Same Mom, Do You Find this Rude??

[sahm2three]

I lock my doors. I am a compulsive door locker. All my parents know this. I, for a time, lived in a big city and it was a MUST to keep you door locked at all times. I had someone trying to break into my home in the middle of the day while I was there!!! So I lock my doors, the second I close it. They all know it. That would fix that!

[Crystal]

As far as regs,....I cant have a door that has to have special knowledge or equipment to open,.. like the safety door knobs, you have to squeeze to open, or the key deadbolts, only the knob ones. .

Yes, I have this too....no knowledge hardware, even if deadbolt is locked it will open from the inside. I asked the fire marshall why I still need to keep it unlocked then if I have this....the response was "just in case a CHILD locks the door, everyone can still get out" Silly, I know, but I don't make the regs....just abide by them. Thanks for the advice

[Crystal]

Crystal, I'm not trying to be a jerk but if you are going to tell people that it's in state rules that doors can't be locked, then you really should be prepared to refer to the rules in the state's policy handbook. Don't be so defensive when people asked you where you got your information from, just be able to back up what you say. Sorry if I'm making you mad, I just think that it would be helpful to have the guidelines handy so that you can back up your comments. Otherwise, you can't prove that you're correct anymore than other people can prove that you're incorrect.

No worries, I don't think you're being a jerk I do not have an issue with backing up what I say....it just never fails that when I post that Nannyde takes every opportunity to start something with me....hence my aggravation in my first post. Unfortunately I don't have anything in writing.....but I am going to attempt to get an email addy and see if I can get some clarification from the fire marshall.

[Crystal]

[QUOTE=judytrickett;32783]

A man once walked right into our home. I was sitting on the couch and my husband (luckily) was outside in the back yard. This man walked right in, started screaming at me and calling me beligerant names and walking closer to me. He was obviously drunk and it was VERY scary. I screamed for my husband who came running and managed to get the guy to the ground. We ended up calling the police and they took it from there.
QUOTE]

Wow, wierd and scary, wonder what this guy was thinking?! Fortunately, I have never had any incidents like that....but these types of stories make me grateful that my husband works with me full time.

[Crystal]

It's awesome having a bunch of nosy busy-bodies as neighbors hehehe!

In all seriousness, if I didn't live in such a small neighborhood with so many SAHM's and people who get up all up in the Kool-aid and don't know the flavor, then I would most definitely lock my doors!

I guess it's a good thing that I'm probably the craziest individual in the neighborhood!!!

LOL! I have nosey neighbors too.

I live at the end of a court.....almost every house leading to mine has a sahm or people who work at home, so we all keep an eye on each other. I feel very safe in my neighborhood.

[originalkat]

I keep my doors unlocked in the morning during drop-offs and in the evening during pick-ups. Other than that I keep the doors locked. I feel it is safer that way. I do not have parents knock before coming in. BUT... I told them this when they interviewed. You need to tell the parents what you expect or they wont know.

[TGT09]

I tell SOME of my parents to come on in and down. I run the daycare out of my basement so it's easier if they come down. However, there are some parents that I just don't want coming right in.

If you aren't allowed to lock doors for licensing reasons, I would put a note on the door stating to: Knock before entering, or Ring bell before entering. It's not just rude, it's a form of notification that someone is there!!

[momma2girls]

I have stated in my handbook that every parent must knock once before entering. I have dogs and this tells them that someone is walking in. THey bark and greet the person HOWEVER if it is not person they know it is a more aggressive bark. I do lock my doors during the day and still have an 'open door policy' with my parents. 11 years with no problem with this routine ever.

I also have this in my contract in bold letters, for ones that just come right on in, and have scared me to death, just standing there!! I have it written like please respect my home and daycare, and please knock before entering, please!!!

[momma2girls]

I also lock my door when no one is expected for safety as well!!

[Crystal]

I would consider it disrespectful if the parents have been asked to knock.

For me it's not disrepectful, because they have all been told to come right in....I am almost always busy playing/working/teaching and prefer not to have to stop what I am doing to answer the door. I do have 14 children though, so having to answer the door that many times would get rather disruptive after awhile

[Unregistered]

I would consider it disrespectful if the parents have been asked to knock.

For me it's not disrepectful, because they have all been told to come right in....I am almost always busy playing/working/teaching and prefer not to have to stop what I am doing to answer the door. I do have 14 children though, so having to answer the door that many times would get rather disruptive after awhile

Sorry, not trying to change the subject. I'm just wondering, Crystal, if you have one or two assistants with the 14 children. I am allowed up to 16 and it can get pretty crazy with just 2 people, so on the busiest day(s) of the week I have another lady come in for the hardest part of the day. Do you split the 14 kids up between the adults, or are they combined doing the same activity at the same time? Just trying to get some tips that may make things run more smoothly.

[professionalmom]

Sorry OP for this going off topic....not my intention at all, I was only replying to your post when this got turned to me.

The state regs do not spell it out for you. The only thing you will see there is that, because I am licensed for 14 children, I have to have a fire inspection by the local fire marshall. The fire marshall does not allow doors to be locked because they are emergency exits in the event of a fire. This also varies county to county. There is nothing on-line that spells that out for you,so you'll just have to take my word for it, or not believe me.....

I have been in business 13 years and have never locked my doors. I realize that it would be considered safer by many to keep them locked. I realize "open-door policy" does not mean unlocked doors in all states/counties, but it does here.

I have also never had a parent have an issue with it.....of course if they do not like it, they could choose to go with another provider, but that has never happened, and all families are told at our initial meeting that the door is unlocked and they are welcome to come in, unnanounced, at any time of the day, so long as their child is here or they are dropping off.

On side note, re. safety, I do have a dog and my husband works with me, so I do feel a bit safer with those factors considered.

I wonder if the rule about the door being unlocked for the purposes of an emergency exit could mean that it could be locked on one side. I know that sounds weird. There are doors that automatically lock and you can't get in from the outside, but on the inside there is a bar that when pushed (from the inside) it overrides the lock.

It doesn't make sense to me. Most DC centers that I have been to are locked and you need to be buzzed in. Many schools are now on lock-down and have their doors locked during school hours. Why wouldn't it be the same for home daycare? My husband is also here during most of my daycare hours AND he's a black belt in 2 types of martial arts. BUT that means absolutely nothing if someone comes in with a gun.

My DC parents have never said anything about the locked door. I even lock it back up (and the dead bolt) BEFORE they get back in their car. They can usually hear the "click" of the lock. I think they prefer it that way. But, aside from intruders and such, what about the escape artists. You know children love to try to open doors and they can get out very quickly. Why make it easier for them to get out, run into the street, and get hurt? I would double check and make sure it's an actual RULE and not a suggestion or recommendation. If it is a rule, then I would fight it for safety reasons (intruders, escape artists, etc.).

Plus, like someone else said, my state also publishes the name, address, etc. of everyone who is licensed. So if we couldn't lock our doors, that would be free advertising to any and all pedophiles, rapists, killers, thieves, etc.

[Crystal]

Our state doesn't publish our addresses, and it's not allowed on any of our advertising either. I'll see if I can find that reg for you

So there ya go! Some states make all of this information public - posing a safety issue and some locations don't allow doors to be locked - posing a safety issue. I guess in the end, it's all the same, no State is perfect in their regulations. I think there needs to be a National set of guidelines. It would be so much easier.

[momma2girls]

I would consider it disrespectful if the parents have been asked to knock.

For me it's not disrepectful, because they have all been told to come right in....I am almost always busy playing/working/teaching and prefer not to have to stop what I am doing to answer the door. I do have 14 children though, so having to answer the door that many times would get rather disruptive after awhile

Yes, I have even had to place notes on my door to please knock, then come on in!!! I have been scared many times by parents just coming right on in- once it was 20 min. early, I had just unlocked my door, and I went to get clothes on for the day. I came out and there she was standing there, coat off child, etc. I could have died!!! They don't come early any longer, unless asked and agreed upon. From now on I only unlock my door at the earliest drop off and not a min. before!!! !!!

[QualiTcare]

I wonder if the rule about the door being unlocked for the purposes of an emergency exit could mean that it could be locked on one side. I know that sounds weird. There are doors that automatically lock and you can't get in from the outside, but on the inside there is a bar that when pushed (from the inside) it overrides the lock.

It doesn't make sense to me. Most DC centers that I have been to are locked and you need to be buzzed in. Many schools are now on lock-down and have their doors locked during school hours. Why wouldn't it be the same for home daycare? My husband is also here during most of my daycare hours AND he's a black belt in 2 types of martial arts. BUT that means absolutely nothing if someone comes in with a gun.

My DC parents have never said anything about the locked door. I even lock it back up (and the dead bolt) BEFORE they get back in their car. They can usually hear the "click" of the lock. I think they prefer it that way. But, aside from intruders and such, what about the escape artists. You know children love to try to open doors and they can get out very quickly. Why make it easier for them to get out, run into the street, and get hurt? I would double check and make sure it's an actual RULE and not a suggestion or recommendation. If it is a rule, then I would fight it for safety reasons (intruders, escape artists, etc.).

Plus, like someone else said, my state also publishes the name, address, etc. of everyone who is licensed. So if we couldn't lock our doors, that would be free advertising to any and all pedophiles, rapists, killers, thieves, etc.

the daycare my kids went to had a door that you could exit from the inside, but you had to type a code into a keypad to get in from the outside. people would always walk right in behind each other without typing the code in still - so nothing is fool proof. there also was a kid who ran out of the building once - a 4 year old. a lot of people don't like deadbolts though. i've been wanting them at my house because my son is a terror and has been known to just go outside while i'm doing laundry or taking a shower. my husband doesn't want them incase there's a fire.

i would be suspicious if i had to knock at a daycare - home or not. you're opening up your home for business so during those times it's not just home. i'd probably knock as i was walking in though. i wouldn't feel like it was unsafe to leave the doors unlocked. the way i see it is if someone really wants to get in, they're going to get in.