Do Parents Knock or Walk Right In?

[AnneCordelia]

Do you allow parents to walk right in when they drop off and pick up? Or do prefer a knock at the door?

[AnneCordelia]

I vented on a nondaycare friends forum about clients please knocking first and not just letting themselves in. A few friends said, "We have always just walked in." and I wonder what the majority of home providers prefer.

[Breezy]

I always have the door locked and I open it in the morning for each family. I dont have very many families though

[SilverSabre25]

I can't vote as I don't really have a preference!

In the morning families knock and wait for me to answer the door but in the afternoon they can come right in. One knocks and then enters and the other just comes in.

[Creek]

All but one of my families knocks then comes in. It doesn't bother me either way. Our play room is just around the corner from that door. Daycare has it's own door, own closet, own bathroom, etc. If the door is locked because it often is then they knock and I go answer it.

[Crazy8]

kind of a combination - the screen door is almost always locked - but I will leave it unlocked when I know someone is due any minute. Some just walk right in, most give a quick knock and then walk in, they don't wait for me to answer.

[sharlan]

It depends on the family. I have two families that I've given the door code to, and two families that I don't intend on ever giving the code to.

[Blackcat31]

I prefer my parents to just walk in. My coat/cubbie room is separated from my main area by a door so I don't feel that is at all dangerous for the kids. I honestly do not want to get up an answer the door every time someone knocks.

I have a video camera too and a drive way alarm so I am well aware of who is here long before they even get to the door.

If I did daycare in my own home, I may have a different preference and prefer the parents to knock. I don't know, but I can completely understand that theory for those who do this in their own homes. I would feel awkward just having people walk into my home.

[Country Kids]

They just walk on in. Its a family childcare and I want them to feel like family. Also, I really don't have time to get up and down to get the door everytime a parent arrives.

Especially if they were to arrive like 30 sec. or a min. apart which some seem to do.

[texascare]

My set up is right in the front of my house so most just walk in and pick up and leave. If they knock the dogs start barking so I just tell them they can walk in. I do have a house alarm so i hear a chime when a door opens if I am not in the room. (taking a diaper out etc) I can also see when each parent pulls up.

[juliebug]

Just walk in but I want it that way and tell them to walk in. Also I do care out of my living room that looks over my drive way and see them coming also the kids can't get to the dot and with 2 babies I can't always get up to answer the door

[littlemissmuffet]

Knock (to warn me someone is here - I am deaf in one ear) and then walk right in. I never go to the door and let parents in.

[youretooloud]

I have dogs, so I don't want people ringing the bell or knocking, because I don't want to listen to the dogs bark.

I unlock the door before the first kid, lock it after the last kid, then TRY to remember to unlock it again at 3:00. If it's locked, they have to ring the bell. But, sometimes, bless their hearts, they call me on their cell phones from outside my door.

[CrayolaKids]

I voted 'Walk in' however most will knock quick and then open the door. I tell them before they start though, to just walk right in. I live in a raised ranch style house, so when you walk in there are two sets of stairs (one goes down, one goes up) and then I have a locked baby gate at the top of the stairs. I also have two dogs who go nuts when they hear someone knock loudly or ring the doorbell, and usually the kids do as well. I would love to buy the driveway alarm off of amazon so I know ahead of time when the parents are here.

[MizzCheryl]

I ask mine to just come on in, I have a sliding glass door so I can see them.