Locked Door or Unlocked Door, That is the Question

[JaydensMommy]

I think people figure because it is a business that they can just walk right in? But I don't like that because it is my home. I don't have a problem with most parents. I did have one that on the first day just let himself in, didn't even try to knock. So the next day I made sure to lock the door when I knew he would be dropping off. He got the point and started knocking.

[mismatchedsocks]

I am shocked to hear the doors need to be unlocked in some states. That is amazing in this day and age. I could never do that. My doors are always locked....I sometimes even lock the parents in the house while they are dropping off, just out of habit. I have never thought about leaving door unlocked or letting anyone just walk in.

[Blackcat31]

Obviously from reading the posts on this thread, everyone's needs are different and everyone has different reasons for what they do or don't do.

I am having the hardest time getting my daycare parents to STOP knocking and simply waiting for me to come answer the door! I want them to walk right in. Every time someone knocks, it either gets the whole group going or it causes chaos that I have to get up and go over and answer the door.

My set up though allows me to be this way in that I not only have a driveway alarm so I can tell if anyone or anything has passed the invisible line leading up tp more door. (I know they are there long before they get to the door) I also have a video monitoring system so I can visibly see that it is a parent and I have two sets of doors to go through before you reach the coa troom/entryway which also has a half door blocking any access to the kids or my home.

You'd have to be pretty darn quick to get in without me seeing or knowing. As a matter of fact, you'd probably have to be invisible for me to not know ahead of time.

My parents are all aware of the hassle it causes to get up and answer for each one of them but yet they stand outside and knock, and then wait every single time.

If it takes even two minutes to do this and each parent arrives once for drop off and once for pick up and with having 10 parents, that is approximately 40 minutes out of my day to just answer the door!!

[daycare]

doors locked....keep the kids and and the bad guys out!!
I have it in my PHB that the door will remain locked at all times and that they will need to help keep the children safe by locking the door when they leave.

I only have one person that never knocks and tries to barge in.... I tell that person weekly that the door needs to be locked so they need to knock...for whatever reason, they don't get it!!

[jojosmommy]

Obviously from reading the posts on this thread, everyone's needs are different and everyone has different reasons for what they do or don't do.

I am having the hardest time getting my daycare parents to STOP knocking and simply waiting for me to come answer the door! I want them to walk right in. Every time someone knocks, it either gets the whole group going or it causes chaos that I have to get up and go over and answer the door.

My set up though allows me to be this way in that I not only have a driveway alarm so I can tell if anyone or anything has passed the invisible line leading up tp more door. (I know they are there long before they get to the door) I also have a video monitoring system so I can visibly see that it is a parent and I have two sets of doors to go through before you reach the coa troom/entryway which also has a half door blocking any access to the kids or my home.

You'd have to be pretty darn quick to get in without me seeing or knowing. As a matter of fact, you'd probably have to be invisible for me to not know ahead of time.

My parents are all aware of the hassle it causes to get up and answer for each one of them but yet they stand outside and knock, and then wait every single time.

If it takes even two minutes to do this and each parent arrives once for drop off and once for pick up and with having 10 parents, that is approximately 40 minutes out of my day to just answer the door!!

I agree. I prefer the door unlocked and parents come in as they need. I can see the street and driveway from our playrooms and my kitchen so I have never had anyone "sneak in" as people have described.

[Unregistered]

going to start locking my doors

Sooo Happy I ran across this thread in a Google search. Just what I needed to hear and hope some of you dont mind if I quote you in the note I will be sending home to my Daycare Parents.
Now to vent () : When I first started doing in home daycare I would leave the doors unlocked because it was all family and friends who dropped off and picked up at the same time everyday. And then the door was locked after the last one was dropped off in the morning. Now that I have a few clients who are not family or friends I do not want them just walking in. Actually they were never told that they could just knock and come in. One parent saw my best friend do it and she followed suit. This parent also knew she was by Best Friend, so I feel it is just rude of her to think she should be able to do the same. The first time she did it I just kinda looked at her and said "oh... HI!". That has been going on for awhile and now today another parent just let himself in after barely knocking. Neither of these parents drop off at the same time everyday and somedays Im left wondering if they are coming at all. There have been times when I didn't hear them knock because I am busy with the kids or if I am in the kitchen and the fan is on or Im doing dishes and all of the sudden I hear them say Hello. Scares the crap out of me. We live in a safe neighborhood but it is in the country and the houses are not right next to each other and there are only a few houses out here. And Im pretty sure everyone is at work during my daycare hours. Ive had sales men come around before and have always felt safe. But you never know these days.
Also the other pet peeve is slamming the door when they leave. They know I have babies sleeping and instead of closing the door nicely, they let it go as they are walking. Recently the door handle has broke... I believe because of this and because a few of them let their children play/hang on the handle as they are talking to me and getting ready to leave. I've even corrected the behavior and put one child in time out in front of the parent for the repetitive behavior. Now all the parents are annoyed that the handle is broke and they have to jiggle it until it clicks in order for it to stay shut.
I will be visiting the local Home Depot or Lowes this weekend to find a door handle that will stay locked to the outside like some of you mentioned.

[Unregistered]

In my policy it states:

Parents are welcome to visit any time their children are in my care. For the safety of the children, my door will remain locked at all times.

Having a door unlocked is not even an option for me. This is my home. My family and children live here, and there is no way another person is going to walk through my door at any time without me knowing it. I think I would freak out if someone just came in my house.

I have never had a parent complain or have any issue with this at all. I think that you can tell your families about what happened with the guy who just walked in, and surely they would understand.

[icaredaycare]

interesting topic. I often forget that this forum reaches out all over the world with different guidelines for different areas. I always just assumed locked doors were common sense. around here, most daycares have cameras and buzzers to let people in.

very interesting to read that some states require you to leave your doors unlocked. thanks for sharing this topic.

[Sunchimes]

Mine is always locked, and it was kept locked before I started dc. I live in an older (ca. 1870) house on black dirt. For those that aren't blessed with black dirt, this means that every time it rains, or every week it doesn't rain, the soil...and the house...shift. So, some weeks this door opens and that one doesn't, then it rains, and they change.

Our front door is notorious for not latching when it closes and no one has been able to solve the problem. The indoor cats figured it out pretty fast and stop off at the front door now and then, just to check and see if they can pop it open. So, the door is always kept locked.

I've told all my dcp, and now, when they come in, they lock the door behind them. When they leave, they check to make sure the cats aren't waiting behind the umbrella stand to dodge outside. I have pretty good parents.

[AmyLeigh]

I agree. I prefer the door unlocked and parents come in as they need. I can see the street and driveway from our playrooms and my kitchen so I have never had anyone "sneak in" as people have described.

Same here. I even have bells on my daycare door so I know the instant the door is opened.

[daycare]

Locked at all times. If you want to pi$$ me off try the door handle when you know I keep the house locked. I don't allow parents to walk in without me answering the door.

ditto this!!!

[Texasjeepgirl]

When my daycare was in my home... a traditional house... I kept the door UNLOCKED...
My daycare room was the back of the house...
Parents had to travel through my formal living room...through the kitchen...to get to the daycare room..
My philosophy was... I had to leave the children everytime someone knocked on the door...and.. what if I was changing a diaper... ? It just WEARS ME OUT to have to run back and forth.. back and forth to open the door and let people in... I always felt that no one would come walking in to my house unless they knew they were suppose to be there... ie.. a daycare client.. a regular non-daycare client wouldn't presume to just open the door and stroll in...
But then I moved my daycare in to our furniture building..
I continued to have the open/unlocked door policy... until one day ...while kids were napping.. and I was sitting at my desk.. (5 feet inside the entrance)... the door opened... (I was about to have a FIT because my policy states no NAPTIME DROPOFFS OR PICKUPS)... I stood up...just as this strange lady stepped into my daycare room... I stood there and said.. CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING... she said.. is this a daycare? I live in the apartment complex directly behind here...and I've seen parents dropping off and picking up... I was wondering if you have any openings available...
I handed her my business card...told her she could call or email for more info.. and politely opened the door and sent her out...
From that day on... I kept the door locked...inconvenient or not...
And.. after a few weeks of irritating inconvenience.. my husband installed a digital keypad entry lock on my door..
It holds several codes...
The daycare clients all have the entry code.. and at night I can put the deadbolt on... also.. we can make codes inactive when we are out of town... out for the evening...etc...
The clients LOVE IT... it gives them the peace of mind that the door is locked...and you only walk in if you have the code...
also.. it auto locks after 5 seconds...so I don't have to worry about relocking it every time..
There are tons of options online ... and you can also buy them at HOME DEPOT...

[kayla]

I have been leaving my door unlocked now after reading this i would like to start locking the door, anyone have any suggestions that i can write in a memo to let parents know why i will now be locking my door???

[familyschoolcare]

For the safety of everyone in the house from now on the doors will be locked. You are still welcome to stop by anytime and see you child. (or what ever wording works for you) just add something to let the parents know they do nt have to call before coming by.

[kayla]

For the safety of everyone in the house from now on the doors will be locked. You are still welcome to stop by anytime and see you child. (or what ever wording works for you) just add something to let the parents know they do nt have to call before coming by.

Thanks that should work just fine..