Was I Wrong?

[daycarediva]

My house (albeit a little too small for my large family + daycare) is perfect for daycare. I use my former great room for daycare, which is adjacent to a small florida room, and there are double doors which lead to our large two level deck (lower is daycare, upper is family), and then our large fenced in yard with a 20x20 concrete patio with a gazebo for shade. When we looked at houses, I drooled in anticipation of the perfect daycare space (well, perfect within my budget!)

[Patches]

Heck NO I wouldn't have given her the banana! I think you did the right thing. No one ever died from eating outside. And no one ever died from getting a bug on their food either.

We would spend a LOT more time outside in nice weather if I had a better access to the back yard. Someday...when we have the money to knock a wall out of the kitchen and put in a door and build a deck...

And I'm sure no one ever died from delaying a snack for 30 minutes::

[Heidi]

I think you should discuss this with her now to avoid issues later. Just lay it all out for her - that you go outside for very large portions of every day, you eat outside every day, that you picnic, etc...and that you do not plan on bending your rules for DCG. I think you'll save yourself a lot of hassle in the end.

Just get it over with....

I'd be outside MORE just to get dck acclimated faster. Breakfast, lunch AND dinner outside! dramatic play, science, math, literacy...I'd love to have my whole program out there, for that matter. I think Melskids does that all summer...

http://mountaintopdaycare.blogspot.com/

Can you imagine if your program were like this?

throotsfieldschool.org/classes/forest-kindergarten/

This is actually my dream, BTW...

[countrymom]

I would ignore mom and girl. I don't do tantrums or crazy request. Mom is bullying you into giving her daughter "special", if she wants special, then charge her extra. If she doesn't want princess to go outside, then tell her that its going to cost her extra because then YOU will have to hire a helper to stay inside with her. If she wants her to eat in the house then YOU will charge her extra because then you have to supply twice as much food. As nannyde aslways says--attatch money to it

[countrymom]

I had the oppisite problem, I had meltdowns yesterday because no one wanted to come in

[originalkat]

WoW! :confused:That little girl would have a hard time in my program too!! We eat outside as often as possible. In the nice weather we spend hours outside every day. She and her mom are going to have to get over it or take a hike. I would just explain to her the goals of your program and how spending ample time outside in nature so the children can get fresh air and exercise is very important. I would also explain the banana situation and let her know you have just enough for designated snacks and lunches. Good Luck!

[MyNana23]

I'm DYING for it to get warm enough here to spend most of the day outside...and to eat snacks outside, bugs and all...LOL! I wouldn't let the mom take a banana either...same reason as most others here...she expects special, wants special, demands special..doesn't happen here EVER !! It's not fair to the others OR to me! Why should I (or you) have to go to the store and spend extra money for your family because of her "pint-sized diva"??

The Child Diva will expect special treatment(or snacks) everyday if you give in even once..not everyone can or does or wants to live in a house where you can spend time outside but if I lived in a condo and had a child, I'd be thrilled to death for the child to have outside time!

I had a family here once with 2 girls and they HATED the outside SO much...I always had to drag them out, not let them make 200 hundred trips back in to the bathroom (because I'd come to check on them and they'd be sitting inside playing!!) , and not listen to their constant whining about being out..I couldn't believe my ears , when years later, my daughter-in-law ended up working with that dcm and the dcm told her she was so happy about how much time I spend with the kids outside! The mom used to try to wheedle around me asking if we could spend a little LESS time out or let HER girls stay inside..alone!!

Because she's kind of a bi**H, she was probably just being a snot about it to my DIL so she'd tell me...LOL!

[daycarediva]

Just get it over with....

I'd be outside MORE just to get dck acclimated faster. Breakfast, lunch AND dinner outside! dramatic play, science, math, literacy...I'd love to have my whole program out there, for that matter. I think Melskids does that all summer...

http://mountaintopdaycare.blogspot.com/

Can you imagine if your program were like this?

throotsfieldschool.org/classes/forest-kindergarten/

This is actually my dream, BTW...

That's near me.

I have a small dramatic play area (kitchen, food, grill) , a tools area with a bench, toy chainsaw, toy yard & garden tools, the kids have their own garden (we just started seeds indoors) we have a truck area with dirt they can dig/play in, we bring our science things outdoors to put in the sand/water table, we have an 'art line' and 2 pop up easels outdoors for free art, we have lots of ride on toys, a large swingset, several play houses, a bouncy house, a ball/sports area, a drive through car wash (sprinkler), logs set up in a circle for a faux campfire which is where we do circle time outside, I have slooowwwlllyyy been adding to this for more and more outdoor time.

If only I lived in a warmer state, my program would be OUTSIDE based 99% of the time. ::

[Heidi]

That's near me.

I have a small dramatic play area (kitchen, food, grill) , a tools area with a bench, toy chainsaw, toy yard & garden tools, the kids have their own garden (we just started seeds indoors) we have a truck area with dirt they can dig/play in, we bring our science things outdoors to put in the sand/water table, we have an 'art line' and 2 pop up easels outdoors for free art, we have lots of ride on toys, a large swingset, several play houses, a bouncy house, a ball/sports area, a drive through car wash (sprinkler), logs set up in a circle for a faux campfire which is where we do circle time outside, I have slooowwwlllyyy been adding to this for more and more outdoor time.

If only I lived in a warmer state, my program would be OUTSIDE based 99% of the time. ::

me too! Alas...Wisconsin, which is beautiful of course, but the winters are long and cold, especially when you have young infants.

[snbauser]

I would respond to her question of how you are going to handle it with:

Per the policies you received when you enrolled, we spend a majority of time outside whe the weather is nice. This includes eating snack outside. Your plans for dcg are to continue to offer her snack where and when everyone else eats. It is then her choice ot eat it or not. The alternative is for you to pick her up before snack time.

[MNMommy2]

Nope, no banana! Seriously, some people. I find the older I get, the more easily irritated I am.

And don't do anything "just this once." People choose not to hear that clause.

[Luna]

Sorry Mom, no banana. We serve snack, child chose not to eat it. We will be doing the same every day all summer so adjust your attitude accordingly.

You sure don't need to explain to mom what you intend to do with your bananas sitting on your counter in your house. She can bring her own snack for Princess to eat in the car when she leaves. Good Gravy some people. Just when you think you've heard it all...

[MyAngels]

I think you should discuss this with her now to avoid issues later. Just lay it all out for her - that you go outside for very large portions of every day, you eat outside every day, that you picnic, etc...and that you do not plan on bending your rules for DCG. I think you'll save yourself a lot of hassle in the end.

I vote for this, which it sounds like you've already done. It'll be interesting how this plays out over the summer . I read somewhere once that we're raising a generation of "hot house kids" and it's so true, unfortunately.

[Brooksie]

No way! You're totally right here. If a child refuses snack they don't get an alternate snack. Absolutely not. Definitely not fair to other kids.

[daycaremum]

I think you should discuss this with her now to avoid issues later. Just lay it all out for her - that you go outside for very large portions of every day, you eat outside every day, that you picnic, etc...and that you do not plan on bending your rules for DCG. I think you'll save yourself a lot of hassle in the end.

I totally agree with this. This mother and daughter are ridiculous. As for little girl following you around whining. I would tell her if she whined she would have to go sit by herself. When she's ready to go play she can get up whenever she likes as long as she's not whining. If she chooses to stay there the whole time, that's her choice. I would continue to ask her every ten minutes or so if she was going to go play, but the choice is hers. But no one will follow me around whining, how annoying. How old is this child?