''Discipline'' the child when parents are there ?

[Inspired by Reggio]

.
Plus isnt it risky to bring in time-out when parents just want to leave ? What if I get problems with the parent after ?!

I personally do not use time outs because I find them ineffective so this is not an issue for me ~ I would just be addressing that the behaviour was inappropriate, needed to stop and if it did not that the consquence would be tomorrow you will have to get ready prior to mom and dad arriving so that you can leave without treating mom or dad like that'

At my house if a child is sent for some alone time it is because they have lost 'control' of their emotions and need a safe place to self regulate not as 'punishment' for something they have done ... so they control how long they are 'in an alone space' and than are welcome to return when needed to have a conversation and resolve the conflict that caused them to loose their noodle in the first place

.
OMG I am so firm with the kids during the day, but when the parents get here I'm afraid to show them my ''frimness'' perhaps because they'll think I'm too firm and take their kids out

IMO this needs to change or you are going to continue to have issues with pick up and drop off because your daycare children can SEE that you behave inconsistently when other adults are around ... this gives them power and control ...so they are going to misbehave just to TEST how far they can push before you DO do something and over time that will start 'escalating' so that behavior is not just being tested at pick up and drop off but all day long .... the rules and expectations for children need to be the same regardless of who is around or you end up with mutiny over time!

I do not behave any differently with my crew regardless of whose here if they do something that needs redirecting I redirect it, if they have a conflict that needs resolution we resolve it, if they were to do something that made me angry I would let them know in a socially acceptable manner ... IMO we do a child a disservice by pretending that we never have extreme feelings and showing them how we deal with them without 'hitting/yelling/etc' that we tell them not to do ... if I was concerned that my practice might be seen as 'too firm' I would have to honestly reflect on IS IT TRULY and adjust my practice so I could be consistent in front of others or if I truly felt I was just in my actions and handling of situations that way than I would know I some how attracted clients into my program that do not share my values on child rearing in which case it likely would not be a 'bad thing' if they choose to leave because I was FIRM with my expectations for human decency because over time it will ensure I end up with a program that has minimal stress cause the children all behave well