My son Jack has been attending in-home daycare since he was 5 months old. He needs to be around other children and me staying home is not an option. I have done soooo much research and thought I finally found the best place. However, today she handed my husband a rejection letter stating there were parent/ childgiver differences. Here's the story....I went to pick up my son from the daycare. The provider opened the door and my son said, "come on!" and led me to the backyard to show me the rain. We stayed a while and then I quietly convinced him it was time to go home and we left. The provider is stating that I must ask permission to come into the home. I am to only drop my son off and then pick him up. HELP!!! I am I wrong for wanting to see my son in his school environment???
I do not know anything about childcare as I have been as stay at home mom since my first son was born. All I can say is that I would not feel comfortable leaving my child in a place that I was not welcome to see at any time I wished. Good luck!
Thats crazy, your son has been going there for 1.5 years and she is asking you to leave over you coming into her home. ( I assume that is what you mean by a rejection letter) Home daycares should have open door policies in my opinion. I have my own home daycare and I allow my parents to enter at any time they wish. The door is always open for a parent and I encourage them to come right on in for pick up and drop off. I would have to question if something else is bothering her, it really seems like such a silly reason to ask someone to leave. Good Luck in your search for another daycare.
Your care provider is running a business. An ordinary person has every right to tell people not to come into their home. However, the care provider has changed the rules by running a business in her home. While your child is there you have every right to enter the home in a reasonable manner and inspect the premises where your child is being cared for. You do not have a right to go poking in her cabinets, but you have a right to walk into the playroom or any other area where your child is permitted in the regular course of business, while your child is there. This is a HUGE red flag- any care giver should not have a problem with a parent coming by at any time during the day to check in on their little one. She could certainly ask that you not stay "late"- of course she wants her business day to end just like everyone else. But if she does not want you to enter the house without permission, even when your child is inside, I would find another caregiver immediately.
J.- There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to enter the daycare. That is where your child, your precious cargo, is all day long while you work, and it should be up to your standards. How would any parent know if a provider is appropriate, especially an in-home if they can't see the physical environment where their child is cared for all day. That's absolutely ludicrous! I don't know if this is the provider's first notice to you or if this has been an ongoing requests of hers? If they are going to provide a childcare in their home they had better be entirely trasparent and willing to let any parent see their home. It would also be very ignorant of a parent to allow their child to attend a daycare that they have not inspected and walked through.
J., I'm sorry for your frustration and maybe I can help. My name is J., and I'm a certified elementary school teacher with over 10 years experience. I just recently left my teaching position to open my own in-home daycare/preschool. Whether it's in the classroom or in my home I have always had an "open-door" policy when it comes to parents. The way I see it, the closer I am to the parents, and the more welcome they feel in my home - the more comfortable their child will be. I believe that the stronger a relationship is between parents and "teacher," the better the child will thrive and flourish. I'm not sure where you're located but I'm at 40th street and Thunderbird, and if you were picking up your son from me you'd be welcome in my home any time. You don't even need to knock, let alone ask permission. :) Please check out my site, I have 2 openings right now. Thanks, J.
www.footprintsearlylearning.webs.com
Hi J.! I operated a home daycare for over 8 years and I always had an open door policy to parents. I would be very leary of anyone who offered home daycare that didn't allow parents in during normal business hours. It would lead me to believe that the provider has somthing to hide. Remember, your child is your first priority and only has you as their parent to look out for their best interests, follow your gut instincts! They are there for a reason. I wish you all the best!
I guess I have a little bit of a different perspective...
I was a home daycare provider for 2 years. While I maintained an open door policy with my parents, if one of the parents wanted to follow their child into my backyard, I would expect them to ask permission. Something as simple as, "Do you mind if we go watch the rain in the backyard?" would have been a better idea, than to go waltzing through her house.
While it is your right to see all the areas that your child is in during the day, it is also her right to require that you ask permission to walk through her house.
I feel that this, however, was an innocent mistake and perhaps she should have handled it differently. I am guessing that she feels you invaded her privacy. She could have simply said, "I would rather you not go outside, as I don't want mud in the house, etc. etc."
I guess what I am saying, is that I would have been upset too and I think that you need to see it from her point of view. I do think she was wrong for quitting you, but I do see where she is coming from...
Hi J.!
I am an in home daycare provider and I can tell you that parents are always welcome to come into my home and go into areas where there children play. I would not expect them to go through my bedrooms but to walk through the house where your child is playing is perfectly fine. I will say that sometimes parents tend to "overstay" and that can get frustrating, especially if it is at the end of the day. We want to get our day over with too. If that is truly the reason she is letting you go then it is probably a good thing and go find someone who you can truly trust. That is a very weird reason!
M.
As a home daycare provider, I get the chills to hear your provider has rules about parents entering the house. Your child is there all day and you should be able to walk in and feel comfortable in the daycare home just as you'd want him to be. A provider who doesn't want parents in their home is a provider with something to hide.
I have an open-door policy in my home daycare, to the point that I leave my front door unlocked during business hours because I don't feel a parent should have to wait for me to open the door to come get their child. Parents have the freedom to drop-off/pick-up at their convenience, with naptime being the only time my house is "closed" so as not to disrupt everyone's naps. I want the children to feel like this is an extension of their homes and I want the parents to be comfortable leaving their babies with me while they're at work.
If you're looking for childcare still, I do have openings. I'd love for you to come check out my daycare. Please call me at ###-###-#### or email me at ____@____.com.
Hi J.,
I am a in home provider of 28 years and when you open your home to the public for childcare you have to expect that parents will come in your house. If you have nothing to hide there should be no problem. If a parent can trust me with their child I certainely can trust them to come in and see the place whenever they feel it necessary. As long as both parties respect each other there should be no problem. After all this is the most important person in your life. Maybe she was just having a bad day. Or maybe there is more to this than she was really telling you. Whatever the reason she has now made it clear she is not interested in continuing care for your child. If you are looking for care and I can be of help let me know. I have excellent references on here under in home childcare- Toni's Toddlers. If I am not in your area there are many other qualified providers who would be happy to have your business. Good Luck.
Toni ###-###-####
As a home care provider, I would not mind if you had walked through(other than you having pass through my sometimes messy laundry room to get to the back door)I feel if the child and parents are to trust me, then I am to trust and welcome them in my home. Wow that is kinda a weird thing to let a child go for. Good luck.
