Open Door

[Unregistered]

Does anyone know what the official NYS policy is about locked/unlocked doors? At my last inspection my registrar casually said something about checking to see egress door was unlocked - but I can't find anything specific in the regs and I'm confused. Thanks.

[daycarediva]

I keep my door unlocked. I tell my parents just to come in when they get here because my front door is in the daycare room anyways and also sometimes we are outside (unfortunately, they have to walk through the house to get to the backyard) or are doing something. I'm also comfortable knowing that I live in a safe neighborhood or else I wouldn't leave it unlocked.

I USED to do this, and then I found a dcm snooping around my kitchen (going through drawers in my roll top desk, looking for a 'pen') same day, dcb saw his mom pull up and I grabbed him JUST as he was leaving my front porch.

My parents come down the side yard and through a sliding glass door that goes right into the daycare room.
I unlock it when the parents are dropping off and then lock it once everyone is here.
I unlock it after nap and the lock it again after the kids are all gone.

I will also lock it during pick up and drop off if I have to leave the room (ex. go to the bathroom, feed the dogs)

Im more worried about kids running outside vs someone coming into my house.

Now I do this. Unlocked during your scheduled pick up/drop off. Come early or late, and it's locked. It's also locked if I have to step away from the door for ANY reason.

[preschoolteacher]

This is an interesting thread! I was SOOO freaked out the first time a parent walked in without knocking. It scared me! Half of my parents knock and half of them walk in now. Dads NEVER walk in. Moms are always the ones who do that. I don't mind if they're coming right at their designated pick-up/drop-off time. I'm expecting them anyways, so it doesn't surprise me then.


I recently had a client walk right in 30 minutes early for drop off though, and I found that pretty weird. This mom doesn't have a good sense of personal boundaries, however.

I know that most of the parents who walk in think that they are helping me by not making me come to the door. I still think it's weird. It's still my house, and I'm just not used to people walking in when I'm not expecting anyone.

[Meeko]

We are required to have an "open door" policy.
This does NOT mean unlocked doors.

It means parents can come in any time they wish while their child is in care. Big difference. Even then.....open door does not mean parents have free access to the house and all the kids. They must be invited in, and supervised. I do not let any parent near a child who is not their own.

Any parent caught wandering in my home or touching my belongings would be kicked out. On the spot. No excuses.

[TwinKristi]

Locked, parents always knock. I've never had someone just walk in! No way! parents are allowed to come whenever they'd like but they have to knock first!

[BrooklynM]

Always locked. I, like I'm sure many other providers often times have to pee with the bathroom door open!

[Josiegirl]

Hmm, I've always left my door unlocked because it's a pain to be changing diapers when someone is waiting at the door, etc. But I may be changing that very soon. I grab my dogs and get them into the bedroom before dcps make it to the door(I usually see them arrive) but I'm afraid one of these times the dogs will greet them first. I feel relatively safe in this neighborhood but there's always that one chance.
I don't really mind the dcps coming in whenever. BUT one day a former dcm showed up and walked right in and THAT pi$$ed me off.

[hope]

All entry/exit doors in my home chime when opened. Part of my alarm system. I leave doors unlocked at drop off n pick up times which lasts only about 5 minutes and I am in my foyer and can see anyone coming to the door. Doors are locked and security system armed all day otherwise.
We have the chimes on our doors bc we have an in ground pool in the back yard. Many parents panic when they see this due to safety reasons. I freak out thinking of what could happen! So we have the doors locked and alarm on. If alarm is off and doors are unlocked doors will chime alerting me if a child were to try to sneak out. Also have pool fence and pool alarm. The pool alarm would wake the whole neighborhood if it went off.

[Meeko]

Hmm, I've always left my door unlocked because it's a pain to be changing diapers when someone is waiting at the door, etc. But I may be changing that very soon. I grab my dogs and get them into the bedroom before dcps make it to the door(I usually see them arrive) but I'm afraid one of these times the dogs will greet them first. I feel relatively safe in this neighborhood but there's always that one chance.
I don't really mind the dcps coming in whenever. BUT one day a former dcm showed up and walked right in and THAT pi$$ed me off.

If a parent has to wait because you are changing a diaper....let them wait. If any parent thinks you are doing "something wrong" during that time and doesn't understand you are busy with a child.....should be shown the door and leave with a footprint on their backside......just sayin'......

[childcaremom]

I used to keep my doors unlocked all the time. Safe neighbourhood and all that.

Then one day I suspected that a dcp had been walking around my upstairs after dropping his daughter off and saying goodbye.

The next day I sent out a notice that my door would now always be locked. Parents have to knock at drop off and pick up. And then wait for me to be able to answer the door.

As a bonus, pick up and drop off times are very short now with no more lingering parents

[AnneCordelia]

I used to have a fam that the dad and grandma would just walk in cause they arrived right after dh left for work and I had yet to lock the door again. I would say "Oh! I didnt hear you knock!" and it only happened a few times. Otherwise I keep doors locked and parents knock.

[Angelsj]

YES!!!

...BIG difference between an "Open door" policy and having an "open/unlocked" door.

I agree, however, here, I leave it unlocked. We are a tiny little town and I am quite comfortable. The porch has latched gates that adults can open, but not kiddos. It is a big house, and while I can hear the door and know people are there, I don't want to take a naked toddler or baby to the door if a parent is just picking up.
Two caveats. I trust my parents, and feel comfortable they won't abuse this. Also, I feel safe. When we lived in Leavenworth, the door was always locked.
I have also trained the children NOT to answer the door. They don't even go near it at any point.

[Angelsj]

I USED to do this, and then I found a dcm snooping around my kitchen (going through drawers in my roll top desk, looking for a 'pen') same day, dcb saw his mom pull up and I grabbed him JUST as he was leaving my front porch.



Now I do this. Unlocked during your scheduled pick up/drop off. Come early or late, and it's locked. It's also locked if I have to step away from the door for ANY reason.

Wow? People can be so forward!! That would not go over well. If you need a pen (or anything else) ASK!

[melilley]

Im more worried about kids running outside vs someone coming into my house.

I sometimes worry about this too, but here we have to have a lock that anyone can open in case of emergency. So that means I basically have to have a lock where it can be opened from the inside if locked, but not from the outside.

[Blackcat31]

I agree, however, here, I leave it unlocked. We are a tiny little town and I am quite comfortable. The porch has latched gates that adults can open, but not kiddos. It is a big house, and while I can hear the door and know people are there, I don't want to take a naked toddler or baby to the door if a parent is just picking up.
Two caveats. I trust my parents, and feel comfortable they won't abuse this. Also, I feel safe. When we lived in Leavenworth, the door was always locked.
I have also trained the children NOT to answer the door. They don't even go near it at any point.

I agree! I keep my door unlocked all the time. I live in a fairly close knit community too and I feel 100% safe leaving the door unlocked.

I actually complain about parents that knock...it's disruptive and gets all the kids going.

I know when parents arrive because I can hear them. I live in the country so I am pretty good at recognizing a car driving by verses pulling into the driveway or stopping outside.

I also have a driveway buzzer that buzzes when someone parks there and the neighbors have a million little ankle biter dogs that bark any time anyone even approaches the house.

I have a completely gated off entryway/coatroom too so there is a lot for anyone to pass through to get in or out.

My DCK's are "trained" to stay 3 feet back from any doorway too so I know they aren't going to run out or escape.

I think many parents and providers misunderstand the difference between "open door policy" and whether we can or can't lock our doors.