School pick up

[mimi]

In some jobs, changes need to be made for severe weather conditions. Outside workers do not work if temperatures fall/rise to certain degrees. School buses do not run if the roads are affected by weather and schools close or keep children in during recess due severe cold/heat. That is the nature of living with seasonal weather changes. If it is unsafe, especially for small children, then as adults we have to make changes to our schedule like drive our children to school if buses are not running etc. Parents need to respect the opinion of their providers as to the safety of all the children IMO

[BlueRose]

In some jobs, changes need to be made for severe weather conditions. Outside workers do not work if temperatures fall/rise to certain degrees. School buses do not run if the roads are affected by weather and schools close or keep children in during recess due severe cold/heat. That is the nature of living with seasonal weather changes. If it is unsafe, especially for small children, then as adults we have to make changes to our schedule like drive our children to school if buses are not running etc. IMO

very true, BUT you are also made aware of this before hand.
Next year my oldest will be going to school. I will be doing drop offs and pick ups for him and other children. If its too cold should I:

A: call the school and say " hay, its to cold to bring my youngest son and my daycare kids to pick up my oldest. can i just leave my son there until I am done work"

B: call all the parents of all the young children, have them pick up early so I can get my son. Then what do I do with my youngest?????

C: Let all parents know in advance that I will be doing school pick ups/drop off if the school is open, no matter of the weather, so please make sure your child is dressed accordingly. If you don't want your child going out in the bad weather, this is not the daycare for you.


My husband works at the other end of town and can't just leave work to pick up our son, not if he wants to keep his job.

Just wondering what you all think.

As a business woman I will honor my contract. if it states I will pick up/drop off, then I will. If it states that it depends on the weather, then it depends on the weather. I would NOT just change my contract out of the blue with out a proper notice to the parents. That is unprofessional in my opinion.

[kelleyg19]

Well said Mimi.
With three children under the age of 2 and with the local health unit issuing a cold wether alert I think I made the right decision in not doing drop off and pick up today. Even yesterday with the kids all bundled up and covered with blankets they were still cold for a good hour after getting back from school pick up. When doing pick up at the end of the day we are outside for 45 min. In temp of -24 it is too cold to take young children outside.
At the interview with the parent before taking her on, I asked if she would have back up if I wasn't able to get her daughter to school or if my son or I were sick. She responded that t wouldn't be a problem.
I can't control the weather. When it's raining we do school drop of and pick up if its snowing we do it. But in some cases like today I can't. I have to think about the other children in my care and how it would affect them.

[BlueRose]

At the interview with the parent before taking her on, I asked if she would have back up if I wasn't able to get her daughter to school or if my son or I were sick. She responded that t wouldn't be a problem.
I can't control the weather. When it's raining we do school drop of and pick up if its snowing we do it. But in some cases like today I can't. I have to think about the other children in my care and how it would affect them.

since this is already in your contract, then yes you were in the right. the way i read your first post it didn't sound like the parents were aware that you would do this if the weather was bad. It sounded like you just sprung it on them out of the blue.

BlueRose, I like your name change btw As for what you would do with your son, I would either try to find someone else to bring him or keep him home for the one day since days THIS bad aren't every day. But that's just me.

I don't have anyone who could pick up my son. I will not pay someone, to do something that I can do myself. As for keeping him home. What lesson does that teach the kids? I don't want my boys thinking its ok to miss work, just because its cold outside. If the school is open, my children will attend. I make sure that all parents are aware of this. If they don't like it, then this is not the daycare for them.

[BlueRose]

I think I should have added that I live right across the street form the school and we can stand just inside my building up until the bell rings then go across to get my son and the other kids. Sorry, I am not thinking straight right now, I have been listening to a child scream/cry since 7:30 this morning. All I want to do is scream myself. i think some of my frustration with this child has poured into these posts.

[mimi]

BlueRose no worries, we've all been where you are now. Sit and have a cup of tea and try and destress. Once I had a cryer who drove me insane. My hubby pulled in the driveway and I met him outside my eyes bulging with frustration. Hope your day gets better

[Sandbox Sally]

I think I should have added that I live right across the street form the school and we can stand just inside my building up until the bell rings then go across to get my son and the other kids. Sorry, I am not thinking straight right now, I have been listening to a child scream/cry since 7:30 this morning. All I want to do is scream myself. i think some of my frustration with this child has poured into these posts.

That is SO hard. I have a noob starting this week, and she cried all day yesterday. I thought I was going to lose my mind. Thankfully she's better today.

It frazzles the nerves, completely. Kudos to you for recognizing that your posts came off a little harsh.

[kelleyg19]

BlueRose I have been there! Lately for me it's my own son not getting along with a little boy that I started at the beginning if the month. Makes me want to pull my hair out.
I'm my polices it says that if I'm sick or my son is sick I will after 630am to inform the parents. When doing interviews I made clear that they require back up in case of emergencies (illness or death in the family). With this particular family I asked the mom if I can't get her daughter to school would she have back up, and she said yes because her husband has his own company and her mom is always available. I will be adding in a section of the polices about weather instead of just having verbal confirmation.
Hope everyone has a good afternoon!!

[sunnydays]

I think sometimes we have to do what is best for the entire group and if the cold poses a danger to the younger kids, we cannot risk their health for one child to go to school. In this case I would have cancelled as well and offered the parents to just bring the school aged child to the daycare for the day instead if drop-off and pick-up would be too difficult to arrange. I don't think this teaches a child any bad lesson. If they have to miss school due to extreme weather, all it teaches them is that they should not risk their lives or the safety of others for any reason. If there is freezing rain, etc. I do not take my son to school as it is not safe to take the little ones out. I think this teaches him that we have to care for each other and sometimes we have to sacrifice things we want to do because it is best for the group. I have been doing the school bus runs this week so far, but I just have to go two blocks, so we are out for about 10 minutes at a time. Tomorrow they are calling for -36 with wind chill in the morning...if that comes true, my son will stay home and we won't go out. At that point I believe it is dangerous for the little ones and it would be selfish of me to take them out just because I want MY son to go to school. Just my opinion.

[playfelt]

I think it all has to be put into perspective too. A child in kindergarten or even grade one is not going to miss so much teaching that they can't make it up the next day - no different than being sick at home for a day. Once the child is in grade 2 they are allowed to go to the bus stop alone in theory so on some really cold days it might come down to making a judgement call depending on how far to the stop or who else is waiting at the stop.

I would have cancelled too and probably offered the parents the option to bring the child to my house for the day and charged only an extra $5 for lunch or let child bring and eat whatever mom had already packed. As in it isn't the parent's fault the child needs to be in care all day - it is mine for not being willing to go get him.