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I don't think the point is how do you feel about it, the point is that's the law in my area. If not being on the computer keeps me from losing my license or going to jail, I'm for it. A few of the elderly providers complained, but the presenter made it very clear the state is for the family/children. We're not going to be cut any slack even if the parent is no angel. Some asked something about parents and gave examples of bad behavior. One including eating junk food that the parents brought and the presenter wasn't phased.
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I think "multi-task" is the key word here!happyface Child care providers know their limits and can multi-task like no one in any other profession. happyface And YES, I did NOT think this needed discussed when I read it yesterday but wanted to say a HEARTY AMEN to your post! happyfaceOP, does your trainer say you can't go to the bathroom during the day too?
talk with parents?
prepare meals/snacks?
change a diaper?
hug/talk with an individual child?
answer the door or phone?
record meals (because that's a requirement for food program participants)
document observations?
turn your back for anything while kids are present?
breath?
I'm sorry but this isn't even a topic worth discussing IMO.
If you (personally, as an individual provider) do not feel that you can multi-task a million and one things at the same time, then this is the wrong line of work for you.Comment
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I think yours is the case of either an overzealous presenter/inspector/laws or bad laws.
I had an inspector once (called monitors here) who said the same thing about the bathroom. When I asked her how it was possible to take everyone with me when we went to the bathroom she suggested that I keep the door open (which I did anyway) and have all the other toddlers sit outside the door in the hallway. Then sing a song and supposedly they would all sing along while I was helping someone potty. :
::::: Well, #1 they are not usually allowed in that hallway (that leads to the bedrooms as well) so they were up exploring where the hall went, trying to open bedroom doors, etc. It was a virtual free for all. So was I supposed to keep them all sitting down (which was next to impossible anyway) or let the potty child fall in the potty or dip their hands in it or unroll the toilet paper roll. :: Hey I'm only one person lady!!!!
One thing you could do is form a group of providers and fight bad/unfair regulations. That is how our provider's child care association was started. It was started because we needed to fight unfair regulations and it worked.
I wouldn't post on facebook because it could be traced. So could this site but much more hard to do. How is an inspector to know that I don't have my sub watching the kiddies while I am online???
Another thing another provider told us at our provider meeting was to ask to see a regulation in writing. Usually that stops them in their tracks if they are just interpreting something their own way. Although I wouldn't recommend challenging them too much if it is really important and you feel you are being wronged you can ask them to put in writing what they want you to do and you can go over their head. That is risky but I've known providers that did and the guy in charge was really very fair so it worked out. Risky though.
LaurelComment
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I'm not sure what state your in, but I would check your actual regulations. ANY time someone tells you "this is the rule....", speak up. "I wasn't aware of this regulation, can you show it to me, please?"
Then, either they will, or they will say "this is a suggestion". In either case, smile, nod, and say "thank you".
If it's a regulation, you'll have to follow it or risk the consequences. If it's not, use your own judgement.
In WI, family childcare requires sight OR sound supervision. If something actually happens to a child, they will question lack of supervision every time. You could literally be watching a child climb on a chair, say "please sit down", and as they fall, run across the room trying to catch them as they whop their lip on the chair. Call the parent, parent takes child to doctor, doctor say's lets put a couple stitches in there since it's the lip, and we would be cited for lack of supervision.
I don't base my every moment of every day on the idea of that possibility. I supervise children, I guide children, and I even allow them to take risks (within reason). It could cost me something in the long run, but to deny them the opportunities to learn from their mistakes will most certainly cost THEM in the long run.
As far as how I spend my time; my business, my decision (just like everything else around here, including following regs). I choose to follow regulations; but the day they make these things regs is the day I either go down to legally unregulated or just go underground. Oddly enough, that is one thing our state doesn't seem overly concerned about; illegal providers.
On a side note, if I owned a center, I would not allow my employees to use phones or electronics. First of all, I am not employing someone to play around. Second, my brief experience with an assistant who does not have the investment I do in my business has shown me that people who have access to "play" of any sort during work hours tend to be much more focused on that than their jobs. I thought only teenagers would actually try to sweep one handed while texting, but apparently, I was wrong.Comment
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I would really like to know how they handle such supervision requirements in the school system? Especially now that prek will be more the norm rather than exception? I realize they'll probably have an assistant or 2 but still, you're never going to get their amount of required supervision unless you get one on one. And on the playground??? Can you imagine??
I feel it has all gotten way out of hand.
I can see where computer time or tv or yacking all day on the cellphone isn't good work conduct. For anyone. But there has to be a happy medium that makes good common sense.Comment
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Move it where? Sanitary rules state changing areas need to be next to running water... I don't have a garden hose in my living room and changing areas should NEVER be near food prep or eating areas so where does this presenter suggest it get moved too?
:: Making everyone sit next to the bathroom and wait while Baby Joey gets his diaper changed is ridiculous and in some states could be considered "confinement" as I don't know many kids under age 5 that would enjoy sitting next to the bathroom and waiting multiple times a day. ::
If I had 5 kids in diapers and changed them 5 times a day that is 25 diaper changes and if each diaper change took say 5 minutes, then my kids would spend a total of 2 hours and 5 minutes "waiting".
Then add in the amount of time I have to have them wait while my toilet trained kids all use the bathroom....they'd have to wait there too because I would have to be supervising the one using the bathroom....
The kids would pretty much spend all day waiting and not doing anything else.
At that rate, they might as well just go to work with their parent and sit in the corner with the i-pad for company... it seems like it would be more fun....and cheaper for the parents.
Thank goodness I don't live in your state.
Honestly, I am not trying to be rude but this presenter is a whack-a-doo and (you can tell her I said that too) because I challenge her to spend a single day doing what any of the providers on this board do WHILE observing her/his "suggestions".
He/She wouldn't make it until lunch time let alone nap.
If you paid for that class/training, I'd ask for my money back.Comment
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Inspectors in my state have been known to cite centers for staff using their phones. But I've also heard of them citing centers because there was a child behind a staff members back. They it's covered by the reg of children needing to be within range of sight AND sound. So their logic is that if the children are behind your back (or if you're looking at something), then they're not within range of sight. Of course, that's completely impractical, but...
That reg doesn't apply to home daycares so I'm not sure whether or not they would still get in trouble with licensing for cell phone use.Comment
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Seriously? What. is. wrong. with.people? Constantly being offended by stupid crap is not helping the government stay out of our business. If you're calling an African American person a monkey to be nasty to them, I could see it. But singing about monkeys on a bed (and the book illustrates actual animals) hardly has ANYTHING to do with the African American race, and anyone who thinks so needs serious help. This PC crap is out of hand. Free speech when it isn't even directed at anyone in a derogatory way should NOT be interferred with.
Rant done.
I used to get online at nap. If anyone told me not to, I would have been done right then and there. What is someone supposed to do? Stare at the kids and don't move? And honestly, there was NO WAY
I was...
bringing someone else's kid into the bathroom while I pee
going in after an 8yo using the restroom (they can do this themselves!)
facing the kids while changing a diaper for the sake of pleasing the state
and putting the kids on the counter so I could be sure to see them, while cooking on the stove
I would have to also refuse all guests, including the food lady, state licensing office, and anyone else, because my attention would not be focused 100% on the child(ren). Therefore, entertaining these people would be 'neglectful'.
Give me a break. This overstepping has to stop. Myself and several friends quit daycare for these types of overstepping things that was going on in our state. It just was making it impossible to ENJOY the work we were doing. It got so bad, the state wanted all HOME daycares to do a preschool curriculum. Um, no. If the kids want to be in a curricula based program, then they can pay for it at a center or a home that WANTS to do this. Of course, we did play-based learning, and we had SOME days where we did a circle-time, flash cards, letter learning, etc. but I don't think anyone should have told us we would be required to do this M-F when we had kids and that this was done for at least 6 hours of each day. NO way. IDK if they actually enforced this because I left the industry before the state's deadline to implement this.Comment
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While I applaud the idea that, generally speaking, the children should be our primary focus during the day, I do think it's almost impossible in a home daycare (where there is usually only one worker) to keep ALL children supervised 100% of the time. Others have pointed out very good examples above.
This seems more in line with a centre, where I would expect to not be able to use my phone during work hours. In fact, I did work in an after school program and we were not allowed to use our phones. As an employee in a centre, I had coworkers to cover if I needed to use the bathroom, etc so no one was ever left unattended. Much easier to accomplish when there is more than one employee. I also had paid meetings where we did our planning, usually before our shift started, with no children in attendance.
But in my home, during my 10 hour day? Where I work by myself?
The children in my charge are supervised either by sight or sound. If I need to be away from the group (diaper changes, bathroom assistance, meal prep, etc) the children are set up in a safe setting where I can still hear what is going on and where I am not too far that I can be there quickly if needed.
I do use the computer during rest times and will continue to do so. That's when I do all my prep and planning. I try to get as much 'work' done during the day so my evenings and weekends are free for my own kids.
I get the idea behind this regulation, I do, but it seems highly impractical in a home setting.Comment
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