Pool Time Guilt Trip

[cheerfuldom]

well at this point if you aren't willing to set any schedule with the swim, I would tell each parent specifically, "do not mention the pool or swimming in front of the children" and then if they ask i would respond with "I'm sorry but we don't talk about that in front of the kids, it makes them upset if we aren't able to go" and refuse to answer the question.

[kitkat]

well at this point if you aren't willing to set any schedule with the swim, I would tell each parent specifically, "do not mention the pool or swimming in front of the children" and then if they ask i would respond with "I'm sorry but we don't talk about that in front of the kids, it makes them upset if we aren't able to go" and refuse to answer the question.

Exactly what I was going to say!

MsMe: Kudos to you for even offering to take them to the pool! I think it's a great idea that you make the parents buy a pool pass. In my town our pool pass is a patch that we have to attach to a swim suit or towel. Is that how yours work also? If so, are towels/suits sent daily so that families can use their pass on nights/weekends? I don't have kids during the summer, just my own, and we are 1 block from the water park/pool. If I do get older kids during the summer at some point, I might copy your idea. Just wondering how you work the pass thing.

[nannyde]

well at this point if you aren't willing to set any schedule with the swim, I would tell each parent specifically, "do not mention the pool or swimming in front of the children" and then if they ask i would respond with "I'm sorry but we don't talk about that in front of the kids, it makes them upset if we aren't able to go" and refuse to answer the question.

Oh I don't think the parents will have much problem not talking about the pool in front of the kids. The problem is the parents asking the provider about the trips.

If she says don't mention it in front of the kids she's going to have the same convo's where the parents are hounding her ... they just will do it over the phone or have the kid walk away so they can do it.

I don't think it's too much to tell a kid they aren't going to the pool. Telling a parent "not today" who wants the special for their kid and the special the parents get not having to do the pool and the worn out "early to bed" kid IS what the problem is.

One trick that works is saying "we'll see". So if the parent calls or asks just say "I haven't figured that out yet.. we'll see". The only side effect of that will be that you could get pounded with calls and texts trying to find out what you decided.

[MG&Lsmom]

Do you have anywhere outside for the kids to play? As a parent I would be upset if I knew my childcare provider had all that but the kids weren't allowed to play on it.

I think I'm a little offended. I'm a licensed provider. Of course I have an outdoor play space. My front yard is the approved outdoor play space. I have 10 cozy coupes/vehicles, 3 small slides, a cube climber, a sand table, three tunnels, basketball hoop, free access to a bucket of different balls, bubbles, chalk and art easel and more. There is more than enough fun things to do in my front yard. It's the fact that this particular dad does not feel it is fair to have things on my property that his son is not allowed to play with. This includes toys inside the home as well. He feel that what ever is located on the premises is free for the taking.

Our regs require safe fall zones, like most states, around equipment higher than 2ft off the ground. For a home daycare with any child present under 3 years (my DS is 2.5), the ONLY approved safe fall zone material is sand. Too many cats and animals roaming to free in our neighborhood to use sand. Like I said, I refuse to turn my backyard into a large litter box to satisfy the licensor.

[Country Kids]

I think I'm a little offended. I'm a licensed provider. Of course I have an outdoor play space. My front yard is the approved outdoor play space. I have 10 cozy coupes/vehicles, 3 small slides, a cube climber, a sand table, three tunnels, basketball hoop, free access to a bucket of different balls, bubbles, chalk and art easel and more. There is more than enough fun things to do in my front yard. It's the fact that this particular dad does not feel it is fair to have things on my property that his son is not allowed to play with. This includes toys inside the home as well. He feel that what ever is located on the premises is free for the taking.

Our regs require safe fall zones, like most states, around equipment higher than 2ft off the ground. For a home daycare with any child present under 3 years (my DS is 2.5), the ONLY approved safe fall zone material is sand. Too many cats and animals roaming to free in our neighborhood to use sand. Like I said, I refuse to turn my backyard into a large litter box to satisfy the licensor.

I didn't mean to offend you. From the post you had written it sounded like all your play equipment was in the backyard. You didn't say anything about toys in the front yard. So do you not have to have sand in the front yard with any of your equipment? We don't have anything under our play equipment and the state has never said anything about having it. It is interesting how state to state changes the regulations for us.

[MG&Lsmom]

I didn't mean to offend you. From the post you had written it sounded like all your play equipment was in the backyard. You didn't say anything about toys in the front yard. So do you not have to have sand in the front yard with any of your equipment? We don't have anything under our play equipment and the state has never said anything about having it. It is interesting how state to state changes the regulations for us.

As I wrote, all equipment 2ft tall and over requires a safe fall zone., this doesn't include bikes. I have toddler slides and a toddler climbing cube, all just above the 2ft height requirement. Technically yes, they require sand, however my licensor deems a good cushion of thick grass is fine for that equipment and the ages of my dcks. She asked taht I use those foam mats if I had babies just learning to walk. I don't take anyone under 18m, so a nonissue. This is a new reg for all daycares licensed after Feb 2009 and all exisiting licensed daycares relicensing reqs after Feb 2010. Almost all the daycare providers I know have chosen to remove play structures rather than making the modifications to comply with the new regs.

[nannyde]

Almost all the daycare providers I know have chosen to remove play structures rather than making the modifications to comply with the new regs.

Seen all over America

The cost of the modifications become so high that the income on the kids doesn't suppport it.

[Unregistered]

If you know in the morning at drop off, could you put a sign up so they don't have to ask, they know as they come in?

[MsMe]

Exactly what I was going to say!

MsMe: Kudos to you for even offering to take them to the pool! I think it's a great idea that you make the parents buy a pool pass. In my town our pool pass is a patch that we have to attach to a swim suit or towel. Is that how yours work also? If so, are towels/suits sent daily so that families can use their pass on nights/weekends? I don't have kids during the summer, just my own, and we are 1 block from the water park/pool. If I do get older kids during the summer at some point, I might copy your idea. Just wondering how you work the pass thing.

A patch would be great! Here it is a plastic card (the size of a CC) with a picture and exp Date. You can get individual/family/full year/summer. Our pool is huge and more like a water park (it drives me nuts, but that is anothor story) it is $6 per child per visit so a pass is the way to go. I do not require anyone to get one but they all do.

I do require they get an spare pass to leave at my house.....as you can imagaine it is murder sharing a pass with Mom and Dad and it coming (or rather not coming) and going each day.

I also require a suit/towel/sunscreen be left with me for the WHOLE summer it does not go home untill Fall. I provide all water wings and toys.

[dEHmom]

I've been wanting to take the kids to the park pool/beach....It's basically a gigantic wading pool surrounded by sand all around. it's shallow and gradually gets deeper up to 7.5 feet in the center. I've never been there, and I'd love to take my kids there, but I worry I cannot handle the daycare kids and my own at the beach. 1 of the dcb's loves the water and will be in and out of it. The other will not go near the water, so I would have 1 on the beach and one in the water.

How do you all handle more than 4 kids at a pool/beach? There are lifeguards on duty there, but I still worry that 1 might wander too far into the water, and the other would be left on the beach. I would put lifejackets on them of course, but just curious what other's experiences are.

[MsMe]

Oh I don't think the parents will have much problem not talking about the pool in front of the kids. The problem is the parents asking the provider about the trips.

If she says don't mention it in front of the kids she's going to have the same convo's where the parents are hounding her ... they just will do it over the phone or have the kid walk away so they can do it.

I don't think it's too much to tell a kid they aren't going to the pool. Telling a parent "not today" who wants the special for their kid and the special the parents get not having to do the pool and the worn out "early to bed" kid IS what the problem is.

One trick that works is saying "we'll see". So if the parent calls or asks just say "I haven't figured that out yet.. we'll see". The only side effect of that will be that you could get pounded with calls and texts trying to find out what you decided.

This is what I have always replied with, and you are right Mom does call every afternoon to find out waht I have decided.

I really just wish they would get the point. Every time they have asked (some with children that havebeen here 5 years) you think they would get the point.

I have even said, I WILL NEVER KNOW INTHE MORNING. EVEYDAY IS DIFFERNT, I CAN NEVER GARENTEE A POOL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in my meanest, nice to daycare daycare voice.

[MsMe]

I've been wanting to take the kids to the park pool/beach....It's basically a gigantic wading pool surrounded by sand all around. it's shallow and gradually gets deeper up to 7.5 feet in the center. I've never been there, and I'd love to take my kids there, but I worry I cannot handle the daycare kids and my own at the beach. 1 of the dcb's loves the water and will be in and out of it. The other will not go near the water, so I would have 1 on the beach and one in the water.

How do you all handle more than 4 kids at a pool/beach? There are lifeguards on duty there, but I still worry that 1 might wander too far into the water, and the other would be left on the beach. I would put lifejackets on them of course, but just curious what other's experiences are.

Once our SA kids pass a swim test (that the pools gives) and their parents agree they are allowed to roam the pools, slides, and lazy river on their own (with check-in times) that is usualy 1-3 kids. There is a small 1-3yr play area about the size of a large living room with a family slide, a couple of fountains, and a shaded area. One provider can saftly watch 1-4 kids easy. 2 providers 1-6 kids. We all wear bright orange floaties and everyone at the pool knows a kid in orange belongs to us All kids are taught pool manners and if they are wild and don't fiollow them they stay home.....I do not take animals to the pool. Too dangerous.

Thankfully we have all kids now who like the water, if we had one who didn't they would not be going on a day with only one provider. When only one is going she takes only the kids she knows she can handle saftly. That means our 1yrs don't get to go as much as the others, saftly not fairness first.

We had two 13 year old boy drown at our pool last sumemer during a private party. Water saftly is everyones #1.

[wdmmom]

When did it become your responsibility to take their children to the pool?

That's for Mom and Dad to do - sorry. Don't you worry yourself about it.

DITTO! I'm waiting for my daycare parents to ask me why I don't do field trips or take the kids swimming anymore. How about since I am at capacity and I haven't raised your rates. Now do you want to take my 4 kids swimming?! LOL

I was just talking to Nannyde about this this morning! If I could have every parent contribute to a pool day (offer to bring towels and take back home to wash, someone fix up sandwiches, etc) , I'd be more apt to doing sprinkler/pool days but they haven't yet and I'm not holding my breath.

Parents today want what they want and they want it for free.

[nannyde]

Once our SA kids pass a swim test (that the pools gives) and their parents agree they are allowed to roam the pools, slides, and lazy river on their own (with check-in times) that is usualy 1-3 kids.

Our regs wouldn't allow this. The parents could not sign or agree to anything short of careful supervision at all times. We would have to have an adult with every kid every minute. We aren't allowed to let any age group play outside in the back yard without an adult.

If you had to have an adult within eyeshot of every kid at all times would you be able to do it? Meaning keeping the older kids in the area that is safe for the little kids?

[SilverSabre25]

Sooo...

MsMe...

Are you taking the kids to the pool today?

::ducks::