How Many Sprinkler Days A Week?

[SunflowerMama]

So we're in TX so rarely have a day that's not in the triple digits.

The kids of course LOVE sprinkler days but it takes 30-45 mins just to get them dressed and sunscreened. And then getting them dressed takes another 30-45 mins. I know I should do it everyday b/c otherwise our outdoor time is so short because of the heat.

Just wondering how many times a week you do sprinklers or water play that involves getting them in swimsuits? I feel awful not doing it everyday but just dread the prep and cleanup...but I do love the post nap.

[dEHmom]

lots of times the kids just go out in a pair or shorts and a tshirt. they don't have to have bathing suits on. helps protect the skin too.

i always have a few extra shorts and t's for the little guys here, so I just change them before nap into a new outfit, let the other one dry, and send it home for a new one to come.

[KEG123]

I'd venture to say 2-3 days would be good.

[nannyde]

So we're in TX so rarely have a day that's not in the triple digits.

The kids of course LOVE sprinkler days but it takes 30-45 mins just to get them dressed and sunscreened. And then getting them dressed takes another 30-45 mins. I know I should do it everyday b/c otherwise our outdoor time is so short because of the heat.

Just wondering how many times a week you do sprinklers or water play that involves getting them in swimsuits? I feel awful not doing it everyday but just dread the prep and cleanup...but I do love the post nap.

We don't do water play.

The cost of getting eight kids undressed, sunscreened, dressed, and then undressed, dried, and redressed would be so high for me that I would have to raise rates.

[laundrymom]

We don't do water play.

The cost of getting eight kids undressed, sunscreened, dressed, and then undressed, dried, and redressed would be so high for me that I would have to raise rates.

Why would this cost you money? Would you need additional staff ?
Here it is factored into our days. We don't do sprinklers because I hate them. Lol. But we do water tables and squirt bottles.

[Blackcat31]

We don't do water play.

The cost of getting eight kids undressed, sunscreened, dressed, and then undressed, dried, and redressed would be so high for me that I would have to raise rates.

I get 10 kids undressed, sunscreened, dressed and set up for sprinkler play in less than 20 minutes. They play in the sprinkler for about 60 minutes and then we are dried off, undressed, redressed and have the sprinkler put away all with in another 20 minutes. Easy peasy.... But it might just be the particular group I have right now. Ask this same question next summer and I might totally have a different answer for you.

Some of my older kiddos will actually come with their swimsuits on under their clothing (and pre-sunscreened too!) in anticipation for a hot day.

Maybe you could schedule sprinkler days and have the older ones come prepared.

[Lucy]

We don't do water play.

The cost of getting eight kids undressed, sunscreened, dressed, and then undressed, dried, and redressed would be so high for me that I would have to raise rates.

How does it literally "cost" you money? Aren't you making the same income whether you are in the house, out of the house, on a hike, or the kids are napping? If you mean paying an extra helper to come, that's one thing, but if it's at a time when your helper is already there, how does changing close "cost money"? Literally speaking?

[CheekyChick]

So we're in TX so rarely have a day that's not in the triple digits.

The kids of course LOVE sprinkler days but it takes 30-45 mins just to get them dressed and sunscreened. And then getting them dressed takes another 30-45 mins. I know I should do it everyday b/c otherwise our outdoor time is so short because of the heat.

Just wondering how many times a week you do sprinklers or water play that involves getting them in swimsuits? I feel awful not doing it everyday but just dread the prep and cleanup...but I do love the post nap.

We do water play as often as the weather permits because the children LOVE it. Thankfully, I have an assistant to help get the children ready which is a huge process, as you know.

Just a thought... Why don't you ask your DP's (on really hot days) to bring their child to DC in their swimsuit with sunscreen on? They could even put on a sundress or shorts/t-shirt over the swimsuit. That would save you a ton of time.

[CheekyChick]

We don't do water play.

The cost of getting eight kids undressed, sunscreened, dressed, and then undressed, dried, and redressed would be so high for me that I would have to raise rates.

You would have to raise your rates if you let the children have water play? I'm not following you... :confused:

[nannyde]

You would have to raise your rates if you let the children have water play? I'm not following you... :confused:

The OP said "it takes 30-45 mins just to get them dressed and sunscreened. And then getting them dressed takes another 30-45 mins."

I have as many as eight kids and PAY someone to do this.

If I have her doing what sunflower is talking about then she doesn't get the other tasks done that I hire her to do. If she doesn't get them done I have to pay her for additional hours of work. That cost me money.

My staff assistant does laundry, cleans, sorts, inspects and cleans toys, peels and chops food, does receipts, does some keyboard work, etc. etc. for the business. She does these while the kids are UP and playing toys. If she takes an hour and a half to set up/tear down, dress kids etc. AND supervise water play she doesn't have TIME to get the things done that she does while they are up and free playing.

[wdmmom]

I did water play a few times last year but the kids hated it and the work it took to make it happen, it just wasn't worth it to me. If the kids would have enjoyed it, I would have considered making it happen more.

Too much dressing and undressing and the added work of taking out, putting back the pools and sprinkler, the cost of water, the time it took for the water to get up to temperature and the additional laundry necessary was just too much to make it happen all the time.

Not to mention the new insurance carrier I have doesn't allow pools...not even wading pools. Apparently the see the risk is too high.

[melskids]

we have water play everyday.

i have 8 kids

3 are SA, so they take care of themselves....

the other 5...take me less then 15 minutes to change and sunscreen

most of my kiddos come in clothes they can get wet in, or even already in suits.

we stay out long enough to dry off naturally. then when we come in, its diaper changes anyway, so i strip them and redress them then. only adds a few extra minutes...no biggie for me

[nannyde]

we have water play everyday.

i have 8 kids

3 are SA, so they take care of themselves....

the other 5...take me less then 15 minutes to change and sunscreen

most of my kiddos come in clothes they can get wet in, or even already in suits.

we stay out long enough to dry off naturally. then when we come in, its diaper changes anyway, so i strip them and redress them then. only adds a few extra minutes...no biggie for me

Well if I could find a Staff assistant that was quick like you then I would reconsider

Oh wait... that staff assistant would be more expensive. That won't work.

[Crystal]

So, your staff assistant is busy doing other stuff.....is there a reason you cannot do it?

[nannyde]

So, your staff assistant is busy doing other stuff.....is there a reason you cannot do it?

I don't want to.