Open Door

[MarinaVanessa]

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

This. We have an "open door" policy also but my front door is always locked. I keep it locked because of safety reasons. I don't want some random Joe Shmo walking into my house when it's just me and the DCKs. But I have a lock with a keypad and I give my clients their own codes so they can get in. I don't mind them walking in whenever because I'd rather they come in than me have to stop whatever I'm doing to let them in. Plus my codes for clients only work during their contracted schedule.

[SSWonders]

My front door is always open and parents walk in and down to my daycare space, which is located in the basement. I've got too much to do to be going up and down the stairs all day.

[rosieteddy]

Hi new to this forum****nning a daycare home for almost 30 yrs(yikes).I used to have unlocked policy but over the years have changed to a knock and I take the child in.Parents can be disruptive to the routine and I found the longer they stay the harder it is for some children.I also started a new routine of having everyone ready at pick-up time.When its dark we sit in front porch-foyer and read stories for 15 min .Nice weather parents pick-up outside Legally any parent has a right to come at any time,but I discourage that.I jokingly say you wake em you take them. No parent has decided to test this. Drop off is all at the same time so it works.

[Second Home]

Reg here state that we are not allowed to lock our doors during operating hours . It is so that any kid can get out easily if there was an emergency.

None of my parents or kids are allowed to just open my door to come in or out , they must all knock or ring the doorbell and wait .

I had 1 parent just walk in once and I told her that was not allowed and it can never happen again or they will need to find other child care ,

[TwinKristi]

You CAN'T lock your doors??? I don't know that I would want to run a childcare if that was the case. I don't live in a bad neighborhood by any means, but once in awhile you hear about a break in or some door to door people casing houses.

[originalkat]

My parents walk into the Kitchen nook for drop off and pick-up. This is where their cubbies are and where we eat breakfast and have quiet activities in the AM and PM. All parents drop off by 8:30 and I am in the Kitchen when they arrive so I have them walk in. At 8:30 I lock the door. I unlock after nap and parents start arriving between 3-5:30 to pick-up. We are in the Kitchen nook during this time so I keep the door unlocked and they come in as they get here. I lock the door as soon a the last one leaves.
I am RARELY inn the bathroom during drop off and pickup times. I try to do that at other times so I am never caught off guard.

[Jack Sprat]

Some of my parents knock and wait for me open the door, some knock and then enter. My door is locked until first dck arrives at 6am then locked until my next arrivals at 7:45. I keep the door locked in the morning as dcb has figured out how to open the door. After nap I have it unlocked. My oldest is arriving home from school, parents are starting to come and its a pain to run to the door every time someone arrives. Plus, their knocking or ringing doorbell sets our dogs off. I usually know someone is here because one of the dogs will start whining and carrying on.

In the summer the front door is usually open but, the screen door on the porch is locked all the time.

[snbauser]

Unlocked during drop offs and pick ups and locked after the last parent drops off. BUT I can also see anyone walking up to the door because of the large picture window in our classroom. If I have to use the bathroom or leave the room during those times, the door is locked.

[jenn]

Locked. Always.

It's a home....not a public building. I would never just open the door and walk into someone's else's home, and I expect that same respect.

Some say that parents should be able to walk in un-announced to check up on their children. I feel that if a parent has so little faith in me that they can't wait just a few seconds for me to open the door...then they need to go elsewhere.

Exactly this