13 kids in care

[playfelt]

I get that you are annoyed that you have gone to all the trouble to get licensed and put up with the nonsense of home visits etc that in reality don't change how you do you job. If you can care for 8 kids then the other children at the park are not really in danger just because their home is unlicensed. The fact there is no insurance if there is an accident the parents are willing to overlook and the provider is willing to take the risk but that doesn't change the quality of care the kids receive from day to day.

[Sandbox Sally]

You have mentioned that parents are not concerned about the number of children in care. The provider doesn't seem to be hiding things from her clients so there is not really much for you to do about it. Parents have made the choice to place their children in her care.

Sandbox Sally...your example is very different, you saw a provider neglecting children. Obviously she does not tell clients that she plans to ignore their children and put them in danger. They have not chosen to place their child with her knowing she would put them in harms way.

It is different. Of course. In my earlier post, I referred to whether a provider (me, or the original poster) would feel responsible if something happened to one of the children in the care of an over limit provider. I said I would. Same thing as the provider who let the little ones wander out of sight. If I saw a provider at the playground, and she was three children over limit (or more!), and I said nothing, I would feel terrible should the kids be placed in harm's way and I did nothing to prevent it.

I was saying that it's a question that the op has to ask herself - would she be comfortable with her decision NOT to call if something happened to a child in the care of a provider who was caring for too many children?

[SongSparrow]

Do they have proper insurance? Not likely since I know insurance providers don't cover private daycares in Manitoba for more than 4 kids.

While I agree that there are terrible childcare situations out there, and I also agree that I would be upset to think there is a person out there with 13 kids in their care at one time, I don't see how whether or not they have insurance makes any difference in how safe the kids are? I know that I don't offer better care now than I did when I was uninsured. The insurance was for my own peace of mind

[cfred]

The problem with being over ratio and uninsured because of that, or being uninsured and within ratio is that IF there is a serious injury, no one's covered. If a serious incident takes place, resulting in parents having to leave work to care for a child or a child suffers long term/serious damage, I'd be highly skeptical of any parent just letting that go. I would think there would be legal repercussions in the form of formal charges, the business being shut down and a pretty serious law suit which would be paid for for the rest of the provider's life. We may all feel that we're doing the best that we can, and we are. However, things can happen that we never thought in a million years would. Wouldn't it be nice to be assured that if a child suffered a serious injury, the money is there for the family if they need it? If there's no insurance coverage, IMO, it's an incredible risk and not worth taking.

So far as those women having several children over ratio, I would report in a flat second if I knew for sure they were outside the legal boundaries. They are your competition and taking more than the legal and fair number of children prescribed legally, thereby potentially affecting your business growth. Play fair, play by the rules. Again, just my opinion.

[dodge__driver11]

I have mixed feelings about over ratio providers..When my son was little he went to an over ratio provider (I had no idea about ratios then) and her husband was there some of the time. DS always came home happy, well fed, and clean....

But since my exposure to lic and non lic. care along with false reporting... I would now report if I had proof and location.. :S

[momofnerds]

dumb question, but why wouldn't you talk to those providers and ask them point blank. I would and then you would know. I find it odd that they would bring that many kids out in public and with another provider.
I wouldn't call unless I had proof. I would not want to cause someone hardship if it is all heresay, I believe in karma lol!

[playfelt]

The problem with confronting is that once they know you are concerned about the ratios they will assume it was you that reported them and they could then turn around and do something that hurts your business.

[daycaremum]

I'm quite disturbed by how many providers are not concerned with other providers breaking the rules. I don't think I would report anyone, but it definitely would bother me that I am following all the rules and other providers are not. I do believe I am capable of taking care of more than the 5 children I am allowed, but I don't because it is the law.

[momofnerds]

when you start having that many kids, its not about the kids anymore its about greed. Its the greed of money. I would talk to these people, small talk, so who care if they know its you who calls, you shouldn't be worried unless you have something to hide. But just make sure you have some proof before you call. I think it would bother me also because she has so many kids and I'm trying to get some kids but because she has double the kids.