Toddler run over by lawnmower while at daycare

[Blackcat31]

This is a great example of how what parents do when their children are present is one thing but what providers do when children are present is a whole 'nother ball game.

Parents = tragic accident

Provider =criminal case, possible jail time, loss of license and a permanent mark on her record.

[Baby Beluga]

The gas ones, if you let go, keep going.

That makes a little more sense, thank you.

[Thriftylady]

Wow I am from Wichita! I can't imagine mowing the yard with little ones in it. Didn't even do it with my own!

[Josiegirl]

That is so wrong on so many accounts. That poor little girl. I feel terrible for the family and her.
Complete negligence. Any of those kids could have been hit by flying rocks. It's tragic that little girl might lose part of her leg because of such stupidity. I always cringe when I hear my dcks tell me they helped daddy mow by sitting on his lap. I can always wait until after kids leave to mow my lawn. It's not important enough to risk injury. I found a chopped up golf ball in my back yard one day. Must've flown in from a neighbor mowing it over. Can you imagine if the kids and I had been out and someone had gotten hit?

[NightOwl]

I can totally see how this happened. The provider was mowing the lawn and the toddler ran in front of the mower and was either hit by the mower and tripped or just tripped. It would have been hard to stop the momentum of mower before it went over the little one's leg.

I probably mowed my lawns with daycare kids present hundreds of times. I usually did it during naptime for the littlest ones. The older kids knew that they had to stay off the grass. They either stayed on the patio, played on the driveway, or rode their bikes on the sidewalk. Those that didn't mind, had to sit in a chair by the door until I was finished.

I now have gardeners. The kids are not allowed outside while they are here.

You mowed your grass while you had children in your care? And they were outside? Were there any other adult caregivers present? I'm just trying to make sure I understood you correctly. Weren't you afraid of the mower throwing a rock at break neck speed and injuring someone?

[sharlan]

Yes, for many years, I did my yardwork with the daycare kids present. I had 2 very small yards. I never thought twice about it. No, there was not always another adult present. IF I had an infant, I would wait until my girls got home from school and could sit in the livingroom with the sleeping baby. I usually had 1 toddler and older preschool aged kids. I would put the toddler in the pack and play or walker/exersaucer (legal then) on the patio in the shade. The older kids played on the patio, driveway, or sidewalk. In those days, 20-30 years ago, my kids minded really well. The kids knew the rules and followed them. No I was not concerned with a rock flying. I don't remember ever have a rock or anything else fly from the lawnmower.

My daycare parents always knew that I did my yardwork with the kids present. Not one ever expressed a concern over it.

I wouldn't trust a single one of my kids today. My trust in kids has decreased tremendously in the past 15 - 20 years.

I'm not saying what I did was right or wrong, I'm just saying that was how "I" did things.

[sharlan]

If this was an accident, yes, it's stupid because it was preventable, she should be held accountable! SO pay the bills, etc.



The gas ones, if you let go, keep going. My hubby did that on accident once. It could literally have been a slip. Still, she should have been smarter and not mow with children that aren't even hers, present. Though it's not exactly a 'criminal' act, so unless it was intentional, I'm not sure about arresting her.

If that happened, your lawnmower malfunctioned. Lawnmowers have had a cut off switch for a lot of years. When you let go of the handle, the engine dies.

[sharlan]

This is a great example of how what parents do when their children are present is one thing but what providers do when children are present is a whole 'nother ball game.

Parents = tragic accident

Provider =criminal case, possible jail time, loss of license and a permanent mark on her record.

That is why my way of doing things has changed over the years. I guess you could say its been a form of evolution. In 30 years, I've only had one injury on my property. (Knock on wood.) Actually, one of my dcb tripped on my neighbor's grass and broke both bones in his arm.

[KidGrind]

I am just so sad for the little one.

[lblanke]

I can't believe anyone would think it was ok to mow the lawn while supervising 5 toddlers. Yes, criminal. She should not be allowed to watch children again.

[craftymissbeth]

This is a great example of how what parents do when their children are present is one thing but what providers do when children are present is a whole 'nother ball game.

Parents = tragic accident

Provider =criminal case, possible jail time, loss of license and a permanent mark on her record.

This is exactly what I've been thinking! I've been keeping my opinion about whether she should have been arrested or not to myself. I'm definitely the odd man out around here from what I've been reading in article comments. If this had been a parent, people (not all, but a lot) would be horrified that the parent had to experience such a tragic accident. From what I've read, most people want her thrown in prison because she was "on the clock" and "being paid to watch those kids". There have been a lot of comments about HOME providers should not do a single chore around the house while they're being paid. I guess I don't know what's wrong with me... I just don't see how the fact that she was paid means that she should be criminally charged.

**btw, children are involved in mowing accidents ALL the time and those adults aren't arrested for it, to my knowledge**

FLAME AWAY!

[midaycare]

Poor kid. I would not mow with kids present. Just seems dangerous. Me with a mower is dangerous, period.

I don't understand how she watches the kids while she is mowing. I am constantly having to supervise outdoor play because someone is always tripping/falling/about to trip or fall/fighting over toys/needs to be redirected.

[Josiegirl]

You can watch kids while doing dishes or throwing in laundry(unless your washing machine is in the basement like mine it); some of these things are even necessary during the day because of the nature of our business. BUT mowing a lawn can wait. Why does any kind of machinery needs to run with children nearby? I don't even use my vacuum unless the floor is full of rice or something.
I'd be very worried about what else a provider does if s/he goes as far as to mow the lawn with kids around.
As far as criminal charges are concerned, she should be held responsible in some way, at the very least never allow her to care for children again and pay monetary damages. Jail? Not sure if that would be called for. Jail isn't the answer to everything.

[Play Care]

I don't understand how she watches the kids while she is mowing. I am constantly having to supervise outdoor play because someone is always tripping/falling/about to trip or fall/fighting over toys/needs to be redirected.

This. Are there times I've weeded my front garden while watching the kids on bikes? Of course. But lawn mowing? I couldn't hear the kids, and clearly this provider didn't see them

[MOM OF 4]

You can watch kids while doing dishes or throwing in laundry(unless your washing machine is in the basement like mine it); some of these things are even necessary during the day because of the nature of our business. BUT mowing a lawn can wait. Why does any kind of machinery needs to run with children nearby? I don't even use my vacuum unless the floor is full of rice or something.
I'd be very worried about what else a provider does if s/he goes as far as to mow the lawn with kids around.
As far as criminal charges are concerned, she should be held responsible in some way, at the very least never allow her to care for children again and pay monetary damages. Jail? Not sure if that would be called for. Jail isn't the answer to everything.

We were not allowed to do laundry for FCC, even though the machine was in the hall of the daycare and could be blocked with a gate.


We all do things with our own kids present, that's OK because we HAVE to do them. It's our own risk if we're not careful.

When we have other people's kids, it's like being at work...you shouldn't be doing your landscaping while at work, and it's a risk that your forcing other parents to take and in this day in age where kids don't mind and parents sue for everything, it's not a risk I'd take. 20 years ago? Maybe, but probably not, because again, I would have been at work. Kids did listen better, and parents were more understanding of a lot of things. Accidents happen, they are not "on purposes", and the DCProvider should pay for the medical bills, but hardly was what she did a 'crime' and she shouldn't lose her livlihood or freedom because of it. I don't think I was clear in my post