Picking up child off the bus and OTHER daycare kids???

[Inspired by Reggio]

My advice would be whatever you end up choosing make sure your clients are aware in writing in your policies if you are stepping outside of your home to the front of your property to retrieve children from the bus while others are in the house either asleep or quietly engaged and I would also invest in a 'video monitor' as well so that you can still SEE them while you are doing this that way they were never being left 'unsupervised' so to speak.

I cannot find the case law link online by there was a provider a few years back who stepped out to the end of her driveway to get the mail during quiet time and a child was injured during those few moments cause they climbed out of their crib ~ parents sued and she was found negligent for having left them 'unsupervised' with the courts arguing that had she be IN the house at the time of the accident she could have heard the child stirring and gone up to prevent him from climbing out .... seriously that was a very RARE set of circumstances aligning on that poor provider making her life hell ... the fact is that as 'business owners' we are held to a higher standard than 'parents' cause while we all know that parents everywhere step outside their homes ALL THE TIME with the kids inside and that kids climb out of cribs ALL the time in their homes parents do not sue themselves if their kid gets injured in that moment we on the other hand are being 'paid to provide a service' and if something happens we are on the hook of scrutiny of the public eye

I have a supervision policy in my parent handbook that clearly states that at times of the day I am using other senses or means to supervise children because I am but one person and my eyes cannot be directly on ALL the kids all the time so monitors and other venues are used to assist me if I have to step out of a room or nip inside for a second while they are outside and so forth.

[kidlove]

What happens when you have to go to the bathroom and kids are in your care? What if a child climbs out of crib while "napping"? even if you have a monitor you can't watch it 24/7 you would go bonkers! I do think you use your best judgement and do what you have to do to keep ALL kids as safe as possible at ALL times. I have noticed "country life" is very different from "city life".

[Crayola kiddies]

That it is kidlove that it is !

[Mamma_Mia]

Thanks for the KIND advice to some, this is all new to me. I would still be on my property, just at the end of my driveway, and there are no other kids that get off at my daughters stop, (we live in the middle of no where) So taking them with me in the afternoon it is! And no Kingston Mom, I will not be leaving daycare to take a 'walke' as you say

I see no problem standing on your front lawn while the others nap. I'd bring a monitor with me just in case and make sure to have your keys....I've heard of weird things happen and ppl getting locked out of their homes. I don't know how but it's happened LOL

It's the same thing as going into your garage or backyard while they nap......as long as you're not leaving the property, I personally don't see an issue with it.

[sunnydays]

OMG! Thank you for this! I am going to call my son's bus company today! He just started Jk and we take him to and from the bus stop...it is about a block and a half, so not bad, but there is no sidewalk or safe place to put the stroller with the other kids while getting him off of the bus. I had thought of asking them to move the stop because of my daycare, but had never thought about the safety aspect. I think I will still take the kids out with me to drop him off and pick him up though as we have to go about 5 minutes early in the morning because it sometimes comes a bit early and we miss it...same kind of thing in the afternoon. But at least if they could come in front of my house, I could keep them strapped in the stroller in the open garage in inclement weather Fingers crossed!

Yes.. things happen with busses. They get delayed, they have to go back to the school because someone missed it, they break down and have to wait until another bus comes to pick up.

It's best to keep the kids with you.

My bus stop is directly in front of my house so I can just stick my head out the front door, waive at the driver and out come my kids.

Did you think of calling the bus company? Sometimes they will move the bus stop for you. Safety is their number one priority and if you can prove that the stop is not safe then they will change it for you. It's worth a shot.

My bus stop was origionally down the street and around the corner, but there isn't a sidewalk and very little shoulder. I called and complained and I got a spot in front of my house.

Best of luck, I'm sure you'll make it work.

[apples and bananas]

no problem, I put mine in a choo wagon and drive them in circles around the driveway. Or we watch the trucks go by... and we call out the colours of the cars.

[kidlove]

sunnydays, I'm sure you will remember but: Don't forget to stress the fact, you have MANY other little ones to care for and keep safe on the travel to the bus stop because you run a Day Care. perhaps they would do the extra stop at your place because of the fact you run a Day Care? is it just your kid or others?
I'll tell you...the one thing I hate about the school year is the bus!!!!!!!

In the am I have to pack up all the Day Care babies along with my two and make it to a "side road" where we sit and wait for the bus, then scramble back to the house to retrieve more kids getting dropped off literally minutes after mine get on the bus, (about 3 minutes or less to be exact) Then get another one on a dif bus that stops at my drive about 25 minutes later, and all this while, keeping everyone happy!!!!! Not to mention, the transportation office and I have had quite a few conversations regarding the kids (9 and 11) being able to get off the bus on their own on our road. (some days I just cant get ALL kids out the door and to the end of the drive to retrieve my kids from the bus) the bus comes at the end of nap. some still sleeping, some just waking up, some wake up with poopy diapers, others wake up and whine for a while, or cry if they dont get drink or snack....."what the!!!!!" some days i wonder how one person is supposed to manage ALL this!!!!!!!?

[sunnydays]

I have sent them an email explaining the situation and stressing the lack of a safe spot to park my six seater stroller full of babies and toddlers...this is the truth...in winter I can't even imagine! We'll see...I am hopeful because the bus already comes very near our house...it is already on our street...it would be a very small detour. Kidlove...your sittuation sounds terrible! I am very lucky because my son`s bus drops him off at close to 4pm...naptime is finished and we have time to have a snack and get ready first. I am so thankful for this! In fact, his school is close enough to walk to if we miss the bus in the morning (as we did today), which also helps...he is only taking the bus because it buys me a little more time and makes things that much easier with all the dck`s!

[kidlove]

Just got a text last night from one Mom stating her two boys will be dropped off after I take my kids to the bus now. (before it was before the bus and I had to transport them down the road as well) getting better!!!!

[cfred]

Thanks for the KIND advice to some, this is all new to me. I would still be on my property, just at the end of my driveway, and there are no other kids that get off at my daughters stop, (we live in the middle of no where) So taking them with me in the afternoon it is! And no Kingston Mom, I will not be leaving daycare to take a 'walke' as you say

I used to live in a rural location and also didn't relish taking all the kids to the bus stop. Like you, our bus stop was at the end of our driveway. I spoke to the bus driver in person and asked if it would be okay to wave at her from the front window, so she knew I was there, but didn't have to drag all the kids outside, especially in the winter. She understood that it was a daycare and seemed okay with it and we did it this way for several years, after I had school aged kids in my program as well. The only fly in the ointment was on snowy/icy days, if you live on an incline or decline as I did. In that case, the bus may need to let the child off up the road, in which case you'll have to work it out.