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**Abigail** · 09-09-2010, 07:55 PM

I see "open door policy" as a way of dropping in unannounced to see how things really are without notice. This doesn't mean walking right in though, so I would just put in your newsletter that from now on the door will remained locked at all times or during certain times for the safety of the children. Even if you're in a small town, I would always have the doors locked because you just never know! It doesn't necessarily reflect the parent's behavior, but it's a good business practice.

If you want, add a bell that hangs over the door or have one on the door handle like some small coffee shops or other places have. This is commonly found in elementary classrooms around here. The bell noise though would just drive me nuts,

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**MN Mom** · 09-09-2010, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by Abigail View Post

If you want, add a bell that hangs over the door or have one on the door handle like some small coffee shops or other places have. This is commonly found in elementary classrooms around here. The bell noise though would just drive me nuts,

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My Chiropractors office has something really neat, and probably really cheap, to alert them when a patient walks in. They put a wind chime on the ceiling, about a foot from the door. The breeze from the door opening makes a rather pleasant noise compared to a traditional door bell or alarm.

Just a thought!

**Pammie** · 09-10-2010, 03:29 AM

I keep my door dead-bolt locked now between all drop-offs and pick-ups after a similar incident with a parent. I now explain it in my handbook ....

"I have an 'open-door' policy where parents are welcome to stop in anytime that your child is in my care. However, for the safety and security of all of the children, I keep the front door locked."

And during interviews I go on to explain that I *never* have unexpected visitors at daycare - even service/repair/people, I explain to the kids ahead of time who is coming and why and what they will be doing here. I think it's important to the children's sense of security that they know some stranger isn't just popping in. I also emphasize that my open door policy is only for mom and dad (doesn't include some well-meaning relatives and grandparents) and that when they do stop by unannounced, I expect them to jump right in and join the activity in progress - even if it's fingerpainting, hokey-pokey or chicken-dance:-) Because it's not fair to the children to interrupt one of their activities just because a parent stops by.

I've never had a parent have an issue with the locked door after I explain it all this way. Good luck!!

**legomom922** · 09-10-2010, 03:58 AM

This can be a double edge sword....Having the doors locked are a grerat idea..however having a door locked also prevents emergency personnel from having entry in the case of a emergency, and also prevents kids from escaping in case of fire...You dont want it too hard to get in or out. I went through a situation once when my son was little, and I was so sick, I could not get to the door to let the ambulance people in....it was a nightmare...Might just want to keep that in mind...

**seashell** · 09-10-2010, 05:07 AM

Yikes! Keep that door locked! Even if your in a low crime area, a dead bolt can keep a child from wondering out or people from wandering in. Even though it's a daycare, it's still your home and you have a right to keep things private.

**momma2girls** · 09-10-2010, 05:52 AM

I have had parents scare the crap out of me more than once as well, so I had to place a note on my door, to please knock first before entering, many times I have my door locked as well for safety issues. I hate that when parents just come on in- I even bold lettered it in my contract- a few yrs. ago- please respect my home and daycare, please knock before coming in and to please remove shoes if you are going to walk past the tiled foyer area. I have been really getting mad at a parent that just walks thru with his shoes off, just to leave my check, diapers, etc... I am standing right here, hand everything to me!! We have a brand new house(even if it was 50 yrs. old, I would still have everyone take their shoes off) It is going to be nasty here, and I certainly do not want mud, salt, ice,snow, and everything else all over my carpet. I am adding that to my newsletter next month, hopefully this takes care of it!! I hate having to tell a parent, please hand it to me, I am standing right here, so you don't have to walk all across my living room to the kitchen, there is even a table next to the foyer, you can set things on it, if needed!!

**mac60** · 09-10-2010, 07:10 AM

Last winter/spring I had issues with a dad picking up and leaving grease/mudd on my area rug, plus many a day he walked off the area rug to the carpet. I will pry have to go to a note on the door. So sad that an adult has to remind another adult to be respectful.

**DanceMom** · 09-10-2010, 07:25 AM

I keep my doors locked after the last one comes and about 10 minutes before pick up times. If they want to come early - they can call. All the other doors are unlocked..but the front door is locked !

**Crystal** · 09-10-2010, 07:44 AM

My doors are always unlocked and my parents always walk in unnanounced and find me. Sometimes I am outside with the children, somtimes in the restroom with them or busy playing. I don't have time to go unlock/answer doors every time a parent arrives.

But, my parents are never seemingly sneaky about it. Sounds like this parent was intentionally checking up to see how you are with the children when no one is "looking"

**momma2girls** · 09-10-2010, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by mac60 View Post

Last winter/spring I had issues with a dad picking up and leaving grease/mudd on my area rug, plus many a day he walked off the area rug to the carpet. I will pry have to go to a note on the door. So sad that an adult has to remind another adult to be respectful.

I totally agree, everyone should have respect when coming into another one's house/daycare!!!

**mac60** · 09-10-2010, 08:10 AM

Where is the line drawn from home/daycare....daycare/my home? I have always had an open door policy and will continue to do so, just no more unlocked doors, and I am going to request if you are picking your children up early to call.

I just feel it is an invasion of my home to have a parent walk in, unannounced, so quietly and say nothing, that I get the crap scared out of me when I see someone standing in the room beside me. It wasn't like she just walked in teh front door and called out my name, she crossed over the gate and walked thru 2 room and still never said a word. Pissed I am.

**Crystal** · 09-10-2010, 09:46 AM

Yeah mac...the being sneaky about it would irritate me too. Like I said, my parents all come in unnanounced and walk in - which I am okay with, but if they came in quietly/sneaky like this parent, I'd be upset too.

**Unregistered** · 09-10-2010, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by mac60 View Post

Today I had a mom walk in an hour early. I was not expecting any parents. I was in the kitchen with a child and they were eating snack. I was cleaning up and stuffing a cookie in my mouth. I turned around to do something and got the crap scared out of me. There was a mom standing in my dining room. I did not hear her open the front door. She did not knock, ring the doorbell, or say Whohoa I am here I am early. She quietly walked in, thru my living room, stepped over the gate into the dining room and was standing there looking into my kitchen. My heart about hit the floor, because it startled me.

While I do have an open door policy, I do expect parents to respect my home, and that means if you are going to show up an hour early, call and let me know, so that I can get your kids up and ready to go. Do not sneak in my home and scare the **** out of me. I will be buying some type of alarm to put on my front door so that when it is opened somehow I will be alerted. I am also going to start locking my door after drop offs and unlocking it before pickups. I have 2 families that are taking their kids to "real preschool", and I am going to start making them ring a doorbell instead of getting free reign to just walk in when they come to pick up and drop back off. My daycare room is to the back of my home. You can actually see it from the front living room where parents enter. I normally have a gate at the doorway to keep people from walking thru the house with their shoes on, but some just don't get it.

Lock the door!

**missnikki** · 09-10-2010, 02:01 PM

I'm wondering what you said when you saw her- after you choked on your cookie? I would have probably taught the kids a new word or two! That would make me crazy!