Do you think that it is Ethical to keep a childs toy until the mother pays you for her daycare stay?

Question

Do you think that it is Ethical to keep a childs toy until the mother pays you for her daycare stay?

Answer 1

Are you trying to teach a lesson to the mother or the child?

Answer 2

No, but there is an argument to be made for prepayment of fees!

Answer 3

When I used to care for children in my home payment was due in my bank account the last day of the week. That meant I had to have a check by 2 pm or they had to bring me cash. If they didn't have it I wouldn't watch their child on Monday morning without cash that morning and then they were on a prepayment plan. If they had a problem with paying a week ahead they had to bring cash every morning.

Answer 4

I think it's unethical for a parent to make a daycare worker wait for a payment that is past due if a plan hasn't been agreed upon in advance.  You haven't mentioned any details, such as how long this person has had to wait for her money.  I don't think that it's fair to a child to keep a child's toy because his or her parents are irresponsible.  I'm wondering if there have been repeated offenses with non-payment, or this worker has reached their frustration point in waiting, and couldn't think of a better way to deal with it.  In either case, I wouldn't support punishing the child.

I do think, however, that instead of pointing the finger accusingly at the daycare worker for how they are handling the situation, that you should take a look at yourself and decide to pay them on time regularly.  If you paid the bill, then there wouldn't be any conflict to begin with.  Just a thought.

Oh, and if you're the daycare worker, then sorry for the rant.  That's for the angry mom.

Answer 5

No, Teachers should never do that.

Answer 6

It's not the mother you will be hurting - it's the little kid. Shame on you. Take the mother to court.

Answer 7

no... you should collect for the daycare before you render the services... if the mom drops the kid off at 8am, get the money at 8am... not when she comes back to pick the kid up at 6pm...

Answer 8

no that is just plain silly. what are they going to do with the toys anyway?

Answer 9

no.  Who are you trying to hurt?

Answer 10

I don't know about that but is the toy valuable enough to motivate the mother to pay?

Answer 11

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

It is not the child's fault that the parent can not or will not pay for child care services.  If there is a problem with payment, simply dismiss the child from the facility, but do not keep the child's personal items. Chances are that if the parent can not pay, the child does not have very much to begin with, keeping his/her things will only deprive the child of what little he/she may have.

Answer 12

That would only hurt the child and besides it is not the childs fault what we do at our facillity we charge a dollar a day added to the bill till its paid and we also dont let the child come back after a certain day till its paid. Hope this helps

Answer 13

if you keep the child's toy you are hurting the child.  why would you do that? give the toy back right now.  why should the child be punished for what the mother has done?  give the mother a week to pay up or tell her the child can not come until amount is paid.

Answer 14

lol, you gotta be kinding. a day care provider acting like a child? so much for professional behavior. holding a child's toy as hostage is so unprofessional, and gives the child care profession a bad name. and heck, what does this say about the qualifications of the provider?

Answer 15

Why should you punish the child for their parent's unability to pay their bills. The child shouldn't have to suffer at all! Doesn't make much sense and sounds pretty cruel to me.