Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Do You Contact Parents When Child is Out?
dolores 07:36 PM 03-31-2021
For the most part parents tell me when their child will be out. If a kid does not show up by 10am and there is no communication from the parents, I send them a text to inquire about the child. Do you do that? I'm beginning to wonder if I should continue...
Cat Herder 05:13 AM 04-01-2021
I always do. It is part of my risk prevention program to limit "Hot Car" deaths. Kids can die in cold cars, too.
Jupadia 06:42 AM 04-01-2021
I will try to contact parents. Most times they have just forgotten to let me know. I won't go threw emergency contacts or make repeated calls but will text parent who dose most of the drop offs. If I don't hear from them after about 15 / 20 min then I'll text other parent. I can't think of a time where I did not hear back.
dolores 06:49 AM 04-01-2021
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
I always do. It is part of my risk prevention program to limit "Hot Car" deaths. Kids can die in cold cars, too.
Riiight!I always do. It is part of my risk prevention program to limit "Hot Car" deaths. Kids can die in cold cars, too.
Blackcat31 07:22 AM 04-01-2021
While I understand why some providers choose to call parents, I don't.
I don't want to assume the liability of this responsibility.
Also I simply don't have time during the busy morning as I need to focus my time and attention on the children (and parents) that are present.
In some circumstances I have called a parent but it's not a "service" I provide as I fully expect adults to be responsible and respectful enough to call or text me to let me know they aren't coming or are running late.
As I said though in some circumstances I will/do call or text. I am hesitant to do this though most times for many reasons (use tags below to find many threads on this topic). The last time I texted a parent when they were running late, it turned out horrible and tragic. It still re-plays in my mind so I hesitate now...
I don't want to assume the liability of this responsibility.
Also I simply don't have time during the busy morning as I need to focus my time and attention on the children (and parents) that are present.
In some circumstances I have called a parent but it's not a "service" I provide as I fully expect adults to be responsible and respectful enough to call or text me to let me know they aren't coming or are running late.
As I said though in some circumstances I will/do call or text. I am hesitant to do this though most times for many reasons (use tags below to find many threads on this topic). The last time I texted a parent when they were running late, it turned out horrible and tragic. It still re-plays in my mind so I hesitate now...
Blackcat31 07:34 AM 04-01-2021
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I don't want to assume the liability of this responsibility.
Also I simply don't have time during the busy morning as I need to focus my time and attention on the children (and parents) that are present.
Also, I don't have a lot of parents that don't call or text as part of my policies are termination of services for failure to let me know this information 3X. Forgetting once, is acceptable. Forgetting a second time generates a warning and the third time they forget I terminate services. I don't want to assume the liability of this responsibility.
Also I simply don't have time during the busy morning as I need to focus my time and attention on the children (and parents) that are present.
I won't allow my clients to put me in the position of being responsible when they are not.
Snowmom 08:25 AM 04-01-2021
You know, I'm kind of mixed on this subject.
There has been legislation talks about making providers (in home and center) call when families don't arrive on time. I totally get that hot car deaths can be prevented (and sometimes NOT) by a phone call, but imho, why can't a parent simply put a calendar alarm on their phone too?
Passing off the liability is a slippery slope.
My personal policy: I have a cut off of 9:00 on arrivals. So, if a child is not here by 8:55, I send a text saying "the front door is locked at 9:00. If you are already on your way, please let me know. If not, we'll see you tomorrow."
There has been legislation talks about making providers (in home and center) call when families don't arrive on time. I totally get that hot car deaths can be prevented (and sometimes NOT) by a phone call, but imho, why can't a parent simply put a calendar alarm on their phone too?
Passing off the liability is a slippery slope.
My personal policy: I have a cut off of 9:00 on arrivals. So, if a child is not here by 8:55, I send a text saying "the front door is locked at 9:00. If you are already on your way, please let me know. If not, we'll see you tomorrow."