Parents Observing Before Enrolling...

[MsMe]

Likewise! Thanks for explaining your side of things!

My parents know I interact with their children by talking to their children... they don't need to see it. At pick up when it's "What did you do today?" my two older children are STILL talking about their day after the long car ride home! ::
The parents know I interact with the littles because here is where they learn to walk and often speak their first words, where they learn where their toes and bellybutton are, where they learn all the beginning basics.
The kids run in the door in the morning and are super happy at the end of the day - that's all my parents need to see to know that I am very involved

The reason I do help with shoes and coats is because it gives me a chance to catch mom/dad up about any information they may need to know without wasting anyone's time. My parents are tired at the end of the day (and know I am too) and want to get home to start supper and relaxing! Killing two birds with one stone is how we roll!

The last hour of the day (4:30-5:30) is stress-free here... we start supper, start tidying, etc - just wondering what you meant by "too much going on"?
TIA!

it just occured to me that we should compair the size of our programs. I am "C" provider (2 adults up to 14 children) I have a ranch style home where the whole first floor is dedicated to the daycare only. That is a lot of space and kids to let do free play and be able to have a good talk with the parents. Each parent stays for a min of 5-20 minutes each night.

Addressing another post I don't currently and never have had a parent I am worried would let anythign 'slip' while they were here.

[MsMe]

I would NEVER trust a provider that didn't want me in their home and esp. if I was NEVER allowed into their play room. I encourage parents to spend as much time as possible in everypart of my daycare home.

[nannyde]

I would NEVER trust a provider that didn't want me in their home and esp. if I was NEVER allowed into their play room. I encourage parents to spend as much time as possible in everypart of my daycare home.

I woudn't trust a provider who didn't want me in their home or didn't want me to see their playroom. I agree with you on that.

The parents should see all of the child occupied areas in the house and should be allowed access into the house whenever their child is in the home. That's a given.

My parents see the play areas three times before enrolling and they are let in the door within seconds of hitting my driveway. I answer the door in less than thirty seconds 95 percent of the time. The only time they have to wait more than a few seconds is if I'm changing a kid or laying a kid down for a nap.

If the parent is particualarily interested in the playrooms and wants to spend time in the playrooms I would happily oblige them and offer it to them in the evening after I have closed or on the weekend. They are welcome to come spend hours in them if they want. I've never had anyone ask me to do that but I wouldn't have a problem doing that for them. They DO have a right to fully inspect a playroom and any child occupied room. I just haven't had someone feel as strongly about the playroom as you seem to be.

[Unregistered]

not allowing observing during daycare hours for prospective families is VERY different than not allowing the other things mentioned in this post. My home is open at all daycare hours for parents to drop in at any time. It is their right to call, email, text as much as they feel is needed. I can't promise to be available at each moment but I understand that they have a right to know what is going on with their child. They are welcome to come by and pickup at any time or do occasional surprise visits for their peace of mind. I have nothing to hide and each family gets a complete tour of my home and property. I do still have appropriate boundaries so the routine of the day is not distrupted on a constant basis and so that I and my family maintain our privacy outside of daycare hours. If a parent feels that constant supervision of me and my set up is necessarily after weeks or months of care (where I have proven it is no longer necessary) than perhaps this isn't the situation for them. A nanny or other scenario where they have a lot of control and capability to micromanage would best suit their needs. I completely understand where some of you are coming from but we all have to draw a line in protecting ourselves, our home and our current family regardless of what other clients may want. It again goes to that everlasting issue of group dynamics that we all face. We have to make decisions based on what is best for the group and that isn't always what is easiest or more convenient for a particular family. On a side note, I don't let parents come in and hang out for long periods on pickup time because normally it is my own two kids that are trying to go home with them and getting upset that the kids are leaving. I also find that the DC kids struggle with behavior as parents come in and generally, do nothing when their kid acts up but will get offended should I say something. For us, its a tough time and not a great time to do more than touch base quickly.

[cheerfuldom]

not allowing observing during daycare hours for prospective families is VERY different than not allowing the other things mentioned in this post. My home is open at all daycare hours for parents to drop in at any time. It is their right to call, email, text as much as they feel is needed. I can't promise to be available at each moment but I understand that they have a right to know what is going on with their child. They are welcome to come by and pickup at any time or do occasional surprise visits for their peace of mind. I have nothing to hide and each family gets a complete tour of my home and property. I do still have appropriate boundaries so the routine of the day is not distrupted on a constant basis and so that I and my family maintain our privacy outside of daycare hours. If a parent feels that constant supervision of me and my set up is necessarily after weeks or months of care (where I have proven it is no longer necessary) than perhaps this isn't the situation for them. A nanny or other scenario where they have a lot of control and capability to micromanage would best suit their needs. I completely understand where some of you are coming from but we all have to draw a line in protecting ourselves, our home and our current family regardless of what other clients may want. It again goes to that everlasting issue of group dynamics that we all face. We have to make decisions based on what is best for the group and that isn't always what is easiest or more convenient for a particular family. On a side note, I don't let parents come in and hang out for long periods on pickup time because normally it is my own two kids that are trying to go home with them and getting upset that the kids are leaving. I also find that the DC kids struggle with behavior as parents come in and generally, do nothing when their kid acts up but will get offended should I say something. For us, its a tough time and not a great time to do more than touch base quickly.

[JenNJ]

I agree cheerful. I am like nannyde. I offer full access to their child at any time but that doesn't mean they can stay in the playroom for hours. It means, "here is your kid. Have a great day. Bye bye." They can inspect the child care areas after hours. No access to the rest of my home ever. No exceptions.

[MsMe]

I also do not even understand the point of "observation visits"... what could it possibly prove?

I have seen women tending to children in public or with company around that act COMPETELY different behind closed doors... even if a provider was lying through her teeth about herself and her program, you'd probably never know during one of these scheduled observations, right? She'd be on her best behavior, no?

One thing I do absolutely welcome is "suprise visits/check ins" from parents (in my open door policy). Come on in and check up on how things are going (this is MUCH MORE indicitive of a trustworthy provider, IMO)... just be willing to take little Johnny home with you after you're done "checking in" ::

There is much a parent could observe durign a visit. When I have an interview we follow the same routine that we do everyday. Storytime, group activity, rest room break, and free play. If the kids don't know body basics, the wellcome soem(and for us the PofA) then you can tell the provider doesnt really do it each day and may be "on her best behavior" if the children don't seem to know the routines, transitions, and scheduale of activities then it is a big indicator that this is not what a normal day it like for them. Children do tend to show off a little when a visiter comes but it has never been anything beyond a few extra questions and some show and tell. Each family in my program did an observation visit before they started and are all informed when another with be happening.

I should also mention that I do 1-2 interviews each YEAR. I only replace children going to Kinder or the very rare and very sad move away. I interview on my own no less then 5 families for each spot. I am very blessed to live in an area where all of my families are professionals and daycare is still very much needed. 95% of my families work at the two local corperations and all either previously knew eachother (and in most cases refered) or have become close since starting my program. The women have formed a Bunco group and the men golf together. I personaly do not participate in activites with parents outside of daycare hours (that si my line) but I love that they have become and my daycare kids spend lots of time together outside of daycre.

I think maybe we live in very different places. Everyone has to do what works best for them.

[countrymom]

well, first, I haven't ever been asked to "observe" I'm not sure what parents want to observe. Is it me or is it the children. Frankly I think its the children.

I started doing interviews during the day so parents can see the kids play and because i was so tired of all the no shows that would disrupt my evenings. What I have found is, the ones that don't sign on is because they don't like the kids that are here, nothing to do with me or that I have too many things and the kids don't want to go home (yup I've had people acually do this)

I find that the minute I meet the parents I know whether or not they will work. Like look at the last interview, The dad was so stuck on how will his child nap it became annoying. I knew the minute they walked thru the door they weren't going to sign on. Not only where the kids crazy because a new kid was here but the parents were helping their ds and my children didn't like that there was other adults there.

Its like school, we as parents don't go in and sit and observe a whole days worth of teaching, we have to trust our instincts whether its going to work or not.

I'm now not going to allow interviews during the day because its not working either. Kids just don't like a stranger sitting there watching their every moves.

[Meeko]

Because, there is absolutely no reason for a parent to come into the daycare room. Their children's coats, shoes, cubbies and any paperwork that needs to be seen/go home is in the entrance. Their welcome to use the washroom, as that is in the entrance way as well, are welcome to grab some water, a tissue, whatever from the kicthen - but they're not coming into the playroom while other children are there... there is no reason for it. That's just how it is here, and all my parents are totally fine with that... I've never even had a parent attempt to enter the playroom.

In an earlier post I explained how we found out that an "observing" dad was a registered sex offender (rape of a child). His offense was in another state and he had been let out of prison due to good behavior and "therapy" (yeah...right)

You don't know who is in your home, or who is letting kids climb on their lap etc......no matter how nice they seem. The safety of the kids in my care is my utmost concern and NOBODY spends time in the playroom other than myself and my helper. The parents of our current children LIKE the idea that their kids are not around other adults. If I had parents in the same room, I would have to spend my time keeping an eye on them instead of the kids.

Take it from me, I learned the hard way how dangerous it can be to have other adults in the same room as the kids. The kids in my care were interviewed by the state after we discovered that the "dad" was abusing his own daughter and was also spending a lot of time at the day care. (He's in prison now) They didn't find anything, but it scared me half to death to think that I LET this man into my playroom. He was a registered offender (his poor wife didn't know) but there are many predators out there who just haven't been caught yet and appear to be the nicest people on earth. By the way....I now run every interview prospect and every enrolled parent through the sex offenders list and through the arrest check. (I do it every few months) It made me sad that I have found more than one on the sex offenders list and several who have been up on drug charges etc. People that you would never suspect just by looking at them.

I have sadly become very cynical as to people's true intentions and I take great care to protect my kids in care.

The parents can of course stick their head around the door to see "the new toy" or "the new bookshelf" etc.....but they cannot stay.

[nannyde]

There is much a parent could observe durign a visit. When I have an interview we follow the same routine that we do everyday. Storytime, group activity, rest room break, and free play. If the kids don't know body basics, the wellcome soem(and for us the PofA) then you can tell the provider doesnt really do it each day and may be "on her best behavior" if the children don't seem to know the routines, transitions, and scheduale of activities then it is a big indicator that this is not what a normal day it like for them. Children do tend to show off a little when a visiter comes but it has never been anything beyond a few extra questions and some show and tell. Each family in my program did an observation visit before they started and are all informed when another with be happening.

I should also mention that I do 1-2 interviews each YEAR. I only replace children going to Kinder or the very rare and very sad move away. I interview on my own no less then 5 families for each spot. I am very blessed to live in an area where all of my families are professionals and daycare is still very much needed. 95% of my families work at the two local corperations and all either previously knew eachother (and in most cases refered) or have become close since starting my program. The women have formed a Bunco group and the men golf together. I personaly do not participate in activites with parents outside of daycare hours (that si my line) but I love that they have become and my daycare kids spend lots of time together outside of daycre.

I think maybe we live in very different places. Everyone has to do what works best for them.

I think I get it.

You do an educational "program"... DAP kind of program. I could definitely see parents who are paying for that wanting to come and observe your story time, group activities, behavioral learning like body basices etc.

There are a lot of us on here who do care based services: exercise, food, free play supervision, etc. not an educational program like yours.

I think that's a different client base and I don't blame them a bit for wanting to observe your teaching.

[daycare]

I decided that I am going to allow for a parent to observe my program ( I also teach) with the following information prior to the visit:
1. I get a copy of their State ID or DL
2. They fill out a form with all of their personal information, including full name, address, phone, employer, name of significant other and reason they want to visit the program.
3.The visit will not be more than 30 minutes (per licensing) unless they have all necessary clearance that is required by state…(which I know they won’t)


I will only do it on a day that my husband is here so that if I have to go to the bathroom or leave the room for any reason, he will be with the kids.

[Checkinkids.com]

At my wife's daycare - occasionally new clients want to visit before signing up ad she lets them. But instead of letting them just hang out in the play room, she kind of takes them on a tour and then back towards the front door. Some of the kids do act up when a new adult is around, but she doesn't let them just hang around for a long time. Also for some of the older kids - taking a minute to explain to them who this person is and why it is important to be on best behavior helps(not always, but sometimes).

[nannyde]

At my wife's daycare - occasionally new clients want to visit before signing up ad she lets them. But instead of letting them just hang out in the play room, she kind of takes them on a tour and then back towards the front door. Some of the kids do act up when a new adult is around, but she doesn't let them just hang around for a long time. Also for some of the older kids - taking a minute to explain to them who this person is and why it is important to be on best behavior helps(not always, but sometimes).

I think most of us do that during the interview process.

Would your wife allow the parents to come and hang out for a few hours for the first few days IN your play room with the kids?

[SimpleMom]

Yes, I allow it. I let parents know that my attention will be on the children. I pick a time that works best with the group and make sure I have extra activities set up for back-up in case, well, when they begin acting out It can be a little more work, but it doesn't bother me.