Transition process

[Judy Trickett]

I never allow a dcparent to be IN my daycare while other kids are here. It's not safe, IMO. I don't know these people! They all sit in our living rooms and ask if we have police checks, if the other people in our family have police checks, who the other people are who have access to our homes and then they ask if THEY can hang out for a few hours? That is totally incongruent withe what every.....single.... .parent....I have ever interviewed with showed concern with.

Honestly, it is my JOB, first and foremost, to ensure every child in my care is safe, both emotionally, environmentally and physically. These parents don't go and get US a police check. They could be anyone!

There is a provider who used to frequent this forum who has a story about this situation. I will paraphrase, but, in short, she exchanged daycare services for some home repairs with a current, and long-time client at the time. The dad was INSIDE the house for hours and hours doing some renos etc while the daycare was operating. A few months later she found out that dcdad had a record for sexual misconduct or sexual assault (not sure on the exact terms). Yes! She had a convicted sex offender in her home during daycare hours and never knew it until it was too late!

Point is, they can't have it all!

I get it, I really do. It has to take every ounce of strength you have, as a parent, to hand over your child to, what is essentially, a stranger. But, and I am gonna get flamed for this - that is the CHOICE you make when you decide to go and work outside your home and put your child in daycare. Does it suck? I'm sure it does! But that is the downside of your choice, as a parent.

[Spixie33]

When I first started - I did a couple of interviews during daycare hours (after getting permission from every existing client first). Each interview was a flaming disaster. I couldn't talk and carry out a conversation with the daycare kids vying for my attention and then they acted up. It was impossible to have an adult conversation about policies and rules and have noisy kids underfoot and playing things up for attention.

I never ever do an interview during daycare hours now. I don't care if that parent decides not to sign with me - but it will just not happen again. Either way it is a lost cause IMO.

I interview in evenings or weekends.

I don't allow parents to come in to transition the kids either. I don't understand how it helps to have the parents here because eventually the parent still leaves. The child may actually be more confused why the parent stayed at first and now isn't or where they went. I am totally a believer of quick drop offs especially during the first month. I always set the parents' expectations during an interview about what it would be like the first month with quick drop offs.

I do offer transition days where the parents can drop their child for 2 hours, then a half day and then 6 hours and then 10 hours. I charge for this. I am not sure if it really helps but it tends to make the parents feel better and it works for some kids depending on personality.

[Sassygirl]

Agree 100%

I never allow a dcparent to be IN my daycare while other kids are here. It's not safe, IMO. I don't know these people! They all sit in our living rooms and ask if we have police checks, if the other people in our family have police checks, who the other people are who have access to our homes and then they ask if THEY can hang out for a few hours? That is totally incongruent withe what every.....single.... .parent....I have ever interviewed with showed concern with.

Honestly, it is my JOB, first and foremost, to ensure every child in my care is safe, both emotionally, environmentally and physically. These parents don't go and get US a police check. They could be anyone!

There is a provider who used to frequent this forum who has a story about this situation. I will paraphrase, but, in short, she exchanged daycare services for some home repairs with a current, and long-time client at the time. The dad was INSIDE the house for hours and hours doing some renos etc while the daycare was operating. A few months later she found out that dcdad had a record for sexual misconduct or sexual assault (not sure on the exact terms). Yes! She had a convicted sex offender in her home during daycare hours and never knew it until it was too late!

Point is, they can't have it all!

I get it, I really do. It has to take every ounce of strength you have, as a parent, to hand over your child to, what is essentially, a stranger. But, and I am gonna get flamed for this - that is the CHOICE you make when you decide to go and work outside your home and put your child in daycare. Does it suck? I'm sure it does! But that is the downside of your choice, as a parent.