3.5k
Daycare and childcare providers in Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario etc. in CanadaGarderies à Montréal ou au QuébecFind daycare or childcare providers in the USA
Forum control
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    347
    Thanked
    34 Times in 28 Posts

    Crazy Weather-when to close?

    Hey Everyone!

    Just wondering how everyone in southern Ontario is handling the threat of some pretty stormy weather. Do you clothes when schools close? Do you close at all? How do you handle it with your families?

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Posts
    4,499
    Thanked
    1,469 Times in 1,125 Posts
    I leave it up to parents to come or not to come. I do plan ahead and make sure I have foods that don't need cooked such as cold meats, cheese, crackers etc. and have them cut up ready to go just in case I need to grab them and head for the basement or whatever. I have flashlights charged so we can see if the power goes out and generally on stormy days plan to stay upstairs to do things instead of being in the basement where it is harder to monitor the weather and really dark if the power goes out.

    In most cases if it is that bad parents are staying home too or will go to work but then be sent home early to get their kids.

    Mostly it is life as normal just with some extra precautions in place ahead of time.

  3. #3
    Euphoric ! Inspired by Reggio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    2,697
    Thanked
    946 Times in 686 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by playfelt View Post
    I leave it up to parents to come or not to come......
    This is typically me as well .... IMO I am here and do not have to commute to work and if the parent is comfortable community in inclement weather that is their choice and their burden to bare if they get into an accident or stuck somewhere!

    If I am open and they choose NOT to come because of inclement weather I still get paid and that is clearly in my contract ~ it is no different than if the child is sick or on vacation if I am here and ready willing and able to work than I get paid for that service being 'here'.

    Now that said if we were going to be without power and therefore in the winter without HEAT for a LONG period of time than I would likely suggest clients stay home because it gets harder to entertain the masses long term without power as well as keep enough food on hand for that many day after day and well likely parents would not be working anyway if they too have no power in the community

    Thankfully we have a wood burning fireplace and other camping stuff to survive without power for a few days should we need!
    Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect."
    Loris Malaguzzi

  4. #4
    Starting to feel at home... Big Hearts's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    76
    Thanked
    11 Times in 11 Posts
    In winnipeg we get -40 weather in the winter if the schools close in my area we are closed too. I would just make sure i have supplys for everyone for a few days. Good luck and be safe

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Big Hearts For This Useful Post:


  6. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Jennifer Winton View Post
    In winnipeg we get -40 weather in the winter if the schools close in my area we are closed too. I would just make sure i have supplys for everyone for a few days. Good luck and be safe
    Do you still charge when you close or not?

  7. #6
    Euphoric ! mimi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    1,482
    Thanked
    555 Times in 413 Posts
    I would charge as the weather is beyond your control and if it is that severe it is a safety issue. I have never closed due to weather myself, but if I hear businesses are closing then I would contact parents for early pick up.
    When I was in University I worked parttime for a major department store. If the store closed early due to weather you knew it was bad outside. We would announce store closing while people were still coming in the store and the majority, I kid you not, were mom's with babies and toddlers in strollers. They would give the staff an incredulous look when we would tell them the store was closing. I can't imagine what they told themselves to make it ok to take their little ones in the car to the mall on a dangerous weather day.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to mimi For This Useful Post:


  9. #7
    Euphoric ! Inspired by Reggio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    2,697
    Thanked
    946 Times in 686 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mimi View Post
    .... I can't imagine what they told themselves to make it ok to take their little ones in the car to the mall on a dangerous weather day.
    Yup ~ last winter we had a 'stormagendon' here in Southwestern Ontario and almost everything in the city was closed ~ no buses, no schools, no malls or stores, no libraries or public services and emergency staff only at hospitals and so forth and the Mayor had asked non essential businesses to stay closed and anyone who did not absolutely HAVE to work to stay home and off the streets so that they could get them cleared safely and so forth .... all of my other 4 clients stayed home for like 3 days due to this weather but you want to know who managed to make it in everyday for the full 9 hours the STAY AT HOME MOM and when she noticed others had not come she asked if she could pay me extra to take her school age kid since I had space as she'd dragged her out in the car as well to drop off the younger one

    Their stupidity to risk their lives and their children's lives for what some quiet time at home for the parent and some 'socialization' with their OWN SIBLING out of their house? But bright side it allowed me to earn an extra $105 that week.
    Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect."
    Loris Malaguzzi

  10. #8
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    347
    Thanked
    34 Times in 28 Posts
    Thanks everyone! I think what makes the most sense is to follow the lead of the local schools.

  11. #9
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    347
    Thanked
    34 Times in 28 Posts
    I agree with mimi-most circumstances for closures I don't charge-but severe weather is completely out of my control so I would not consider that a case to reimburse fees...

  12. #10
    apples and bananas
    Guest
    If there is bad weather I'm not going anywhere, so if parents want to bring thier kids, that works for me. I leave it up to the parents. But I do not charge if they choose not to come . I don't want anyone putting themselves at risk because they want to get their money's worth.

Similar Threads

  1. What do you charge when you close early?
    By suzydominguez in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 01-08-2016, 09:17 AM
  2. I am really close to call it quits- i need to vent
    By MonkeyPrincess in forum The day-to-day as a daycare provider
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 02-12-2014, 10:10 PM
  3. Just want to isolate myself but cant just close for a week or two :(
    By DisneyPrincess in forum The day-to-day as a daycare provider
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 05-02-2013, 06:56 PM
  4. I've decided to close
    By jazmic in forum Daycare providers' experiences with parents
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 03-10-2013, 01:55 PM
  5. Do you close if your own kids are sick?
    By mlc1982 in forum Caring for children
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 03-07-2011, 02:06 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

A few tips...

If you visited or if you're using a childcare provider found on DaycareBear, do not hesitate to leave a review. This will most certainly help other parents!
Did you know?
DaycareBear receives more than 155 700 unique pageviews each month; that's nearly 1.9 million pages per year!
Partner in your
search for a daycare provider