No Parents Allowed in Classroom

[Unregistered]

Hello,

I'm curious to hear opinions regarding a new policy in place at my childcare center. Parent are not allowed to enter the space because 'it stresses the children'.

Parents are asked to wait outside the door and the teacher meets and takes the child and belongings. This seems offputting.

Do you have any reaction to this? Ideas on how to start a conversation with the director about this?

[Leigh]

Hello,

I'm curious to hear opinions regarding a new policy in place at my childcare center. Parent are not allowed to enter the space because 'it stresses the children'.

Parents are asked to wait outside the door and the teacher meets and takes the child and belongings. This seems offputting.

Do you have any reaction to this? Ideas on how to start a conversation with the director about this?

It absolutely does stress the children. Behaviors escalate, kids see one parent and want to see their own. A child having their own parent in the room can stress over who is "in charge" and display serious behaviors. I am in total agreement with the policy.

[childcaremom]

It absolutely does stress the children. Behaviors escalate, kids see one parent and want to see their own. A child having their own parent in the room can stress over who is "in charge" and display serious behaviors. I am in total agreement with the policy.

I have the same rule. Parents bring their children in, I meet them at the door, we say our good byes there.

[TXhomedaycare]

It absolutely does stress the children. Behaviors escalate, kids see one parent and want to see their own. A child having their own parent in the room can stress over who is "in charge" and display serious behaviors. I am in total agreement with the policy.

I agree with this as a provider but as a parent I would only feel comfortable if there is a good size viewing window where I can see my child or anyone can easily what is going on in the classroom. Most centers you can see inside the classroom so no need to go in.

[Play Care]

I agree with this as a provider but as a parent I would only feel comfortable if there is a good size viewing window where I can see my child or anyone can easily what is going on in the classroom. Most centers you can see inside the classroom so no need to go in.

[Ariana]

Sounds to me like there may have a been a parent disrupting everyone so they included all parents in this rule. That would be my guess.

[Hunni Bee]

From both a "teacher" and a parent perspective...that doesn't sit well with me.

I totally understand the chaos that goes on when parents are in the room. But in every classroom I've been in, I've always trained the children to go in with life as normal when visitors are in the room. I don't have kids bothering other kids parents, crying, misbehaving. The parents also know that I'm not going to stand and chat with them longer than a few minutes.

But I have 4 year olds. I can see it being a little different in a toddler classroom.

However, as the parent of a toddler, I couldn't see myself being okay with never stepping into her classroom. I can see not coming in multiple times a day, or coming in and hanging around, or not bothering the other kids...but just to completely bar someone from a place where their young child is seems problematic.

[MunchkinWrangler]

The rules must apply to everyone. It is disruptive, and some kids have stranger danger pretty bad. It also makes them antsy for waiting for their own parents, kids are excited to be picked no matter how much they love their providers and the fun they have there. Behaviors change greatly at pickup time.

[MunchkinWrangler]

Have an open conversation with the director about the rule change. There could be a serious reason why they need to do this. Maybe they want to keep track of who is picking the child up and make sure it's not too chaotic so they can keep track. It could be a security issue. If you feel like you can't trust the center anymore then maybe you should look for a new one if you don't agree with the changes.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

Have an open conversation with the director about the rule change. There could be a serious reason why they need to do this. Maybe they want to keep track of who is picking the child up and make sure it's not too chaotic so they can keep track. It could be a security issue. If you feel like you can't trust the center anymore then maybe you should look for a new one if you don't agree with the changes.

It is possible that it is simply a security issue. If the children begin to act up at pick up time, it takes more focus off the other children while they handle the transition, so maybe there have been issues with the security and safety of the other children at pick up. I agree, though, if it makes you uncomfortable, maybe just ask why the rule was implemented and then make the choice to deal with it or not.

[Blackcat31]

Hello,

I'm curious to hear opinions regarding a new policy in place at my childcare center. Parent are not allowed to enter the space because 'it stresses the children'.

Parents are asked to wait outside the door and the teacher meets and takes the child and belongings. This seems offputting.

Do you have any reaction to this? Ideas on how to start a conversation with the director about this?

Although the center may have implemented this new rule, most states do have an "open door policy" meaning you can pick your child up at ANY time and they cannot deny you access to your child.

Open door policy does NOT mean you can simply show up, hang out and then leave again, it just means they cannot deny you access to YOUR child at ANY time during the day.

If you are concerned about anything going on, I'd show up at a random time and pick my child up.

Doing that won't give you access to the classroom but you can still use the element of surprise when retrieving your child from care.

I do agree with PP's though that have said to have a discussion with the Director and find out why the rule was put in place.

[Blackcat31]

What state are you in?

In my state, centers MUST allow parents of enrolled children to visit the classroom any time they wish during hours of operation.

[daycare]

most laws say you have access to your child, you do NOT have access to other children.

I can give you a very real life situation I had to deal with.

I knew someone who was a registered S.offender. Crime was against children under 14, including toddlers. This man also had a child that was age 3. He was and still is allowed to go to the daycare, preschool, elementary school and so on as long as he is going there to access his own child. How would you feel about this man being in a classroom with your child?

we can NOT force parents to take a back ground check, therefore we can not allow any parent to have access to any child but their own.

I follow this to a T. Not only for the child's safety, but for the parents safety as well.

What if a child went home and said Susies mommy hit me at school today??? As the provider I don't see everything and now it is the kids word against the parents word. I don't want to have anyone in that situation. Trust me when I tell you, kids will make things up and say only bits and pieces of what did happen.

for the safety of all children in care and parents, parents will only have access to their own child.

[Crystal]

In Ca. it is required that parents are allowed to have access to any space child care is conducted whenever their child is in care. This includes the classroom, and if in a family child care home, any spaces in the home that the children have access to while in attendance.

[Blackcat31]

In Ca. it is required that parents are allowed to have access to any space child care is conducted whenever their child is in care. This includes the classroom, and if in a family child care home, any spaces in the home that the children have access to while in attendance.

That is the rule for centers in my state but not for in-home child care. We just have to allow the parent access to their child.

Centers have to allow parents to visit the center ANY time during business hours...... even on days their child isnt in attendance.