DCG Wanted To Make Cupcakes

[melissa ann]

This morning I had a dcm text me asking if she could bring stuff in to make cupcakes because her daughter wanted to make some. The mom was tired last night and didn't want to make them. I told her no that we didn't have time. Ugh! What is wrong with people? I don't have time today. We have a church dinner tonight and I'm making a couple of loaves of bread. (Thank goodness for bread machines:
Plus, we do preschool work and have my days planned out. The kids did help make some bread this morning. And we did read The little Hen to go with the bread, plus a project to go with it.

[Blackcat31]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think it would have been an awesome thing to do! Bonus that mom wanted to supply all the ingredients too! happyface

You could have been the hero for the day for that little girl.....imagine hearing that your mom is too tired to spend some time baking with you

I am all for structured routines and the fact that some providers do preschool activities but really, in all the structured preschool learning you have planned for the day, there was absolutely no room to take the time to do something a child wanted to do? I find that kind of sad, as that is the exact reason I am in this business in the first place....to make a difference in the life of a child.

I would skip daily lesson plans in a nano-second if the kids told me they would rather do something else...especially an activity like baking which in this age of fast-food and microwaves, it seems no one takes the time to do anymore.

What a great lesson plan that acttivity could have been too! Counting cupcakes, mixing colors together for frosting, sprinkling on the decorations, and the eager anticipation for them to finish baking so the kiddos could all enjoy a fresh warm cupcake that they had a hand in helping make....

THAT is the kind of preschool learning I would want for my child.

OP, I am NOT trying to be rude or snarky, I just think you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to do something really special with a child.

[sharlan]

To me, that's the joy of home daycare. We can stop and do those things with the kids.

[melskids]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think it would have been an awesome thing to do! Bonus that mom wanted to supply all the ingredients too! happyface

You could have been the hero for the day for that little girl.....imagine hearing that your mom is too tired to spend some time baking with you

I am all for structured routines and the fact that some providers do preschool activities but really, in all the structured preschool learning you have planned for the day, there was absolutely no room to take the time to do something a child wanted to do? I find that kind of sad, as that is the exact reason I am in this business in the first place....to make a difference in the life of a child.

I would skip daily lesson plans in a nano-second if the kids told me they would rather do something else...especially an activity like baking which in this age of fast-food and microwaves, it seems no one takes the time to do anymore.

What a great lesson plan that acttivity could have been too! Counting cupcakes, mixing colors together for frosting, sprinkling on the decorations, and the eager anticipation for them to finish baking so the kiddos could all enjoy a fresh warm cupcake that they had a hand in helping make....

THAT is the kind of preschool learning I would want for my child.

OP, I am NOT trying to be rude or snarky, I just think you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to do something really special with a child.

I completely agree!

I had a child come in last friday all excited about volcanos.

I ditched this weeks "plan" and we spent the week learning about volcanos instead. They paper maiched it all by themselves, and we erupted it on thursday.

They had a blast!

They get SO much more learning out of it when THEY take the lead, rather then if I were to. Its much more authentic, meaningful, and purposeful that way.

I shifted from teacher led, to child led a little over a year and a half ago. (thanks to other providers on here) and now, I would never turn back.

Totally JMO!

[wdmmom]

I think it's cool that they asked you before bringing it and expecting you to do it.

I can't say as I blame you though. I only have 3 children on Fridays so my day consists of cleaning, sanitizing and not much of anything else. If a parent asked me on Friday, I would have declined too but I would have made time to do it on Monday with them.

[Heidi]

I agree with Black cat, but I can understand that you would get thrown off by the request!

[Cat Herder]

I would have done it....UNLESS....

This was one of my past passive aggressive Moms and a child that I was having discipline issues with. "Don't feed the Princess".... (Think about the posts on "candy bribe to get out of car" toddler, "pink princess dress", "screamer", plus 3 years without intervention.... )

Other than that it could have been fun...even if I had to wait until Monday to do it so I had a bit more time. (Friday naptime/afternoons are floor waxing, windows and big laundry days in the playroom for me.... Quiet chaos and lot's of outside time.)

[Blackcat31]

I would have done it....UNLESS....

This was one of my past passive aggressive Moms and a child that I was having discipline issues with. "Don't feed the Princess".... (Think about the posts on "candy bribe to get out of car" toddler, "pink princess dress", "screamer", plus 3 years without intervention.... )
Other than that it could have been fun...even if I had to wait until Monday to do it so I had a bit more time. (Friday naptime/afternoons are floor waxing, windows and big laundry days in the playroom for me.... Quiet chaos and lot's of outside time.)

Good point....

[mac60]

So it is OK for the daycare provider to change her plans for the day to bake cupcakes at the mother's request, but it is not wrong that the child's own mom could not make time to bake them with her daughter the night before because she was "too tired", gees, it would of only taken an hour or so.

Many of us work hard to make a good program for our daycare kids, parents see their children 3 or 4 hours per day after work, and they can't make time for their own child, that to me seems very wrong.

I understand what some of you are saying about being the hero for the day, how much fun it would of been, etc, but to me it is the principle behind it, gee Mom can't seem to make time to bake cupcakes with daughter so we will dump it on the daycare provider. That is the part that is wrong.

[melissa ann]

We did bake today. We made 2 loaves of bread this morning and will do another 2 this afternoon. The kids participated and each got to sample the bread.
The reason mom was tired last night. Let's see. she picked up at after 5 (late) took her daughter to McD's for supper because she really wanted to go and was being quite rude about it. Then went to Walmart so girl could pick out a new toy (so she would calm down and get her coat on to leave) This girl 99% of the time gets whatever she wants.
We do bake here. We make cupcakes when it's someone's b-day, and for holidays, or even when we have pj days. At least once a month we have cupcakes and I send a couple home to each family.
I did tell her that next week we could. But I had to make bread today for our church dinner. I'm sorry if my needs comes before a daycare family.

Btw, the girl is part time 3 days/week. She wasn't her Tue, went to her dad's instead. Normally, she would pay for that day anyway. This week she asked if she could bring her Wed to make up for Tue. I agreed. I ususally try to work with the parents, but I couldn't today. Everyday she brings dvds, toys etc even though I don't allow it. I gave up telling the mom everyday, nothing from home.

[Blackcat31]

So it is OK for the daycare provider to change her plans for the day to bake cupcakes at the mother's request, but it is not wrong that the child's own mom could not make time to bake them with her daughter the night before because she was "too tired", gees, it would of only taken an hour or so.

Many of us work hard to make a good program for our daycare kids, parents see their children 3 or 4 hours per day after work, and they can't make time for their own child, that to me seems very wrong.

I understand what some of you are saying about being the hero for the day, how much fun it would of been, etc, but to me it is the principle behind it, gee Mom can't seem to make time to bake cupcakes with daughter so we will dump it on the daycare provider. That is the part that is wrong.

Mac you are right....it is really sad the child's mother couldn't take the time to bake with her child. I also understand the principle of it all, but what does that have to do with the child? She doesn't understand the principle of anything yet.

She is the one who is suffering the consequences of her mom's tiredness. If it was all just principle, then the action taken to teach a lesson to someone should be directed at mom not the child.

[melissa ann]

So it is OK for the daycare provider to change her plans for the day to bake cupcakes at the mother's request, but it is not wrong that the child's own mom could not make time to bake them with her daughter the night before because she was "too tired", gees, it would of only taken an hour or so.

Many of us work hard to make a good program for our daycare kids, parents see their children 3 or 4 hours per day after work, and they can't make time for their own child, that to me seems very wrong.

I understand what some of you are saying about being the hero for the day, how much fun it would of been, etc, but to me it is the principle behind it, gee Mom can't seem to make time to bake cupcakes with daughter so we will dump it on the daycare provider. That is the part that is wrong.

Thank you!

[Daycaremomof2]

I think the issue is more that the mom text you that morning and kind of wanted you to rearrange a portion of your day with an activity that was not discussed ahead of time.

If it was me, I would have done the cupcakes, just because I love baking and cooking, but it would depend on the day. She should have asked you a few days in advance

[Blackcat31]

We did bake today. We made 2 loaves of bread this morning and will do another 2 this afternoon. The kids participated and each got to sample the bread.
The reason mom was tired last night. Let's she picked up at after 5 (late) took her daughter to McD's for supper because she really wanted to go and was being quite rude about it. Then went to Walmart so girl could pick out a new toy (so she would calm down and get her coat on to leave) This girl 99% of the time gets whatever she wants.
We do bake here. We make cupcakes when it's someone's b-day, and for holidays, or even when we have pj days. At least once a month we have cupcakes and I send a couple home to each family.
I did tell her that next week we could. But I had to make bread today for our church dinner. I'm sorry if my needs comes before a daycare family.

Btw, the girl is part time 3 days/week. She wasn't her Tue, went to her dad's instead. Normally, she would pay for that day anyway. This week she asked if she could bring her Wed to make up for Tue. I agreed. I ususally try to work with the parents, but I couldn't today. Everyday she brings dvds, toys etc even though I don't allow it. I gave up telling the mom everyday, nothing from home.

Melissa Ann, with that added information, I understand why you declined.
I didn't realize the entire situation from your original post.

Obviously the real issue wasn't baking, it was with the mother's behavior.

Like I said, I wasnt trying to chastise you for anything...just adding another perspective.

[melissa ann]

Sometimes my own kids (7 & 4) will want to do something. Play a game, go to the playground etc. But, there are times I can't full fill their requests. It's not being mean. But kids have to learn that they can't always do what they want.