Outside Drop-Offs and Face Covering for Kids (and You)

[Cat Herder]

NYS provider here. Cuomo is RIDICULOUS. All upstaters hate him.

Interesting. That is how everyone here feels about his little brother "Fredo" (Chris). ::::::

[Snowmom]

Interesting. That is how everyone here feels about his little brother "Fredo" (Chris). ::::::

Yea, northern states hate him too.
::

Both of them actually.

[dolores]

He is easy on the eyes though, at least for me and mom::

[Sunshine69]

NYS provider here. Cuomo is RIDICULOUS. All upstaters hate him.

We are doing drop off and pick ups outside on the porch. Temp checks, hand washing (I am cleaning the temporal thermometer and washing hands in between each child). Having child immediately wash hands. Sanitize bathroom between uses.

Also doing weekly sanitizing DAILY.

I REFUSE to wear a mask all day. My daycare kids aren't required to as they aren't in public (but I am??)

Ugh! I hear you. It makes absolutely no sense at all. Childcare providers need to wear a mask all day but the kids can share their germs all over my home and family. I feel so appreciated as an “essential worker” NOT!

I don’t understand the logic behind the recommendation of changing gloves between no-touch temperature taking. These kids are touching each other all day long. Seems like a ridiculous waste of money and supplies for gloves. I already have to use two pair just to change a diaper, according to state regs.

At the market rates set by NY, paid in my county, I can’t afford the extra expenses of the gloves and masks at the current gouged prices.

It’s no wonder there’s such a “shortage” of child care providers. I’ve had six different licensors since 2016. Even they can’t stand the job while getting government benefits 😂

[CeriBear]

I work at a large center and only children and staff are allowed to enter the building. We have staff stationed at the entrance in the morning to accept drop offs. Each child has a temp check and the staff member escorts the child to his/her classroom. In the afternoon the office let’s each classroom know when a child’s parent arrives for pickup and the classroom assistant will walk the child to the lobby. This is hard because teachers can no longer communicate face to face with the parent unless the class happens to be outside on the playground.

We don’t have to wear masks but we can if we want to. I chose not to wear one but the teacher in the room next door does because her husband is considered high risk.

My hands are raw and chapped due to all the hand washing and sanitizing I must do. We have to sanitize toys at the end of the day and I can’t pass this task on to my assistant anymore because the sanitizing solution made her break out in a rash earlier in the year. We constantly sanitize things like sinks and bathroom fixtures throughout the day.

Now we have to check temps after nap as well. We use a no touch thermometer so it makes it go quicker than when we used the under arm or forehead touch one.

It’s impossible to completely social distance with 3-4 year olds. Yes, they want to sit on my lap. Yes, they want to hug me and each other. Yes, they sit close together during storytime.

Things are different in my class but overall I think the kids have coped very well.

[Snowmom]

I'm getting so burnt out on this drop off/pick up procedure.

I do wear a mask for those times, but not inside with the kids. I have two washable masks and I end up those every day (hate laundry).
The thermal temp we got a "deal" on from Target is a joke. Every temp I take with that thing is 93-95 degrees. No matter what angle or how close I take it. My tympanic one is great but the covers are EXPENSIVE for how many I would dispose in a day.

Sanitizing the playroom and outdoor space 2-3 times a day is exhausting and expensive.

95% of the families I have attending do not work the full day while their kids are here. Normally I don't care but using extra supplies, that are scarce to find now... it's ticking me off.
I told them all I am going to charge a surcharge for families using full days here. I'm thinking $20/week to cover the extra soap, towels, Tide, Clorox, Lysol... ahhhhh so much disinfectant.

[dolores]

Ugh! I hear you. It makes absolutely no sense at all. Childcare providers need to wear a mask all day but the kids can share their germs all over my home and family. I feel so appreciated as an “essential worker” NOT!

I don’t understand the logic behind the recommendation of changing gloves between no-touch temperature taking. These kids are touching each other all day long. Seems like a ridiculous waste of money and supplies for gloves. I already have to use two pair just to change a diaper, according to state regs.

At the market rates set by NY, paid in my county, I can’t afford the extra expenses of the gloves and masks at the current gouged prices.

It’s no wonder there’s such a “shortage” of child care providers. I’ve had six different licensors since 2016. Even they can’t stand the job while getting government benefits 😂

You're right. A lot of it makes no sense. If only the people who are making these rules can spend a day in the life of a provider they'll see the rules aren't helpful at all.
Did you apply for the CARES Materials Grant Application for Licensed Child Care Providers?

[dolores]

I'm getting so burnt out on this drop off/pick up procedure.

I do wear a mask for those times, but not inside with the kids. I have two washable masks and I end up those every day (hate laundry).
The thermal temp we got a "deal" on from Target is a joke. Every temp I take with that thing is 93-95 degrees. No matter what angle or how close I take it. My tympanic one is great but the covers are EXPENSIVE for how many I would dispose in a day.

Sanitizing the playroom and outdoor space 2-3 times a day is exhausting and expensive.

95% of the families I have attending do not work the full day while their kids are here. Normally I don't care but using extra supplies, that are scarce to find now... it's ticking me off.
I told them all I am going to charge a surcharge for families using full days here. I'm thinking $20/week to cover the extra soap, towels, Tide, Clorox, Lysol... ahhhhh so much disinfectant.

Cleaning expenses have definitely gone up ! Passing the cost on makes sense . We ask parents to donate papertowels (never have enough) every month and a bottle of handwashing soap every 3 months and they are usually happy to help, espescially those who go on costco runs. I know of some providers who include it in their contract/parent handbook. We plan to ask for cleaning supplies donations when we reopen.

[LK5kids]

I’ll be doing drop off on my porch, temp, wash hands and it’s a no way in regard to masks for me and the kids when I open.

Iowa is requiring I wash blankets every night. Nothing allowed back and forth from home.

[Cat Herder]

I’ll be doing drop off on my porch, temp, wash hands and it’s a no way in regard to masks for me and the kids when I open.

Iowa is requiring I wash blankets every night. Nothing allowed back and forth from home.

This is how I have always run. I started with medically fragile so it was how I minimized the risk of kids getting sick. It is so much easier to manage if you supply everything yourself, one load of laundry after nap for a fresh start the next day. Once you get used to it you may find you prefer it.

[Sunshine69]

You're right. A lot of it makes no sense. If only the people who are making these rules can spend a day in the life of a provider they'll see the rules aren't helpful at all.
Did you apply for the CARES Materials Grant Application for Licensed Child Care Providers?

Yes I did. My local child care referral agency is in charge of administering the grant for the daycares in my area. They went over the list of supplies that are available with the grant with me a couple of weeks ago. I wonder where they are getting some of the supplies on that list. I haven’t been contacted to arrange receipt of those supplies yet though.