Parents Don't Want Their Kids Outside

[snbauser]

WTG!!! I think sometimes we get so fearful of parents not wanting their kids here that we forget we are succesful because of how we run our programs. There is no way you would be doing this after 25 years if you weren't professional and ran a great program. Remember that. Run it as the proud, professional program you want and the clients that respect that and want that type of program will seek you out and refer others to you regardless of where you live.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Well your outside space sounds completely acceptable.....Shade, a grassy area, toys, activities and fenced in. Check. You are fine. Yes.....put your foot down and insist on outside time daily. I was wondering if you didn't have adequate shade or soft surfaces or maybe unfenced or near a parking area, parents might be using the dirty clothes as an excuse. But that is clearly not the case, it sounds safe and appropriate to me!

I'm in South Florida, hotter than Hades, and we go outside daily. It's just not fair to kids to be inside because of clothes and a little dirt. Ridiculous.

Keep us updated!
ETA: just read the update! Yay! ! Way to go!

[permanentvacation]

Thank you all for the support and help that I needed to stand up for the kids' needs and gain the desire to have the pride and respect in myself and my daycare again.

[CraftyMom]

Way to go! The best thing is the kids will be happier for it! happyface

[permanentvacation]

How today ended...

The weather held out so we could be outside during pick up time, which I made sure to be!

As each parent arrived, I told them how great today was, how much fun their child had outside, and the fact that nap time went beautifully as well since they had been outside playing this morning.

All of the parents were glad their child had fun and seemed alright with their child being a little sweaty and hands being a little dirty/gritty from being outside. Of course EXCEPT the mom that dressed her child like he was going to a private college prep high school - she didn't say one word to me. Not 'hi', not 'bye' NOTHING, not one word did she say to me!

So, as she was leaving, I made sure to say, "yeah, today was lovely, just make sure to dress him every day in clothes that he can play outside in." She just kept walking! ! Oh well, can't please everyone!

[permanentvacation]

CraftyMom,

Thank you. Yes, the kids were much happier and I felt like I did before I let these parents take over the way I run my daycare. I truly enjoyed my job today!

[SilverSabre25]

Go you, PV! That will be so wonderful for those kids!

[Little Buttons]

I am so glad you had an awesome day!!! Outside time is so good for everyone!!!

[snbauser]

How today ended...

The weather held out so we could be outside during pick up time, which I made sure to be!

As each parent arrived, I told them how great today was, how much fun their child had outside, and the fact that nap time went beautifully as well since they had been outside playing this morning.

All of the parents were glad their child had fun and seemed alright with their child being a little sweaty and hands being a little dirty/gritty from being outside. Of course EXCEPT the mom that dressed her child like he was going to a private college prep high school - she didn't say one word to me. Not 'hi', not 'bye' NOTHING, not one word did she say to me!

So, as she was leaving, I made sure to say, "yeah, today was lovely, just make sure to dress him every day in clothes that he can play outside in." She just kept walking! ! Oh well, can't please everyone!

So glad to hear the day went so well. You can really tell the difference just in the tone of your posts. happyface As far as the one mom, she will need to decide what her priorities are 1 - keep her child someplace where she is getting a steal in the cost and he is well taken care of or 2 -remove him and find someplace else that will treat her child like a porcelin doll.

[NightOwl]

How is this going PV? Snooty mom still hanging in there? Lol.

[Hollydawn]

Great update! I truly cannot fathom behaving like some of these parents. When my dd was in daycare, I always was so happy to pick her up sweaty, rosy cheeked, and dirty! I always figured, more dirt = more fun.

[Mom of 4]

My most particular mother just picked her child up. I said, "You don't mind if he gets these clothes dirty do you?" She asked why would they get dirty. I told her because we need to get outside and play more. I've been trying to keep him clean, but we really do need to get outside and play more than we have been and I'm sure he will get dirty. She asked dirty from what. I said the grass, dirt, and maybe a little mud if the ground is a bit wet. She shook her head and in a snippy tone said, "Do you know how much these clothes cost? I pay a lot of money for his clothes. They better not get dirty!" I told her that she needs to get him some play clothes that he can get dirty in. She shook her head and said, "No, this is what I dress him in" As she walked away, I kept saying, "well, he's gonna get dirty, he needs to play outside more" She looked around at my yard and shook her head all the way to her car!

She sounds VERY snooty and all about looks. I have a a 'friend' who acts like that. She makes FUN of other moms who dress their kids NORMALLY and in stuff they can get dirty in. She almost got into a fight with another mom at the kids' preschool! The other mom told her to mind her *fill in blanks here* business and that she would raise her child how she pleased, and that til SHE (the snooty mom) pays for HER child,s he will buy the clothes she can afford and that makes sense for the child since he grows/plays/etc. The 'friend' stated that she was going to kick her behind. The other mom said to go ahead, and called her judgmental and said she acts better than everyone because her kids are in Nike and always dressed in their bling and in super expensive things! Even the kids' hairties are EXPENSIVE! And they don't look any better than the $1 I get from $$ store! They were seriously about to rumble! I hate parents like that. Let your kid be a kid. They are not a mini adult and WILL get dirty. Time to play hardball with mom and don't back down! Let the kids play and be kids and too bad so sad that the mom isn't smart enough to know that spending exhorbitant amounts of money for KIDS clothes when they send the kids to group care is RIDICULOUS>

BTW: The "friend" Did not touch the other mom. I think she knew the other mom would throw down, even though she thinks she's better than everyone.

[permanentvacation]

Mom of 4,

WOW!! What a fiasco! That mom is unbelievably immature!



Wednesday,

Everything is going perfectly well. The snooty mom's child either actually owned regular kids clothes or she went and bought him some. He has come to daycare every day since my speech to her wearing the proper play clothes. She didn't say a word to me the first day, but since then, she has spoken to me like she typically does. She has never been over friendly or actually had any conversation with me, but just says "Hi" in the morning and "Have a good night/weekend" when she picks him up. So everything is going well. The kids are much happier, I'm much happier, and my picky mom is dealing with it.

[Meeko]

Dear uptight parents,

Effective immediately, your daily rate will be increasing by $1. This is to cover the purchase of used play clothes for your child, as well as the the cost of, and time involved for me to launder said clothes daily. Feel free to send your future leaders of America in whatever is gracing the front pages of this months GQ Jr. I'll be sure to ohh and ahh at their outfits as I'm stripping it off of them while you're pulling out of my driveway.

Truly, your 'let kids be kids' provider

happyfacehappyface

[jokalima]

The youngest dc child is one. I don't feed him, I provide him with a spoon and he tries to use it and feeds himself with hands, and then tries again to use it. I told mom this is how I like to do it so he can learn and she is OK with it. My dc kids they get filthy LOL, grass stains, Mudd stains, wet clothes from playing at water table outside, then from water table they go to sand box so the sand sticks to them. They use markers and paint themselves by not being careful. I always tell parents during interviews that I need a change of clothes and to send them in clothes that they don't mind kids getting dirty, I tell them that they will get their clothes dirty. Sometimes I even suggest to them to buy clothes at Once Upon A Child (gently used clothes) and use that for DC. So far so good for me.

The only thing that has happened recently is a parent complaining because they don't want their daughter to get dark. Now that the hot weather Is here we go out a lot and the child is getting darker and they don't like it.