Inclement Weather Policy

[MissAnn]

Who closes or delays when local schools close or delays for inclement weather?

I just recently made this policy. It went over well with 6 out of 7 parents. A few days ago we had a delay. We had tornados watches all night, flooding, trees down and high winds. It was the first time since making this policy.....and 3 kids showed up. I posted on my FB page a reminder and I also said that next time I will send out a text. That one mom....who argued when I first made the policy......wrote a comment....for just rain??????? Oh goodness! One dad had to have his truck towed because he drove through high water, 1 mom had to take an alternate route because of downed trees.....and a grandma also had to take an alternate route...the grandma is the mom of the complainer.

Anyway.....Although it's for their own safety....for me there is another reason why I implemented this policy,....I don't not want "spend the nighters", and I don't want just one kid to show up.

What is your policy? I know in this area most daycares have this policy.

[Annalee]

Who closes or delays when local schools close or delays for inclement weather?

I just recently made this policy. It went over well with 6 out of 7 parents. A few days ago we had a delay. We had tornados watches all night, flooding, trees down and high winds. It was the first time since making this policy.....and 3 kids showed up. I posted on my FB page a reminder and I also said that next time I will send out a text. That one mom....who argued when I first made the policy......wrote a comment....for just rain??????? Oh goodness! One dad had to have his truck towed because he drove through high water, 1 mom had to take an alternate route because of downed trees.....and a grandma also had to take an alternate route...the grandma is the mom of the complainer.

Anyway.....Although it's for their own safety....for me there is another reason why I implemented this policy,....I don't not want "spend the nighters", and I don't want just one kid to show up.

What is your policy? I know in this area most daycares have this policy.

For tornadoes, I follow the school. If school gets out, I immediately call the parents to pick up. I implemented this into my policy a couple years ago....Most parents were OK with it....

[daycarediva]

SOE or road closings. If our main road in town closes, or if the thruway closes (most of my parents take this to get to work).

The new superintendent is not from this state, so (IMHO) she closes too much. We had TWO snow days already this year. The first day, should have been a delay, the roads were cleared and salted by 9. The second day? The roads were clear and salted before 7.

Our last superintendent was from NS. We NEVER has a snow day under him. One hour delays only. ::

[Annalee]

I don't close for snow, but have for ice before due to no electricity.

[MissAnn]

I don't close for snow, but have for ice before due to no electricity.

I close for ice for sure. Too many close calls. One mom did not come get her child after I texted all parents and told them cars were sliding off the road attached to our subdivision. Also cars were already parked at the bottom of our hill because it was too icy. Other times parents just couldn't get here in the morning. Also.....almost all my parents are teachers and will have the day off. I've had some bring them here anyway.

[Jupadia]

I'm lucky so far it's never come up. I have in my contract that I close I'd there is no power and heat for more then 2 hours. But I've never lost power for that long since where right beside a hospital if we loss it so do they so it gets fixed fast (may change since site is now a not a hospital but a hospital clinic.
I grew up in Alberta Canada where snow days are things from the movies. Schools are open as long as there is heat in the building. Now I'm in Ontario they do have snow days but they are few and far between. I have not closed for one yet cause I don't have any school aged kids.

[Blackcat31]

I don't have a policy and more than not am open BUT I would close if the city, county and/or state declares that travel is not advised or we have nay type of "abnormal" conditions.

We are used to snow, ice and arctic temps but sometimes it's not just worth venturing out.

I take the situation as a whole into account and would group text all parents and let them know I was closed.

I would obviously try to notify them as soon as possible but sometimes it just is what it is.

If I had a parent give me flack about it, I'd throw it right back at them that it was for THEIR safety and clearly something that was necessary since the parent didn't seem capable of making that decision on their own.

[Annalee]

I close for ice for sure. Too many close calls. One mom did not come get her child after I texted all parents and told them cars were sliding off the road attached to our subdivision. Also cars were already parked at the bottom of our hill because it was too icy. Other times parents just couldn't get here in the morning. Also.....almost all my parents are teachers and will have the day off. I've had some bring them here anyway.

The ones that got upset with my tornado closing were sitting home in a storm shelter but left their kids here?

[LysesKids]

I don't close for snow, but have for ice before due to no electricity.

ME TOO... I do have a tornado policy also and so far no complaints.

[Unregistered]

I dont have any policy on weathrer, because I dont travel for work. Its the parents discretion. But they still have to be on time for pick up and pay if their child does not come.

[childcaremom]

I stay open as I don't travel. However, if they are pulling emergency vehicles off the road and/or are closing major roads then I will close.

If the power is off I will stay open unless I can't keep food safe or the house warm. I would close if it were off for days (like during Hurricane season).

[TXhomedaycare]

I have it in my handbook that I follow the school districts inclement weather policy. I live in Texas so rain can cause issues not to mention ice. I also don't want kids sleeping over which is why I chose to follow the schools (and for safety but more for not wanting the kids to spend the night). The first year I was open we had real snow and in this part of Texas that is crazy. I closed early along with the school and thank goodness because it took a few parents about 4-5 hours to get here in traffic before the snow was even really bad.

[laundrymom]

If crap hits the fan I text parents and let them know we are alive. And sheltering in place. And ask them to pick up when it's safe. I also post to my personal and business page the same info. In true emergencies calls texts or FB messages might not go through. In aug I could read messages from FB but not respond. However I could update my status so that's how we communicated w not only parents but our own families as well. FB actually had a pop up that you clicked to state you were safe after the tornadoes hit. It helped tremendously because regular channels were so unpredictable.

If power is out I ask for pickup. Other than that, I dont parent them. I'm here. If they get stuck in my drive I lend them a shovel. If they get stuck on the road I recommend a friends tow service.

[Blackcat31]

I dont have any policy on weathrer, because I dont travel for work. Its the parents discretion. But they still have to be on time for pick up and pay if their child does not come.

I stay open as I don't travel. However, if they are pulling emergency vehicles off the road and/or are closing major roads then I will close.

If the power is off I will stay open unless I can't keep food safe or the house warm. I would close if it were off for days (like during Hurricane season).

If crap hits the fan I text parents and let them know we are alive. And sheltering in place. And ask them to pick up when it's safe. I also post to my personal and business page the same info. In true emergencies calls texts or FB messages might not go through. In aug I could read messages from FB but not respond. However I could update my status so that's how we communicated w not only parents but our own families as well. FB actually had a pop up that you clicked to state you were safe after the tornadoes hit. It helped tremendously because regular channels were so unpredictable.

If power is out I ask for pickup. Other than that, I dont parent them. I'm here. If they get stuck in my drive I lend them a shovel. If they get stuck on the road I recommend a friends tow service.

Not traveling to and from shouldn't influence your policies for emergency closures.

Many liability insurance policies do not provide coverage for times outside of your normal operating hours.

Licensing in my state recommends closing because you are not legally suppose to be caring for kids outside your licensed hours...even in emergency situations.

Also if the weather is bad enough that parents really shouldn't be traveling also means emergency vehicles can't get to you either.

I know not all states have those rules and suggestions etc but my point is, check with licensing and with your insurance and/or home owners to be sure that keeping kids in situations like this is okay and covered.

[Unregistered]

I close

I close for winter weather if the schools close. I do not want to feel guilty if I were open and a parent got in a wreck on the way to daycare. If it's bad enough for school age children it's bad enough for little children too! I post my closing on fb and our location stations. If you are open they will come! I will not let them put little lives in danger to get here so I close if the schools close.