Do You Have A Fence??

[Blackcat31]

Yeah but that would only work for the 3+ crowd I'm thinking.

Yeah, I guess that would only work for the 3+ crowd, but I would still maybe practice doing it while you are outside with the others because it can still be a learning tool for boundaries.

[BentleysBands]

OMG I love a pp's comment...I too an legally unlicensed
But I do have a fence. Yard is almost 1/2 acre. I am so using the spray paint idea!! At one point I had kids throwing things over the fence or climbing. The spray paint will be awesome to try!

[mac60]

We have a chain link fence, got it over 20 years ago at a cost of about $800. Our yard is not that big though. I know their are cheaper ways of fencing in a property/area. One would be to put up a ranch style fence, and then put the rolled fencing over it....works very well and the fencing is basically invisible. You can go 2 or 3 boards across. Here is a link. http://www.google.com/search?q=rance...rlz=1I7ADFA_en

You could also just do an "area" like 25' x 25', or what ever you wanted to enclose with a gate.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I don't have a fence, and licensing would require one, which is one of the big reasons (though not the biggest) why I'm not pursuing a license.

[DCMom]

I don't have a fence. All my neighbors bordering my yard have landscaped right up to the lot lines, so there is a natural, visual clue as to where my yard ends and the next yard begins. Basically I tell them, if you are off the grass you are out of the yard.

My daycare area is in the walkout, lower level of my house so there is a natural hill that begins at the back edge of the house. I put cones up at the back edge of the house as a reminder not to go up the hill.

I let 3 and older go outside without me directly outside with them (within sight and hearing is the rule here). The cardinal rules for outside is 'Don't go up the hill' and 'Don't go off the grass' if they choose to the consequence is the loss of outside time for the DAY. There are no second chances. They have to sit on chair right inside my walkout door where I can see them (and they can see the other kids ) until we come in. Sounds harsh, but it only takes once and I probably have only done that 5 times in 15 years.

The two and under have direct supervision, so by the time they are 3 they know the rules, .

I have 8-12 kids daily, ranging in age from infant to school age, mostly preschool. In Minnesota we are not required to have a fence.

[MARSTELAC]

No fence

I am in MN and not required to have a fence unless my county would decide that it would be beneficial. I truly would like a fence (for my dog) but it is not an expense I want right now. I care for 11-12 kids each day and have NO issues with kids straying. Ages 18 months to 11 years, mostly preschool and lower elementary ages.

[SandeeAR]

Just thinking how times have changed. I grew up most of my life in a subdivison (I'm 51). They only people that had fences were the ones with dogs LOL. No one even thought of having to "fence" in the kids LOL!

[Cat Herder]

Wow- you can't even walk around the neighborhood with them? No field trips??

No. If a field trip is planned my ratio is 1/1 since all of mine are 2 and under. Parents would have to accompany and I do not provide adult care . I think a root canal would be more pleasant.

We do not do field trips, the liability makes it asinine. The parents do not want field trips anyway and sign "emergency only transport" forms to reduce my liability risk.

Times are changing fast.

I do invite the parents to all my weekend ECE training classes. They cover their tuition (usually about $10-$20 a class), leave their kids with DH/Grandparents and we have lunch out. They LOVE this opportunity and IMHO, would pay for that much faster/more willingly than paying for a trip for their kids WITH me. YKWIM? Maybe it is a regional thing?

Edit: I wanted to add that I am in a suburb outside of a major city and all of my parents commute almost an hour to bring their children to my rural/farm setting. They love that I offer several wooded acres, natural creeks, low crime risk and clean air. They are major selling points.

[Blackcat31]

Just thinking how times have changed. I grew up most of my life in a subdivison (I'm 51). They only people that had fences were the ones with dogs LOL. No one even thought of having to "fence" in the kids LOL!

SandeeAR...I love the way you think!

....And the sign said anybody caught trespassin' would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house, "Hey! What gives you
the right?"
"To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in"
"If God was here he'd tell you to your face, Man, you're some kinda sinner"