Ridiculous Regulations

[nanglgrl]

When I first started in daycare (in 2003) I was a registered home. I quit daycare for several years, and started up again 2 years ago. I was going to get registered again, but decided not to after talking with 3 friends who have been providers for years. They had all been registered every year for 10-12 years. Last year they all became unregistered providers. It just wasn't worth it anymore. I'll stay under 6 kids to not have the hassle of the state. I went to enough childcare classes for 4years, and have experience with my own kids. I also read up on child development.

If I ever want to have 6 or more I'll become registered again. I'd like to be a B category, but now wonder if my egress stairs would meet code.

Kelly

I totally understand. Truthfully I would go unregistered if it weren't for the money I get from being Childnet certified and I'm about to get my 4th star from QRS so that's another $800 plus the state pays 60% of my tuition and books for college. I am a B home but don't take school agers so rarely do I have more than 7 children. For the next year I will be transporting my son to/from preschool so I will only have 4 children.
I was registered back in 1996-1999 then quit to go to school and became registered again in 2003. I don't remember there being any regs back in the 90's but now we get more every year while a lot of unlicensed providers have twice as many kids but no over site.
We've had the same thing in our area where a lot of veteran providers have become unregistered (especially after the state started doing the yearly unannounced visits) and the state just doesn't seem to get it. It would be different if the majority of parents wanted registered providers but really they want cheap daycare above all else. They don't care about registration, Childnet certification or QRS stars...most don't even know what those things entail...the first question I get 9/10 times is what my rate is, the second is if they have to pay when they don't come.
As far as your egress meeting code I was able to get away with not putting stairs on the outside by supplying he name of the city inspector that told me if I put stairs out there my window would not meet code. The building code is pretty much the same throughout the country (with a few exceptions) so I'm sure your city's code is similar. This year I will have a new inspector and I'm anxiously waiting to see if she will accept my ladder instead of stairs.

[Unregistered]

The dumbest one here is the one that does not allow the daycare provider's child to leave the designated daycare area with the other parent during childcare hours. "They are subject to the rules to which all of the daycare children are subject" is what we are told.
They also cannot go to their own rooms during daycare hours unless their room is designated as a daycare area.

[daycare]

The dumbest one here is the one that does not allow the daycare provider's child to leave the designated daycare area with the other parent during childcare hours. "They are subject to the rules to which all of the daycare children are subject" is what we are told.
They also cannot go to their own rooms during daycare hours unless their room is designated as a daycare area.

Omg what state are you in

[Childminder]

I think most of the regs in my state are fair and I feel like my state is one of the more "easier" states, with licensing as well as with the Stars program.

The only reg that I don't get is the provider to child ratio. I can have up to 6 by myself and I'm not saying that I would ever want more by myself, but you would think that the ratios would be the same in all states. It's just odd.

One that I don't really like is the number of children that we can have in each age group. We can have 4 under 30 months, but only 2 of the 4 can be under 18 mo. I understand only having 2 under 18 mo., but I'm used to having younger kids and I feel I could handle more than they let you in the 18 to 30 mo. ratio. (if that makes sense).

This is becoming even more crippling to get kids in these age groups what with the free preschool for 3-4 year olds in our district.

One reg that gets me is that we have to have a posted emergency plan for fire emergency, etc... my licensor made me move mine from the hall next to my exit in the basement. Uh, I'm pretty sure these kids can't read it nor would anyone take the time to do so in an emergency if they could read.

[SignMeUp]

We have to post our fire/storm emergency plans too, complete with map. Because I don't know where my doors are. And because infants will check the map before exiting the home ::

[Unregistered]

Omg what state are you in

Minnesota

[Play Care]

I hope I don't start something but... it is crazy how the center vs. Home regs are in my state. Some examples. Centers need fenced yard and staff must be outside at all times. Home daycare nothing kids can be outside by themselves without a fence or anything. Centers must have staff in nap rooms at all times. Homes can have kids on different levels or anywhere. Why they think unsupervised kids in homes are safer than centers is beyond my compression!

I know in my state the napping regs are similar - I can have kids in the room by themselves sleeping but centers have to have staff in there. Honestly it makes sense - centers have many employees to give each other breaks. Requiring an in home provider to stay in the room would mean one person "working" for 11-12 hours without a break. I still have to physically check on each child every 15 Minutes and have a monitor in the room. Often this is the only time I can use the bathroom or get something to eat
An in home doesn't have the income to put in a sprinkler system, or other center requirements. I'm pretty thankful that our state realizes the significant differences between an in home and centers.

[nannyde]

The dumbest one here is the one that does not allow the daycare provider's child to leave the designated daycare area with the other parent during childcare hours. "They are subject to the rules to which all of the daycare children are subject" is what we are told.
They also cannot go to their own rooms during daycare hours unless their room is designated as a daycare area.

I don't know your state but the providers need to FIGHT this. Ridiculous

[nannyde]

I totally understand. Truthfully I would go unregistered if it weren't for the money I get from being Childnet certified and I'm about to get my 4th star from QRS so that's another $800 plus the state pays 60% of my tuition and books for college. I am a B home but don't take school agers so rarely do I have more than 7 children. For the next year I will be transporting my son to/from preschool so I will only have 4 children.
I was registered back in 1996-1999 then quit to go to school and became registered again in 2003. I don't remember there being any regs back in the 90's but now we get more every year while a lot of unlicensed providers have twice as many kids but no over site.
We've had the same thing in our area where a lot of veteran providers have become unregistered (especially after the state started doing the yearly unannounced visits) and the state just doesn't seem to get it. It would be different if the majority of parents wanted registered providers but really they want cheap daycare above all else. They don't care about registration, Childnet certification or QRS stars...most don't even know what those things entail...the first question I get 9/10 times is what my rate is, the second is if they have to pay when they don't come.
As far as your egress meeting code I was able to get away with not putting stairs on the outside by supplying he name of the city inspector that told me if I put stairs out there my window would not meet code. The building code is pretty much the same throughout the country (with a few exceptions) so I'm sure your city's code is similar. This year I will have a new inspector and I'm anxiously waiting to see if she will accept my ladder instead of stairs.

I started in Iowa in 93 and there were regs. They haven't changed a ton. I think they have changed four times.

Nan I don't think you are right thinking on the unregistered. I think the state would prefer unregistered. That's why the number of kids is so high. They now must do a yearly visit so they don't want the number of registered to exceed the number the few inspectors can visit.

There is a lot of value in being unregistered.

[Laurel]

Because we want a world of only special snowflakes? Get ready kindergarten....here we come! A whole blizzard of special snowflakes. You are welcome. happyfacehappyface

a whole blizzard of special snowflakes.....::::::::::

Laurel

[nannyde]

Because we want a world of only special snowflakes? Get ready kindergarten....here we come! A whole blizzard of special snowflakes. You are welcome. happyfacehappyface

Snowflake Snowmageddon

[melilley]

This is becoming even more crippling to get kids in these age groups what with the free preschool for 3-4 year olds in our district.

One reg that gets me is that we have to have a posted emergency plan for fire emergency, etc... my licensor made me move mine from the hall next to my exit in the basement. Uh, I'm pretty sure these kids can't read it nor would anyone take the time to do so in an emergency if they could read.

Yep, and as soon as they hit 3, they're outta here. I just opened 1.5 years ago and have lost 1 and am losing 1 in August to preschool. When the first child left, it took me forever to find a child to take his place because of the age restriction and the only reason I found someone, 3 months later, was because a child aged up and I was able to take an infant. I rarely get calls for 3 and up.
I do prefer the 3 and under group and am lucky enough to have a dh who makes enough money so I don't have to worry if one spot is open, but I feel sorry for those providers that don't have that luxury.

[racemom]

I know in my state the napping regs are similar - I can have kids in the room by themselves sleeping but centers have to have staff in there. Honestly it makes sense - centers have many employees to give each other breaks. Requiring an in home provider to stay in the room would mean one person "working" for 11-12 hours without a break. I still have to physically check on each child every 15 Minutes and have a monitor in the room. Often this is the only time I can use the bathroom or get something to eat
An in home doesn't have the income to put in a sprinkler system, or other center requirements. I'm pretty thankful that our state realizes the significant differences between an in home and centers.

that may be true in large centers but I work in a small center so we do not get breaks. We can find someone to cover our room for a quick restroom break, but that means another room is out of ratio so it has to be quick. Other than that we can't be away from our group at all. I eat lunch during nap watching them sleep.

[SignMeUp]

that may be true in large centers but I work in a small center so we do not get breaks. We can find someone to cover our room for a quick restroom break, but that means another room is out of ratio so it has to be quick. Other than that we can't be away from our group at all. I eat lunch during nap watching them sleep.

But presumably you don't work 10-12 hours at a stretch, right? Not saying that it's not difficult doing what you're doing, at all -- I would rather work my long hours than have to do what someone else thinks will work, for example.

But aren't they required to give you breaks after so many hours? And a lunch break?

[Play Care]

But presumably you don't work 10-12 hours at a stretch, right? Not saying that it's not difficult doing what you're doing, at all -- I would rather work my long hours than have to do what someone else thinks will work, for example.

But aren't they required to give you breaks after so many hours? And a lunch break?

The only plus I could see to working outside the home in a center would be that it would be more like a "real":: job in that you get lunch, breaks, health insurance, vacation time, etc. If that wasn't the case, I couldn't justify staying there to work.

In my state we are never allowed to be out of ratio - even for a moment. I'd be a bit weary of working in a place that didn't have protocols or staff in place to deal with that. I have a feeling the director would let the staff be the "fall" guy if licensing were to show up...