I Feel Like An Ogre...

[Leanna]

I just bought a new-to-me couch from Craigslist to replace the love seat I bought new three years ago. This is the third couch I have had to replace because of the wear and tear of daycare. I have decided that I will not allow the daycare kids on the new couch. I have an overstuffed armchair and pillows for cozy in the living room and there is tons of "soft" in the playroom. I feel like a mean old lady, but I really can't afford to keep replacing such a large piece of furniture (even used!). It is so hard because I want them to feel welcome and at home but sometimes I have to say no.

[Annalee]

I just bought a new-to-me couch from Craigslist to replace the love seat I bought new three years ago. This is the third couch I have had to replace because of the wear and tear of daycare. I have decided that I will not allow the daycare kids on the new couch. I have an overstuffed armchair and pillows for cozy in the living room and there is tons of "soft" in the playroom. I feel like a mean old lady, but I really can't afford to keep replacing such a large piece of furniture (even used!). It is so hard because I want them to feel welcome and at home but sometimes I have to say no.

Even if they aren't allowed on it, put a large cover over it for protection. There is a provider I know who puts sheets over all her furniture during the day.

[mema]

Don't feel bad. I don't allow kiddos on my furniture either. I had one child jump into my couch and broke one leg and then his mother sat on the arm of it and broke another. Now, no one gets to sit on them.

[daycarediva]

This is one of the ultimate reasons I decided to move my family room away from my daycare space. I had a dcb pee on my couch, right at drop off. Brand new couch from an expensive furniture store and the ONLY piece of furniture I had ever custom ordered. Now they have their own things, and my family has ours. I am SUPER fortunate enough to have the space to be able to do so. I dislike having our living room in the basement on weekends (ranch style home). I am finishing our attached garage to turn that into my daycare space as soon as money allows, and then no daycare parent or child will ever enter my actual 'home', I can close the door to work on Friday at 6 and really be done. We are even dividing up our backyard and doing a separate shed for daycare storage. I love this job and want to continue long term, and this is just the best way I can think to do so as my kids age.

[cheerfuldom]

I dont let daycare kids on my furniture. I dont feel bad at all about it. This isnt their home. and you can bet the parents are not going to replace ruined furniture so what else are we supposed to do?

[Josiegirl]

OMG don't feel bad about it! I replaced my 5 yo couch last summer because it was thoroughly destroyed by the kids. I told them if I EVER caught them standing, jumping, bouncing, playing, etc., etc., on this new couch they wouldn't get to use it again. I said (in no uncertain terms!) couches are for sitting. ONLY.
My home and it's furnishings have taken a beating because of all the kids. I wish I could have nice furniture, kitchen chairs that aren't all scratched up, walls that aren't gouged and scraped all up, but it's one of the downfalls of this job. My dcks are darn lucky they're so cute or they'd all be stuck to a giant velcro wall, hanging around until 5:00.

[Laurel]

I used to have a sofa in the daycare room (my family room). I got rid of it a long time ago. I replaced it with one reclining chair (that I never recline when they are there) for me. It is wide so one child can sit on it with me. It is leather (best decision ever). It has worn well for many years. It still looks good.

One reason I got rid of the sofa is because no matter how hard I tried they used it for a virtual climber! So I put a little climber in there for many years. Now I just have the chair and I have some little chairs for them in there sometimes but mostly they sit on the floor. Also there is one step up to the foyer so they sit on the step.

Laurel

[blandino]

We have a completely separate space for the daycare, BUT still have an adult loveseat in the daycare area and the kids are not allowed on it. Sometimes, if they are in our laps - but that's it. And I don't feel one bit bad about it. They have their own tiny couch in the cost corner, and I need somewhere to sit, when I don't feel like having little faces in my face or sitting on me. My kids have lots of areas they can't touch or things they can't get on.

Like Daycarediva, I once had a DCG have an accident on the couch - and after that it was a no go. Just not risking that again.

[Happily_wed]

The two girls that I have now aren't allowed to sit on my furniture. They have a soft rug and bean bags. I tried letting them on the couches but they want to rough house, stand up, walk on it, etc. I have one brand new couch that I bought a year ago and a really nice sleeper sofa that I bought from a friend used and they have to last me a LONG time!

[Crazy8]

my dc kids aren't even allowed in my family room - they get the playroom, the family room is for my family!!!

[TwinKristi]

I have 2 drop-ins who aren't allowed on my couch due to jumping. One did it and the other saw and now he does it every time he's here so I told them no more couch!!

[Jack Sprat]

I don't allow DCKs on sofas either unless I am sitting on it as well. They can't seem to get the no standing on the furniture rule. Don't feel bad!!