Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Policy for parent's

    Posted 10-24-2019 12:29 PM
    Hi Everyone,
    I was just curious if others have policies for parents supervising their kids at pick up and drop off times? We have a couple of families that let their kids run wild during pick up and drop off times (mostly at pick up times) these kids are allowed to run through the rooms and throw toys around and mess up the room, and parents walk out without making their child pick up the mess they made. One of the children has even broken toys and the parents don't apologize or offer to replace the toys that were intentionally broken by their child. Any advice on this would be welcomed.

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    Tammy Lyon
    Director
    Pillsbury Early Education Center
    Minneapolis MN
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  • 2.  RE: Policy for parent's

    Posted 10-25-2019 07:01 AM
    If a child were running wild in my classroom during that time, I redirect them in front of their parent. If I'm speaking with the parent, I'll say, "Excuse me for a second."  Then I'll say to the child, "Our classroom rules say we use walking feet"  or "We are gentle with our toys".    Then I go back to the parent smiling and jump right back into our conversation about their child's day.  If it continues to be a problem, I would write a section in my newsletter about drop-off and pick-up expectations for our classroom.  If that still didn't work, I'd speak to my administrator about it.  She could write about it in her school newsletter or approach specific parents about expectations for parent and child.  It might be something she considers adding to parent orientation and putting in the handbook if it is a school wide problem.  In our classroom, we talk about the rules a lot at the beginning of the year- children have to understand the purpose of rules (they keep everyone safe and ensure our classroom is a positive learning environment).  Additionally, my children help write the rules, which gives them ownership and helps to build a positive classroom climate.  My children know that classroom rules apply anytime they are in our classroom- even when their parents are present.  Parents are kept informed about this part of our curriculum, which gets them on board.  They are always amazed at how smoothly things go in my room, that I can get 15 children to clean-up and listen at the same time, but its really about having those expectations from day one and following through when children aren't following them- even when it's uncomfortable.

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    Mary McNelly
    Lead Teacher
    Macfeat Laboratory School
    Rock Hill SC
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  • 3.  RE: Policy for parent's

    Posted 10-25-2019 08:49 AM
    I actually had a child get hurt because the parent let them play after signing them out.  Because they were still in the building I still had to report it to the state, since they did get hurt on our property.  That was enough to make me send out a blanket email asking parents to please supervise their children and to not let them out of their sight or reach.  A few times I had to remind parents of the safety issue and to please keep their child with them and once they realized it was for their child's safety and if necessary I would go get the child and ask the parent in front of the child to keep them with them.  That helped.

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    Teri Smith
    Director
    St. James Episcopal School
    Hendersonvlle NC
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  • 4.  RE: Policy for parent's

    Posted 10-25-2019 09:24 AM
    This is the policy from our Family Handbook; everyone is informed in advance, so there is no "excuse" for family members to let their children run wild:
    Family Etiquette
    Family members are expected to supervise their children when they are at the Center.
    Please be sure your child remains with you and insist that the Center's rules are upheld.
    This means that children may not run through the building disturbing other classes, ignore
    classroom behavior expectations, or play in areas of the classroom or playground that
    are not "open," even when parents are present. When children are playing outdoors,
    everything in the classroom is "closed."
    We also ask that out of respect for our teachers and children, cell phones
    not be used in our building or on the playground. Your child deserves your
    full attention during these separation and reunion times. The teachers are
    reluctant to interrupt your personal conversations to share even the most
    important information about your child.
    Because the children's concentration and focus are easily distracted, we ask that all adult
    conversations [beyond simple pleasantries, of course] take place outside of the
    classrooms; chat in the hallway or on the playground.

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    Sue Lincoln
    Director
    Rutgers-Livingston Day Care Center, Inc.
    Piscataway NJ
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  • 5.  RE: Policy for parent's

    Posted 10-25-2019 12:04 PM
    Thank you so much! Very helpful!

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    Tammy Lyon
    Director
    Pillsbury Early Education Center
    Minneapolis MN
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