What Did You Used To Do That You Don't Do Anymore?

[Laurel]

For all of us but especially those who have done child care for a long time, I was wondering what things you have tried that you decided were too much of a hassle or didn't work or whatever.

Mine are:

-I used to do a molded plastic baby pool with 3 in diapers. Bad idea. What a hassle. They can 'swim' at home. Went to a stand around water table and a kiddie sprinkler.

-I collect money BEFORE care now. Collecting on the Friday following care only failed once but that once was enough for me.

-No sand! First it was the Turtle sandbox. Don't like when they flip the shovel in the air and get it in someone else's eye. Then it was sand table but all I could find was some nasty colored sand that stuck on hands so I just gave up sand. (Btw, if sand gets in the eye just have a cotton ball or cloth and wet it and touch it on the sand in the eye. Don't rub. The sand sticks to the wet cotton ball and out comes the sand without scratching the eye)

I'm sure I'll think of a ton more for now that's all I've got.

Laurel

[coolconfidentme]

Battery operated toys. DCKs left them on & I was forever replacing the batteries. They don't use their imagination with them either.

Bean bag chairs on Movie Friday. You cannot get 10 kids to sit on them without playing or plopping on them.

I'm sure I have more, but that's the two things that came to mind first.

[MotherNature]

Collecting money up front, taking vacation days are my two biggies.
I just eliminated freebie days for parents too..I used to allow them so many free days to miss for illness, etc..but it was hard to keep track of pt or ft and who had what. Now they pay me all yr, minus their 2 weeks vacation. I get 2 wks paid..they get 2 wks free if I get a month notice.

[LoraJenkins]

I use to offer over night and weekend care. I got burned out pretty quick. Now, I am off at 6:30 pm and have time for me

[NoMoreJuice!]

Used to...

I, too, used to accept money after care was provided. One trip to small claims court knocked some sense into me, and now I charge in advance! I'm SO much happier and less stressed not having to worry about telling a parent I am charging them a late fee. No money, no kid. Easy!

I also used to invest a ton of money back into toys and games and outdoor play equipment, but now I search through Craigslist during naptime looking for cheap deals. Oh yeah, and it's GARAGE SALE SEASON!!!

I used to take the kids on tons of outings, to the parks and museums nearby my house. Even to the city pool on occasion. Now we just play in the backyard (which is pretty cool, tons of play equipment...see item #1) instead of going on walks. I have too many to keep track of safely, and they get just as much exercise running around the backyard as they would on a walk.

I used to let my school age kids play the Wii during summer/other breaks. Now they get to play with toys or board games, same as the toddlers.

I used to care SO MUCH MORE about what people thought of me, and of my business. Now I'm more like "Hey, if you don't like it, take a hike." If they don't agree with my policies, or violate them, I term and hand them a card to our local referral agency.

I used to be TERRIFIED to tell a parent they were doing something wrong. Now I'm like "She can put her own jacket on, I don't care how much she whines that she can't. Let her do it."

The list goes on and on and on about how much I've changed as a daycare provider!

[Blackcat31]

I used to:

Be paid AFTER services were provided.
Take school age children
Be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Allow open to close attendance
Have a TV (and have it on all day )
Take the initiative and do 99% of the work to potty train kids
Write out daily sheets for babies
Accept babies under 12 months
Feel badly when enforcing a rule



Now I:

Don't do any of those things

[Moppetland]

I use to provide care from 6am to midnight. Not anymore. That burnt me out and the reason why I needed to close, recoup, and open back up.

This time around, I don't hesitate to term disrespectful/late paying/picking up late parents. I've decided that I will not be stressed this time around.

I use to take the children on field trips that were so many miles away from my home. At least over 30 miles. Too much trouble. Not any more.

I use to take B/A school kids. Not. They disrupt the little ones by choosing favorites, inciting fights, and just being plain disrespectful.

I use to let parents bring in certain foods for their children to eat for lunch. Not now. If there's no doctor/religious notes, then they have to eat what the whole group eats. Took too much time to prepare different lunches.

I'm quite sure I stopped a lot more things this time around but can't think of them all right now.

[sharlan]

I no longer do evening, overnight, or weekend care. I'm just not into it anymore.

I no longer take school-aged kids after school or for the summer. They're more work than the babies.

I collect pay a week in advance. I've never been burned, but changed it anyways. I don't feel bad about collecting late fees of $1 a minute for late pick-up and $10 a day for late payments.

I refuse to potty train until "I" know the parent is committed.

[cheerfuldom]

one big change for me is I used to care A LOT more about crying babies and toddlers. I would try to adjust schedule, feeding, go for walks all the time, cater and coddle. Now I am totally different. They only get carried when they have to be lifted to the changing table or into the pack n play. Other than that, floor time. LOTS of floor time from day one. This is for crawling age and up. If they cant handle a lot of independent play, then I term. I will not allow another screamer here. Wasted so much time trying to get unhappy babies to fit in here. Not anymore.

I have a newer baby that is still transitioning but I have three other 1 year olds that almost never cry. They just play and do their thing. Sleep thru the crying new baby and completely ignore his crying in the playroom. That really helps the transitioning of a newer baby, when everyone here does not rush to him at every squeak.

This is for kids that are just crying from being spoiled. Of course all needs are always filled and I do have the kids on my lap for reading and that sort of thing but I do NOT carry kids around or cater to the spoiled screaming at all.

I also do not care at all about the food issues. They are offered food, if they refuse, meal is over. No food options, coddling or fighting over meals and bottles. If they go a whole day without a meal, no biggie, they catch up at home. And quickly learn that I dont play those games. Doesnt bother me at all for kids to refuse food or get taken away from the table for bad behavior. Now I can easily put half a dozen young kids at the table and not have anyone refusing food or acting like a fool. They all eat and thats that.

[hope]

I took checks for payment. Many times the parent would post date or ask me to hold the check for a few days. Some bounced. Now I only accept cash before care.

I was open from 7am till 6pm. Completely burnt me out. Now I am open from 7:30 am till 4:30 the latest.

I caved in when asked to work a federal holiday or work late. Most times it is not appreciated so now I take my days and do not work late.

I took SA during break and for summer. Never again!!!!!

[KidGrind]

Waive late fees.

[Annalee]

Before: open 6:00 to 5:30, now 6:00 to 4:30 with a 9 1/2 hr max for clents
Before: get paid on Friday, now on Monday morning.
Before: not charge for holidays, vacations, prof days, etc., now charge 52 weeks a year.
Before:let kids come in whenever, now clients must arrive by 8:00 AM
Before: cluttered toy boxes, now organized shelving with bins/play centers
Before: time-out, now redirection
Before: school-agers, now NO school-agers

[Laurel]

Battery operated toys. DCKs left them on & I was forever replacing the batteries. They don't use their imagination with them either.

Bean bag chairs on Movie Friday. You cannot get 10 kids to sit on them without playing or plopping on them.

I'm sure I have more, but that's the two things that came to mind first.

At first I didn't have many battery toys simply because they get on my nerves. But then a child brought one and all the others seemed to love it so I bought some. My one group especially liked all the musical ones. Now they get on my nerves again but I am retiring in two months so I just deal with it and don't put them out much. I think they make too many things talk or make noise. I had a little toy broom that believe or not talked. It really annoyed me when it would say "Missed a spot." Grrrr, . I just took the battery out. A broom that talks? Give me a break. Also someone gave me a keyboard that looks like a cat (Target). Omg, if you don't use it for a while you'll hear this purring sound.

Laurel

[Laurel]

I used to:

Be paid AFTER services were provided.
Take school age children
Be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Allow open to close attendance
Have a TV (and have it on all day )
Take the initiative and do 99% of the work to potty train kids
Write out daily sheets for babies
Accept babies under 12 months
Feel badly when enforcing a rule



Now I:

Don't do any of those things

Wow, you are brave to admit to the TV. :: I used to have it on all day too. Now I cringe at that but we still watch it sometimes.

Same here with daily sheets. I kept writing the same things day after day because,especially infants, did the same thing every day. I thought "this is ridiculous" after a while.

Same with school age. I hate to do school age and littles together. On a very rare occasion I will keep a sibling of one I have now (I had him as a baby) or my sweet granddaughter but ONLY because they are 'practically perfect in every way'. I tried to keep another sibling of my last group and after a few times I told her I couldn't watch him anymore. I risked losing the younger one but she didn't pull him. My guess is that she knew her oldest son! My inspector just happened to be here one of the days I had him (of course!) and she said "He just gets everybody riled up doesn't he?" She didn't know the half of it!!!

Laurel

[Josiegirl]

I used to get payment only when they showed up but dealing with so many very part time and kids who were always going to Gramma's house, I stopped.

I used to pick up kids from school, back when my own kids went to school and I had a minivan. SOOO glad I don't do that anymore.

And as many of you, I also accepted payment the last day of the week they came now it's Monday before they attend.