How Many Sprinkler Days A Week?

[Country Kids]

I have to agree that I personally know my own parents wouldn't be happy with their children stuck inside when it is nice outside. I have read these posts quite a few times and see things that sometimes don't make sense to me. We go outside in the morning till lunch time and then come inside to the cool house. Sometimes it can be very hot here but with long, rainy months we long to be outside as much as possible. In fact alot of people that come here from the south are actually cold because it is a different type of hot here.

Nan, instead of taking them for a 45 min hike why not go outside and play? If it was cool enough to go for a hike why not play. Also, was it really a hike or a walk. The way you post I really don't think you would take your little ones hiking.

Do you parents know that your children clean, clip coupons, etc? I remember several posts where you say your parents aren't allowed where the children are so how would they know what you do with them? Aren't you one that meets and hands off at the door? I maybe wrong but I though I read that.

In another post this week you were telling us all the things you do in your day (different types of work). I asked if your state regulations allow that as ours certainly wouldn't. You never responded. Any a way I take that as you aren't allowed to do those things and didn't want to post back that what you were doing was wrong.

You are I'm sure a great lady-we all need to remember though that the way things come across in posts may not be correct it is just the way they are worded. I feel usually when you post that it is a superior type of posting. Maybe its not meant to be that way but it usually reads that way.

This is probably a thread that needs to be done and we move on to something else. As it has been said we all know what our parents want, what works great for us personally, and we all have different amounts of experience. I think we should all remember that we are here for a support group and no one is better than anyone else here on the threads. I know that finding this group has helped me tremendously and I have found some great support here and new friendships!

[erinalexmom]

I agree with all of the above Country Kids. I will forget it all and move on.

[sharlan]

We all have to remember that we're different people. We all have different priorities and ways of doing things.

What works for me with my daycare, won't work for someone else, and vice-versa.

I could never feed my children what nannyde does. I'm sorry, but the thought of eating anything beyond beef, chicken, and some pork grosses me out. Tongue in the butcher case nauseates me on sight. I couldn't feed it to my kids. I have relatives that prefer venison and fish over anything else.

First thing I always tell my parents is that we go on frequent outings. In fact, that's the first thing my ads state.

Second thing I tell my parents is that I have a pool, have for over 13 years. If they have concerns about the safety of their children, then it's best they move down the line.

Back to the topic, I don't use sprinklers because I don't have enough grass in my back yard for the kids to run on. I have a large swimming pool, a tiny wading pool, a water table with lots of boats, and a sand table that seems to end up with water in it. We have some sort of water play daily.

[sharlan]

Clipping coupons is a wonderful way for the kids to learn to use scissors. What kid doesn't love to clean? I have to keep an eye on the baby wipes because the kids will use them to wash something with.

[nannyde]

I have to agree that I personally know my own parents wouldn't be happy with their children stuck inside when it is nice outside.

It's not nice outside.


Nan, insteathem for a 45 min hike why not go outside and play? d of taking If it was cool enough to go for a hike why not play. Also, was it really a hike or a walk. The way you post I really don't think you would take your little ones hiking.

I don't have an outdoor play area. We live around the corner of a four acre city park so we do hike thru their in the winter snow.

It's a walk. A walk in the shaded side of the street in the summer.


Do you parents know that your children clean, clip coupons, etc?

Oh yes. I have some parents and grandparents sending us their leftover coupons. And yes, they know the kids clean and fold laundry. They know the kids have "chores" in the house from the time they can walk. (The kids cleaning is just wet rags... no chemicals of course.)

They know they plant, water, and weed our garden. They supplied most of the seed and plants. They walk by the garden every day when they come into the house. They can't get to the front door without walking by it.


I remember several posts where you say your parents aren't allowed where the children are so how would they know what you do with them?

All but one of the kids can fully talk. The one that can't has an older brother who can. I also talk to the parents at arrival and departure.

Aren't you one that meets and hands off at the door? I maybe wrong but I though I read that.

Yes I do all arrivals and departures at the front door.

In another post this week you were telling us all the things you do in your day (different types of work). I asked if your state regulations allow that as ours certainly wouldn't. You never responded. Any a way I take that as you aren't allowed to do those things and didn't want to post back that what you were doing was wrong.

I must have missed that one. The State Regulations just apply to my child care. I don't have State regulations for my consulting business or my job on daycare.com. The State doesn't have any authority to determine what I can or can't do in businesses they don't regulate. They don't decide when I do or don't do my jobs. They don't decide if I can do more than one job from my home or not.

I have had three unnanounced inspections in the last 3.5 years and have had 100 percent compliance. They can rest assured that I'm doing my job well as they have seen it for themselves.

I've almost always had a second job simultaneiously since I started doing day care. I made cookie dough for the first few years of doing it when I first started.

In 2001 I started a clothing business and sold kids clothes on Ebay for quite a few years. That brought in a lot of money into the home which allowed me to really build my inventory I have today.

You are I'm sure a great lady-we all need to remember though that the way things come across in posts may not be correct it is just the way they are worded. I feel usually when you post that it is a superior type of posting. Maybe its not meant to be that way but it usually reads that way.

I just put out my version of what I feel in each post. It is not a superior way in any way. Just my way. I've been doing this for a long time so much of what I read on this forum is the same as what I have read on other forums I have participated on. Most of the responses I give are ones I have given tens if not a hundred times in the last twelve years. It may sound concise and "superior" but it's really just the net result of having done this and written this over and over as the years go by.

I am also on this board as an expert child care contributor. That is part of my job here. It is why I devote so much time to answering posts and offering free counselling to some of the members here thru my consulting business. But.... my advice is just that... advice. It has no greater value than anyone elses advice. The only difference here is that it is one of my jobs.


This is probably a thread that needs to be done and we move on to something else. As it has been said we all know what our parents want, what works great for us personally, and we all have different amounts of experience. I think we should all remember that we are here for a support group and no one is better than anyone else here on the threads. I know that finding this group has helped me tremendously and I have found some great support here and new friendships!

I don't mind continuing the conversation. It's one I've had before so I knew how the flow of it would go. Part of the flow is having a slew of "your're so mean... how do the poor parents allow you to care for their poor kids" posts and ultimately the poster who gives their opinion and then say that the thread needs to be done. BTDT on that one too.

[nannyde]

Clipping coupons is a wonderful way for the kids to learn to use scissors. What kid doesn't love to clean? I have to keep an eye on the baby wipes because the kids will use them to wash something with.

They love themselves some going wild on slick paper with scissors and tearing. They use wet rags for cleaning and go at it.

They did any kind of housework. They cook and vaccum too.

Of course it's all got to be redone when they are done but they don't know that. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[jen]

It takes a village to get kids to coupon cut. I'm learning that as we go along. We have to share trade secrets to get them to NOT cut the bar code and LU numbers.

(Trade secret number one: give the two year olds coupons for kitty litter and hemorrhoid cream as we don't need that stuff)

If you said the kids were practicing fine motor skills by practing their scissor skills you would have made everyone happy!

[Angelwings36]

If a parent is looking for a provider to offer their children regular water play my daycare too would not be the right fit for them. I did water play several times last summer. Sprinklers, slip and slide, tot pools, and so on...AND I HATED IT! Sure it was fun running around in the water with the children but it was not fun fixing my ruined grass, dealing with smaller and sometimes larger children that hated our water fun days, cleaning up the water, grass, mud and so on that got dragged into my house regardless of how much I tried to avoid it. It was also a headache dealing with potty training children or already potty trained children (more drying off, more indoor clean up, wet toilet seats). On top of that I really did not enjoy changing a sopping wet poopy swimming diaper!!! This year I vowed I would not do water play at all unless it was on a sand and water table...which I still have not done. I work very hard with the children as it is and don't feel I need put myself through anymore extra work. My kids leave at 5:15pm everyday and sometimes earlier than that yet. If the parents can't take 30 minutes to an hour of their time to spend it outside doing water play with the children how ever many times a week everyone thinks it should be required then I guess that's their choice.

Parents could not (or would not) be able to afford water play in my daycare.

Costs for each water day would include:

1. Covering an assistants wages.
2. Replacing ruined grass in my yard.
3. Paying any additional fees on my already EXPENSIVE water bill.
4. Covering a cleaning lady to sweep, mop, vacuum my floors, clean my bathroom and any other area of my house that was affected by our water fun.

I know not everyone is going to agree with this...and that's fine...that's why it's my daycare and I get to make the decisions.

P.S. I run with 8 children ages 12 months to 7 years. Two of those being under 30 months of age.

And Nan I think having the children cut coupons is a unique and great idea and I can almost bet they get excited at the idea and enjoy every minute of it. I have a 6 year old boy of my own and he would be estatic if we sat down together and cut coupons!

[Angelwings36]

PS you sure don't see schools offering regular water play for the children. Nope. If my son gets water play it's because I do it with him when I'm off the clock. If I can find the time to have water play with my son every other parent can too!

[Blackcat31]

I'd like to throw my 2 cents in here and say I, personally, would rather my child care provider worked with me in teaching my kids "real life" skills (folding laundry, weeding/planting and caring for a garden, cutting with scissors, and cleaning) and let me do the fun stuff with them. i.e. water play outdoor fun.

As a parent, a part of me would feel a little ripped off if my provider got all the fun stuff with my kids and I was left teaching them the other stuff. I'm not saying that I wouldn't have time as a parent to have fun time, I am just saying I want it all!

[momofsix]

No really ... it's too hot. Right now it is 87 degrees and "feels like" 97 and it's seven pm.

Don't really want to get into The Debate:: but I do want to say that the heat can really effect some people, myself included. If I'm out in high temp/high humidity even WITH water play I get lightheaded, nauseous and end up w/ a migraine. (and yes I stay hydrated-it's just the way my body reacts to heat) Then my parents would have a problem!

[Angelwings36]

Don't really want to get into The Debate:: but I do want to say that the heat can really effect some people, myself included. If I'm out in high temp/high humidity even WITH water play I get lightheaded, nauseous and end up w/ a migraine. (and yes I stay hydrated-it's just the way my body reacts to heat) Then my parents would have a problem!

I am exactly like this as well!

[dEHmom]

Don't really want to get into The Debate:: but I do want to say that the heat can really effect some people, myself included. If I'm out in high temp/high humidity even WITH water play I get lightheaded, nauseous and end up w/ a migraine. (and yes I stay hydrated-it's just the way my body reacts to heat) Then my parents would have a problem!

yep this is me too. a lot of times i just need some sugar in my system but i definitely cannot handle heat, especially humidity, it ****s all the life out of me.

i dread days like this we've been having all week, and now expected for the next week too. too hot and humid, even staying in the shade i am zapped of energy. And little guys dehydrate so quickly, it scares me that maybe we might be out for a few minutes too long. We go outside in the am, but often skipped the pm on days that are too hot. i feel bad though because the kids love to be outside.

[Country Kids]

We are on day four of gray, black skies and rain. All I wanted to do all weekend was sleep and be real lazy. Means a messy house on Monday which I absolutely do not like at all. Its only 59 degrees right now. Everything is to wet to even go outside to try and play. It has been a miserable summer here.

[Meeko]

I'd like to throw my 2 cents in here and say I, personally, would rather my child care provider worked with me in teaching my kids "real life" skills (folding laundry, weeding/planting and caring for a garden, cutting with scissors, and cleaning) and let me do the fun stuff with them. i.e. water play outdoor fun.

As a parent, a part of me would feel a little ripped off if my provider got all the fun stuff with my kids and I was left teaching them the other stuff. I'm not saying that I wouldn't have time as a parent to have fun time, I am just saying I want it all!

I agree. And there is nothing wrong with teaching children about responsibility and doing chores. They have lots of play time too. I NEVER clean up the toys at my day care. The kids made the mess. The kids clean it up. Same in real life. Sooner they learn that the better. Part of the problem with older kids today is that they have been catered to and pampered to the point of silliness.

My kids clean up all the toys themselves. They are expected to clean their own place after meals. They are expected to put their own blanket down for nap and put it away after.

I do not believe that my job as a day care provider is to provide fun, fun, fun and nothing else. I work as a partner with the parents and my job entails raising these little ones to be productive, self-confident adults one day. That's not going to happen if I cater to their every whim. We have lots of fun, but we do chores too.

I believe in balance and folding laundry is just as important as playing and I bet the kids enjoy it too! They love to do "grown up" stuff!

I have it my handbook that we are FAMILY day care. And just like a real family, everyone is expected to pitch in with the running of the place. I expect my own children to do chores and I expect nothing less from the day care kids. The parents I have now LIKE that about my day care. They don't want to take home a totally spoiled child who then balks at making their bed and helping pick up around the house.

Bottom line...I am their day care provider...not their maid or cruise director. I teach them about LIFE and life isn't all water play and field trips. Those are great, but not the be all and end all of summer at day care.