Outlawing FlipFlop Shoes

[Lilbutterflie]

What are your shoe policies regarding flipflops or open-toed shoes??

I'm getting to the point where I am thinking about outlawing flipflop sandals. My dcm contantly brings all 3 of her kids in flipflops; even now when the mornings are sometimes in the 40's and 50's. First of all, their feet get FILTHY when we go outside to play, especially if we've been to the park or playground. So this means in addition to having them wash their face and hands, I'm lining them up in the bathtub to wash their feet every day. Second, they are constantly getting scrapes and scratches on their feet, and one of my dcb's got a cut on his toe that kept opening up and eventually turned almost black. It has finally healed after about two months. I haven't said anything to dcm about it b/c it's been outrageously hot this past summer, and then I thought she'd start bringing them in shoes now that the weather is nicer and cold in the mornings. Nope.

Anyone else have this problem? Or do you all have a No FlipFlop policy?

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I don't have any restriction as I haven't had any issues here...but the center I used to take my kids to had a sneaker only policy...I guess I long time ago she had a girl have a bad accident with her foot and ever since then she said no sandals at her daycare.

[kendallina]

I don't have a no flip-flop policy, but every center that I ever worked in did have that policy. I haven't had a problem yet, but I just started in Sept. I think it's perfectly acceptable to talk to this mom, tell her her children's feet are cold and they get too dirty for flip flops.

[misol]

The dress code section of my contracy says this about shoes:

"Shoes should be comfortable and provide adequate protection for the feet during outdoor play. Flip-flops, slip-on shoes, and open-toed sandals are prohibited as they present a safety hazard."

I have a no flip-flop policy but have never enforced it. I only had one parent who would send their child in flip-flops. The kid could barely keep them on and would trip all the time. Whenever the mom would send him in flip-flops I would just limit the activities that he could participate in while outdoors.

[DanceMom]

I dont have a shoe policy however I strongly urge parents in every monthly newsletter to wear appropriate shoes during the summer as we go to the park and every single one of them trips when wearing flip flops. If you dont want your kid coming home with skinned knees then send them in closed toed shoes !

[Crystal]

I have a written no flip-flop and no open toed shoes policy. Children cannot run, jump and play comfortably OR safely in those types of shoes.

I started this several years ago when a little boy in my care injured his toes almost daily. I didn't want the responsibility for children getting hurt, so I put an end to the flip flops and sandals.

[legomom922]

I don't have one, but am thinking about adding now! I never thought about it before.

[ddnanny13]

I had a similar issue with dress shoes on my one dcg. She has these dainty little sparkle dress shoes that she apparently "insists" on wearing every morning. Mom asked one day if we had "enjoyed the nice weather" and I said no because so and so couldn't play with the shoes she had today. She never wore them again...

[kitkat]

I don't have a no flip flop rule, but I inform the parents that kids need to be in shoes that they can play in and don't fall off. I had a dcg that wore the same shoes as ddanny13's and we had the same problem. When I was working in a school district, the kids would wear flip flops to summer school. We had 3 kids in one week with toe nail injuries because they would open the door over their foot. It was so gross. I didn't have my own kids at that time, but because of that, I will never let my kids wear flip flops and I always look for closed toe sandals.

[Lilbutterflie]

Thanks for your input everyone! I think in January I will be raising my rates slightly so a new contract will be necessary anyway. I'll just include a policy about appropriate outdoor play shoes (no flipflops, slipons, dress shoes, or open toed shoes). I think I'll explain it's due to safety hazards, especially since the playgrounds and park we go to all have wood chips.

I don't think dcm will like it one bit. I think for her, it's just easier to have them put on flipflops since she has 3 kids under the age of 5 to get ready every morning. The kids all walk pretty well in them, but they do trip often. And when they do they are scraping their toes, and even their toe knuckles! And I really should've said something when I noticed the cut on my dcb's toe turning black. I think it was just getting super dirty, she's lucky it didn't turn into a serious infection. And I am so tired of washing feet!! LOL

[kitkat]

Honestly, I wouldn't wait til January to make the flip flop rule change. I'd send out a short memo now stating that due to safety reasons children need to wear appropriate shoes as of Monday and detail what appropriate means. There is no reason why mom can't put better shoes on the kids. Besides, they should be able to at least partially be able to put on their shoes to help mom in the morning.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

I require shoes that secure to feet. If the parent forgets and they wear flips or slide in sandles,.. they arent allowed to be on any climbing structure, bike, car, slide or the roller coaster. They can bounce a ball , play basket ball , do sit and spin. And you can bet that AS SOON AS MOM GETS HERE,.. THEY TELL ON ME... I stick to the rules,.. shoes must secure to feet to play on the fun toys. The next day they have the right shoes!

[sierrastreasures]

The dress code section of my contracy says this about shoes:

"Shoes should be comfortable and provide adequate protection for the feet during outdoor play. Flip-flops, slip-on shoes, and open-toed sandals are prohibited as they present a safety hazard."

I have a no flip-flop policy but have never enforced it. I only had one parent who would send their child in flip-flops. The kid could barely keep them on and would trip all the time. Whenever the mom would send him in flip-flops I would just limit the activities that he could participate in while outdoors.

I am sooooo writing this into my handbook for next summer.

[AmandasFCC]

I allow sandals but I don't allow flip flops. I don't care so much about dirty feet, I have to clean anyway , but what I DO care about is a child constantly tripping and falling over their flip flops because they don't stay on properly. Last summer I had a 4 year old coming every day in flip flops where the part that goes between their toes kept coming out of the sole, so I was constantly having to fix it. It drove me BATTY! Plus, he'd be running and the sole would flip under itself so he'd trip ... It was just a bad scene. I couldn't believe it when this summer someone gave my 2 year old daughter a pair of flip flops for her birthday. Like, WTF? I hid them instantly. They are so unsafe.

[MarinaVanessa]

We (my family and I) all wear flip-flops year-round, maybe it's a CA thing?? (wearing some as we speak ... errr type) but then again I live in CA and the weather here in my area isn't ever really cold enough not to wear them HOWEVER for my DC I have a policy that just states how footware should be appropriate for the weather, temperature, safety etc. Nothing particular or anything so that if one child can walk in flip-flops she'd be okay but if another wears them and constantly trips then no way, or if it's raining or something. My daughter got her first pair before she could even walk and she can do back-flips and cart-wheels without loosing them or having them fly off :confused:. Dunno how she does it (she's 5) but she does.