Playing Outside

[melskids]

When the weather cooperates, we are outside all day as well.

Sometimes even for naps.

I have all of the "outdoor" materials, and also set up "stations" like art, science experiments, blocks, etc.

I say let them sit there and pout.

The parents knew your policies when they signed on. If they are no longer happy with the terms, it looks like it would be time for them to look for care elsewhere, providing the proper termination notice.

[Blackcat31]

When the weather cooperates, we are outside all day as well.

Sometimes even for naps.

I have all of the "outdoor" materials, and also set up "stations" like art, science experiments, blocks, etc.

I say let them sit there and pout.

The parents knew your policies when they signed on. If they are no longer happy with the terms, it looks like it would be time for them to look for care elsewhere, providing the proper termination notice.

Yes! ^^ I would LOVE to be outside ALL day!!

Outdoor play isn't always popular for some families. The kids may definitely not have a clue what to do outside if they are an electronically entertained family.

I DO think that you (OP) should have a conversation with the parents about the fact that they knew your policies BEFORE signing on with you and since they agreed to them, they really do need to support your practices.

If they roll their eyes and disregard you I would seriously rethinking wanting to continue having them as clients.

That behavior is downright rude and disrespectful and if the kids see the parents acting that way towards you and/or your DH, the kids will more than likely feel they don't have to respect you either...kwim?

[CraftyMom]

Maybe ask them "what is so fascinating inside? If we were to go inside what would you be doing?" Maybe if there's a specific thing they want to do inside you can bring it outside?

I'm betting they are just the type of kids that don't know how to play or just aren't the out doors type

I would love to have the kids outdoors all day! In warmer weather we are outside A LOT!

There are tons of things the kids can do that don't even involve toys! A favorite here is making "backyard soup" just a big bowl or bucket of water and the kids gather stuff from the yard to make soup. Sand, dirt, flowers, rocks, sticks, whatever they find. I give them big ladles for mixing and scooping

They just need to exercise their imagination a little

[Jack Sprat]

The idea of a child not wanting to be outside is very, very hard for me to grasp....I have had one child who wanted to be inside last summer. I explained that no, that is not an option and you may sit here (chair) and relax if you like but, no we won't be going inside today.

I LOVE being outside and have a hard time stopping our fun to go in for naps. I always do though, I love nap time!

[dcm]

Thank you all, for all of your advice and encouragement! As some of you may have seen, we are new at this, we've only been opened a month My hubby and I can now see that one of the most important things we will have to learn in this new business, is growing a backbone, and not allowing the dcp's and/or dck's to walk all over us.

One of the things that my hubby and I have come to think... is that a lot of the parents are with us for our hours and not what we offer (we don't think they heard much about the outside time in the interview, they probably only heard blah blah blah....open 12 hours a day). Most of our parents only use 10/11 hours a day, but there is the occasional time the kids will be here for close to the 12 hours. Looking at the other dayhome ad's in our area, and from what the parents told us in the interview...we have the longest hours of anyone around.

So one more question....what do we do, if the whining keeps happening and when Mom or Dad come pick up, the kid whines that they had to sit on the steps all day??
Thankfully we haven't heard any whining to Mom or Dad at the door yet (don't know what happens when they get in the car of course).
We want to spend all day outside, but yesterday I gave in to the whining and we came back in after lunch, just because I didn't want them complaining to their parents that they didn't have any fun at daycare. It's not like they did much when they came inside, as I said earlier...they played with a few things and lounged around...every few minutes it seems one of us is saying..."we don't lie down to play, if you want to lie down you can go to sleep w/ the babies"....BUT there was no complaining and when the parents came they WERE happy, so I'm worried what the reaction will be to the parents, if we DO stay outside the WHOLE day.

[Luna]

I have a feeling that if you went inside, those same children would be complaining they were bored. I had one like that, and what he really wanted was to lay on the couch all day and watch tv, like he did at Grandma's before he came here. I would let them sit it out and join in when they feel like it. I like the pp's option of 'go be bored over there or have some fun with the others over there.'

[Blackcat31]

Thank you all, for all of your advice and encouragement! As some of you may have seen, we are new at this, we've only been opened a month My hubby and I can now see that one of the most important things we will have to learn in this new business, is growing a backbone, and not allowing the dcp's and/or dck's to walk all over us.

One of the things that my hubby and I have come to think... is that a lot of the parents are with us for our hours and not what we offer (we don't think they heard much about the outside time in the interview, they probably only heard blah blah blah....open 12 hours a day). Most of our parents only use 10/11 hours a day, but there is the occasional time the kids will be here for close to the 12 hours. Looking at the other dayhome ad's in our area, and from what the parents told us in the interview...we have the longest hours of anyone around.

So one more question....what do we do, if the whining keeps happening and when Mom or Dad come pick up, the kid whines that they had to sit on the steps all day??

I'd let DCD/DCM know that sitting on the steps was a consequence to not listening to you and continuing to whine. He can't really be upset about that because the children DO have a choice...they CAN participate with the outside activities so it isn't like you are forcing anyone to sit on the step just because...kwim?

I would also take any comments or reaction DCD/DCM may have about their kids sitting on the step as an ice breaker to reiterating your policies about playing outside all day.

Thankfully we haven't heard any whining to Mom or Dad at the door yet (don't know what happens when they get in the car of course).
We want to spend all day outside, but yesterday I gave in to the whining and we came back in after lunch, just because I didn't want them complaining to their parents that they didn't have any fun at daycare. It's not like they did much when they came inside, as I said earlier...they played with a few things and lounged around...every few minutes it seems one of us is saying..."we don't lie down to play, if you want to lie down you can go to sleep w/ the babies"....BUT there was no complaining and when the parents came they WERE happy, so I'm worried what the reaction will be to the parents, if we DO stay outside the WHOLE day.

I replied in blue above.

I would also maybe try and talk with the children about playing outside BEFORE hand so they KNOW what to expect and that you are not going to allow them to whine or play indoors so they DO have a choice and it would be sooooo much more fun for them if they made the better choice and participated in the outdoor fun!

Maybe ask them to come up with some ideas on what they would like to do outside...sometimes involving the kids in the planning, the activity and the other stuff is exactly what it takes to pique their interests enough to make them WANT to play outside since everyone is having so much fun!

[Heidi]

Thank you all, for all of your advice and encouragement! As some of you may have seen, we are new at this, we've only been opened a month My hubby and I can now see that one of the most important things we will have to learn in this new business, is growing a backbone, and not allowing the dcp's and/or dck's to walk all over us.

One of the things that my hubby and I have come to think... is that a lot of the parents are with us for our hours and not what we offer (we don't think they heard much about the outside time in the interview, they probably only heard blah blah blah....open 12 hours a day). Most of our parents only use 10/11 hours a day, but there is the occasional time the kids will be here for close to the 12 hours. Looking at the other dayhome ad's in our area, and from what the parents told us in the interview...we have the longest hours of anyone around.

So one more question....what do we do, if the whining keeps happening and when Mom or Dad come pick up, the kid whines that they had to sit on the steps all day??
Thankfully we haven't heard any whining to Mom or Dad at the door yet (don't know what happens when they get in the car of course).
We want to spend all day outside, but yesterday I gave in to the whining and we came back in after lunch, just because I didn't want them complaining to their parents that they didn't have any fun at daycare. It's not like they did much when they came inside, as I said earlier...they played with a few things and lounged around...every few minutes it seems one of us is saying..."we don't lie down to play, if you want to lie down you can go to sleep w/ the babies"....BUT there was no complaining and when the parents came they WERE happy, so I'm worried what the reaction will be to the parents, if we DO stay outside the WHOLE day.

"DCB, you know, you CHOSE to sit on the steps. There are lot's of activities in the yard, and sitting on the steps was your decision"

[Play Care]

One of the things that my hubby and I have come to think... is that a lot of the parents are with us for our hours and not what we offer (we don't think they heard much about the outside time in the interview, they probably only heard blah blah blah....open 12 hours a day).

I have said it before - the only thing most parents are looking for is a BABYSITTER to keep their kids safe while they are at work. Period. I used to go all out and offer a preschool curriculum. One day I was lamenting to a parent that we didn't get around to something that was on the school agenda for that day. And she said "Oh, I don't mind. That's why I send him to preschool." Lesson learned.