Question?? - Minneapolis,MN

If that is really what happened, absolutely no way would I be ok with that. There is too much of a chance something could happen. They could run in the street, someone could grab them, etc. She needs to be outside with the kids or the kids need to be inside with her.

I assume you are talking home 'daycare', not a daycare center. This would be completely unacceptable at any daycare center I have seen. That is why they ALWAYS have multiple providers. If one child needs to go to the bathroom, be inside, etc, there is someone available to watch the kids who are outside.

In my daughters backyard with a 6ft privacy fence and locking gates....maybe...but not at a paid daycare...no way.

Hi! First, I must confess, my kids have never been to daycare, but... There is no way on God's green earth that three five year olds and a three year old should be out in an unfenced front yard for ANY period of time by themselves! They move way too quickly to be safe just because she's looking out the window.

While I am ok with my 4 year old playing in our own fenced backyard, this would never be acceptable to me in a daycare situation - and I am pretty sure that it is against licensing requirements.
However I would suggest that you talk to the provider and get her side of the story first... my DD sometimes comes up with the most outrageous tales that turn out to be a combination of events that happened on different days to different kids and a dash of imagination.
Good luck!

I do let my daycare kids play outside by themselves (totally fenced and locked gate) but I check on them every couple of minutes and would NEVER let young children play outside in an unfenced area. My daycare kids are all 4 and 5.

Um no.
I would not be comfortable had my child, at that age, played outside, in an unfenced FRONT yard with the only adult watching through a window. And I am not a helicopter Mom.

My son's daycare from birth to 3 years was in a private home with a mother/daughter combo. One of them was always outside when the children were - and they had a completely fenced back yard.

Please talk to the daycare provider about this.

You are not being over protective.

What did the daycare provider say, I assume you called her already?
I always get the adult's side of the story first. And make sure you are aware of her policies, so that you can know whether or not this is a place you are comfortable with.

Oh hell to the no would I take my children back to this place. No way. This provider needs to be reported as well. Thank God nothing terrible has happened! How awful!!
A.

Talk to your provider about this issue - people on this site don't necessarily have any idea what the regulations are for where you live. In my area, yes, a five year old can play outside without the provider, as long as she is within sight or hearing, and is capable of intervening. If the five year old is considered school age, they definitely can be outside without the provider. Talk to HER about your concerns.

This is EXACTLY why I would never use an in home daycare center.... there are no checks and balances, no one watching over the provider. Run like h*ll from that place.

Uh, no. This was yesterday? It was pouring yesterday! Def. not. I'd be really concerned.

It's not okay. Young children should not be left alone especially in a daycare setting and ESPECIALLY in an unfenced FRONT yard. They could wander into the street or be picked up faster than the daycare provider could run out of the house and stop them. Not to mention that once she leaves the window, whether to go outside or not, she has to take her eyes off them, unless her house is made of windows (ha ha). I would not tolerate this, and I would talk to her about this. If she's not willing to be safer about outdoor play, then you should find another daycare. What other corners is she cutting? You never know. And on the flip-side, perhaps it's not a normal routine for her to stay indoors while the others are outside, but who knows. Not that your kids would stretch the truth, but you never know if she was in the house for 5 min or the entire time. Although, that's the joy of having older children in daycare - they tell you what you need to know when you can't see for yourself... just be sure to talk to the provider about it. And as always, trust your instinct - if you don't feel comfortable with what you heard, then don't feel bad about talking to her about it. Good luck!

A child can run in the street after a ball, or be snatched in less then a minute. If someone is holding a baby, looking out the window, how fast would they be able to stop either incident. If you are happy with your care provider, I would just let her know, you do not want you girls in an unfenced area unless she or another adult is out there with them.

no unacceptable. Bring the baby outside to the porch with you. Anyone could grab them.

If you are not comfortable with it, talk to your provider first. Sounds like she is unlicensed (as is mine). They are not really regulated then I don't think. I'm assuming it is a city setting and somewhat close to a road. Before jumping the gun, pulling the kids out & thinking she is "horrible" for allowing this, I would talk to her first. In my case, I really trust my provider, she has a huge yard, front and back, and not close to a road at all (country setting), so I think I would be ok with her watching from the window if they were 5 years old. Although licensed centers have these regulations, I prefer the more unstructured homey feel of an in home provider (a trusted one). If you see other lapses in judgement or she doesn't react well to your request that she accompany them outside then I would look for a new place. Good luck!

Absolutely not! This is unacceptable IMO. I would find another provider.

Is she a licensed daycare? I know our daycare center is having to make changes because of a new Minnesota law that says children at daycares cannot play in unfenced areas without supervision. In the summer are daycare staff take kids outside for waterplay in an unfenced grassy area. There is ALWAYS at least two staff members with the kids. But, because it was an unfenced area they were going to have to stop doing the water play unless they fenced the area. Even elementary schools cannot let school age children play outside unattended. I would not be OK with this.

No, it is not ok to allow small children to play outside alone.

She is horrible for doing that.

It one takes a sec. for someone to hit a child with a car, to kidnap a child, and on and on.

She doesn't care because they are not her children.
I bet that she wouldn't even care even if they were her kids.

I would take my child back. I would report her.

I am with you and no, I don't let my daycare kids play outside. Now I do have a daughter that is almost 12. So I have let her take 1 child at a time into the back yard with me watching closely. I only did that once and because there was snow on the ground for the only time this winter and I didn't want to get the babies out in the muddy, slushy snow.

I first read this and thought it was a backyard - and then I thought not a big deal - but I re-read and saw front yard - ummm - yeah no. Too risky - my 8 and 3 year old play out front but I can stand in my kitchen and see there every move - plus my 8 year old is very responsible and it's a "risk" I'm taking with my own kids - NOT someone else's.

you are paying your babysitter to watch your children YOUR way. be very upfront how uncomfortable you are with her allowing them outside alone. (congrats on the twins...i have twins too)
tell her something you like about what she does....slide in the negative and then back it up with a positive event again and I am sure she has an exlanation. maybe it was nice out but the littler baby couldnt go out? and she was torn as to what to do, but in any case, she is not the parent and your rules still over ride hers.

Not acceptable at all. My sitter puts the babies in a stroller and walks them around the play area so she can watch all of the kids.

I have a fenced in yard, but do you know what? We never close the one gate. My almost 4 and 2 year old know to stay where they are. If they can do that, I don't see why a 5 and 3 year old couldn't play in the front yard if there was an adult watching through a window.

I think this is a really hard question to answer without knowing the provider and seeing the home/yard. That being said - you have to trust your provider and leave your child with someone you know would do everything to keep your kids safe. I know my sitter lets older kids in her (unfenced) backyard and the younger kids play on the patio (which does have a "gate" around it so they can get out) while she is inside with the babies. I am ok with this because I think of her as family. She has watched my 3 year old since he was 3 months and has watched my 6 month old twins since they were 2 months.

You could always tell her you aren't comfortable with that situation, and ask he not to let your kids out if she wasn't there. (but then you have to be prepared for the complaints from your kids - haha) In the end it all comes down to trust. If you don't trust her, remove your kids.

Please don't send them back to that....place. Though the numbers are low, consider the following:

http://www.city-data.com/so/so-Minneapolis-Minnesota.html

I wouldn't be comfortable with this either!

I would absolutely let the adult in charge understand that I am not comfortable with it!

I'm not comfortable with it. How does she watch out the window when she is changing the diaper, warming a bottle, etc? Even if the yard is fenced think along the lines of Elizabeth Smart.

If you're not comfortable with it, then follow your mama instincts. Sounds like this might not be the best provider for your kids. I wore my youngest in a carrier while my oldest and I played outside. Why can't the provider do that?