Need HELP and ADVICE!!

[jojosmommy]

I live one somewhat long block from the school. I can not see the school from my house. I have never had one parent sign up to have their kid walk from my house to school. They always choose the houses that are 15 houses closer and can see the school from their door. I get it, but it is frustrating.

We do have the "walking school bus" in our district. It is even on the district webpage so you can easily look up the walking route nearest your home. Check it out and see if you or other locals who are facing this new rule could get something like that started.

Can you walk to the school with all your dck? I know some providers who do that. Not managable at my house but some providers make it work.

How much income would you lose from this family and others leaving? Could you hire a helper for 1 hour each am and pm who could stay with the littles while you walk? She could help out with preschool or something once you get back. Maybe a retired person or college person with open hours.

We also have a form for kids leaving our home to release liability while they are walking but I don't know how much legal weight it would really hold if something was to happen. Again, I have never had anyone actually walk from my house. This year my AM Kindy kid is having mom/dad pick her up on their lunch so that she can stay in my care. It was that or switch to a closer daycare to walk or further away one to be bussed.

[MyAngels]

I would talk to an attorney in this just to clarify what your liability in this situation would be, and to make sure that any form you have parents sign re liability would stand up if push ever came to shove. It would be well worth the peace of mind IMPO.

As far as the kids walking - it sounds like you live in a relatively small area and they won't be crossing any highways and the like - I'm sure they'll be safe. Will the district be providing a crossing guard for the busier street? That's what our district does and the kids here don't seem to have any problems getting to and from school.

[sharlan]

Personally, there is NO WAY that I would allow kids to walk from my home to school or back unsupervised. I refuse to take that risk.

If I couldn't drive/walk the kids to school, I wouldn't take them. I have 2 boys that go to the local school. We walk straight across the street, through a breezeway, and across the street to the school's back fence. There is no way that I would allow the boys to go by themselves.

What are your plans for inclement weather? You can't expect the kids to walk to school if it's too hot, too cold, too windy, raining, etc.

[Nickel]

For Nickel and Daisy Mama would you have enough room in your cars to transport all your kids to get the SA to school. To say its the providers responsibility is a little harsh. It would only be hers if 1. She had a big enough car 2.She offered that as one of her services.

I think sometimes the parents have the outlook to look at all the things that it takes to put a child into childcare. Its not our responsibility to figure out how these kids are going to get to school, that is the parents. Just because we are home doesn't mean we aren't doing anything or watching any other kids.

I do have enough room in my vehicle, becuse i make it a priority. I dont take schoolagers but i tell all my parents up front that i drive to and from the school to pick up my child and they must sign a transportation form. If i provided sa care i would only take the number of children i coupd fit into my vehicle. And ive also had after school care and i interviewed a provider who let them wall and one that picked up. I chose the one thaat picked up. I personally feel that if you hire someone for before and after school care it is the providers responsibility to get them to and from school.

Many are saying the parent needa to figure out how to get them to and from school. But is that not why they hired a child care provider? If it was me personally, i would not feel comfortable and i would find a provider who did ensure my child was supervised to and from school.

I am also investing in a commercial quad stroller so i can walk to and from school when the weather is nice. My opinion may seem harsh but safety is my biggest concern. You read all the time about children hurting othrr chirldren, children getting accidentally hit by a car, and other horrific things. I couldnt let my child walk out the door knowing that if something did happen to her, i wouodnt know about if until she didnt come home eight hours later. Again, just my opinion.

[Angelsj]

I don't particularly disagree with you Nickel..but the point here is that one agreement was in place, and things have changed. The parent has the responsibility to handle things, whether that means providing transport, working things out with the current provider or getting a new one.

The big point here is that it is the PARENT'S responsibility to get it taken care of, not the provider's problem to fix ( especially on the sly, since the parent hasn't even spoken to them.)

I, personally, do not transport ANYONE, but we have worked out many situations for children to walk/get bussed/whatever. But it has always been a mutual, upfront deal. And if circumstances were to change, we would work it out again. I am lucky in that I have several older children who are all home schooled, so there can be some level of supervision however there needs to be.

[Kaddidle Care]

I don't particularly disagree with you Nickel..but the point here is that one agreement was in place, and things have changed. The parent has the responsibility to handle things, whether that means providing transport, working things out with the current provider or getting a new one.

The big point here is that it is the PARENT'S responsibility to get it taken care of, not the provider's problem to fix ( especially on the sly, since the parent hasn't even spoken to them.)

I, personally, do not transport ANYONE, but we have worked out many situations for children to walk/get bussed/whatever. But it has always been a mutual, upfront deal. And if circumstances were to change, we would work it out again. I am lucky in that I have several older children who are all home schooled, so there can be some level of supervision however there needs to be.

What she said! It all comes down to responsibility and I think this is why a lot of folks have dropped having SA kids.

There's no harm in being prepared for when/if the parent asks this of you.

We were threatened many times with having courtesy busing pulled every time the vote on the school budget came around. In our district it was 2 miles! While the older kids can manage, that's quite a bit for Kindy and 1st graders.

We are just inside the 2 mile range so I was prepared to drive my child to school as I could still get to work on time - or at least within 5 minutes. If a boss has issues with you being 5-10 minutes late so that you can get your child safely to school then heck with them. No job is more important than my child.

Thankfully the bus still comes here.

[youretooloud]

I don't think 1/2 mile is too far to walk. But, at least for a while, i'd walk them to school and pick them up. I walked three times a day, pulling a wagon full of preschoolers and wearing the babies on my back for YEARS.

Until about 3rd grade, I don't think i'd feel comfortable with sending them alone.

We had a HUGE pack of kids who walked home together. They'd meet by the baseball field, cross with the crossing guard and walk from there... they goofed off, they probably caused damage...they got hurt... but, they survived and are all fine, mature adults.

There's nothing wrong with walking. There's nothing wrong with expecting kids to get themselves to school by a certain age. We had a neighbor lady who walked her daughter to school every day until at least 6th grade! There were at least 50 kids all walking, but she was the only mom. The kids were all afraid of her...she was a little creepy.

[familyschoolcare]

So here is my thoughts.

I mostly do school aged and I transport to and from the school and the parents that call looking for care expect that. Sometimes a parent will call from a school that I can not transport to/from and I will say I have room however can not transport to ABC school at this time because they get out at the same time as XYZ and I already pick up form there.

Any way my advice is tha the Op sujest to the mom that perhaps this is not the best fit for daycare for her child any more.

[Abigail]

Sorry I didn't read everyone's posts, but this topic makes me happy that I don't have schoolagers! I know when I was little I had to walk home ALONE from first grade on up to sixth grade. I remember though watching kids getting picked up in a cab. Same goes for kids in my area now that I'm an adult. Back in college I got a part time job bringing my friends daughter to and from school and they paid me $10/day because they said if they had a cab driver do it it would cost the same but they were willing to have someone they knew take the job. You can ask the mom to help pay for a cab for the kids and it should be the same cab driver who will get to know the kids and recognize them. Just an option to look into!

[Country Kids]

I just did some reading on this subject on the internet. The recommended age for a child to walk alone to school (which they would be doing here) is 10. My 5th grader would just be old enough to walk alone if I followed this guideline.

I noticed some said 1/2 a mile isn't far and you have done it with little ones before. I know personally for us to go .25 of a mile it takes me at least 1/2 an hour to 45 min of walking with my group. How early before school would you have to leave to go 1/2 a mile.

Now 1/2 a mile without any adult supervision is pretty far. That would be two time around a track. Picture that stretched out and thats pretty far for this age.

Lucy, here's what I would do tomorrow:

1. Call liscensing-see if its ok for you to let kids walk, see if you can have parents sign a release.

2. Call a lawyer and see what kind of release they reccommend and may sure you cannot be held reliable.

3. Have your parents, you and other parents call the superintendent and let him know that you as parents are uncomfortable with this. Let him know personally that you guys feel that he's putting these children at risk making them walk to school without any adults. Put it out there and see if he would be the one responsible if something were to happen to them.

I know with the weather you guys get where you live it won't be fun once the heavy rains start and the bitter cold. I just know you need to take the responsibility off of you and put it on the parent and the superintendent.

[DaycareMama]

I no longer take SA kids because of this. Once the walking rule changed I was done. I do get a lot of calls for this but when I talk to the parents about my concerns on the little ones walking they usually change their minds to. To many what if's for me.

[laundrymom]

When I took SA I offered CARE, not transport. Im not the parent, getting their child to and from their destinations is not my job. I'm not a taxi service, I'm a care service. They had friends drop & pick or made arrangements w school but it was not a service I handled.

[MaritimeMummy]

Not your problem. If it concerns the parents, give them the name and number of a local taxi service. Out of your hands.

[countrymom]

When I took SA I offered CARE, not transport. Im not the parent, getting their child to and from their destinations is not my job. I'm not a taxi service, I'm a care service. They had friends drop & pick or made arrangements w school but it was not a service I handled.

i agree with this, since when has it become a providers responsibility to find a way for a child to get to school, has that issue now become a providers problem too.

[Blackcat31]

Our school system also requires students to walk 1/2 mile for K-4th grade and up to a mile for 5th grade and older.

Here is a great "test" to see if your child is ready to walk to school alone and/or stay home alone: http://life.familyeducation.com/safe...tml?detoured=1

I agree with others, it is the parents responsibilty to figure out what to do in this situation.