Locking Door Dilemma

[Josiegirl]

Awhile back 2 of my 3 yos opened the front door to let someone in. We were expecting the library reader but this wasn't her. I was right around the corner making lunch. So right away I installed a chain guard out of reach of the little kids. New regs. say in case of emergency doors can't be locked in a way to prevent getting out. So what do I need to do to comply with this? My door locks from the inside doorknob and all we have to do is turn the knob and we can get out but it stays locked on the outside(which was the original problem with them opening the door).
So if something happened to me in an emergency and I couldn't get to the door.....???
Any advice is appreciated!!

[childcaremom]

Can you gate off the area to the door so the dcks can't go to it?

Are their special doorknobs that would unlock automatically if turned from the inside?

[Pestle]

My day care area is gated off but I've had three kids, all aged three, bust open/knock down/scale the gate, run to the door, and *try* to fling it open, only to be stopped by the chain lock. If this rule ends up applied to TN, I'll have to call for immediate pick up and discuss termination if any of my kids make a run for it. But honestly, it's the kids who smash up my house and try to make a run for it, all alone in an unfamiliar neighborhood, who I'd be okay with not working with any more. Those are the ones whose executive function/ability to think ahead is seriously lagging behind their motor skills.

Except. . . one of those three was actually mine.

[MissAnn]

Awhile back 2 of my 3 yos opened the front door to let someone in. We were expecting the library reader but this wasn't her. I was right around the corner making lunch. So right away I installed a chain guard out of reach of the little kids. New regs. say in case of emergency doors can't be locked in a way to prevent getting out. So what do I need to do to comply with this? My door locks from the inside doorknob and all we have to do is turn the knob and we can get out but it stays locked on the outside(which was the original problem with them opening the door).
So if something happened to me in an emergency and I couldn't get to the door.....???
Any advice is appreciated!!

Same thing here. I had to buy 2 new doorknobs. I have an alarm over my door so when it opens I hear an alarm. I've never had a kid open the door EXCEPT when their parent is here....and I get on to them royally! YOU are NOT to touch the doorknob! Only grownups!

[Sumshine]

I would suggest what PP is saying with the door alarms. Not only will the sound startle the kiddos but it will immediately alert you to what they are up to should they creep away while you're doing dishes or see someone and try to let them in!

You don't have to have a full-on security system. Walmart sells the 3 pack of door alarms for around $40 if I recall correctly

I also agree make it very well known that kids are not to touch the door! I have a DCB who likes to open the door and try to walk out while mom is getting his brother geared up to go home. Mom lets him totally run the show and just giggles and says "Wait up!" If I happen to be near the entryway at the time I will scold him and tell him that he's not to touch the door and to get back inside until they're all ready to leave! Drives me nuts but I'm usually downstairs with the others when they gets picked up. This is the same mom who lets the 1.5 yo younget brother open my Gates and run upstairs to my non daycare area! All the lights are off and he comes back quick but it's still annoying. I don't allow any of the kids to touch doors or gates and this is why!

[Baby Beluga]

I have those alarms on all of my doors - they are great There is a chime sound and an alarm sound.

I also have a rug near the front door. NO ONE is to go on this rug unless they are with me or a parent. It has helped to set boundaries.

[Pestle]

How do you deal with pick ups while infants are sleeping? Won't that wake them up?

My problem hasn't been not realizing the kids were on the loose--it's been the same kids who break free and tear off during pick up. It's the issue of "I may never catch you once you're outside and now the kids in the house are unattended."

Moat?

[Blackcat31]

From day one, kids are taught that NO ONE touches a door knob except adults. Ever.

Consistent firm redirection and a consequence if necessary but NO ONE under voting age touches my door knobs.

I have parents reaffirm this rule at pick up and drop off and if they don't.....I have a stern talking with them as it is a safety rule and no one breaks my safety rules without some sort of consequence.

[sharlan]

From day one, kids are taught that NO ONE touches a door knob except adults. Ever.

Consistent firm redirection and a consequence if necessary but NO ONE under voting age touches my door knobs.

I have parents reaffirm this rule at pick up and drop off and if they don't.....I have a stern talking with them as it is a safety rule and no one breaks my safety rules without some sort of consequence.

I am with BC. From day one parents and children are taught that NO ONE is allowed to touch the door knob unless they are an adult. I will stop a parent very quickly that tells a child to open the door.

Even my 7 yos wait for me to open the door before we leave for school or a parent picks up.

[Baby Beluga]

How do you deal with pick ups while infants are sleeping? Won't that wake them up?

My problem hasn't been not realizing the kids were on the loose--it's been the same kids who break free and tear off during pick up. It's the issue of "I may never catch you once you're outside and now the kids in the house are unattended."

Moat?

I don't take infants (but will have my own soon so we'll see how the chimes effect his sleeping) but I will say I have opened the classroom door for a delivery person during nap time before and the children don't stir. I think it's a combination of the chimes being an everyday sound for them, the sound machine I play while sleeping, and I am not quiet during nap anyway. My littles are so used to noise I have actually vacuumed the room before and no one has woken up

[Josiegirl]

These door alarms....can you turn them off when not needed?

I have failed as a dcprovider. :confused: Some of my dcks race to the door to see who can be first. I'm going to need to deprogram and reteach this whole thing. And we know how easy that will be.
There's really no way I can block off the front door.

[Baby Beluga]

These door alarms....can you turn them off when not needed?

I have failed as a dcprovider. :confused: Some of my dcks race to the door to see who can be first. I'm going to need to deprogram and reteach this whole thing. And we know how easy that will be.
There's really no way I can block off the front door.

Yes, absolutely.

These are the ones I have. One part sticks to the door frame and one part sticks to the actual door. There is a slide button where you can set it to "chime" "alarm" or "off." Really they could be placed on any doors. Exterior or interior.

I have them on my front door, patio door and laundry room door leading into the garage.

Would a rug in front of the door work? Or maybe a simple piece of tape and teach them to not cross the line?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/GE-45115-Wireless-Window-Alarms-2pk/16561504

[Mom2Two]

I'm starting to wonder if I'm remembering our regs right: I'm pretty sure that we're supposed to keep our doors locked. And I think we're more in danger of who might enter that from us getting out.

But I do have child knobs on my doors, but darn those four and five year olds--they do seem to learn how to work past them.

[daycare]

From day one, kids are taught that NO ONE touches a door knob except adults. Ever.

Consistent firm redirection and a consequence if necessary but NO ONE under voting age touches my door knobs.

I have parents reaffirm this rule at pick up and drop off and if they don't.....I have a stern talking with them as it is a safety rule and no one breaks my safety rules without some sort of consequence.

Ditto,. I have a large license in CA. Our fire marshal in my county requires that the door is always UNlocked from the inside and has a door handle called an emergency egress lock. This means it can open no matter if a child pushes the handle up or down. the door MUST remain unlocked at all times during my business hours.

I have one of those door alarms I bought for about $6.00 at home depot. It is always on as soon as the last kid arrives. Just like BC, all of my kids are taught NO touching the door, only teachers and adults.

HOWEVER, I do teach and make certain that the kids could open it in the event there was an emergency.

Also, we can not have any gates or any kind of items blocking the door ever. We can not even have pictures on the back of the door. The door must remain fully uncovered so that the children can quickly identify that is the door, that is the way out.

I have only ever had one kid open the door and when the alarm when off it scared him so bad I think he poop his pants. Yes, I know that it is not cool or funny, but he never did it again.

I live on a pretty busy street. I do have a note near the front door that says DO NOT LET ANY CHILD OPEN THIS DOOR.
I do explain this rule to the parents. Sadly, I have to teach them over and over sometimes. They will let their child open the door if they are there and another family has arrived. NO is always NO. NEVER ok, I don't care if God himself is standing right there, children are NOT allowed to open the door....

[Pandaluver21]

We teach that no kids are allowed to open the door, and give consequences if they do. We also have childproof doorknob covers.