No Out Door Time Because............

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I guess I am right there with you. I have a parent that thinks it is summer. His little guy had a sweatshirt on and it was 35 degrees out! I made sure I told him that his little guy was cold and that we go out for an hour every day.
Boots- I would put plastic bags over them and go out any way.

[Starburst]

They were mad that I would let her jump in a puddle. She is 2.5 yrs old. But yet they still send her in them.

I would just tell them that there is a new dress code that EVERYONE has to follow. Just make a list of the things you want to require (such as closed toe shoes, a sweater/coat, weather appropriate clothing, etc.) and then make it clear that children will NOT be allowed to attend the daycare for the day without following dress code (unless they have an appropriate back up they can wear during play time) and add it to your contract. Also Try to look into your local school's dress code too for ideas and try to cordinate if you can as a way of preparing them for school appropriate attire.

[lovemykidstoo]

They were mad that I would let her jump in a puddle. She is 2.5 yrs old. But yet they still send her in them.

How ignorant. Tough luck for them. I would flat out tell them, if they don't want her jumping in puddles with those boots then DON'T SEND THEM! Dumb dumbs. ugh!

[Angelsj]

I also make it pretty clear upon enrollment that we go outside everyday and if anything gets ruined or dirty, that is on them not me.

Play is sometimes messy and messy is fun and that is the point!

Yep. They get ruined clothes, sad, but not my problem. It generally stops pretty quickly. I would NOT keep other kids in because of it. (And you can slip plastic sacks INSIDE the boots to keep her feet dry. Don't care much about the boots, )

[Luna]

Yep. They get ruined clothes, sad, but not my problem. It generally stops pretty quickly. I would NOT keep other kids in because of it. (And you can slip plastic sacks INSIDE the boots to keep her feet dry. Don't care much about the boots, )

Plastic inside the boots is a great idea. Look after the feet, tough toenails about the boots.
I've had kids sit in the stroller or wagon because they didn't have proper footwear. I don't think they'll let their parents send them like that again.

[providerandmomof4]

I get the same thing. I either let the child stand by me on the cement or I let the child go and do what they want and when the parent gets mad because their pants are wet or their shoes are soiled I remind them that it is their choice not to send the appropriate item.

Same here! I hope that my dcp understand that when their kids play outside they will sometimes get dirty too...I have one dcb that is always so paranoid that he is getting dirty, and I know it's coming from his parents. I mean....I understand that if they have on their good clothes...but still, they have to be allowed to be kids.

[WImom]

I take them out anyways. I had one today with tennis shoes. Oh well for mom if her kids tennis shoes are wet. Bring there stuff in then. I do have extra gloves and hats since I wouldn't send a kid out without that stuff. If they came without a jacket I'd let the parents know we go out at *** and they would need to either drop off a jacket by then or come and pick up their child at that time so we can go out.

[Lucy]

P.S. I think bark dust may be a regional term. What do you guys call it?

It's bark dust here in the Pacific NW also. I had never heard of it when we first moved here from So Cal.

[TheGoodLife]

This might be a little harsh but I would let them go out anyway and either let Susie ruin the boots or have her sit out and do a sitting activity. Like bring a coloring book out for her to do.

Then tell her parents either: oh, susie got her boots all wet today. She needs to bring the proper boots so we don't ruin her pretty ones

Or

Oh Susie had to sit out today while the other children played outside because she wasn't wearing the proper boots. I was sad for her that she couldn't participate.

Either way, chances are they will send the proper attire from now on.

I agree- make them understand that there is a reason she needs the appropriate clothes/ shoes! (Don't stay out too long, just enough to let her "dirty up" the pretty shoes ) If it states in your contract that they need appropriate clothes, I would write a "reminder letter" and then turn them away at the door the next time they come w/o something!

[just_peachy]

It's bark dust here in the Pacific NW also. I had never heard of it when we first moved here from So Cal.

I'm in the Pacific NW also! When I've used it on other forums, I get a lot of these responses: :confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

[KDC]

This drives me nuts too. One DCG has the fanciest freakin' clothes, and the dad for whatever reason always dresses her in white when she comes over. I finally had to tell them that PLAY CLOTHES are more appropriate here, but she still sends her not-even-2 year old in crazy knee high boots! Srsly, the fashionista attitude she's instilling in her daughter is going to come back and bite her...

Another one of my DCGs always gets barkdust in her sparkly princess shoes she wears all the time.

I told her to help me to remind her mom that she needs play shoes for the park and bark dust. Her mom texted me this convo:

"DCG: Mom, I need shoes for dog barf.
DCM: You need shoes for what??
DCG: Kelsey says I need shoes to walk in the barf.
DCM:...
DCG: You know, the barf dust
DCM: OOOH you mean bark dust?"

:: That's what I get for expecting a 3 year old to deliver a message.

P.S. I think bark dust may be a regional term. What do you guys call it?

HA, Love it::
I'm from the midwest and haven't heard the term 'bark dust'... we call it mulch I think(?)

[littlemissmuffet]

How do you explain to parents that we ALL could not go play outside because little suzzy has sparkly fashion boots, not real winter boots and her feet will get cold and wet.

These parents are expecting me to take their littles outside when its nice, but what do you do about the kids with out proper outerwear??

I have asked and asked for parents to bring proper wear, but they dont.

Simple. I send them home.

[slpender]

How do you explain to parents that we ALL could not go play outside because little suzzy has sparkly fashion boots, not real winter boots and her feet will get cold and wet.

These parents are expecting me to take their littles outside when its nice, but what do you do about the kids with out proper outerwear??

I have asked and asked for parents to bring proper wear, but they dont.

I send them home or make them sit at a outside table with table toys or a book. Then I tell the parents suzy had to sit at the table during outside play today becuase she did not have the proper clothing.

Some parents will catch on pretty quick when suzy has to sit out 3 or 4 time.

It took one of my parents a few time little girl would get lazy and wait to long to go potty and pee on shoe after she missed outside play a few time they brough extra shoes.

[dEHmom]

It's so frustrating! I have it in my policies i will send kids home upon arrival if they don't have proper gear, but i've never had my backbone to do it, or I didn't notice until it was too late.

I have an 18 month old coming in rubber boots! I told the parents she needs WINTER boots because her feet are freezing and the rubber boots make her slip on the ice/snow.

[Country Kids]

To Lyss and Just Peachy:

I'm not to far from you and never heard of bulk dust! We call it bulk mulch in my area of the PW. Isn't that funny how you can be so close to each other but things are so different!