Daycare Pick Up Question

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

So now that we finally have nice weather and the kids are outside playing while waiting for the parents, I cannot hear my doorbell! How many of you would be comfortable letting the parents walk through the house to the back yard or should I put up a little sign that says we are in the back yard, please come around to the back. My hubby is not so comfortable with people just letting themselves in and walking through the house. It's his house too so i have to respect how he feels too.:confused:. I had one guy last year who i had never met pick up a DCB ( he was a friend of DCM) He never knocked or rang, just walked right in and allmost got his a@@ chewd by my dog and beat up by my hubby. Opinions PLZ!

[JenNJ]

Is there no way to access the yard from outside? Gate? I text my clients and tell them we will be outside and to pick up at the back gate. Or I leave a note on the locked front door that we are in the yard and to walk to the gate.

[Pammie]

When the weather is nice here, I *always* do pickups in the backyard. I put a little magnet on my front door that says "we're around back" with a little arrow directing dcps to the side of my house with the gate to the backyard. My front door is ALWAYS kept locked - for security - no one ever has the ability to "let themselves in".

The kids all carry their bags/belongings outside in the afternoons and hang them on the fence for pick-up time. No reason for any dcp to be in the house on nice weather afternoons

[wdmmom]

If we are in an area where we can't hear the doorbell, I post a sign on the front door and ask them to text that they are here.

My kids leave at certain times throughout the afternoon so I usually know when to have the child ready to go.

They know if they are going to be early, just to call.

[SandeeAR]

My door is always locked too. I have a sign I hang up, with an arrow pointing to the gate side of the yard. Simply says, We are in the backyard.

I can see from the patio door thru to the front window, but don't always see parents drive up. I take their belongings out and place them on the patio. They sign out there.

As it gets close to pick up time, I take them one at a time inside to change diapers. Mine are all littles.

I am friends with all my parents, but I still wouldn't leave my door unlocked with me in the backyard. It is simply a safety issue.

[Meyou]

I put up a sign and they pick up in the backyard. We take everything outside with us so no parent needs to go back in.

[WImom]

I have a sign too that I put up. I have one for nap too so noone rings the bell.

I used a piece of circle velcro and hung it above my doorbell and then laminated signs that have the other piece of velcro to stick to it. It's been almost year and they are holding strong (I figured it wouldn't make it through winter).

[daycare]

I also hang a sign that says to call or text when arrived. During the summer time they know we will always be out back so they just get into the habit of calling me when they are about to reach my house. I will go open my side gate and have my sign out sheet on a clip board!

the group that I have now I would not care if they walked through my house, but I have had a few people in the past taht I would have never allowed to walk alone through my house. To keep it fair, I just keep the routine above.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

Thats what i thought!!! I do have access to my backyard around the side of the house, so up goes the sign!!!

thanks all!!!