Sigh.....Leave Your Personal Items At Home....

[TwinMama]

So my families don't seem to remember us discussing the whole don't bring toys here.

I have a toy singing Christmas carols here today. The first sign of fighting over it I'm going to put away.

I also have an issue with them bringing breakfast here when I serve breakfast. I've told them this from the beginning. So they bring their bag of dry cereal that they don't eat any of because they eat the yogurt and fresh fruit I serve.

It's always....."dck wouldn't leave without this."

Anyone else deal with this too? I know...it's not a big dea and I end up throwing it away or putting away the toy, but it's just annoying.

[Ariana]

I make the parents leave with the toys and with the food. "give toy back to mommy, give mommy the cereal....ok bye bye mommy". She will eventually get it. All of my parents got it after the first or second time after doing that. Nothing like having to bring a half eaten bagel with cream cheese back to the car with you

If they don't eat what I serve then it's not my problem!

[Thriftylady]

I make the parents leave with the toys and with the food. "give toy back to mommy, give mommy the cereal....ok bye bye mommy". She will eventually get it. All of my parents got it after the first or second time after doing that. Nothing like having to bring a half eaten bagel with cream cheese back to the car with you

If they don't eat what I serve then it's not my problem!

I agree with this. And any toys that I didn't catch at the door get put in the cubby until time to go home.

[ChelseaB]

For me I do things a little differently -- I don't forbid toys or items from home except electronics. However, I have it written into my policies that while I don't forbid some items, I am also not responsible for them. I will try to give them back at the end of the day, but I will not go out of my way to keep track either. In short, if it's valuable or sentimental, you're better off to leave them home, otherwise, it may find a new home here or it could possibly get broken. On the other hand, if the item causes fighting or interruptions, it will get taken away promptly and put up. As for food, I'm not on the food program, so I don't usually mind the occasional food from home...but DCK may have to share! And if it's junk food, forget it. I just throw it away after mom or dad leaves. I don't have time to parent the parent, so I just pick my battles

[daycare]

I have no problem being the mean guy in this situation.

Either give it back to mom or dad or I am going to take it and I won't give it back.

Then I give the parents the stink eye.

[Snowmom]

I hand toys back.
I do have a show/tell day and that is the only time anything from home is allowed and it immediately goes back in their cubby once we complete the activity.

Food:
I've actually threatened to terminate a contract once to a family that would not say no to dck everyday.
Dad kept bringing in snack food at drop off. No matter how many times I handed it back and told him it was not allowed (I have 2 kids with food allergies and he knows this).
Some parents just don't get that it's ok to say no to their children.

[mamamanda]

Dcg brought new toys today. She got them for her birthday. I don't forbid it, but neither do I accept responsibility for them and if there is the slightest bit of fighting it goes in their cubby until pickup. The rule is if you bring it you have to share it. And as always, it was in the cubby by breakfast time. No one ever wants to share things from home.

[Boymom]

I swear we have the exact same family ! This exact situation happens allllll the time!

[Blackcat31]

'Hotel California' rule for toys.....

"They can check in but they can never leave."

Makes kids think twice about bringing toys etc in from home.

I've had a few parents "test" this rule.

I thanked them for their donation and it never happened again.

[HL0605]

This happens here all the time, sigh. Today I have a 4 yo dcg with a small choking hazard toy and a bobby pin loosely in her hair. I took both away and am the meanest person ever to her today.

[daycarediva]

Toys are for share days only. I hand them back to the parent. If it IS a share day, it goes into the cubby for sharing time and goes back in the cubby after share time.

[Unregistered]

'Hotel California' rule for toys.....

"They can check in but they can never leave."

Makes kids think twice about bringing toys etc in from home.

I've had a few parents "test" this rule.

I thanked them for their donation and it never happened again.

Oh my gawd! I'm soooooo using this!!

[MunchkinWrangler]

I also find the "bringer" can never share these toys as well as them being hazards for infants. Personal toys always get directed back to the entryway. I'm considering adding a policy about it.

[kendallina]

I make the parents leave with the toys and with the food. "give toy back to mommy, give mommy the cereal....ok bye bye mommy". She will eventually get it. All of my parents got it after the first or second time after doing that. Nothing like having to bring a half eaten bagel with cream cheese back to the car with you

If they don't eat what I serve then it's not my problem!

Yes, this exactly. Make the parents take it right away, they will not keep doing it.

[Blackcat31]

Oh my gawd! I'm soooooo using this!!

This is how it's addressed in my handbook

Toys/Items From Home:

We have what we like to call the "Hotel California" rule for this situation. Any toys brought from home will NOT be returned to the child so please do not allow your child to bring toys or items from home into the child care facility.

I have spent an enormous amount of time purchasing developmentally appropriate and educational toys/activities for the children in my care.

When items are brought from home, it can cause undue stress and anxiety for a child. Any item brought into the child care home becomes my responsibility as well as my liability, so please make sure ALL toys/items from home remain in your vehicle so they do not pose an issue here.

Occasionally a child may be invited to bring something from home for sharing purposes. In these situations, items need to be clearly marked with child's name. These items should also be handed directly to the provider and will then be returned directly from provider to parent upon pick up.