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I'm signed out because I think this might get some heat, but I've been wondering this and a training my state required made me think of this. The presenter said we should never be on our phones or surfing the web while children our in our care, even if the parents are early or late. You know, something could happen in a second even during nap. I notice when I post at night, there's there's always a ton of posts from the day time. Do you post on here when you have children in your care? I don't.
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I'm self employed. As long as there is no regulation baring me from being on my phone or online during the day, I will continue to do so. If I wanted someone micro-managing everything I do, I could have stayed in banking.
Honestly, I realize there's some liability. There's also risk in doing ANYTHING other than sitting and literally watching the children every second. Doing dishes, throwing in laundry, attending to paperwork, watching TV during nap, reading a book. If something happened to a child, we would be asked what we were doing. Probably, no answer short of "I was sitting in the semi-dark, observing the children as they slept" would be acceptable in someone's eyes.
My friend had 2 children strip and check each other out while she was helping another in the bathroom. She self-reported and still got cited for lack of supervision.
Personally, no outside contact at all for me during the day would put the children in MORE danger than me being on the phone or online. I'd go bananas, and probably "lose" it.
Especially in February or early March in WI.
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Tell the presenter when she is willing to pay my self employment tax and my unemployment insurance she can tell me what I can do while I work as a self employed provider.
There's ALWAYS been available distractions to parents and child care providers while caring for kids. The cell phone isn't any different than books, talking on the phone, tv, or better yet, the provider or parents own children.
If these kids need a dedicated adult that only foes them then the price for only doing them must be paid. You don't get that for two to four dollars an hour.
If it's unsafe for providers to be on their phones then it's unsafe for parents. Make laws for both and then we will talk.
If a kid is injured under my care I am responsible. If I'm making lunch and the kid gets hurt... it's on me. If I'm conferencing with a parent and a kid gets hurt, it's on me. If I'm cleaning a massive blow out and a kid gets hurt, it's on me.
The state isn't in the business of ensuring I'm never distracted or they would do inspections off hours. If it's ok for them to come in and tax my attention while I'm caring for kids then me being on my phone is ok. It's WAY less distracting to be on my phone than hosting parents or inspectors.Comment
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I try to limit my phone and computer play to nap time. BUT sometimes I need to feel connected to other adults for a second.Comment
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I'm self employed. As long as there is no regulation baring me from being on my phone or online during the day, I will continue to do so. If I wanted someone micro-managing everything I do, I could have stayed in banking.
Honestly, I realize there's some liability. There's also risk in doing ANYTHING other than sitting and literally watching the children every second. Doing dishes, throwing in laundry, attending to paperwork, watching TV during nap, reading a book. If something happened to a child, we would be asked what we were doing. Probably, no answer short of "I was sitting in the semi-dark, observing the children as they slept" would be acceptable in someone's eyes.
My friend had 2 children strip and check each other out while she was helping another in the bathroom. She self-reported and still got cited for lack of supervision.
Personally, no outside contact at all for me during the day would put the children in MORE danger than me being on the phone or online. I'd go bananas, and probably "lose" it. Especially in February or early March in WI.
I typically refuse to come to my "work site" when I am "off" (I was bored today during a rain delay at the little league field:
: )
Now, are the kids running wild while I Facebook and email? No. I typically post during naps (not sure what is expected? The day I'm told have to sit with napping kids and watch them sleep is the day I turn in my license)
Are there providers who probably should be watching the kids and they are not? Sure. But then, that would be the case regardless of what the distraction was...Comment
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I go online and read threads, post, or surf pinterest whenever I feel like it and have the time. If the kids are busy playing, eating, doing art projects, or whatever and I have a minute to check out what is going on here and on FB, I do it and I don't feel bad about it. My computer (and my phone) are right in the middle of everything, so the children are always supervised, but I am not going to literally sit and stare at them all day to ensure their well being. And the funny thing is whenever I check FB, almost all of my friends who work regular office jobs are online too. They are not just sitting at their desk all day crunching numbers...they need a minute to disconnect from their job too, and while we cannot totally disconnect, since we work with kiddos, scrolling online for a few minutes is sort of like my water cooler break
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If I have a need, or it is during a time when I am hands on with the kiddos, then no I am not online. But if things are quiet at nap time or other times I see no need to restrict me. Such as when my SA kids do homework and they are the only kids here. If they need my help, I help them but if they are working on homework independently who says I can't post here? I do not accept someone telling me how to do my job or run my business unless or course they are paying me, and even then I can tell them to move on if I choose.Comment
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I surf the internet during naptime. I make phone calls if I have to while they're here. Most doctors' offices, etc. close by the time kids leave. I even go to the bathroom while they're here.
He!!, you can turn to look at 1 dck and something happens to another in that instant. That whole mindset of constantly having your attention on everybody every single second is absurdly unrealistic. I'll bet even if the ratio was 1:1, something would happen. Unless you carried each child all day long.
Yes, things do happen. It's called life. I'm not saying we can neglect them or ignore them or just send 'em all outside during the day while we sit on our butts and eat Ben and Jerry's(which I prefer over bon-bons).
As with a lot of the regulations the state holds over our heads nowadays, I feel this one to be unrealistic.
I feel the majority of us here do the very best we can with what we have. We're always striving for new ideas, suggestions, ways to do this or that that's better for the children we can for. Look at us, a lot of us are here on weekends still thinking, working, living child care. The state wants us to become sterile higher learning institutions, teaching their child geometry by kindergarten and brushing their teeth after every single time they eat anything. Do parents do this? Do the schools do this? And they've all got staff, aides, partners to help them. Lots of us are alone doing it ourselves. Most places of employment grant their employees breaks during the day. Isn't that a law? Do we get any breaks? No, so we have to look for the quietest moments in our day to make a call, breathe a little, reach out for support.
Going back to read this over, I'll probably sound like a Class A bit@h but it's nothing against the OP question. It's because I'm getting so sick of the state always breathing down our necks, telling us how to run our business, what exactly we have to do, what's not allowed, You have to feed the kids certain things, you even should hang certain posters of pictures(if you're in STARS). I even went to a training once where the presenter suggested when we sing Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, we change it to something else because of the usage of monkeys. Gimme a break. At least it isn't a rule yet.
Things were oh so different back 30 years ago. And I don't feel I did a bad job of teaching my firstborn without all these rules and regulations. He graduated 4.0 and is a very intelligent, honorable, respectable human being. And I don't teach the dcks anything less now.
*sigh* I might be done venting about the state now.
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As center employee I can tell you that we will be in major trouble if we are using our phones , even during nap !
That makes sense for us . We are being paid by the center and have to abide by their rules . Their rules are usually set by licensing / state guidelines for centers . Yes , some co workers sneak to look at their phones . They do allow us to leave the room if we want to make a phone call , but someone else comes in our room to cover for us . ( if we aren't in ratio )Comment
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What's wrong with monkeys?!I surf the internet during naptime. I make phone calls if I have to while they're here. Most doctors' offices, etc. close by the time kids leave. I even go to the bathroom while they're here. He!!, you can turn to look at 1 dck and something happens to another in that instant. That whole mindset of constantly having your attention on everybody every single second is absurdly unrealistic. I'll bet even if the ratio was 1:1, something would happen. Unless you carried each child all day long.
Yes, things do happen. It's called life. I'm not saying we can neglect them or ignore them or just send 'em all outside during the day while we sit on our butts and eat Ben and Jerry's(which I prefer over bon-bons).
As with a lot of the regulations the state holds over our heads nowadays, I feel this one to be unrealistic.
I feel the majority of us here do the very best we can with what we have. We're always striving for new ideas, suggestions, ways to do this or that that's better for the children we can for. Look at us, a lot of us are here on weekends still thinking, working, living child care. The state wants us to become sterile higher learning institutions, teaching their child geometry by kindergarten and brushing their teeth after every single time they eat anything. Do parents do this? Do the schools do this? And they've all got staff, aides, partners to help them. Lots of us are alone doing it ourselves. Most places of employment grant their employees breaks during the day. Isn't that a law? Do we get any breaks? No, so we have to look for the quietest moments in our day to make a call, breathe a little, reach out for support.
Going back to read this over, I'll probably sound like a Class A bit@h but it's nothing against the OP question. It's because I'm getting so sick of the state always breathing down our necks, telling us how to run our business, what exactly we have to do, what's not allowed, You have to feed the kids certain things, you even should hang certain posters of pictures(if you're in STARS). I even went to a training once where the presenter suggested when we sing Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, we change it to something else because of the usage of monkeys. Gimme a break. At least it isn't a rule yet.
Things were oh so different back 30 years ago. And I don't feel I did a bad job of teaching my firstborn without all these rules and regulations. He graduated 4.0 and is a very intelligent, honorable, respectable human being. And I don't teach the dcks anything less now.
*sigh* I might be done venting about the state now.Comment
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I'm not being sarcastic: seriously, what is wrong with monkeys ?? What!?Comment
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We r only allowed to use our phones during naptime unless it is an emergency.Comment
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If I sat in the semi dark watching children sleep, I would fall asleep myself even sitting up.I'm self employed. As long as there is no regulation baring me from being on my phone or online during the day, I will continue to do so. If I wanted someone micro-managing everything I do, I could have stayed in banking.
Honestly, I realize there's some liability. There's also risk in doing ANYTHING other than sitting and literally watching the children every second. Doing dishes, throwing in laundry, attending to paperwork, watching TV during nap, reading a book. If something happened to a child, we would be asked what we were doing. Probably, no answer short of "I was sitting in the semi-dark, observing the children as they slept" would be acceptable in someone's eyes.
My friend had 2 children strip and check each other out while she was helping another in the bathroom. She self-reported and still got cited for lack of supervision.
Personally, no outside contact at all for me during the day would put the children in MORE danger than me being on the phone or online. I'd go bananas, and probably "lose" it. Especially in February or early March in WI.
I actually had my computer in the nap room. I would put youtube lullaby music on and once they fell asleep, I could surf.
As long as I kept checking on them I felt free to go in other rooms also.
I can't imagine not answering the phone. What if it is a parent or doctor's office and you can't get them in the evening? Dumb rule if there is such a rule.
LaurelComment
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