Need Help with "Wild" Children in My Home Daycare!!!

Hi there! I am a licensed daycare provider in Illinois and have done daycare from my home for 4 years. I have two things to offer.

First, I would get rid of them and I mean now. You are putting the other younger children at risk with these older kids who refuse to behave. There is no way I would tolerate a child going to their friends' house rather than mine that would have done it if nothing else had prior to that. Mom obviously doesn't want to work on the kids' behavior problems so I would terminate immediately.

Second, how in the world are you getting away with watching 10 kids all by yourself without an assistant every day? not sure what state you are in but that is way over capacity for everywhere I know. According to Illinois guidelines you can watch up to three children, your own included, if you are not licensed and once licensed, you can watch up to 8 by yourself and anything over that or if you have more than 3 of the 8 under 2 then you have to have an assistant. Iowa allows even less children in their state guidelines. You had better be careful or you might get shut down for being over capacity and lose everyone. I'd cut my loses with the two boys and call it a day.

Good luck to you! K.

I think if you keep those boys there, you run a higher risk of having one of the other parents search out for new day care...

you can advertise for the spots, stating exactly what your looking for, with school coming to a close soon, you just might fine the right fit...

I guess my point is, it might just cost you more in the end if you don't terminate them...

and on a side note..how sad for those two boys to have to grow up with a mommy who gets upset when she has to roll out of bed in the morning...

sounds like her parents help, really isn't help either...she pretty much needs to buck up and be a mom to her kids.

Let this mother and children go.

It is not worth the effort and stress you have to keep them in care. Tell her that Friday is the last day you can keep them and be sure she is paid up before you tell her so that she doesn't leave mad and not pay you for your time and service. Don't worry. There are plenty of daycares that this family can use.

I do daycare also and I would not keep them it is not going to help teach them cuz the mother sounds like she will not disipline. U want to enjoy your job the money is good but if u r misserable I would let them go. Its ok to be home for awhile and not have money to go out until u get new kids. I love going out and don't like to stay home but I find something to do if there is no money. Enjoy your kids and your job let them go.

I had a similar, though nowhere near as severe, problem with a couple of kids and their mother, and when the mom threw a fit and "threatened" to find a different sitter, I told her that would be fine. Although I miss the kids and extra income, I have not regretted it for one minute. You would not believe how much easier it is to bear being home without that extra stress! You can't fix them, and it's not fair or healthy for you and your kids for you to try.

Keep in mind what you are at home for - I bet it is to take better care of your own kids.

Personally, someone kicking me, no matter what age, is totally unacceptable. I would have tossed him out then and there.

And you can find cheaper things to do out of the house, too.

You are not going to beable to "fix" these boys. The problem obviously starts in their own home and lack of parenting,discipline,supervision.

I would tell her what's she's done wrong, tell her how you feel and how the other parents feel and kick her kids out. I would make it clear in writing so she can't argue and explain how her kids are out of control in great detail and how that is effecting the atmosphere of your daycare. Maybe she'll read it and grow up and change and her kids will have a more positive experiance in another daycare.

Hello my name is P. C.. My honest opinion would be to tell the mother that either she works on the behavior of her kids and starts following your rules, otherwise she needs to find new daycare. I know you dont want to give up on the boys but you also have other children you are taking care of. Its not fair to you or the other kids in your home to have problem children around. I would talk to the mother and then give it two weeks to see if there is any difference. If there isnt a change then I would definatly tell her to find different C..

I have to agree with the majority, give them notice on Friday and collect what is owed and say goodbye, this is a huge safety issue, not only is it apparent that these children seriously need a lot of love from a mother who seems to not want anything to do with them but they have serious behavior problems, which will only escalate further the longer this continues. Your first and foremost duty is the safety and wellbeing for all of the children you care for and one of those aspects is your emotional and physical well being as well. If you are not happy you are not performing to the best of your ability and that is not fair to the other children in your care or to your family.

I remember the day I told my husband that I wanted to do home daycare he was very supportive and gave one piece or advice. The day you are not happy with your job is the day you either close or fix it so you are happy and if that means getting rid of a child that is causing enormous problems then so be it. He said he was not willing to risk the happiness of our family and our daycare over one or two kids. I have lived by that since and have had to give notice to families who have not fit in or were not willing to help with their childs behavior.

IN THE END YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

Get rid of them- no sense adding the extra stress to your life, not to mention all the safety issues these kids create.

Speaking of safety issues- how are you watching 10 kids alone??? That in itself is not safe! I don't know what the rules are in your state, but even the best behaved little kids need a better ratio than 10 to one! If you don't already know the laws for daycare providers in your state, you really need to find out what they are. You need an assistant or less kids!

You are not going to be able to change these boys behavior if the mother is not willing to change hers also. It seems to me they are acting up to get attention, even though it is negative.

Even though it is tough financially I would suggest kicking then out of your daycare. Make sure you give her plenty of warning, preferably in writing explaing why. It is better for you to take charge not before either of these boys does something to one of the other children and their parents remove them.

Dreading going to work because of these two is not heathly for you or for the other children in your care.

This is a very stressful situation. My advice would be to collect your pay on Friday and tell her you're very sorry but you're unable to accomodate the needs of her children with the lack of respect and rulebreaking that goes on. This family, grandparents included, need some professional help that you are not in a position to give.
10 kids under school age is way over any state limit for in home care, especially if babies are involved. After I had my 3rd child I had a month of just once a week, 3 hours of 7 kids. I only took kids 3 days/week but no way could I have done the 7 safely for the full 3 days! Of course I never would dream of going out to eat every night, not healthy nor enjoyable after awhile. Try going for walks or to the park to get out while saving money.

You need to think about the greater good of your business and your sanity. They are your client and frankly, sound abusive. You might lose other, better behaved clients is you don't nip this off now. As another parent, if I heard about this behavior and your handling of it (seems too lax for me) I'd pull my child out of there.

You seem like a nice person, but these kids, and their mother, can really affect and ruin your business' reputation if you don't watch out.

If you have written behavior rules, you can site them as reasons for expelling the kids from your business. What if they hurt the other children? You could be sued. And frankly, what's with the ratio 10 kids to 1 adult?? Is that allowed by the state? No wonder you're exhausted!!!