, and the can of worms it could open for your working relationship with the parent.

[JenNJ]

I think if you are going to a public place, they are paying their own way and the additional child's, you have no right to say who can and cannot come. What you can do is say that if behavior from additional kids disrupts your group, you will be forced to separate from the parent and they will have to take their child with them.