Winter Frustration Already.. WWYD?

[HOHDirector]

Parents forgetting hats & gloves already and its only November. You can only post flyers and notes so many times. I obviously dont want to hold the kid back because the parent is lazy, but what would you do? I dont want to keep on supplying them with our glove/hat stash. That's only allowing the parent to continue to be lazy.

HELP

[melilley]

Ugh..I know! One of my dck's came without a coat and without one sock! It's 30 degrees here, colder with the wind chill! I don't get it.

Some providers on here turn kids away at the door and make them go home and get what they need. I so need to do this, just have to find my backbone and actually go through with doing that!

[Blackcat31]

I require parents to leave a set of gloves and a hat here at daycare NO LATER than Nov 1st.

Care is denied if they have not complied.

Simple fix.

[Leanna]

Personally I just supply because there are some families that will never supply for whatever reason (some can't afford, some forget, some don't think you wlll actually go outside, etc.). I just buy a batch and supply as needed. Less headache for me.

I do know that there are providers who will turn away clients if they do not arrive with proper gear for the day. That is an option for you if you don't want to supply.

[Soccermom]

Honestly the only thing you can do is have a hat, gloves, coats, snow pants, warm socks and big sweaters to put under their coats on hand.

I go to the dollar store at the beginning of the season and stock up on mittens, hats and warm socks.

I then get second hand (or for free if you ask around) a few different sized big sweaters to put under spring coats, snow pants and old coats. I keep them in a bin and dress the kids from there when need be.

(I haven't had to buy any for a year or so because I still have the stock from last year)

It is ridiculous that parents forget these things all the time! I had a DCG show up today with no hat, no gloves and a fancy church coat with rubber boots....it is snowing outside!! I can't stand to see a child freeze and it isn't fair to the other DCKS to be stuck inside because of one thoughtless parent.

I've been doing this for 10 years and have finally realized that you can't change the DCPS no matter how hard you try. You just need to do your best to care for the children while they are in your care.

[Lucy]

Ugh..I know! One of my dck's came without a coat and without one sock! It's 30 degrees here, colder with the wind chill! I don't get it.

Some providers on here turn kids away at the door and make them go home and get what they need. I so need to do this, just have to find my backbone and actually go through with doing that!

Oh, you have the same girl I do!! LOL. Mine's 5. She wore her socks Monday, slept in them, one came off in bed, so she comes Tuesday with the ONE remaining (now dirty) sock. 26 degrees first thing in the morning - she got in the car with a blanket, and walked in with it wrapped around her, so no coat. How dumb can the parent be???

[childcaremom]

We go outside every day unless there is a windchill warning or tropical storm. I go over this very clearly during interviews and remind parents constantly through newsletters, daily reports, verbally, etc.

Parents were still forgetting so I have changed my policies that if a child does not have proper outdoor stuff (and I won't know this until I gather outdoor things at 9 am), I will call them and they can either drop off the needed items or pick their child up by 10 am when we go outside.

Haven't had a problem since. But never say never and I would not feel bad about calling for a pick up.

[Lucy]

I'm not getting why it's not just easy to have them use what you have on hand? Not being mean, just don't see the problem?

I have a few extras of various things - a couple t-shirts, one with long sleeves, a jacket and coat, a few pair of gloves, and a hat or two. These are things that have been left behind over my 20 years of DC. If we need to go somewhere and someone forgot their coat, I've got one on hand they can use.

I do think it's irresponsible and just plain dumb of parents to not have them prepared, but it's not hurting anybody to let them wear what I have in my closet. I get exasperated at the parents' stupidity, but hey, that's why I have backup clothes!

Yes, it allows the parents to be lazy, but at pickup when I tell them that little Bobby wore my pink Hello Kitty gloves and hat outside, they feel like a failure. Maybe they'll think twice next time. But really, I don't care. I'm not here to school the parents, I'm here to provide excellent care for the kids. If that means letting them borrow something that's sitting in my closet, I'm ok with that.... for the kid's sake. (It doesn't mean I'm not gonna call them a loser parent in my head as I put the hat & gloves on though!! LOL j/k... or not...)

[Scout]

Walmart here has gloves selling 2 pairs for $.87 and hats were about $1.19. I would just buy some to have on hand. I have a ton of extras just for my kids because I know someone will probably lose a glove.

[Blackcat31]

I'm not getting why it's not just easy to have them use what you have on hand? Not being mean, just don't see the problem?

Because I have encountered parents who simply figured why bother buying winter gear when daycare will just supply it for me.

Because I have parents that RELY on me having "extras" so when I actually have a case of real forgetfulness, there isn't enough "extras" to go around.

Because I am NOT a storage facility

Because I don't have the room to be

Because then I bear all the responsibility of being a parent to a child that isn't mine.

Because it isn't that hard to provide the basic requirements for the weather.

[Lucy]

Because I have encountered parents who simply figured why bother buying winter gear when daycare will just supply it for me.

Because I have parents that RELY on me having "extras" so when I actually have a case of real forgetfulness, there isn't enough "extras" to go around.

Because I am NOT a storage facility

Because I don't have the room to be

Because then I bear all the responsibility of being a parent to a child that isn't mine.

Because it isn't that hard to provide the basic requirements for the weather.

Yea, I know. I get that. It comes back to what I've realized in my time as a forum member here.... I seem to do things "bass ackward" from everyone else here.

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[Blackcat31]

Yea, I know. I get that. It comes back to what I've realized in my time as a forum member here.... I seem to do things "bass ackward" from everyone else here.

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Hey, as long as we all make the journey, who cares how you get there.

[DCMom]

Because I have encountered parents who simply figured why bother buying winter gear when daycare will just supply it for me.

Because I have parents that RELY on me having "extras" so when I actually have a case of real forgetfulness, there isn't enough "extras" to go around.

Because I am NOT a storage facility

Because I don't have the room to be

Because then I bear all the responsibility of being a parent to a child that isn't mine.

Because it isn't that hard to provide the basic requirements for the weather.

This.
I require a FULL SET of winter gear to be left here. Some buy an extra set and leave it here, some bring everything on Monday and take it home Friday, whatever system works for them. I rarely have kids that are missing outdoor gear. I keep extras on hand for the occasional oops, but the dcp's don't necessarily know that. The extras are for my convenience, not theirs.

[Luna]

Yea, I know. I get that. It comes back to what I've realized in my time as a forum member here.... I seem to do things "bass ackward" from everyone else here.

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I do it the way you do...I keep a stash of worn-out, holey, grubby-looking CLEAN, warm and mostly pink hats and mittens. Parents do many things that frustrate the heck out of me, but forgetting mittens isn't one of them. It's one thing I just don't let get to me.
Aaaaand I take lots of pictures for the newsletter!

[itlw8]

It is in the 40's today dcg said I forgot my mittens dad turned and said it is too cold you won't be going out... I said yes we will I have so mis matched mitten or old socks she can wear... time to send a new notice. We will be going out this winter.