How Can I Get It Thru To Parents

[littleblossoms]

My daycare is in the basement with separate entrance.

I let the parents drop off in the morning upstairs. There is a coat hook and boot tray. Parents are to leave all children belongings on hook. So clean blankets come every Monday, or change of clothes. I have posted on my closed facebook page several times to please keep your children's belongings on the hook. Needless to say no one listened parents will instead put their child belongings on my glass table in the hallway. And I have asked not to rest anything on the table.

yes I am very organized, like things to be one way even my kids do not rest anything on the table. I have a vase of flowers and two decor on it only.

I have parents putting keys on it that is causing it to scratch. Also food bowls.

Any advice will help.

I doplan to tske a picture of the child jacket and blanket on it so they can understand.

[NeedaVaca]

The idea of taking a picture of the offenders items made me giggle-I'm picturing a wall of offenders/bad check writers like they do at gas stations . Which in turn made me think you could put the yellow caution tape around the table or have a video monitor/speaker so you could say "no no no that's not where it belongs" like candid camera! Sorry, feeling silly today!

Not to make light of your situation at all!! It would bother me too! I assume you are downstairs when this happens? I would type a letter and personally hand it to the parent and tell the parents. After that, if at all possible I would be upstairs for arrivals for at least the first week to make SURE they are doing it the right way!

[misslori50]

move the glass table if it causing a problem. Parents are in a rush and dont think.

[cheerfuldom]

Honestly, for the most part, I just rearrange things instead of picking so many battles with the parents. I personally would move the glass table, it is too convenient for people to use.

IF I was to pick this battle, I would tell each person to their face, that they MUST abide by the drop off rules, post the rules in huge letters right by the hang up stuff, post a sign on the table, AND add $1 fee for the first item I find put on the table. Up it to $2 each additional item. just keep upping it till they follow the rule. Put all the fee money in a jar right there for them to see how many times you are charging fees. Adding fees is the only fool proof way to stop parents who dont listen to clear instructions.

[Angelsj]

move the glass table if it causing a problem. Parents are in a rush and dont think.

That was my first thought as well. Move the table. Problem solved.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

move the glass table if it causing a problem. Parents are in a rush and dont think.

I also vote for move the table.

[Annalee]

I also vote for move the table.

Either move the table of have the parents enter through the basement entrance at all times....

[LeslieG]

You could try putting a big sign on the table that says "Please do not put anything on table. Thank you"

I know parents are rushed in the mornings, but it still bothers me that they can't respect your home. I think they forget sometimes that it is someones home, and not just a daycare.

.. though now that I think about it, the sign may not work. I have carpeted stairs leading up to my daycare room, and, in the beginning, I tried posting a sign to take shoes off before going upstairs... yeah.. didn't work!

[KidGrind]

You could try putting a big sign on the table that says "Please do not put anything on table. Thank you"

I know parents are rushed in the mornings, but it still bothers me that they can't respect your home. I think they forget sometimes that it is someones home, and not just a daycare.

.. though now that I think about it, the sign may not work. I have carpeted stairs leading up to my daycare room, and, in the beginning, I tried posting a sign to take shoes off before going upstairs... yeah.. didn't work!

Love the sign idea!

I wouldn’t move the table. It is your home and parents should have respect. I would have them enter through the basement for morning drop off.

[e.j.]

move the glass table if it causing a problem. Parents are in a rush and dont think.

Personally, I would probably do this but it is your home and your request that parents not place things on the table is reasonable. You say you posted a request not to place things on the table on your FB page several times but is it possible the parents just haven't noticed the request or they forgot about it? Maybe you need to speak up and tell them face to face that you would prefer them not to use the table and then tell them where you'd rather they put their keys and food bowls instead. Sometimes, it's not enough to post something and hope parents read it. Sometimes you have to tell them and you have to be specific about what you want and don't want. If that's uncomfortable for you to do, you could move the table or put a protective covering on the glass durng day care hours.

[Jack Sprat]

I would post a sign. I had parents walking through our grass wearing a path. Even though we have a sidewalk. I started with verbally asking, posting a sign and now we have a sign and its roped off (we are reseeding the lawn).

[Second Home]

Is it possible for them to enter through the basement in the morning? If so then do that , they will no longer be able to put things on the table if they are not near it .

[SilverSabre25]

I vote the sign, framed nicely or something, saying, "Children's belongings belong on the hooks NOT the table!"

[Blackcat31]

Why not just say something to the parent directly?


"Sally, I've sent several messages home with parents and posted several memos about not using my table as a catch-all. I've provided a hook for Jimmy's belongings. Please put his things there. Thank you" (BIG smile)

Memos are most often meant for someone else
Notes and reminders are usually for everyone but the offender
Signs are for everyone other than the reader of said sign.


DIRECTLY addressing each parent eliminates any confusion.

[Laurel]

Why not just say something to the parent directly?


"Sally, I've sent several messages home with parents and posted several memos about not using my table as a catch-all. I've provided a hook for Jimmy's belongings. Please put his things there. Thank you" (BIG smile)

Memos are most often meant for someone else
Notes and reminders are usually for everyone but the offender
Signs are for everyone other than the reader of said sign.


DIRECTLY addressing each parent eliminates any confusion.

Absolutely!

Laurel