Going Outside in Spring (ahhhh the mess!!)

3rdtimesacharm - where do you leave their clothing? Do you leave it outside? I don't have a deck but a huge cement pad. That is where I got the kids to take their boots off. I left them outside. I brought all of their outdoor clothing in though and hung it up in my basement (where I have all their hooks). The part I hate is the clothes dry and the dead grass gets everywhere.

You would think parents would have common sense but certain one's of mine don't lol. I had to put up a note in winter saying to take shoes off at the back door. I have had issues with parents wearing their shoes down the stairs. You would also think that by leaving the kids boots outside that it means they are too dirty to bring in. I guarantee you today that some of the parents will bring them in when they pick up the kids! lol

Another issue I find is that kids go home with their wet mitts in their back packs and they never get hung up to dry at home.

Hope your house sells quickly with no bumps in the road!

Thanks Lou!! The house I have in mind has a cement driveway and morning walks would definitely be possible (or even playing in the garage with the garage doors open!!). I also would have a great big back entrance where I could hang all clothes. Right now I have that spot in my basement. Gotta sell first though so here's hoping!!

We go out in the morn. and aft. at pick up. I keep the kids contained while taking winter clothes off so as to keep the mess limited to one room.

During nice weather, I bring them out in the morning after breakfast for a walk in the stroller, then we play outside until it's time to eat lunch. I always bring them out in the afternoon from 4-5 (even during winter) unless the weather is really bad. I find pick-up is always smooth as kids are ready to go! I also do this when we are indoors.

I have the kids line up at the door, I bring them in one by one, I take off their gear and hang them up in my front entrance. I put a temporary clothing bar (pressure bar) in my entrance to let it dry. I usually don't have much of a mess. I have a baby gate in my doorway to keep the kids in/out my entrance while I get them ready so no one walks in my house with their boots, not even parents ;)

I tell parents in their daily report to dry their gear. So far so good!

Good luck with everything!

I agree that outside play time makes for an awesome nap time ��. We go outside from 11-12 , and then we go outside from 4- home time !! I love having everyone ready to go !!!! The advantage is mine will nap until 3 and then by the time snack and diapers are done it's outside time !! So my playroom is spotless for the next day !!! ( I scrub while they eat lunch )
I understand your comment on the parents !! Not taking off shoes !!! Thankfully my dayhome has a separate entrance , so I undress on the cement stairs ( boots anyway) and our coat room is the first thing as you enter .
I feel for you !! A lot of added stress trying to keep everything looking spotless !!!

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Originally Posted by mickyc

Thanks Lou!! The house I have in mind has a cement driveway and morning walks would definitely be possible (or even playing in the garage with the garage doors open!!). I also would have a great big back entrance where I could hang all clothes. Right now I have that spot in my basement. Gotta sell first though so here's hoping!!

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That must be so hard! What have the parents said regarding you selling the house, I imagine that they're looking for another caregiver? Or are you moving somewhere close by? Just wondering in case I ever have to sell.

daycaremom9 - I am moving close by and more convenient for the parents so they are happy! I have lost 2 families since we listed so that could potentially be the reason but who can say. First spot was quickly filled but my upcoming spot seems harder to fill. I am hoping that now that spring is fast approaching that the showings will increase and we can get the house sold and hopefully get the one we want to buy! It would be absolutely perfect for my daycare and I think the parents will be impressed. Crossing my fingers!!

mickyc - I went to an open house yesterday (just for fun, we aren't moving again until the kids are done school). Anyways, I saw one that was just perfect for daycare! I wish I was house shopping so I could have bought it.

We spend most of our day outside. In warmer weather, I leave our stuff outside on our deck, maybe hang it on the clothesline if it's wet. In winter, we undress inside on a mat that the kids are trained to not leave until their stuff is off. I will hang their stuff up to dry and wipe up any snow that has been trailed through the house.

If I am honest, my house gets messy. By the end of the day, you can tell a herd of kids has been through here a few times :) I couldn't imagine having to have it showcase ready at the end of the day!!

Could you get some mats that you could easily shake off, roll up and put away at the end of the day if need be? We always leave muddy boots outside so that doesn't come in the house period. My group loves to clean, maybe hand them some paper towel when you come in and they can help wipe up the mess?

We are usually outside at pick up so they don't even need to come back in once we are out again. Maybe you could save your outdoor time for then?