What should I do?

[Calgarymom]

Hi, a dcb I look after who is 2 has today taken a big bite out of my NEW sofa. I am unsure what to do now, this boy has a constant problem with putting things in his mouth and chewing things (his coat is faded and hard at the neck where he constantly chews it). My question is in regards to my new beautiful sofa what would you do, is this just one of the downfalls of running a daycare or would you tell the parents that they have to pay to repair it?

[playfelt]

I would for sure be telling the parents what happened and discuss ways to deal with his chewing as it isn't normal at two to need this amount of oral stimulation. Unfortunately you may have to pay for it yourself since it does come down to supervision in the sense that if child was being watched you would have stopped him before he mouthed the couch so it really isn't the parents fault so to speak. Your insurance may cover it but according to the revenue Canada rules if you can prove that something is directly damaged by a daycare child the repair is a claimable expense. Wear and tear is not so a sofa that doesn't last the full 10 years intended isn't covered but a chewed hole to be repaired would be covered. Keep all receipts and take a picture of hole to put with receipt as well as maybe send the parent an email or type up a letter outlining the situation and asking for assistance with dealing with the oral issues - that will be your proof that it was done by a daycare child.

[KellyP]

Having a cluttered noisy house is just part of doing daycare. Kids who actually eat your furniture is crossing a line... big time! I would have the sofa repaired and charge the parents for it.

My contract actually states that normal wear and tear costs will be absorbed by me but any intentional destruction of toys or furniture will be the parent's responsibility to pay for.

[Artsand crafts]

I will pass the bill on to parents, too and talk a plan with the parents to address that behavior.

[Momof4]

Omigosh, poor you Calgarymom! I would be furious and yes, I would talk to the parents about the behaviour and ask them to pay the bill to fix the couch. My couch is microfiber and the drooling makes ugly splotches on it that I have to wash nightly when I have a drooler in care but, wow!

[SecondAve]

100% parents should pay for the repair. I also have something in my contract concerning normal wear and tear, as well as destructive actions. Purposely biting a couch is not normal wear and tear.