Do You Lock Your Door?

[coolconfidentme]

My daycare isn't in my home & is open 1st, 2 & 3rd shift. I was wonder how may people keep their doors locked? I use to only have one door unlocked which I locked at 6pm. I'm wondering if I should rethink my policy for safety purposes. I have motion sensors to alert me when someone is within 10 feet of a door.

What is your door lock policy?

Crazy we have to think about this...

[MyAngels]

I'm probably going to be the odd man out here, but I don't lock my doors during the day. I prefer not having to stop what I'm doing to answer when a parent comes unexpectedly.

[Country Kids]

I haven't in the past but have started this week. We have had to many things going on recently not only in the world but in our own town. All my parents are totally understanding about this. I probably will unlock during drop off/pick up times as they are pretty much grouped together but during down times the door will be locked.

[Scout]

I always lock my door after the last drop off. I don't want any escapees!::

[coolconfidentme]

I'm probably going to be the odd man out here, but I don't lock my doors during the day. I prefer not having to stop what I'm doing to answer when a parent comes unexpectedly.

That's how I feel too & I like having an open door policy to my parents. It's a darned if your do... & darned if you don't situation.

ps..., I have the motion sensors just in case a child tries to outside & play. I'm glad I have them now.

[Blackcat31]

I'm probably going to be the odd man out here, but I don't lock my doors during the day. I prefer not having to stop what I'm doing to answer when a parent comes unexpectedly.

Nope. I do not lock my door. Heck, I barely remember to lock it when I leave at night.

I have video cameras on the property, an entryway that separates the main area from the entrance and a driveway sensor that buzzes when someone parks in the drive.

I don't have these things as safety measures for strangers but so that I don't have to stop doing what I am doing during the day when parents arrive.

The alarm buzzes when someone parks so I know they are coming in. The camera is so my older kids can play outside with out me always having to be outside with them.

I also live in a community where hardly no one locks their doors. I know my neighbors and they know me. Highly unlikely that anyone unfamiliar could be in the area without EVERYONE knowing immediately.

[Willow]

The only reason I don't is because we live out in the country.

We have a long driveway and if anyone drives up it (daycare parents included) the dogs give a few alert barks.

If I lived in town I'd maybe consider it depending on who my neighbors were and how high traffic of an area it was.

[Crazy8]

YES. My doors are always locked - even if front door is open, the glass door will be locked. My neighborhood is quiet during the day and thats usually when you read about break ins - when people are at work. Rather be safe than sorry.

[sharlan]

Yes, our front door is always locked.

I never locked my doors for 32 years. Heck, we didn't even have keys to our other house. We put an automatic locking doorknob on this house 3 years ago because our grandson managed to go outside one night at 9 without being seen.

[Meeko]

Funny this should come up! I usually ALWAYS have the door locked.

My husband was sitting in our family room a few weeks back and the door opened (one of our daughters had just come home and forgot to lock it) and a guy just opened the door and walked in!

My husband jumped to his feet and obviously looked a little less that friendly. The guy said "Oh..isn't this a daycare?" He said he was the ex of one of our DCM's and wanted to see the daycare. His daughter wasn't in care that day and I had never met the guy before. He seemed unfriendly and I was glad my husband and son were there. I told him he needed to make an appointment as I don't allow strangers around my daycare kids during the day. He said no. The DCM said she hasn't seen or heard from in months.....Real weird.

We are back to making SURE the door stays locked!!!!

[Rubysmom]

I have always left the door upstairs unlocked because I have mostly part timers who are coming and going all day long. Last week our neighbor's house was broken in to, so we are having our security system hooked back up today. A bell will sound downstairs in the daycare when the front door is open so I at least have warning that someone is here. Someday I will have a drop off and pick up time that lines up for everyone so I can lock and unlock the door, right?? ; )

[coolconfidentme]

Funny this should come up! I usually ALWAYS have the door locked.

My husband was sitting in our family room a few weeks back and the door opened (one of our daughters had just come home and forgot to lock it) and a guy just opened the door and walked in!

My husband jumped to his feet and obviously looked a little less that friendly. The guy said "Oh..isn't this a daycare?" He said he was the ex of one of our DCM's and wanted to see the daycare. His daughter wasn't in care that day and I had never met the guy before. He seemed unfriendly and I was glad my husband and son were there. I told him he needed to make an appointment as I don't allow strangers around my daycare kids during the day. He said no. The DCM said she hasn't seen or heard from in months.....Real weird.

We are back to making SURE the door stays locked!!!!

I think about that too. I have a child who's parents aren't together & arguing now. The father is not on the pick up list, but knows where the daycare is.

[laundrymom]

Since our intruders last month we now lock the doors, I have my permit to carry and when the last day child leaves each day, I do.

[clep]

I had an electronic door lock installed a few years ago. It automatically locks the door three seconds after it is closed. It is locked after each parent comes in and leaves.

I would never leave my door unlocked with my day home children here as that makes it difficult to assure parents their children will be safe in my care.

[BumbleBee]

Front door, always deadbolted.

Back door, not usually. If someone creepy is hanging around the area I will lock it, or if I just have a "feeling" that it needs to be locked. At night it's always locked, and if we're out somewhere.

Also, I have a walkout basement w/a sliding glass door. THAT door is locked in 2 places all of the time and the door leading from the living room to the basement is deadbolted.

I do have those little old lady neighbors who are extremely nosy and will call me if anything is "off". The last phone call was to inform me that there was a squirrel on my deck railing eating the seed for the birds.