We seem to go through cycles in Ontario and not sure if it is media driven or what but I think there are too many mommies on local mommies boards and talking and sharing and scaring each other.

For a few years it was first aid certificates being up to date as in within the last 6 months or less even though they are good for three years - used to be five.

Then it was references and not just daycare they wanted a personal reference - well now we have facebook for checking out your weekend friends and activities I guess.

Now it is the police check. I think because it has expanded to be so in demand everywhere that it just becomes the thing to ask for. It has gotten to the point of silly but every organization is in a panic to protect themselves legally. As I said earlier we were to have one to be a sunday school teacher so instead of getting one I refused to teach. My son had to have one to help with a soccer team for under age 7 even though the only time he was with the boys was on the field and parents were there cause the kids were too young to get themselves there as in he wasn't responsible for them just there too. I get it sort of just wish others would get that the false sense of security is going to come back to haunt them in the end because it proves nothing.

There are several checklists for parents floating around on Ontario websites - including listed on teh CCPRN unless they have changed it but one of the questions parents are told to ask about is if we have insurance. That is for my protection not theirs and as far as I am concerned non of their business. Have had a few ask about it and my response to the question has always been "Why are you planning to sue me?" to which they mumble something and usually change the subject. If they insist on an answer I tell them non of their business and that has totally got the interview off on the wrong foot and it usually doesn't go well from there cause I am mad at this point or they are annoyed or both.

I think media does do a lot of the damage in how they report about incidents, etc.