Dirty Faces/Clothes During Interview.... HELP...

[DancingQueen]

Yesterday my 4 year old finished lunch and was sent into the bathroom to wash her hands and face and go to the bathroom (not in that order LOL).
I was rushing like mad to get all the kids cleaned and in the car.
she goes to PM preschool and it was time to go.
We got in the car, got to school and her teacher comes out to get her s so that I do not have to get all of the dck out of the car. it wasn't until I leaned over to kiss her that I realized she still had yogurt all over her face.

I said "your face is all dirty" She said "I forgot" I looked at the teacher and teacher laughed and said "She won't be the only one hahahahaha"

My point. Stuff happens. Even when your going someplace important. Especially when you have more than one kid and especially if you aren't a clean freak. My daughter is loved, happy, healthy and very well cared for but there are days we find ourselves someplace not looking sparkly clean.

She makes up for it with her good manners and her social skills. She wins everyone over.

I would never ever in a million years turn a family away for a dirty face and shirt.

[DBug]

I would be (probably the only one who would : hesitant to take them if the kids were as the OP described. In my experience, families that aren't as concerned with cleanliness and don't worry about messy faces & hands are also pretty laid back in other areas of life. And some of my best friends are like this, and I love them to bits. But for daycare, I keep a pretty tight schedule -- something that families that are laid back and easy-going have a harder time getting used to. They also may have more trouble getting used to my payment schedule, getting here on time for pick-up, calling in when sick, etc., etc.

I'm not saying that's true about every parent that's not concerned with messy faces. And I'm definitely not saying that it means they don't love and take care of their kids. They just do it in a way that doesn't necessarily jive well with the way I run my daycare.

I'd pass because of that, and also because of the "very part-time" schedule. JMO for what it's worth

[dEHmom]

I didn't read all the posts but I think more than likely kids ate right before getting there. Maybe mom didn't see right away, and didn't want to make a fuss. Were they otherwise clean?
I think you certainly should give them a shot unless there is other reasons not to.

[daycare]

I will say that making a first time impression is important and that this is the time to shine.

HOwever, when kids come into the picture it does make things hard.

Maybe the mom asked dad to wipe that faces and dad didn't or vice versa. maybe they thought out we have some wipes in the car we will do it in the car. Opps didnt have any. we have all been there.

I say you ask them to come over for a 2 hour get to know you play date and get a second opinion. If you still feel the same way about them, then move on to another family...

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

Could go either way....I am a clean nut and if I were going to a daycare interview, my kids would be clean and hair combed through. I have taken in kids that were not hygenically fit (dirty hands/fingernails, hair all a mess, old ratty clothes) and nothing wrong with the kids, usually in this case it's the parents. They tend to be lazy, show up late, don't want to pay on time, or just don't want to be bothered by their kids which is sad. Not saying all cases are like this, but it seems to be the trend.

To me it's plain lazy..hygiene says a lot about a person. When I had unkept kids in my care, I cringed at the dirty bags/dirty coats, dirty clothes ect. in my house, they smell dirty and it's gross. Kids will get dirty, but going to public places or an interview such as this my kids are clean AND happy! I have dressed my kids decent on a budget since they were born.

I would say it depends on the dregree of "dirty" Just a small stain or hair unkept, smelly clothes, dirty fingernails, ect. I don't understand those that live to the degree of dirty their bags/clothes smell. It's just gross to me and screams LAZY.

[Unregistered]

Could go either way....I am a clean nut and if I were going to a daycare interview, my kids would be clean and hair combed through. I have taken in kids that were not hygenically fit (dirty hands/fingernails, hair all a mess, old ratty clothes) and nothing wrong with the kids, usually in this case it's the parents. They tend to be lazy, show up late, don't want to pay on time, or just don't want to be bothered by their kids which is sad. Not saying all cases are like this, but it seems to be the trend.

To me it's plain lazy..hygiene says a lot about a person. When I had unkept kids in my care, I cringed at the dirty bags/dirty coats, dirty clothes ect. in my house, they smell dirty and it's gross. Kids will get dirty, but going to public places or an interview such as this my kids are clean AND happy! I have dressed my kids decent on a budget since they were born.

I would say it depends on the dregree of "dirty" Just a small stain or hair unkept, smelly clothes, dirty fingernails, ect. I don't understand those that live to the degree of dirty their bags/clothes smell. It's just gross to me and screams LAZY.

I AGREE 100%!!!! ALL of my sons clothes are from a second hand store we have here BUT all are CLEAN and taken care of. Dirt under fingernails is beyond gross to me and says a lot about how much time/effort you put into yourself/kids. I would worry about the late pick ups, late pmts, lax about policies stuff that you and a few other people mentioned!