How Many Sprinkler Days A Week?

[nannyde]

Your assistant is more like your personal assistant, rather than an assistant that works with the children? Why can't you ask the person who works "hands on" with the children at your center/home to do that task? It just wouldn't seem like summer if children weren't allowed to run through the sprinklers.

Well I could but she wouldn't be able to get the other parts of her job done at the same time.

I train my staff assistant to do BOTH direct physical care and supervision of the kids and the indirect care of the children (laundry, peeling/chopping/food program, sewing, sorting toys, cleaning toys, inspecting toys, rotating toys, cleaning the home etc.)


You said: It just wouldn't seem like summer if children weren't allowed to run through the sprinklers

I agree completely. They do these things with their parents. My kids have about five hours of AWAKE time per day with their parents. They have about four/five hours of summer sunlight when they get home from day care. The most I have a kid is a nine hour day. They are with their parents the rest of the time. They also have them on the weekends.

I agree that water play is a wonderful part of childhood and my kids get a ton of it with their parents.

[kidkair]

I fill buckets, cups, and other toys with water and let the kids play with water while outside. I rarely do the sprinkler and don't do a kiddie pool. The kids get plenty wet to stay cool with the water in the containers and yet dry off enough to come in for lunch. My house is usually the same temp inside as outside in the summer so there is little need to change anyone out of their wet clothes when coming in. I only change them if they are still dripping when we come in or if they complain. I like leaving them more covered up to limit the need for sunblock.

[Kaddidle Care]

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.

Well done Wonder Woman! I could never get all that done that quickly!

We have water days 2 x a week and the children come dressed in their suits with a bag with their play clothes in it. If we're lucky they have sunblock on too! Most of them can dress themselves when we come back in. We also take on one more staff person for these days to take care of set up and clean up.

[nannyde]

"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."


Wow. I guess dc centers have different rules. We aren't allowed to anything BUT watch children that are under our care. I'm sure our parents would have a fit if we were caught on the computer instead of minding their kids. If other jobs need to be done, then we must bring in another asst (or our Director) to cover. When it comes to doing the daily sanitizing of toys or rooms... we can't even do that in the same room the children are present. It's done at the end of the day, once all children have left or are in another room. Maybe it's an insurance thing.

And no matter how hot it gets, our rules state that we must take the children outside every day. To force them out in sweltering temps & not let them cool down would be cruel, even dangerous. We aren't allowed to have pools, but do use water tables and sprinklers. It really doesn't take that much time... most come in w/suits & sunscreen already on. And it sure makes them good and tired come nap time!

Yes the center rules are VERY different. I consult with centers and what they are paid to do is so vastly different than a home day care.

I watch their cameras and work with them on health and safety policies and I can assure you there is a REASON why they can only have their staff just watch the kids. If I were a center director I wouldn't have any staff assistant doing what mine does. It would be too DANGEROUS. It's hard enough to get them to just watch the kids. Adding more to that would put the kids in harms way.

When it comes to doing the daily sanitizing of toys or rooms... we can't even do that in the same room the children are present. It's done at the end of the day, once all children have left or are in another room. Maybe it's an insurance thing.

It's a safety thing. Managing multiple staff that are very often high turnover, low skilled, low education, low paid... do cleaning solution safety while caring for the kids would land you with a poisoned kid pretty quickly.

I'm sure our parents would have a fit if we were caught on the computer instead of minding their kids.

It's the difference of being self employed and being an employee. You are an employee. I'm self employed.

And no matter how hot it gets, our rules state that we must take the children outside every day. To force them out in sweltering temps & not let them cool down would be cruel, even dangerous.

We don't have to take them out in sweltering heat. It's too dangerous. I follow this: https://www.daycare.com/news/daycare_and_weather.html The daycare centers I consult with follow this too. The only water play they have is the little tables so they don't have clothing changes and staff supervising them in standing water.

It really doesn't take that much time... most come in w/suits & sunscreen already on.

I'm more in the camp of the OP: "it takes 30-45 mins just to get them dressed and sunscreened. And then getting them dressed takes another 30-45 mins."

[Michelle]

We have 12-14 kids on a usual day and I look forward to sprinkler time!!
We do it after nap and afternoon outside time. The kids go home looking and smelling like they all had baths...we put a little baby soap on the slip and slides and they go home smelling yummy, and no, the soap never gets in their eyes.
Then they rinse off in the sprinklers, get dressed, hair combing, all brand new.
The cool layed back parents say "Well , that was their bath for today" ::::

Most of the field trips we go on involve water...log ride at Knotts, LB Aquarium has water play,Water Fountains in SanPedro., Kayaking at mothers beach.. So we just live in our bathing suits. Summertime at my house is the highlight of the year! Kids go back to school bragging about everything we do.

[CheekyChick]

We have 12-14 kids on a usual day and I look forward to sprinkler time!!
We do it after nap and afternoon outside time. The kids go home looking and smelling like they all had baths...we put a little baby soap on the slip and slides and they go home smelling yummy, and no, the soap never gets in their eyes.
Then they rinse off in the sprinklers, get dressed, hair combing, all brand new.
The cool layed back parents say "Well , that was their bath for today" ::::

Most of the field trips we go on involve water...log ride at Knotts, LB Aquarium has water play,Water Fountains in SanPedro., Kayaking at mothers beach.. So we just live in our bathing suits. Summertime at my house is the highlight of the year! Kids go back to school bragging about everything we do.

Kudos to you!!! THAT is what summer is about!!! Putting out that extra effort to give your DCK's lifelong memories of the awesome summers spent with you. You can't put a price on that...

BTW, I was born in Long Beach.

[nannyde]

Kudos to you!!! THAT is what summer is about!!! Putting out that extra effort to give your DCK's lifelong memories of the awesome summers spent with you. You can't put a price on that...

Oh there's a price to it all right. It's called day care fees.

[Blackcat31]

Well done Wonder Woman! I could never get all that done that quickly!

We have water days 2 x a week and the children come dressed in their suits with a bag with their play clothes in it. If we're lucky they have sunblock on too! Most of them can dress themselves when we come back in. We also take on one more staff person for these days to take care of set up and clean up.

It took years to figure out the right "assembly-line" method, but like I said, I must have a really good group of kids and they must REALLY want to use the water stuff because it seems to go very smooth and easy for me these last few summers. Don't get me wrong, I know it can be hard and time consuming....I'm just saying for me right now it isn't. I do count my lucky stars for it though.....

Oh and I should mention I only have 2 kids in diapers too so.....

[CheekyChick]

Oh there's a price to it all right. It's called day care fees.

If my children were small and I was paying $120.00 per week (per child) for child care, would I choose the child care provider that put out the extra effort to give my children the greatest summer experience possible, or would I choose the child care provider that had an "over it" or "don't want to" attitude? With all due respect to your 32 years experience, I would choose the one who would put out the extra effort - regardless of the bottom line.

Additionally, you stated that working parents bring their children home to hours of outdoor/water play. Um, I disagree. Working parents are tired. They come home, make dinner, do laundry, clean house, play with their children a bit, bathe them, read to them, and put them to bed. Since my DP's are paying ME to give their child a fun day - I feel it is MY responsibility to do so.

[SimpleMom]

I will do pools in the afternoon, sprinklers too. water guns or something similar, water tables, they can wear old clothes or suits. I used to only do water fun day once a week--now I do it when the weather is hot. More work, but at least they get outdoors. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. We just get less outdoor time that day. I go with the flow of the kids.

[laundrymom]

I get the picture now of Nannys , you part time provide care, part time work outside your home. Having someone else cover that time for the kids. Kudos to you for finding what works for you. Personally I would be crazy not being in control. But that's why I am the sole provider here. No matter how well someone is trained it's still not me. And im not in control when I'm not here. I've only been a provider for 23 years, but I have a system that works for us. We don't have specific days. We make it up as we go along. This morning we water painted outside. It was nice so we just did everything outside. We got out at 645, and were out until 11. Came in, and they were asleep by 1145 Lol. I gotta say Nan, you look great, to be a nurse for a time, and then be a provider for 32 years, you are what? Close to 60? Your a hottie! !! I hope I look as good as you when I get older!!
I turn 40 in Feb. I am afraid to post a pic though, I look bad. Lol.
Mine are all under 5, only 2 fresh four yr olds, the rest are little so slip & slides are out, we don't do wading pools or sprinklers but I do water tables, bubbles in dishpans, I bougt little spray bottles like for wetting hair, 4 oz I think, we use those to have water wars. I also get mine out early in the day before it's hot, so using the water is completely sensory and exploratory, not for cooling off. I also don't use sunscreen in the mornings because my play space is total shade until 1 pm. That makes it easier. I guess that's why I love this board, we are all so different, but that's a good thing.

[Country Kids]

I'm a national consultant for child care. http://daycarewhisperer.webs.com/ I currently consult with two centers by watching their cameras and training their staff. I have two other center contracts currrently working on their health policies. I do individual counselling for providers three to four times a week. I am currently working out an agreement with a radio station to do guest appearance on a radio show about children. That should start in the begining of August. (fingers crossed)

I have a home child care that operates twelve hours a day. I operate it by myself about five to six hours per day. I have staff for six to seven hours per day.

I also have a little gig on daycare.com https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/ where I write a blog and participate in this board.

I'm very busy.

Oh and I am doing a new venture called "Swap-a Mook" where I take WDMMom's perfect angel child for a week and then she takes my blue eyed devil son for a week. We'll see how that goes... I may start a fourth business. ::

When do you do all this? Do you do any family time with your family? I know I only have about 3 hours after the last one leaves to have family time plus life (dinner, dishes, bathes, clean up, etc?).

Also, per our state regs. a childcare provider is not allowed to have any other type of employment during daycare hours. So basically you wouldn't be allowed to do any of this while you were running the childcare in our state. I'm surprised you can all of this in yours. I actually had a little side business I had to give up-worked on it during naptime-but was told that was a no, no and ended up giving it up because of that.

Don't you only have 8 children total? We would be laughed at here if we had a provider that had an assistant for that low of a number. I don't even make enough to pay an assistant with that amount of children. Wow, you must make the bucks!

[nannyde]

I get the picture now of Nannys , you part time provide care, part time work outside your home. Having someone else cover that time for the kids. Kudos to you for finding what works for you. Personally I would be crazy not being in control. But that's why I am the sole provider here. No matter how well someone is trained it's still not me. And im not in control when I'm not here. I've only been a provider for 23 years, but I have a system that works for us. We don't have specific days. We make it up as we go along. This morning we water painted outside. It was nice so we just did everything outside. We got out at 645, and were out until 11. Came in, and they were asleep by 1145 Lol. I gotta say Nan, you look great, to be a nurse for a time, and then be a provider for 32 years, you are what? Close to 60?

No I work from home. I don't work outside my home with the exception of attending staff meetings at the Center I work for once a month in the evening and soon I will be going in the evening or weekends to tape a radio show. We are also working on my being able to do radio segments from home too so we shall see. I also go on the weekends to the centers and do inspections. I get hired to do that about once every other month.

I'm fifty... nearly fifty one.

My staff assistant is completely trained by me and supervised by me at all times. She will be eligible to be by herself with the kids in the next month or so and I will gradually allow her to have a bit more responsibility. I make ALL of the decisions regarding the kids. I could never afford someone who could do the decision making on my watch. That's a pretty expensive employee.

[nannyde]

If my children were small and I was paying $120.00 per week (per child) for child care, would I choose the child care provider that put out the extra effort to give my children the greatest summer experience possible, or would I choose the child care provider that had an "over it" or "don't want to" attitude? With all due respect to your 32 years experience, I would choose the one who would put out the extra effort - regardless of the bottom line.

Additionally, you stated that working parents bring their children home to hours of outdoor/water play. Um, I disagree. Working parents are tired. They come home, make dinner, do laundry, clean house, play with their children a bit, bathe them, read to them, and put them to bed. Since my DP's are paying ME to give their child a fun day - I feel it is MY responsibility to do so.

Of course YOU would pick the provider who did the services that YOU value.

Today my kids went for a hike before it got too hot to be out. They watered and weeded our kids garden. They harvested rosemary and sage. They sorted our Lincoln Logs back into their proper containers and cut coupons (I'm training them to be extreme couponers so we can get on the show and be famous). They free played toys, folded laundry, washed down the shelves1 and had two delicious organic meals with fresh meat, fruits, and veggies. They had rosemary free range chicken strips with the rosemary they harvested and cleaned from our garden. They will nap for a few hours and then we are going to hit the garage sale across the street to hunt for more Princess junk we don't need.

That's what THEIR parents want for them. You would want outdoor water activites because you believe the provider should give them your version of the "greatest summer experience possible". My parents want what I offer.

That's the BEAUTY of it. We all get to decide what we want to offer and keep clients that like what we offer. I wouldn't even be considered by you but my clients only want me and for their child's entire early childhood.

And for parents being tired.... oh lawdy... I think I'll pass on that one.

[CheekyChick]

Of course YOU would pick the provider who did the services that YOU value.

Today my kids went for a hike before it got too hot to be out. They watered and weeded our kids garden. They harvested rosemary and sage. They sorted our Lincoln Logs back into their proper containers and cut coupons (I'm training them to be extreme couponers so we can get on the show and be famous). They free played toys, folded laundry, washed down the shelves1 and had two delicious organic meals with fresh meat, fruits, and veggies. They had rosemary free range chicken strips with the rosemary they harvested and cleaned from our garden. They will nap for a few hours and then we are going to hit the garage sale across the street to hunt for more Princess junk we don't need.

That's what THEIR parents want for them. You would want outdoor water activites because you believe the provider should give them your version of the "greatest summer experience possible". My parents want what I offer.

That's the BEAUTY of it. We all get to decide what we want to offer and keep clients that like what we offer. I wouldn't even be considered by you but my clients only want me and for their child's entire early childhood.

And for parents being tired.... oh lawdy... I think I'll pass on that one.

My parents would be thrilled with the hike, but I'm fairly certain they would frown upon their children folding laundry, clipping coupons, weeding, or washing down shelves on a nice summer day. My parents want their children out in the sunshine, playing in the water, having picnics, playing with bubbles, jumping rope, and riding trikes. I doubt your DP's would choose me as their provider, as we run a completely different type of program.

Oh, and parents do get tired. We're not the only ones who have jobs that we love, but wipe us out at the end of the day.