Direct Supervision

[Play Care]

I do allow school aged kids who have shown themselves to be responsible/trustworthy to play/ stay outside without me. To me, this is about knowing your home and the kids. My playroom is at the front of my house. If I'm in the kitchen making lunch, I can't see anyone in there. I usually close off the playroom and bring out a rotation of toys to the family room which is open to the kitchen. But I can see my backyard completely from the kitchen/ family room. My trustworthy school aged kids can and do play safely outside while I change diapers, assist with toileting,make lunch, or occasionally during naps. Mostly because I can see them. And they know they need to stay in the areas I can easily see/ supervise them. Furthermore, I'm not breaking regs in any way.

Everyday I make a plan as to who can be outside, what will be a available to them, and review the rules with them beforehand. Kids who show they can't handle it would lose the privilege permanently. Every single day I evaluate the kids, their behavior, mood, etc. to determine if they are able to be out without me. A child who was having a tough day listening/ following directions would be designated my helper and expected to be with me all day long. I wouldn't chance anything. But at the end of the day, if I couldn't see my backyard easily from the area of the house I'm in, they wouldn't be outside. Oh, and anytime I need to "pop" in the house, every single underage child comes with me - no matter what. Because leaving them out is against regs.

[SilverSabre25]

I say indirect but that comes with the caveat that the environment needs to be controlled to minimize the chances for severe misbehavior, such as access to inappropriate materials.

[Cradle2crayons]

I say indirect but that comes with the caveat that the environment needs to be controlled to minimize the chances for severe misbehavior, such as access to inappropriate materials.

I agree that's important. I have a dcp who is constantly bringing in their kids and the 2 year old and 3 year old are covered in marker and make up do to lack of supervision. WHY OH WHY do people leave those things laying around anyway??

About the only thing a child can get into while I'm peeing here are some extra puzzles and books. NOTHING other than appropriate things are accessible to ANY child here. And I mean nothing.

[Blackcat31]

I am in MN. My state statutes say:

Subp. 29a.

Supervision.

"Supervision" means a caregiver being within sight or hearing of an infant, toddler, or preschooler at all times so that the caregiver is capable of intervening to protect the health and safety of the child.

For the school age child, it means a caregiver being available for assistance and care so that the child's health and safety is protected."

MN requires sight OR sound. For school age children, we can allow them to play off our property as long as we are available to them so if they need something they know who to come to and where.

IMHO, the supervision requirements in my state have never been an issue for me.

I don't take SA kids and the way my program is set up...I am within sight AND sound of the children no matter which room I am in.

I can pee freely behind a closed door without worrying about being sanctioned or cited for it.

[MsLaura529]

I do sight AND sound majority of the day, except for my the bathroom, naps, and preparing meals, which are then sight OR sound. (My kitchen is right off of the playroom, but gated off from the kids).

Bathrooms times, I make sure everyone is set up with something safely. Naps, I go into my own family room/kitchen, but am checking on them every 15-20 minutes.

[WImom]

Ok so I just read the other posts who basically said the same as me. Direct except for bathroom and nap... But voted differently. Now I'm really confused :confused: although that's not anything new ::

I'm the same. I also have no babies or toddlers, just preschoolers. I also have a daycare only space and if they are all sitting at the table coloring I may go in my own kitchen to get a snack or my laundry room to change over laundry. I can not see them but can 100% hear them as my daycare is right next to these rooms. If I had a new child or one that was newly 2y I wouldn't do that. Right now I have 3, 4, and 5y olds. I can trust them for 2 minutes while I grab something from the other room as long as I can hear them. Also preparing meals I am only doing sound for some of it. That is are only tv time for the day so I've never had problems. They all know to stay on their mat and watch tv or read books in the book area. I can also hear them and I'm in and out setting up lunch so it's mostly sight AND sound.

[Lavender]

I'm in New York so it's direct. I work in a facility, however, so it's direct for sure. My kids are in my room or outside with me at all times. Napping is done there too in cribs or on cots for the older one who will transition soon. I have the luxury of having people who can come in my room for me when I need to potty.

[daycarediva]

I voted direct sight/sound supervision. I am in NY. To clarify how I do things;

I have everyone sit outside the bathroom while I go potty on their tushes with a busy bag, someone moves and everyone else tattles. I have used this method DURING an inspection and my registrar loved it. Then the children take turns using the potty/I change diapers. The kids who are fully potty trained (almost all of mine) use the restroom alone, door cracked with me right outside the door.

I do not nap them in the same room as me during the summer/school breaks (my own SA children are home) but I do nap them in the same room when school is in session, so I have a separate nap room with a video monitor and do checks every 15m. Nap room is right off the play room so I can almost see everyone anyway. I have mostly 2+, youngest child I have accepted into care in the last 4 years was 18m, all on mats, all sound asleep before I leave the room.

I do allow my long time, very trustworthy, SA dcb to play with DS on the back deck in our fenced in yard (with no gate), or in DS's rooms with every 15m checks, per licensing regulations. I do NOT allow my young SA'er, as he cannot be trusted. I do this on a kid by kid basis. So far in 7 years, only 2 have ever been allowed out of my direct line of sight for other than restroom use.

My biggest issue is lunch prep, which takes under 15 minutes, the way my house is, I can't see the playroom from the kitchen. I have everyone go into the dining room (which I can see) and do gross motor activities or bring out a special game, or puzzles to keep them occupied and in line of sight.

I WILL NOT have anything preventable happen on my watch. I would NEVER forgive myself. I think of the regulations as the minimum requirements, and strive to meet or exceed them in all aspects.

[Familycare71]

I voted direct sight/sound supervision. I am in NY. To clarify how I do things;

I have everyone sit outside the bathroom while I go potty on their tushes with a busy bag, someone moves and everyone else tattles. I have used this method DURING an inspection and my registrar loved it. Then the children take turns using the potty/I change diapers. The kids who are fully potty trained (almost all of mine) use the restroom alone, door cracked with me right outside the door.

I do not nap them in the same room as me during the summer/school breaks (my own SA children are home) but I do nap them in the same room when school is in session, so I have a separate nap room with a video monitor and do checks every 15m. Nap room is right off the play room so I can almost see everyone anyway. I have mostly 2+, youngest child I have accepted into care in the last 4 years was 18m, all on mats, all sound asleep before I leave the room.

I do allow my long time, very trustworthy, SA dcb to play with DS on the back deck in our fenced in yard (with no gate), or in DS's rooms with every 15m checks, per licensing regulations. I do NOT allow my young SA'er, as he cannot be trusted. I do this on a kid by kid basis. So far in 7 years, only 2 have ever been allowed out of my direct line of sight for other than restroom use.

My biggest issue is lunch prep, which takes under 15 minutes, the way my house is, I can't see the playroom from the kitchen. I have everyone go into the dining room (which I can see) and do gross motor activities or bring out a special game, or puzzles to keep them occupied and in line of sight.

I WILL NOT have anything preventable happen on my watch. I would NEVER forgive myself. I think of the regulations as the minimum requirements, and strive to meet or exceed them in all aspects.

[Angelsj]

I am in MN.

I can pee freely behind a closed door without worrying about being sanctioned or cited for it.

LOL Me too, but I rarely do. (Pee alone.. )
I remember my licensor going over the regs and thinking good grief..well I will at least never be out of compliance.

[Angelsj]

I agree that's important. I have a dcp who is constantly bringing in their kids and the 2 year old and 3 year old are covered in marker and make up do to lack of supervision. WHY OH WHY do people leave those things laying around anyway??

About the only thing a child can get into while I'm peeing here are some extra puzzles and books. NOTHING other than appropriate things are accessible to ANY child here. And I mean nothing.

Right? I had a parent make THREE trips to the ER in one month due to the child drinking or eating some type of medication. Seriously??

[laundrymom]

I'm a sight AND sound provider. Even when I use bathroom. A half door and strategically placed convex mirrors make it possible

[Angelsj]

In light of some recent threads, I am wondering what level of supervision is necessary to protect the children in our care, our property from being destroyed and our livelihoods from being destroyed. Maybe it is just me, but I believe it is my UPMOST responsibility to directly supervise, constantly, while children are in my care. Without referring to any one thread specifically, I am getting a horrible feeling that many providers do not take their role as seriously as they should. This SERIOUSLY frightens and concerns me and I really wonder what, if anything can and should be done about it.

So, please share with me, what do you think is the level of supervision necessary for anyone caring for other people's children?

I am not going to vote, but just wanted to point out that the poll question and the question YOU are asking are different. My state allows sight OR sound for under school age, and free play/roam for school agers.
*I* have different standards.
Out of curiousity, what threads are you referring to in this post, if you don't mind sharing?

[Michelle]

I personally think it's inappropriate to use the restroom in front of other peoples children... and I would never do it... but if parents are o.k. with it and so is licensing that's fine.

When we are out in public, I never have to worry about supervising them while I use the restroom or take them in with me because I always have an assistant with me but I saw this lady with a great idea at the museum.

She had a little girl around 7 years old and the lady used the restroom privately and she had the girl stand on the outside of the stall but really close to the door so that her shoes can be easily seen while she was going to the bathroom.
I thought this was awesome! and would be awesome for boys that are too young for the mens room and you have nobody to watch them outside the bathroom.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I have my childcare area blocked from the rest of the house. I am always within hearing. I may have them blocked in the playroom and I am in the kitchen which is attached. The playroom would form an L with the kitchen and breakfast nook. But, I always make sure it is children that can play.