Bringing toys, blankets, etc

[martymonty]

Hi
Just wondering what everyone's policy is on children bringing toys, blankets, jewellery etc with them in the AM. I have a couple dc that bring tons of stuff, then end up losing some of it along the way and then when the parents come to pick their children up, they want me to start tearing apart my playroom to find the toy that was lost.
I have always had it in my contract that I have enough toys, books, craft supplies etc. that children do not need to bring anything, but I always get that one or two families that bring things when their children come. Gets very frustrating.

[daycaremom9]

I have a policy that I allow 2 toys per child. I only have the occasional toy brought here recently but years ago I had a girl that is the reason for this policy. She would bring a bag full of toys but one time after informing the parents about this policy she brought 2 back packs stuffed with toys!

[Artsand crafts]

I allow toys from home and most of the time I give them back the same day or some days after and it's not a big deal for parents. My only policy about it is that I am not responsible for lost or broken toys brought from home.

You could also make your policy not to bring toys from home and enforce it or I take them away as soon as dck arrive and give them back at the end of the day, for the trouble making families. I wouldn't be driving myself crazy at the end of the day looking for toys.

[madmom]

I have it in my contract that aside from a "lovey" that is put away until nap time that no toys etc are to be brought in. If they are they are confiscated at the door until home time. I have had DCK's scream bloody murder when they are expected to share so it is an absolute NO!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I ask that all children bring a blanket for napping. It is left here and I wash them with my other dc laundry. Some used to take theirs home to wash but they all eventually stop that lol.

I prefer if toys are kept at home but they are allowed to bring them (within reason) IF the child and the parent understand that it will get shared and maybe even broken/lost. If a home toy is not being shared it goes away and they can not bring it back. I have only had one child who brought toys to dc on a regular basis. I have had 2 others bring them occasionally and it's usually never a problem.

If they bring an ipad, ipod etc it is only allowed during quiet time.

[ttremble88]

I allowed toys brought in a backpack, but only 1 toy is allowed out at a time. Once you put that toy back, then you are allowed to take another one out. That being said, any toys that are brought to daycare MUST be shared. The moment that it is fought over, it goes away. On PA days when I have my school aged children, they are allowed to bring their 'electronics', only to be played at nap time, or if we are doing a 'younger child activity or craft'.

If the toy goes missing during the day, the child goes home without it. I often come across it during my end of the day tidy, and send it home the next day. I am not responsible for any broken toys as things happen and I warn parents about it before they bring it.

[Sassygirl]

I have all toddlers here who are not all on the same page with sharing quite yet.
When one arrives with a doll, blanket etc, it MUST stay in their cubby until nap. I make a point of saying to the child in front of their parent "Okay xxx lets put your xxx in your cubby until naptime" and if they cry they cry. Then at naptime we go out to my mudroom all together and each one gets their toy for nap. After nap we walk back out to the mudroom and put it back in their cubby until home time.

[Secondtimearound]

At my dck ages it causes arguments ! The dck who brought the toy gets very upset when someone else plays with 'their' toy ! So as soon as drop off is done , I just put it in their bag . That way I'm not trying to find a last minute toy !! Blankies are used for nap or if they need to comfort themselves !

[nschildcare]

No toys from home. Period. Blankets for nap come on the first day and stay here and only come out at nap time.

I used to be more lenient but there were too many issues so it's just easier to not even offer the option.

[mimi]

My policy is one blankie. Of course this is abused by some. I have one parent who doesn't want the hassle of saying the dreaded word "no" to their child, so the child comes in with an entourage of blankies and stuffed animals. I have mentioned to this parent that I can not and will not spend my time making sure this child has all their stuff with them to no avail, so now when the door closes, except for one blankie, everything else goes in a bag for home......and the child has no problem with it. Parents just use all this "stuff" as a comfort crutch instead of directly dealing with their child. Ugh

[5 Little Monkeys]

Mimi, I completely agree! My dck that brought things everyday was exactly like that. The parents NEVER said no to her. Thank goodness they eventually left!! She was the only one who I have had issues with allowing home toys.

[mickyc]

No toys here! I allow comfort toys for nap time only but I only have 1 child that needs hers (she is 4!). If any parents bring blankets they go in the playpen and stay here. I do supply bedding for children so there really is no need. I also give all children a stuffed animal to sleep with so unless they have a special one from home then they don't need to bring anything. My contract says no toys. Anyone who brings stuff has to keep it in their backpack - no exceptions

[Samantha33]

In the beginning a blanket, soother, and stuffy are brought and kept here. I wash and sterilize them. My contract states no toys and if brought they will be kept in child's cubby till pick up. Only until my two preschoolers are off in Sept. I allow them to each bring toys for quiet time only. If for some reason I allow it out before that time (as in a special day) they have to share or it goes away. Once they are off to school things go back to everyone napping and no toys.

[Crayola kiddies]

No toys at all .... I have one girly girl that comes occasionally with a plastic beaded necklace and as soon as the parent walks out I take it off her and put it in her coat pocket.... Other then that if they have a blanket or stuffy it stays in the playpen and eventually I wean them off it ....

[Lou]

I allow one toy, but the moment it causes ANY issue it's gone. If it gets lost along the way then I tell them we will look for it tomorrow :)

[canadianjule]

No toys from home allowed here. If they do bring them, I hand them back to the parent at the door. They are allowed one lovie (blanket or soft toy) that they get during nap/rest time.

[mattsmom]

I only allow a blanket or doll for nap/quiet time only. Also in the summer and other school breaks, I will allow a game system for the school age kids to use first thing in the morning and when the little ones are napping. I do have strict rules about using the game systems, though, such as the volume is turned right down and if they are loud (yelling or making loud sound effects), they are put away.
I find that if you make the rules up front, then when they do show up at the door with a toy, you can say that you specifically told them that there were no toys allowed and give it to the parents to take with them. MY HOUSE, MY RULES!
The kids have more than enough toys to play with here, so there is no need to bring more toys into the house...it just makes more of a mess.

[gravy_train]

I don't allow toys from home but do allow a blanket or comfort item for naptime. I have had parents allow their child to brin a toy in because they don't want to deal with the backlash from the child so in that case I usually just wait until the parent leaves and take the toy away. I would definitely do this with the jewellery though as it could be a choking hazard.
You can either approach it this way, or you can just be upfront about why you don't want toys, etc. from home (sharing, safety, etc.).
It used to really drive me crazy because I thought the parents were intentionally disrespecting me but I honestly think that some just don't see te whole picture from our perspective.

[mattsmom]

I don't allow toys from home but do allow a blanket or comfort item for naptime. I have had parents allow their child to brin a toy in because they don't want to deal with the backlash from the child so in that case I usually just wait until the parent leaves and take the toy away. I would definitely do this with the jewellery though as it could be a choking hazard.
You can either approach it this way, it you can just be upfront about why you don't want toys, etc. from home (sharing, safety, etc.).
It used to really drive me crazy because I thought the parents were intentionally distemper pectins me but I honestly think that some just don't see te whole picture from our perspective.


Definitely agree with you. I think the parents assume that you will just give in "this one time" because their kids are making a fuss about it. I don't want the hassle of the kids not wanting to share, fighting over the toy, or having to find it at the end of the day because the kid/parents are making a fuss.

[Fun&care]

Ugh I hate when kids bring toys which is why I simply do not allow it anymore. It is such a pain. Toys get lost. Toys get broken. I have recently only made one exception to this rule for one child who was having a really hard time transitioning but took comfort in bringing his favorite stuffed animal so I have been allowing it. And they all have their blankie and stuffie for naptime.

[Wonderwiper]

I don't allow toys either. One item for nap time comes on the first day and never comes out of their bed. I guess my parents are the firm type, ha ha....have never had any issues!

[Polkaroo]

I ask that no toys be brought but sometimes they do. When this happens I put it in their bag as soon as they arrive and tell them they can get it when they leave. Only thing they bring is their comfort object and blanket that stays in their playpens at all times for nap time. So far, kids have never fussed about it.