How do you handle interview toy mess?

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

This has never been an issue for me in the past, but seems to be now.

When conducting my last few interviews, the toddlers just do what they do best...tear the room apart. I've always said, "Don't worry about it. I'll get it later. Let's just talk and let him/her go to town!"

Back then, I would get a relieved smile, then a feeble effort to put things back when it was time for them to go. All was well.

Now, the parents say, "No, they should pick them up. They wouldn't be able to get away with that if they come here for daycare." Then proceed to bark at them continuously through the interview to "put that back where you got it!" and "you can't get another toy till you put that one away!" over and over and over which, of course, falls on deaf ears in a brand-new-way-fun environment.

I don't know if they are trying (and failing miserably) to show that their kid is daycare ready, or what. How do I convince them to just let the child focus on having fun so they can focus more rather than less on the interview?

[Thriftylady]

I think the issue is new place, new toys so much new stuff. I am restarting so not all my toys are out and accessible right now. My last interview I got out a couple of bins and told the children, here have fun with these toys. It wasn't so much out all at once then. Perhaps you could try to limit the amount they get out also. That way it doesn't look like so much to the parents.

[Play Care]

This has never been an issue for me in the past, but seems to be now.

When conducting my last few interviews, the toddlers just do what they do best...tear the room apart. I've always said, "Don't worry about it. I'll get it later. Let's just talk and let him/her go to town!"

Back then, I would get a relieved smile, then a feeble effort to put things back when it was time for them to go. All was well.

Now, the parents say, "No, they should pick them up. They wouldn't be able to get away with that if they come here for daycare." Then proceed to bark at them continuously through the interview to "put that back where you got it!" and "you can't get another toy till you put that one away!" over and over and over which, of course, falls on deaf ears in a brand-new-way-fun environment.

I don't know if they are trying (and failing miserably) to show that their kid is daycare ready, or what. How do I convince them to just let the child focus on having fun so they can focus more rather than less on the interview?

I had a similar situation with my last interview - I liked the family and the kid, but the interview had gone on long enough and I wanted them GONE. Nope, mom wanted to show what a good cleaner Little Miss was...Seriously leave it! I don't know the answer, but hopefully someone has some ideas.

[Cat Herder]

My only thought would be to limit the number of toys out to a "reasonable" mess amount.

Now, Nebraska.... how can I move all my interviews to Nebraska; where parents make their children clean up??.... :confused:

[midaycare]

I would try to ease the parents' mind a little more. The dcp's I interview are like that too, but my setup is like putting a kid in a candy store. Everything is accessible, all at once. It is overwhelming for the child who has never seen it and doesn't know the rules.

As soon as dck's start playing and dcp's start panicking about the mess I tell them, "Please let them play. It gives us a chance to talk and it gives me a chance to observe them play." Which is true ... if a child is throwing my stuff against the walls, or flinging things across the room just because it's fun for them, they won't be invited back to interview #2. I need to see a dck play with my things.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I would try to ease the parents' mind a little more. The dcp's I interview are like that too, but my setup is like putting a kid in a candy store. Everything is accessible, all at once. It is overwhelming for the child who has never seen it and doesn't know the rules.

As soon as dck's start playing and dcp's start panicking about the mess I tell them, "Please let them play. It gives us a chance to talk and it gives me a chance to observe them play." Which is true ... if a child is throwing my stuff against the walls, or flinging things across the room just because it's fun for them, they won't be invited back to interview #2. I need to see a dck play with my things.

That's how my set-up is, too. I already de-clutter some prior to the interview, but I don't want it to look sparse. I think I will try your words at my next one on Saturday. Maybe if I put a valid reason with just letting them play undirected, things will move along less tensely. Thank you!

My only thought would be to limit the number of toys out to a "reasonable" mess amount.

Now, Nebraska.... how can I move all my interviews to Nebraska; where parents make their children clean up??.... :confused:

That's the funny part. The kids DON'T do any kind of clean-up! I'm like, who are you trying to kid?!?! ::

[nannyde]

This has never been an issue for me in the past, but seems to be now.

When conducting my last few interviews, the toddlers just do what they do best...tear the room apart. I've always said, "Don't worry about it. I'll get it later. Let's just talk and let him/her go to town!"

Back then, I would get a relieved smile, then a feeble effort to put things back when it was time for them to go. All was well.

Now, the parents say, "No, they should pick them up. They wouldn't be able to get away with that if they come here for daycare." Then proceed to bark at them continuously through the interview to "put that back where you got it!" and "you can't get another toy till you put that one away!" over and over and over which, of course, falls on deaf ears in a brand-new-way-fun environment.

I don't know if they are trying (and failing miserably) to show that their kid is daycare ready, or what. How do I convince them to just let the child focus on having fun so they can focus more rather than less on the interview?

They don't want the interview to end so they can use the put the toys away as a way to stall. I always tell them... that's okay... I will have my helper do it. It's what she gets paid to do.

You can say "oh I have my son do this... he asked if he could to make a couple of dollars for spending money and I said yes" or something like that.

[Go play!]

When the weather is nice I do a quick indoor tour and then show them outside where the kids can play on the outdoor toys while the parents and I talk. I have a great outdoor space but there is no reason to put things away.

[Crazy8]

I would try to ease the parents' mind a little more. The dcp's I interview are like that too, but my setup is like putting a kid in a candy store. Everything is accessible, all at once. It is overwhelming for the child who has never seen it and doesn't know the rules.

As soon as dck's start playing and dcp's start panicking about the mess I tell them, "Please let them play. It gives us a chance to talk and it gives me a chance to observe them play." Which is true ... if a child is throwing my stuff against the walls, or flinging things across the room just because it's fun for them, they won't be invited back to interview #2. I need to see a dck play with my things.

I would say something like the bolded and also that we'll spend a few minutes directing them to clean up after we are done talking. Then if they interrupted the interview with "go clean that up, put that away" I would remind them that its ok, we'll let him/her have some free play time and then we will let them know when its clean up time.

I think they are trying to impress you with their parenting skills more than show you that their child is ready for daycare.