Potential Client Wants To Observe?

[momma2girls]

I wouldn't want strangers in my house while my children and other daycare children were present!! NO WAY!!!

[Crystal]

I have never had a parent who DIDN"T want to observe and every parent I have ever enrolled spent time here observing first. I wouldn't have it any other way. I feel that the parents need and have a right to see how we interact with a group of children, not just their own. Group dynamics and how a provider works are VERY different than when with just the child(ren) from that one family. Having one of the children "act up" while they observe is a great opportuntiy for them to see how the provider would handle such a situation....though I've been fortunate as I've never had any of my kiddos act up just because another adult was here.

Good luck on your observation/interview. Keep us posted on how it goes.

[Meyou]

I allow observation. Not only do I want to see how the new child may interact with my DCK's I want the parent to make a confident decision to send their child here. I always inform my current families if observations are taking place and I only allow them between 10am and 1230pm. The child comes for snack, play, cleanup and lunch. The parent comes and is required to fade into the background and not interact with me or the children unless absolutely necessary. There are periods of time I can chat with the parent and answer questions as we go along.

Honestly, it works out great for me and my new DCK's transition without a tear in almost all cases.

[wdmmom]

I don't allow observation.

What I tell them is this:

"I'm happy that you are interested in enrolling but for the safety of the other children, I don't allow parents to observe. What I can do is schedule you for a second interview about a half hour before closing time when I only have a few children so you can tour and meet my staff assistant."

Usually that clears it up. Either they'll come for a few minutes or they won't.

[Jewels]

I have had a few parents come and observe, yes I am with kids, they are not coming by to socialize with me, they just want to sit and watch, and let their children watch, Whats the difference between that, and going and observing your kindergartners classroom? I just enrolled my son in school, and the packet actually had a page, where they encourage parents to schedule a time to come and observe their child in the classroom, Thats awesome. And I always offer parents to come by with their kids during our day to "see what we do", I usually have them come by after breakfast and teeth brushing, around our exercise and dance time, and they can stay through project, or outdoor play, depending on the season, I don't sit and chat with them, I just go about my day like normal, and if we head outside, I will chat with them more. I personally would never enroll my child in a childcare if they told me I could not come and check it out first.

[Soupyszoo]

Dang! You guys are making me nervous!

She's a first time mother so I know she's just very nervous to leave her baby. Her baby is almost 12 weeks so there won't be much for me to observe for the most part. The two toddlers that will be present and my 8yo dd are very well behaved. With exception to my 1.5yo dcb who acts up as soon as his mom arrives. I don't know how he'll be with another mother.

At least I'll have 8yo dd to help entertain if the dcm wants to talk or ask questions.

I don't know if I'll ever say yes to this again. It will all depend on how tomorrow goes I guess

[Ariana]

I've likely already posted in the threads that blackcat posted but here is what I do. I allow a parent to come AFTER they enroll in the program. They come as part of the "integration" period and are only allowed to stay for 1/2 an hour on the very first day of care.

[Jewels]

Dang! You guys are making me nervous!

She's a first time mother so I know she's just very nervous to leave her baby. Her baby is almost 12 weeks so there won't be much for me to observe for the most part. The two toddlers that will be present and my 8yo dd are very well behaved. With exception to my 1.5yo dcb who acts up as soon as his mom arrives. I don't know how he'll be with another mother.

At least I'll have 8yo dd to help entertain if the dcm wants to talk or ask questions.

I don't know if I'll ever say yes to this again. It will all depend on how tomorrow goes I guess

Don't be nervous, I have a large group, and I have had observations, and My children have never started acting up, I tell them in the morning that we will be having a baby come by, or a kid, and they are fine, we always have dance/exercise time in the morning, so they can be crazy during that anyways, and then We will have our circle time, and then go outside or do a project, every parent I have had observe, just sits back, or in the circle and watches, watches their kid want to participate, or sings with our songs, no one has ever just interupted to start talking to me, we will chat for a minute before they leave, just saying thanks for coming by, say goodbye to their child, and then they are gone. I think its nice for them to just see the kids with you, you can tell alot by seeing kids with their provider, you can tell if they seem scared, or if they are just happy, you can just get a good feel for if kids are happy.

[Meeko]

Most of you know why I won't allow any adult anywhere near a child that's not their own....so I'll just say...I don't do observation

It's personal choice and both sides have merit.

[Soccermom]

I allow parents to come for a visit with their child to get an idea of how things run but if you mean this woman is going to just sit and watch you work for an hour then NO.
I do always make sure to mention that they are welcome to come and hang out with us but that the kids normally act up when there is someone different around so it won't really give them an accurate idea of how their child will be while in care.

[Soupyszoo]

Everything went great yesterday! She dropped by for about 45 mins. All my little toddlers were perfect little angels. I got to see how the baby was and she seems nice

Her first day is Monday happyface

Thanks guys!

[Christian Mother]

Great news!!

[kendallina]

Yay, that's great!

[Crystal]

Sweeeeeeeeet!!!! Congrats, and enjoy the new baby!

[sharlan]

Most of you know why I won't allow any adult anywhere near a child that's not their own....so I'll just say...I don't do observation

It's personal choice and both sides have merit.

I totally understand where you are coming from. Fortunately, most of us will never have to cross that bridge.

My new mom spent about 2 hours here today. It's going to be a hard adjustment for both.