That Was a First!!

[Josiegirl]

I agree that he is too young to understand and I don't think it falls under "deliberate destruction of property". But if I were the parent, I would still pay.

I agree completely with this. Throwing is one of those toddler actions. And yes, you can work on the behavior with the toddler but it still takes time for them to understand. They have to throw a lot of things and receive a lot of correction before it sinks in.

[Ariana]

Haven't read all the replies yet but I absorb the costs of normal wear and tear on my daycare stuff.

However, if a child intentionally breaks something and they are old enough to know better and the "problem" has been discussed with the parent before, I would require the parent to pay for the damages IF and ONLY IF I did my part as well....

For example if throwing toys is something you've had a written plan of action in place to address, curb and teach the child and you have discussed this with the parents and you are both working on fixing it, then I might charge the parent....atleast a portion of the repair costs

If you as the provider knew he was a thrower and still allowed him to play with hard toys and he threw something that broke the window then I probably wouldn't charge the parents because he only had an opportunity to throw something hard because you let him have something hard enough to do damage when thrown.

So, unless he was right in front of you and you literally could not stop him from grabbing something hard and throwing it, you as the provider (since you knew about his throwing habit) bear some of the responsibility and in that case I would maybe see if you could come to some sort of compromise with the parent and have them contribute something towards the costs but I certainly wouldn't expect them to just pay for it when there really wasn't anything the parents could have done to prevent it.

Also, do you have insurance that will cover this type of thing?

i agree! Also isn't this what insurance is for?

[Josiegirl]

i agree! Also isn't this what insurance is for?

But insurance usually has a deductible and the 3 windows I've had to replace panes of glass in, cost about $45 each. My dog broke 2 of them trying to get to squirrels outside but the 3rd was broken by a dcb who was old enough to know better, although he wasn't doing it intentionally.

[Blackcat31]

But insurance usually has a deductible and the 3 windows I've had to replace panes of glass in, cost about $45 each. My dog broke 2 of them trying to get to squirrels outside but the 3rd was broken by a dcb who was old enough to know better, although he wasn't doing it intentionally.

I still think its part of the risk we assume when opening a business in our homes.

Intentional, on purpose behavior by a child old enough to to understand AND possess the capability of choosing to do or not do something is the ONLY time I'd outright charge a parent.

[Play Care]

I still think its part of the risk we assume when opening a business in our homes.

Intentional, on purpose behavior by a child old enough to to understand AND possess the capability of choosing to do or not do something is the ONLY time I'd outright charge a parent.

[nannyde]

I wouldn't male them pay. I'm supervising and I know he's a thrower. I would only give him access to toys that were cloth or restrict him to areas where glass wasn't within his throw range.

He's very young. If he were a thrower he would be in a large play yard with cloth toys, cloth books, very lightweight plastic blocks, rags, etc that don't fly far so he could get his throw on.

He would be out in the general population but first toss... back in the free fly zone.

[Thriftylady]

I wouldn't male them pay. I'm supervising and I know he's a thrower. I would only give him access to toys that were cloth or restrict him to areas where glass wasn't within his throw range.

He's very young. If he were a thrower he would be in a large play yard with cloth toys, cloth books, very lightweight plastic blocks, rags, etc that don't fly far so he could get his throw on.

He would be out in the general population but first toss... back in the free fly zone.

I guess it depends where you are. When I was in Kansas, my rep told me I couldn't use play yards and such in that way it was considered a "lengthy timeout".

[Crystal]

I wouldn't male them pay. I'm supervising and I know he's a thrower. I would only give him access to toys that were cloth or restrict him to areas where glass wasn't within his throw range.

He's very young. If he were a thrower he would be in a large play yard with cloth toys, cloth books, very lightweight plastic blocks, rags, etc that don't fly far so he could get his throw on.

He would be out in the general population but first toss... back in the free fly zone.

I totally agree.

At 17 months, he lacks impulse control. It's up to the provider to either do as suggested above, or remain in close physical proximity to him to prevent what happened.

[momofboys]

i agree! Also isn't this what insurance is for?

Our deductible is $500...... So yes, ins will cover it but depending on the deductible you may pay most of it out-of-pocket

[Jack Sprat]

Our insurance deductible is $500. My DH can replace the window himself but, we of course have to wait till the weather warms up for the caulking to set. So probably Monday or Wednesday.

I do agree this is partly my fault for allowing him to play with toys that aren't soft. I told DCM not to worry about paying for the window as he is still learning and we will continue to work on not throwing toys and that now he will only have access to soft toys. She said he throws everything at home and has destroyed several items and a television and they just don't know what to do. She also said she wasn't sure she wanted him to only have access to soft toys. I told her flat out I didn't want anymore broken windows. I told her that if he was 2 or 3 then yes I would ask them to pay. But, not at this age.

I'm not sure about the use of play yards here (KS) as a time out. He was a little confused when he awoke from nap yesterday and found that there were only soft toys in the cube. But, played with what was offered. It would be great to move him to an area where windows were out of his range. But, that room would be the kitchen !

[Blackcat31]

She also said she wasn't sure she wanted him to only have access to soft toys.

He doesn't have to ONLY have access to soft toys.

He can have access to as many hard toys as she wants him to have on HER watch at HER house so that when things get broken they are 100% HER responsibility to pay for/replace.

He only has to have access to soft toys at your house.

[Thriftylady]

Our insurance deductible is $500. My DH can replace the window himself but, we of course have to wait till the weather warms up for the caulking to set. So probably Monday or Wednesday.

I do agree this is partly my fault for allowing him to play with toys that aren't soft. I told DCM not to worry about paying for the window as he is still learning and we will continue to work on not throwing toys and that now he will only have access to soft toys. She said he throws everything at home and has destroyed several items and a television and they just don't know what to do. She also said she wasn't sure she wanted him to only have access to soft toys. I told her flat out I didn't want anymore broken windows. I told her that if he was 2 or 3 then yes I would ask them to pay. But, not at this age.

I'm not sure about the use of play yards here (KS) as a time out. He was a little confused when he awoke from nap yesterday and found that there were only soft toys in the cube. But, played with what was offered. It would be great to move him to an area where windows were out of his range. But, that room would be the kitchen !

If I were you, I would write up a written plan of action with mom, and I guess that would include soft toys. If she doesn't want that she could look for other care. For me, KS was a bear. I got written up one day when my rep locked her keys in her car and was waiting for someone from the office to bring her new ones. While she was waiting I went on with circle time. One was acting up hitting and such so I sent her to TO. My rep wrote me up for sending kiddo away from the group for time out, because sending the child away from the group was "embarrassing" to the child. I had to write a letter saying I would never send a kiddo away from the group again.

[childcaremom]

I would be doing a written plan, as well. Dcm may not like the restrictions but too bad. I would also be detailing what you are going to be doing in an effort to curb the behaviour at your house, and what you expect to have dcm to be doing at home. I would also detail what you will expect, in terms of payment, for any further damage caused by him throwing (if you won't charge until he's 2, fine, but what happens if he breaks something else in the meantime? Term?)

He has broken several things at home, including a tv?

You're lucky it was a window that got broken and he didn't launch the toy at another dck.

[Laurel]

If I were you, I would write up a written plan of action with mom, and I guess that would include soft toys. If she doesn't want that she could look for other care. For me, KS was a bear. I got written up one day when my rep locked her keys in her car and was waiting for someone from the office to bring her new ones. While she was waiting I went on with circle time. One was acting up hitting and such so I sent her to TO. My rep wrote me up for sending kiddo away from the group for time out, because sending the child away from the group was "embarrassing" to the child. I had to write a letter saying I would never send a kiddo away from the group again.

Omg, that is nuts!

[Unregistered]

IMHO....he is only 17 months old. I also feel it's my responsibility to keep kids under control. I know just about anything can happen during childcare, even under close supervision. Still feel it's my job to keep things like this at bay and if a 17 mo. old throws something I'd take responsibility for it.