Do You Allow Cell Phones?

[rebekki78]

It is set up in my parent/provider handbook that children are not allowed to bring electronics into my home. I just don't wean to deal with it! I am very strict with my own children's electronics, I set time limits, I have to know all passwords, I check app/song downloads, and investigate Facebook pages often. I have a parent who's child is 12 and child has a cell that she wants to bring in. I thought maybe it would be ok, but after much thought I think I have changed my mind. I wrote her this note:

"After further thought and consideration, I would like you to know that I am going ahead and sticking to the policies laid out in my provider handbook. It states that children are not to being any electronics into our home. This includes cell phones, Kindles, iPod, Nintendo, etc. etc. I have very strict parental controls set on my children’s electronic devices; I look through their text messages and Facebook, the apps they download, and have full control over the time they use these. I also have the password to everything. I think it would just cause too many issues and too much hassle if I did not continue to abide by the rules set forth in my provider handbook. I am sure your daughter won’t understand, but it is in my policy handbook for a reason and I would like to stick with that. My step children don’t understand either, but they know what the rules are. I think it would just set up too much of a potential for problems & issues if I allowed this."

Does this sound straight forward enough? I wanted to get thoughts before officially sending it.

[jenboo]

It is set up in my parent/provider handbook that children are not allowed to bring electronics into my home. I just don't wean to deal with it! I am very strict with my own children's electronics, I set time limits, I have to know all passwords, I check app/song downloads, and investigate Facebook pages often. I have a parent who's child is 12 and child has a cell that she wants to bring in. I thought maybe it would be ok, but after much thought I think I have changed my mind. I wrote her this note:

"After further thought and consideration, I would like you to know that I am going ahead and sticking to the policies laid out in my provider handbook. It states that children are not to being any electronics into our home. This includes cell phones, Kindles, iPod, Nintendo, etc. etc. I have very strict parental controls set on my children’s electronic devices; I look through their text messages and Facebook, the apps they download, and have full control over the time they use these. I also have the password to everything. I think it would just cause too many issues and too much hassle if I did not continue to abide by the rules set forth in my provider handbook. I am sure your daughter won’t understand, but it is in my policy handbook for a reason and I would like to stick with that. My step children don’t understand either, but they know what the rules are. I think it would just set up too much of a potential for problems & issues if I allowed this."

Does this sound straight forward enough? I wanted to get thoughts before officially sending it.

All you need is the bolded part. No need to explain. Just state your policy.

[NightOwl]

Ditto. And you could add that the dcg being the only one with an electronic device would be highly unfair to everyone else. Am I the only one wondering why a 12 year old needs daycare? My center went up to 12 also, but it was once in a blue moon that we actually had a 12 year old. And that 12 year old was VERY unhappy to be there. Just curious.

[nannyde]

Just say no. No recording devices in the child care.

[rebekki78]

All you need is the bolded part. No need to explain. Just state your policy.

Thank you. I do agree, I just over write everything and am an explainer! I appreciate the feedback.

[rebekki78]

Ditto. And you could add that the dcg being the only one with an electronic device would be highly unfair to everyone else. Am I the only one wondering why a 12 year old needs daycare? My center went up to 12 also, but it was once in a blue moon that we actually had a 12 year old. And that 12 year old was VERY unhappy to be there. Just curious.

Her family works over a half hour away and aren't comfortable leaving her home alone for that long. And she has a sibling who is headed into 1st grade so they find it unfair to send one and not both.

[NightOwl]

Her family work over a half hour away and aren't comfortable leaving her home alone for that long. And she has a sibling who is headed into 1st grade so try find it unfair to send one and not both.

Ohhh I gotcha. That's understandable.

[Second Home]

2 of my sa kids have phones . They bring them but they stay in their backpacks .

[bklsmum]

Oh hell no...

I don't allow them to bring anything from home, ESPECIALLY electronics and cell phones would fall into that category.

[Blackcat31]

I don't allow them to bring anything from home, ESPECIALLY electronics and cell phones would fall into that category.

This ^^

I don't allow ANYTHING from home either.

[rebekki78]

I sent what jenboo suggested. I also added what Wednesday suggested, that it would be highly unfair if she were the only one allowed. I have not heard back from the mom, which is unusual since she usually replies fairly quickly. Maybe she needs to talk it over with dad. Thanks for looking that over do me before I sent it out!

[debbiedoeszip]

Her family works over a half hour away and aren't comfortable leaving her home alone for that long. And she has a sibling who is headed into 1st grade so they find it unfair to send one and not both.

I would allow cell phones but they would have to stay in backpacks during daycare hours.

I sort of get not feeling comfortable with a 12 yo staying home alone during work hours all summer (some, especially 12yo who are "high needs", would be iffy on their own), but I don't get the "unfair" part of it. The kids are about 6 years apart in age. What happens when the older child wants to get her driver's license? Is she told no because little sister can't and it's "unfair"? I could see if they were much closer together in age (say a 10yo and a 12yo), but really there are going to be so many things that are completely age appropriate for the 12yo and nowhere near age appropriate for the younger sibling. I'm wondering if these parents should be getting a grip.

[Crazy8]

As the parent of a tween I would expect them to be allowed to have their phone with them - shut off in their backpack. Not allowed to be used at school or daycare or anywhere other than in the event of an emergency.

[Blackcat31]

As the parent of a tween I would expect them to be allowed to have their phone with them - shut off in their backpack. Not allowed to be used at school or daycare or anywhere other than in the event of an emergency.

But if they are at daycare under the supervision of an adult, who do they need to call in an emergency?

The provider will call if there is an emergency.

[NightOwl]

IMHO, if a child is old enough to have a cell, then they're old enough to stay home for half an hour alone.