Has this happened to you

[kidzandme]

I am trying to fill two spaces in my daycare. I have been in childcare for 20 years.
One family that I was considering taking on have had an unusual request .
They want to drop by while my daycare is in full swing. I have never had this request before.
Do any of you allow this?
I am thinking that it would be really disruptive.
They also want a full tour of my home. My daycare is on the main floor. Everything is in full view except the bedrooms. I feel weird having people I don't know looking through my bedroom. Am I making too much of these requests?
Thanks in advance for your advice.

[apples and bananas]

I have had both requests. I don't mind if people look at the daycare sleeping space (which is in the kids bedrooms) But I close all doors that don't apply to the daycare.

I have refused the request to pop in during full daycare hours. I'll be honest, the main reason is because when I give in to every request from day one it sets the tone that I work for the client.

I have just let the perspective client know that "I loose all of my magic when a parent comes into the room" And that's that. The kids just don't behave the same so they will never get a real picture of how the day goes. Another adult is also too distracting for me and my focus needs to be on their children.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I personally show my whole home to all parents.(aside from our bedroom, I show where it is but they don't go in it) My hdc is in the basement but we do sometimes spend time upstairs in the living room. I also feel that the parents are more comfortable knowing "who I am" and that includes my living space. (just recently, a local hdcp was found to have pot in her home, it was her bf's but still...I have nothing to hide so that is why I show my home) **not saying that those of you who don't show your home are hiding something tho!!

I also do interviews during daycare hours. I spend enough time at work and I don't want to give up my time off to interview if they are able to come by during my work hours. So a parent wanting to come by for an hour or so doesn't bother me. It allows them to see how I interact with the children and what we do when they aren't around. Yes, it can be disruptive but it's not the end of the world to me and it's so rare that it doesn't really concern me. My dck's are pretty good and for the most part, it's really not that chaotic.

I worked in dc centres before and parents coming for a visit and staying for a bit is very common so I am used to that way of thinking. Leaving your child in a centre is a bit easier as there are other adults around to "monitor" each other and make sure they are not doing anything they shouldn't. Hdcp's don't have this and I can definitely understand why parents would be concerned. I am here to help put their mind at ease however I can.

If you are not comfortable with that though, it is okay to say no to the parent. Just be aware that it might raise a red flag to the parents and they may choose to go elsewhere. I would be totally okay with my dcp saying I couldn't look in the bedroom but I would wonder why I couldn't come for a visit during the day to see what is happening. Sometimes parents stay and chat for 20-30 mins so it wouldn't really be any different.

[Fun&care]

These days with everything in the news I think that refusing that kind of request would make parents feel uneasy and maybe look elsewhere. I see nothing wrong with showing the entire house, whether it's used for daycare or not. I show everything. At the end of the day parents probably just want to make sure you don't run a meth lab in the spare bedroom as for just dropping in during daycare hours...I can see why a parent would want to do it, but personally I don't like the idea of someone I hardly know coming in here and me exposing the kids to a complete stranger. It's different once they have submitted their deposit and paperwork, as after that I do play dates with my clients so they can see how things are run and they get to know the group. But like I said, home daycares are under so much scrutiny these days, can we still afford to refuse these requests???

[playfelt]

I show the main floor and the basement (diningroom and basement have play areas for the kids). I do not ever show the upstairs bedroom level but do show the parents at an interview the packnplay their child will use. I do interviews evenings and weekends where I get to concentrate on the family and get a good feel for them too.

I will do one short visit before they sign. The come first thing in the morning and stay no later than morning snack - come at 8 and go so we can have snack. I do not feed the visitors as mostly I interview babies anyways and I don't need parents and babies in the way while we clean up, wash up, get set up to eat etc. Mostly the parents want to meet the other kids their child will be around - are they rough, show signs of scared, unhappy, etc. I visit with the parents in the middle of the playroom upstairs - ie all confined to diningroom with any toy I know is a potential issue removed for the morning. About 8:45 I tell the kids to start putting the toys away while I say goodbye to our visitors - which sort of leaves them no option but to move towards the door. I explain that I have an obligation to not make my interviewing disruptive to the children and therefore they visit during freeplay but once we do snack we need to be free to carry on with our normal program. Again since they have a baby who cares what books I read or songs I sing as it will be awhile before their child joins in anyways since baby at interview might only be 6 months old.

[mickyc]

I don't show the upstairs to my home. No way! it is my space and not used for daycare at all. I haven't had any parents ask, and if they did I would just tell them that there is no need as their child will not be up there at all. I think of it this way - would you ask to see the staff room at your child's school? NO. Only spaces that your child will be in are part of the interview.

I also only interview evenings and weekends. I have done interviews during daycare hours and it never goes well. It is too disruptive and things get missed. I now only meet outside of daycare hours. If a parent wants to see what goes on during daycare then they are free to drop off and pick up whenever they please (providing it isn't nap time) but they are not allowed to stay. I have a 2 week trial period that a parent (or myself) can terminate care for no reason. So they have 2 weeks to decide if they think I am a good fit for their child. One of the reasons I don't interview during work hours is chances are the child being interviewed misbehaves or does something that isn't allowed at daycare. I do not discipline children when their parents are present and this usually ends up with the other kids tattling on the new kid, which tends to make things awkward. I haven't had anyone ask to stay and I would say no anyways. Their child needs to realize that their parent cannot stay and it will give mixed signals to the child if they do. Also the other kids tend to be show offs given an audience.

[kidzandme]

Thank you for all of your advice.
My bedroon is not used for the dc at all. The basement is for my children they are in university.
Next week I have just two dck, so I will invite them for one day next week. I will set it up like playfelt
That way
I am in control. I will close all doors not pertaining to my dc and hope that it will be a nonissue.
I understand all that goes on in the world concerning dch, but they are the exception not the rule
. Also that is what
my references and criminal bg check are for. If I were to hide pot or run a meth lab while being in dc for so long
I would indeed be clever enough to disguise even that. I think people need to trust their instincts more and pay a
decent wage for daycare and maybe just maybe treat that person that looks after your most precious bundle with
dignity and respect. That being said I hate interviews. I feel a rate hike coming on or a paid vacation!!! LOL

[kidzandme]

Sorry for the bad spacing computer broke and had to type on my phone.......stupid phone.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree with you kidzandme but I would also be leery of a parent who showed NO interest in trying to find out what kind of person I was or what my home looked like outside of my dc area too. A parent who is willing to leave their child with just anybody is as just as concerning as an overprotective parent. It's hard to find that happy medium

Good luck with your interview!!

[MonkeyPrincess]

My daycare is in the basement, we eat in the kitchen on the main floor, and the kids sleep in the the spare bedroom on the second floor. Although I don't use the whole house for daycare, i do use a space on the floors in the house. You will see most of my house as i take you thru to the basement and spare bedroom, but i won't make a point of showing the other bedrooms. I don't think it's necessary for the parents to see where WE sleep, just where their child sleeps.