Personal Outings On DC Time

[TickleMonster]

My own kids attend what is considered a year round school so while most are on summer break, they are still in school. Their school is having an awards ceremony next week and usually my mother stays here with the dcks while I attend ceremonies like this. Well this time we decided it was time that grandma not have to miss out so we are both going and have decided to take the dcks with us. We are walking since our car is not big enough to hold everyone properly. I used to own a van and we used to take the kids on field trips to the library, park, and zoo but the van died over a year ago. This is the first time we have taken a group out for something that was for us and not for the dcks. Have any of you done personal outings like this?

[CraftyMom]

My own kids attend what is considered a year round school so while most are on summer break, they are still in school. Their school is having an awards ceremony next week and usually my mother stays here with the dcks while I attend ceremonies like this. Well this time we decided it was time that grandma not have to miss out so we are both going and have decided to take the dcks with us. We are walking since our car is not big enough to hold everyone properly. I used to own a van and we used to take the kids on field trips to the library, park, and zoo but the van died over a year ago. This is the first time we have taken a group out for something that was for us and not for the dcks. Have any of you done personal outings like this?

I brought my dcks to my daughter's field day for about an hour last week. They loved it! They were well behaved and loved seeing all the kids. This was outdoors though, so I didn't have to worry about them being noisy.

[Butter Biskets]

I recently brought one of my dc kids to my son's mini grad ceremony. I told the mom what the plan was and she was okay with it. I think as long as the parents don't have to miss time off work, they are okay with any non-daycare outings.

[Is it bedtime yet?]

I have done it 4-5 times just this school year alone. The kids love it, the parent think it is a fun outing and it is great free advertising. It's hard for people not to notice that I have 4 toddlers with me

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

A local friend, who is also on this board but inactive these days, took 3 dcks to her son's kinder graduation this year. They loved it! I don't take my large group anywhere. ::

[sugar buzz]

I recently brought one of my dc kids to my son's mini grad ceremony. I told the mom what the plan was and she was okay with it. I think as long as the parents don't have to miss time off work, they are okay with any non-daycare outings.

This is so true! I've done this for several years, now, and when I explain that I'm taking their child with me instead of closing, they're all relieved smiles. I've taken them to my kids' dentist appointments (scheduled on any upcoming low number days), last day of school awards ceremonies (we sometimes leave after my child's part is done), school concerts and presentations, etc. I love getting to teach them how to behave in public, and I always bring a packed bag of snacks, books, and quiet toys for a quick distraction. It makes you so proud to see your group behaving, while all the disruptions are coming from toddlers with their moms. DH and I even took them to get passports when we went to Canada. (The passport office was only open in the middle of the day.) The agent was so visibly relieved when I told him that only four of us needed passports.

[Second Home]

I did it last week , my dd had her senior pictures . We packed up a bunch of quiet toys and spent an hour in the school auditorium , all but 1 of the dck's were great .
I do give parents the option of their child coming or they can keep their child home that day .

[SquirrellyMama]

Yes, they have come to dentist, doctor and ceremonies.

Kelly

[Blackcat31]

I am odd man out.

I would never bring my DCK's to something personal.

As a parent, I would not want my daycare provider to bring my children places not DIRECTLY related to their care.

FWIW~ I am NOT saying it is wrong.

I am only saying it's not something I would ever do and not something I would ever be ok with my provider doing.

[Michelle]

My dh walked 4 of my dck's to my daughters school and ate lunch with her
She loved it and all the kids loved it.
It was funny because my dd's friends asked her if they were her brothers and sisters. ( very mixed race group)

BC.
I was curious as to why you feel this way?
I can understand not taking them to a personal Dr appt. or a glass store or something but why not a " big kid" school that they will be going to themselves soon?

[Blackcat31]

BC.
I was curious as to why you feel this way?
I can understand not taking them to a personal Dr appt. or a glass store or something but why not a " big kid" school that they will be going to themselves soon?

First, I was never a parent that was comfortable with my provider taking my children anywhere so I chose a provider that did not transport kids.

I dont think there is anything wrong with a planned field trip somewhere IF the purpose of that trip is part of the curriculum. i.e. going to the grocery store to learn about the whole process of shipping and purchasing foods etc.. or going to the fire dept to learn about what happens there.

Taking a group of children under age 5 to a "big kid" school is only applicable to the kids who will be entering "big kid" school the next year and really has nothing to do with the other kids...yet.

If learning about the "big kid" school was the primary focus for the trip, I would tour the school, meet the teachers etc...and there is no guarantee that all the DCK's will go to that school. We have 7 elementary schools and the children in my care don't all go to the same school so touring the one nearest to me wouldn't necessarily work.

I also feel as a parent, I am paying for services for MY child. I am not paying for the provider to do personal things.

If I worked in a bank, my employer would NOT be ok if I went to my child's graduation on the bank's time.
Even if I brought my laptop and tried to work from the audience.

I think things like this are the divide between this profession being viewed as professional and not being taken seriously by many.

I can't think of many other professions that allow for something personal to be completed while on someone else's clock or paid time...kwim?

Like I said above, I am NOT saying it's wrong.

I am only saying I view it differently and would NOT be okay with my provider doing anything personal outside the home....and some things within the home would not fly with me either but that's an entirely different topic.

[Cradle2crayons]

I take the dc kids to personal things sometimes. I explain this at interview.

I don't think every single place you take them needs to be official and educational.

I fill out a field trip form just like if we were going to the museum with all of the information. I've never had a parent have a problem with it.

The only place I don't generally take dc kids are dr appointments. That's way too boring for any kid haha. I schedule those around when my husband is home from out of state.

[midaycare]

First, I was never a parent that was comfortable with my provider taking my children anywhere so I chose a provider that did not transport kids.

I dont think there is anything wrong with a planned field trip somewhere IF the purpose of that trip is part of the curriculum. i.e. going to the grocery store to learn about the whole process of shipping and purchasing foods etc.. or going to the fire dept to learn about what happens there.

Taking a group of children under age 5 to a "big kid" school is only applicable to the kids who will be entering "big kid" school the next year and really has nothing to do with the other kids...yet.

If learning about the "big kid" school was the primary focus for the trip, I would tour the school, meet the teachers etc...and there is no guarantee that all the DCK's will go to that school. We have 7 elementary schools and the children in my care don't all go to the same school so touring the one nearest to me wouldn't necessarily work.

I also feel as a parent, I am paying for services for MY child. I am not paying for the provider to do personal things.

If I worked in a bank, my employer would NOT be ok if I went to my child's graduation on the bank's time.
Even if I brought my laptop and tried to work from the audience.

I think things like this are the divide between this profession being viewed as professional and not being taken seriously by many.

I can't think of many other professions that allow for something personal to be completed while on someone else's clock or paid time...kwim?

Like I said above, I am NOT saying it's wrong.

I am only saying I view it differently and would NOT be okay with my provider doing anything personal outside the home....and some things within the home would not fly with me either but that's an entirely different topic.

This is me to a "t". Instead of field trips, I have people visit us (firemen, police officers, etc.) I never liked my ds going in a car with someone else, and I don't want to be responsible as a driver for so many kids. Yikes! I'm a good driver, but what about other ones on the road?

I also agree that this is one reason why people may not take daycare seriously.

But there are people who don't mind if you take their child out to different functions, so I don't see a problem with it.

[TickleMonster]

None of our parents have a problem with it. They all had the same relieved look that we would be happy to take their kids with us instead of closing for the ceremony. In fact one of our parents has older kids that goes to the school and so she will be dropping her dcg off with us in the gym after the ceremony which made her happy. Keep in mind, we are not driving to this event, we are all walking with 2 strollers because it is just up the street. Glad to know that there are others who have done this same kind of thing.

[TwinKristi]

My son was really sick for the whole school year the year before last and our dr has the same hours as I do. If I closed every time we went to the dr we would have had to close down. I didn't mind taking them with me and their moms didn't mind so they went to the dr with us often that year. Sometimes my dh had an inspection on a job that he couldn't cancel and I didn't know DS was that sick until everywhere was here since they arrived early, 7-7:15am and my kids weren't up yet. I didn't have a big crew then so it wasn't a big deal, I wasn't dragging 8 kids with me. It was 4 max with my own 2 kids included.
I don't think there's anything unprofessional about it really. I have a family and life too. I think BCs situation is much different as she doesn't operate in her own home with her own children like many (or the majority I would guess) of us do. It's actually illegal in my state to do so as a "home daycare." It would be considered a daycare center and have much different standards and require employees and such which would make these personal issues a lot easier to manage.
I think it would be unprofessional to have to close 10x a year. I have had numerous interviews with parents trying to find a new provider because theirs is closing so often and for different reasons. One DCM said that she was closing at least once a month, some months 3-4 times. Either her kids are sick or the provider was sick or something. THAT is unprofessional. I get that kids get sick but honestly unless mine are so sick they need to be hospitalized or are vomiting I can keep them in their room/bed and check on them as lneeded. That was one of the perks of having a home based business!

Anyway, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking the kids to a nearby school event. Our school is a 7 minute walk away and would do it if I felt 4-5 toddlers wouldn't disrupt what we were going to. I closed for my son's promotion ceremony earlier this month for the first time!! It was awesome! I felt great about it since I gave parents ample notice. Now I have a sub I can use for doctor/dentist appts and don't have to take kids with me or have dh take off work anymore. I pay her $10/hr so $20 usually covers the appt and it's totally worth it! I even took my son a couple places since we finished early last time. He was so happy!