Just How Un-Involved Are Parents.....?

[janell999]

As a parent to 4 kids who routinely bring home crafts from school and sunday school.. I will say, I hate all the paper waste. These things get left in the car and trampled on, they get shoved in the bottom of a drawer when the child says they want to keep it forever etc. I keep the special ones, but honestly all that paper waste just gets dumped in the recycle bin.

As a daycare provider who does crafts with my kids in my care, I always give the parent the option to keep it, or hang it up here on the bulletin board for a time(then get put in the recycle bin). Most of the time the parent does not want the paper, unless it's something special.

So don't get offended, it's just too much clutter laying around. let the kids paint and color and craft, but don't force the perfect pinterest crafts. it's not worth the time.

[AmyKidsCo]

I offered discounts to anyone who emailed or texted me a code word. Nothing. I no longer do daily sheets. Nobody asked why.

I switched to an app, which takes much less time that I don't care if some parents never check it.

[Cat Herder]

I switched to an app, which takes much less time that I don't care if some parents never check it.

My state is pushing communication apps hard, but I just have no interest in creating any more work for myself. I verbally tell them what they need to know while still holding their child's hand. It has been much more effective. Captive audience. ::

[Ariana]

Back when I did daily activity logs to go home with DCKs I started making smart alec notes in the logs. Things like "Signed kids up for SEAL training but they were mad they didn't get to become real seals!" No one commented. I once did this for a week with 5 kids with zero responses. Daily logs didn't last long after that.

Same here! I didn’t write anything funny but wrote notes that needed a response and got nothing. I even placed the log at the bottom of the bag where it stayed for an entire week. I stopped cold turkey and no one said a word!!

All the ECE workshops I see are focused on parent communication and inclusivity. Sorry but there is only so much we can do to include parents in our programs.

[happymom]

As a parent to 4 kids who routinely bring home crafts from school and sunday school.. I will say, I hate all the paper waste. These things get left in the car and trampled on, they get shoved in the bottom of a drawer when the child says they want to keep it forever etc. I keep the special ones, but honestly all that paper waste just gets dumped in the recycle bin.

As a daycare provider who does crafts with my kids in my care, I always give the parent the option to keep it, or hang it up here on the bulletin board for a time(then get put in the recycle bin). Most of the time the parent does not want the paper, unless it's something special.

So don't get offended, it's just too much clutter laying around. let the kids paint and color and craft, but don't force the perfect pinterest crafts. it's not worth the time.

Couldn't have said it better myself. It's a WONDERFUL opportunity for our children to use fine motor skills, my kid is always glowing when he shows me his projects. I ask him questions, and that's the end of their life, for the most part.

Googly eyes fall off before we even get home =) everything gets recycled soon after.

[Baby Beluga]

As a parent to 4 kids who routinely bring home crafts from school and sunday school.. I will say, I hate all the paper waste. These things get left in the car and trampled on, they get shoved in the bottom of a drawer when the child says they want to keep it forever etc. I keep the special ones, but honestly all that paper waste just gets dumped in the recycle bin.

As a daycare provider who does crafts with my kids in my care, I always give the parent the option to keep it, or hang it up here on the bulletin board for a time(then get put in the recycle bin). Most of the time the parent does not want the paper, unless it's something special.

So don't get offended, it's just too much clutter laying around. let the kids paint and color and craft, but don't force the perfect pinterest crafts. it's not worth the time.

My daughter brings home paper all.the.time from school and often it ends up in the recycling the same evening. She has a binder where she is able to keep things that are important to her, and when that is full, we go through it again. I just can't do the excess paper.

My DCK's do participate in art/crafts daily, and I fully expect parents to toss or recycle it the same evening. It doesn't bother me one bit. I continue to do it because the DCK's light up at pick up time when they get to show their parents what they did. They are proud of themselves. As long as the child is proud, even if it's only for a brief moment, that is what matters to me.

[Josiegirl]

I offered discounts to anyone who emailed or texted me a code word. Nothing. I no longer do daily sheets. Nobody asked why.

I've had those parents, daily notes accumulating in their bags until the next week and I've had those that read every single word I wrote in their daily notes. I absolutely adored those parents and put the extra effort into maintaining the notes. Still makes me smile when I see the memory of dcm reading the notes right at pick up.

[Unregistered]

As a parent to 4 kids who routinely bring home crafts from school and sunday school.. I will say, I hate all the paper waste. These things get left in the car and trampled on, they get shoved in the bottom of a drawer when the child says they want to keep it forever etc. I keep the special ones, but honestly all that paper waste just gets dumped in the recycle bin.

As a daycare provider who does crafts with my kids in my care, I always give the parent the option to keep it, or hang it up here on the bulletin board for a time(then get put in the recycle bin). Most of the time the parent does not want the paper, unless it's something special.

So don't get offended, it's just too much clutter laying around. let the kids paint and color and craft, but don't force the perfect pinterest crafts. it's not worth the time.

+100
I don't do art for parents. We do it for kids. During daycare age, the art process is more important than the result. So, I don't expect that parents will accept each kid's art work as a priceless treasure.

[janell999]

+100
I don't do art for parents. We do it for kids. During daycare age, the art process is more important than the result. So, I don't expect that parents will accept each kid's art work as a priceless treasure.

Yes. 100% yes. The process is more important than the result!

[Unregistered]

To be fair, though a lot of crafts are too cookie cutter. Maybe it's because I teach my kids to be independent. If something goes home, it's 100% made by a kid. I would throw most of the crafts you guys make out. It's obvious an adult made it. Just because the child colored it or added glue/glitter, you still made it. Parents don't want that.

[Cat Herder]

To be fair, though a lot of crafts are too cookie cutter. Maybe it's because I teach my kids to be independent. If something goes home, it's 100% made by a kid. I would throw most of the crafts you guys make out. It's obvious an adult made it. Just because the child colored it or added glue/glitter, you still made it. Parents don't want that.

And of course, you are speaking for yourself. Many parents/grandparents want heirloom crafts for baby books. Traditions. Different cultures have different views. Surely you have not forgotten that?

[janell999]

And of course, you are speaking for yourself. Many parents/grandparents want heirloom crafts for baby books. Traditions. Different cultures have different views. Surely you have not forgotten that?

I don't think grandparents would want crafts that are made my their teachers. You can definitely tell when a 3 year old "creates" something and when a teacher makes them do a "craft". I would think most parents would want an authentic piece of art over an obviously teacher made craft.