Errands

[mickyc]

Suzie- with the comment that we are paid to work not run errands then how does that logic apply to days we close with pay. We are being paid to work right?

Focusing on the child's needs not the providers? Well do the kids not eat? What is wrong with buying groceries while on the clock? Kids learn life skills while running errands, learn about making healthy food choices.

I don't book many days off a year and ask all parents to give me notice when they will be away. Most times if I just have 1 kid I will close. Sometimes I am not given notice and suddenly find myself with 1 kid. I certainly am not going to sit and entertain 1 child all day long. What a great chance for us to go out and get some stuff done and we always follow up with something like mcd's or the pRk

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Suzie- with the comment that we are paid to work not run errands then how does that logic apply to days we close with pay. We are being paid to work right?

Focusing on the child's needs not the providers? Well do the kids not eat? What is wrong with buying groceries while on the clock? Kids learn life skills while running errands, learn about making healthy food choices.

I don't book many days off a year and ask all parents to give me notice when they will be away. Most times if I just have 1 kid I will close. Sometimes I am not given notice and suddenly find myself with 1 kid. I certainly am not going to sit and entertain 1 child all day long. What a great chance for us to go out and get some stuff done and we always follow up with something like mcd's or the pRk

I sorry if you upset with my view.

Paid leave not relevant. My point was I being paid during day that child is here, to educate, entertain and care for child. It not for me to go doctor, grocery shop, bank and bring children along. My day care hours are for the focus on children's need, not for my needs and expecting children to go along so I can reduce my to-do list.

If I nurse, I could not wheel patient in bed to grocery store and it be inappropriate.
If I carer in nursing home, it be inappropriate to take elderly person to do my errands.

All grown up have thing they need to do at end of work day. All grown up need groceries, banking, pick up dog food. Just because we work from home, that not mean we have to lower standard of professions.

No other job would allow this "on the clock". People expected to do in own time. And before you say we work longer hours than most - that is our choice. We chose home day care. We choose more than other child care person, our hours. Yes, kid learn life skills while running errands and will learn when doing that with their family.

If you think buying grocery on clock is okay, that fine. I was clear that for me it not. I would also not have daycare children sort my dirty laundry, or clean my toilet but that is life skill too, no?

I would open for one child because I have contract for care. If some don't come, and I have one, that way it goes. I would not dream of saying to that one set parent, "oh I'm closing today because I'm not going to sit and entertain your child all day long so we doing my errands and your kid can tag along". If that how you choose operate, that fine. But not me.

Suzie, going grocery shopping can be an amazing opportunity for learning: math skills, colours, nutrition to name a few. During the holidays, it can provide an opportunity to talk about different cultures and how they celebrate. I agree that we arent paid to shop but if it is used as a learning experience, that is great.

Yes but that not what was said. Taking child for errand is not primarily for learning experience. It for convenience of provider primarily. Adding a couple of math question not make it suddenly about child care. It still about provider doing personal task in work day however it presented.

[Lee-Bee]

All opinions aside it comes down to what you tell the parents before they sign a contract.

If you let them know that you will be doing errands and housework before they sign they have the option to send their child elsewhere if they are not comfortable with this. If you inform them of this first then you are doing your job (while running errands)...you've put these errands into your job description.

Parents just need to be given the chance to agree to it first. It is just about being transparent with the families and not about who is doing better care.