What Do You Do To Keep Track?

[daycare]

Currently I have 22 kids enrolled in my program. Yeah that's a lot. The most I have ever had.

I have the rule of no supplies for the day, no stay. You can come back when you have all supplies necessary.

In my rules it says that the parents are responsible for maintaining the child's cubby boxes., making sure that their child has enough supplies for their week here. When I had 12-14 kids it was easy for me to check or for one of my asst to check.

Now I am running into issues where kids are out of clothing. I am having to call parents to bring clothing. Yesterday I had to call an emergency back up to come pick up the child. Already this morning, not even 8am and I have another one.

what kind of system do you have to keep track. obviously, the parents are not doing what they are supposed to do.

[Thriftylady]

I hate to say this, but it seems now days we have to go around behind them and check. I know it is hard, but you may have to for a week or so and enforce your no stay policy. A few times of having to return home and come back they will step it up again for awhile anyway.

[daycare]

I hate to say this, but it seems now days we have to go around behind them and check. I know it is hard, but you may have to for a week or so and enforce your no stay policy. A few times of having to return home and come back they will step it up again for awhile anyway.

see that is what we used to do, but we just don't have the time to have to check 22 boxes.

and you are right it stinks that we have to follow behind them to have to check and make sure that they are doing their job.

[Thriftylady]

Perhaps a notice?

Dear parents,
Sadly every day one of the children does not have the proper supplies in there cubby to participate in the program. As per your handbook your child may not stay if they do not have proper supplies. It has become impossible for me to check every cubby every day, so if this issue continues, I will have no choice but to raise rates in order to pay someone to be here in the mornings to check cubby supplies and send children home if they are not prepared for class.

[Unregistered]

Maybe a note on your door or a mass text reminder? Like every Friday?

[daycarediva]

I would just check. Not daily, but weekly. If you have to change a child, a red slip reminder notice in their folder/cubby whatever communication you use. On Friday at nap I go through all cubbies and send home reminders for the following week. When I change a child and use their last set of clothes, I send home a 'red slip' stapled to their daily sheet. It's just printed on bright red paper and has a checklist I check off what is needed and when it's due by (tomorrow!) with a little reminder about not being able to stay without supplies.

[Blackcat31]

When a child is sent home in their extra clothing, place a note card attached to a clothes pin on their cubby.

Remove it the next day IF the child returns WITH the replacement clothing.

It seems to me it would be easier to mark/highlight or place the "marker" on the cubby boxes BEFORE verses having to go check after supplies are missing....kwim?

[laundrymom]

When I send home a child in extras I immediately text parents.
"Sending home Sarah in her extra clothes today. Bring more in morning. "
Then I stick a post it note on my attendance sheet. When clothes are returned I remove. If they forget in morning I resend text.

[snbauser]

I require a complete change of clothes here at all times. If they get used, I know it and send home a reminder to bring new ones. If you are already doing that, then what about some type of dry erase board for your staff where you list the names of anyone who uses their extra clothes. Then when the child arrives the next day, they can easily see if their name is on the list and make sure they come with what is needed or send them back home to get them.