Feeling Guilty/Embarrassed During Pick Up Time...

[pandamom]

I work in a center, so there are no contracted hours. I have my two year olds wipe or wash their face when I see them dirty and after meal times. If they can't get them clean all the way, I assist. When parents usually have the same pick up time, I try to make sure their child is pottied/diaper change and their face and hands are clean.

For the parents with varied pick up times, I just say, "oh, DCK, let me clean your face before you go." And if it's been more than about 45 minutes since their last diaper change, I ask the parents, "DCK is due for a diaper change/ potty time- is it ok if I change DCK/send DCK to potty?" Some of my parents have a long commute, so I don't want the DCK to be nice and fresh for the car ride.

I'm with the other people- I just go over highlights. I tell new parents that we have lots of fun- send kids in clothes that they don't care about getting dirty. But I will send them home with clean hands, face and bum

[DaisyMamma]

Kids get dirty. I don't worry about it. It shows that you're a good provider if they are outside having fun and get dirty!
I try to wipe hands and faces at 5:15. Sometimes I'm busy and it doesn't happen.
I change diapers at 5:00 and pickup is at 5:30. There's not much else you can do. Kids pee.
I rarely discuss what we did all day.

[Cat Herder]

I agree with the other posters. Kids should get dirty.

Parent expectations may vary, as well, with WHO you provide care for.

I know my families schedules and do baths, complete diaper/clothing change, wash faces, hands, style hair, trim nails, sometimes feed dinner... the works before pick-up. BUT I advertise and function as specialty FULL-CARE childcare. Special needs are my niche (prematurity and all things that go with that).

Each program is different, no better no worse, just different. Remember, the parents chose you... that means they liked what you offer. Stress less, play more.... :hug:

[hawaiianscorpion]

Thank you so much everyone! I knew I was being a bit silly stressing out about the little things...insecurity is a monster isn't it? Thanks again!

[Maria2013]

Hi all! I am a very new provider watching only 2 kids right now..the rest will be coming next week. One part of my job that makes me feel uncomfortable is pick up time. My dcbs is always in some way or another dirty...a smear of something on his shirt from playtime, maybe a milk mustache..a couple of times his diaper wasn't fully dry, etc. Gosh, it makes me look like a horrible provider but I'm not! I do a lot with the boys (I check for wet diapers every hour) and time flies..next thing I know the parents are here! I guess I don't want the parents to think that just because their child peed in the last hour and I happened to not change his diaper, that I am neglectful. Do parents expect their child to be completely clean at pick up?

Another thing...I feel as though I have to explain to the parents what we did all day long! I quickly go over our schedule for the day, I send a pic or two via phone, I show off their art work, etc.

I know that I am insecure due to me being a new provider but I was just wondering, do you all make sure that your dck's are "presentable" at pick up time and do you share what you guys did that day or do you just smile and "bye" to the kids and their parents?

Thanks in advance! I guess I'm trying to prove my worth and it's messing with my mind!

Any parent should know that kids are messy!
....IMO I'd rather send home a kid with grass stains on his knees that one that's so clean, the parents wonder if he plaid at all!

I ask the parents to dress their kids in clothes they don't care much about cause when kids play in my daycare,they are free to get down and dirty

as for the wet diaper, parents should be able to tell the difference between a diaper that's just wet and one that's been on the child for far too long

relax, I have a feeling you are doing a wonderful job:hug:

[WImom]

I work on contracted hours. I know when parents will drop and pick up. This helps me run a very smooth schedule for my preschool program that I run here.

about 10 minutes before parents are to arrive, I make sure little billy is all ready to go. We clean him up, gather his stuff, have him put on his shoes, coat and anything else needed. I sit there with them and read to them until parent arrives. Usually by that time parents are there in just a few minutes.

This method REALLY REALLY helps cut down on bad behavior during pick up time because the child is ready to go and the parent can sign out and leave.

I send out a weekly schedule, so no need for me to tell them when they pick up. If something happened with the kids day that NEEDS to parents attention, I will usually have already emailed them or I would send home a note. I don't talk about what bad things happened at the door, never know when another parent may walk in, plus talking at the door takes my attention off of the other children that need me.

hope this helps some.

I do close to this as well. Instead of book reading during pick up time is when we do board games, color at the table or other table type toys. This way the playroom is all picked up and the kids faces/hands are clean and ready to leave. Clothing may be dirty since we play alot outside but other than that they are pretty clean.

[Play Care]

One thing I want to mention is that as a provider I try never to seem to parents as though I am stressed, upset, worried, etc in any way over transitions. If you come off apologizing profusely for things they may start to wonder how you handle things that come up during the day (is she *always* this stressed and anxious? Maybe Susie would be better off with a more even keel provider")

I think the phrase "Never let them see you sweat" was invented for day care!!!:::: so if the parent comes and the child is dirty from outside play I would say in a cheerful voice "Susie had a great day and as you can see we spent a lot of time outside! It was so nice we almost lost track of time!" Much better then a worried anxious sounding "oh I'm so sorry, I just lost track of time and didn't get a chance to do x,y and z!"
It's all in how you present it

[Maria2013]

One thing I want to mention is that as a provider I try never to seem to parents as though I am stressed, upset, worried, etc in any way over transitions. If you come off apologizing profusely for things they may start to wonder how you handle things that come up during the day (is she *always* this stressed and anxious? Maybe Susie would be better off with a more even keel provider")

I think the phrase "Never let them see you sweat" was invented for day care!!!:::: so if the parent comes and the child is dirty from outside play I would say in a cheerful voice "Susie had a great day and as you can see we spent a lot of time outside! It was so nice we almost lost track of time!" Much better then a worried anxious sounding "oh I'm so sorry, I just lost track of time and didn't get a chance to do x,y and z!"
It's all in how you present it

I agree

[akpayne]

One thing I want to mention is that as a provider I try never to seem to parents as though I am stressed, upset, worried, etc in any way over transitions. If you come off apologizing profusely for things they may start to wonder how you handle things that come up during the day (is she *always* this stressed and anxious? Maybe Susie would be better off with a more even keel provider")

I think the phrase "Never let them see you sweat" was invented for day care!!!:::: so if the parent comes and the child is dirty from outside play I would say in a cheerful voice "Susie had a great day and as you can see we spent a lot of time outside! It was so nice we almost lost track of time!" Much better then a worried anxious sounding "oh I'm so sorry, I just lost track of time and didn't get a chance to do x,y and z!"
It's all in how you present it

absolutely agree!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

One thing I want to mention is that as a provider I try never to seem to parents as though I am stressed, upset, worried, etc in any way over transitions. If you come off apologizing profusely for things they may start to wonder how you handle things that come up during the day (is she *always* this stressed and anxious? Maybe Susie would be better off with a more even keel provider")

I think the phrase "Never let them see you sweat" was invented for day care!!!:::: so if the parent comes and the child is dirty from outside play I would say in a cheerful voice "Susie had a great day and as you can see we spent a lot of time outside! It was so nice we almost lost track of time!" Much better then a worried anxious sounding "oh I'm so sorry, I just lost track of time and didn't get a chance to do x,y and z!"
It's all in how you present it

Exactly! I always have parents who reply, "No big deal!" or "That sounds fun!"