Parents: what would you do if this happened with your child at their daycare?

Question

Today I went to pick up my child from her daycare. It's in a private home setting, with a yard. My child was all alone, out in the yard. She saw me and came running. She was actually able to open the gate, so I picked her up, and got her out of the yard (no one watching).

Then I went around to the main door, rang the bell, and the daycare provider opened the door, astounded that I had my child with me.

What would you do/say to the daycare provider?

Answer 1

AH, You're Fired!

Answer 2

What the h**l... What the h**l happened to safety first... It really gets me that we pay these people to look after our children and they can't even take care of the gate situation????

I would have told them that until they fix their gate's or re-assist their safety regulations that you will not pay them for the week that the children have attended and so forth or ask them for a refund for the month...

Seriously!!!! You dont want to go to work all day worrying if your child has escaped from daycare or if they have been kidnapped!!! Scary thought!!!!

Answer 3

I'd say, "so long, fairwell!"  Time to find a new daycare - there is no way that I would bring my child back if I found him unsupervised at any point.  I would never want to risk it - especially with the child unsupervised outside.  Too many crazies out there!!!

Answer 4

I would deff sat something to the person that is watchong your child! You could have been a stranger or your child could have walked out be herself..better safe then sorry

Answer 5

Clearly your child was not safe at this daycare today and so you can not possibly justify dropping her off there tomorrow.  The only question is whether you believe the care giver can/will change the situation.  Then arrange for a time when you can meet face to face without any kids around.  Approach the situation as a problem that needs to be solved.  But that doesn't mean you can't express the fear and the anger that this situation has caused.  Then you have to follow your instincts.  Is she really going to change the situation or is she just giving you lip service and then will go back to doing things the same way?  Listen.  And remember that it's YOUR ultimate responsibility to keep your child safe.

Answer 6

that she really needs to pay closer attention or get a different job.

Answer 7

You have to tell them that there will be no other warning.  They are responsible for your child's safety as you place him/her in their care.  You must also check the better business bureau or whatever organization is in charge of licensing day cares.  You may want to find another day care.

Answer 8

I would be mad as h**l...and demand that they take all the right precautions otherwise you will take your business else where and report them.

Answer 9

Wow. I would be very tempted to fly off the handle at her. That is completely unacceptable. Honestly, I'd fine a new daycare provider. It's hard enough to leave your child with someone other than yourself or close family, but then to find out your child is wandering around a yard unsupervised AND has the ability to open the gate and get out...yikes.  

Answer 10

I will seriously talk to the daycare provider and tell them that they need to get a secure environment so these children can not get out.

Otherwise, change daycares. You dont want to be worrying about your child all day. you want to be able to know that your child is safe and happy.

good luck

Answer 11

Ask her why she was neglecting your child, then have her shut down as she obviously can't do her job properly and find a new daycare for your daughter...no childs saftey is worth risking and if i was you my child would never go back there again!

Answer 12

I would take my little girl out of there.. but that me.. you need to do what your heart tells you to do.. How do you feel about the situation and do what you feel is best for you and your child.  

Answer 13

TAKE HER OUT OF THE DAYCARE!better safe than sorry.i could see if the daycare provider had a helper out there with her or was sitting on the deck but if she was all alone she has to go to a different daycare!see im 14 and sometimes ill sit in the back fenced in yard with the kids while my moms making lunch but usually we stay in the house unless my moms out there.and the parents are ok with me helping to.

Answer 14

I would be asking where he or she was while my child was wandering alone!  I would remove my child from their care and report it to social services because that is neglectful to not have a close eye on the child.  I would be severely angered.

Answer 15

I would tell the provider to say goodbye to my child, because it would be his last day there.  I would also call Social Services and the other parents to make sure that they knew about the incident.  

Answer 16

I would tell them they need to have more security and if they don't threaten them that you will not go there anymore... also report it if it happens again,,,talk to other parents to see if something strange ever happened to them,,,children are the worlds most prized possession.  

Answer 17

well if your child could understand even a bit tell her about road sense just say things like cars go fast and things i would also tell the day care they have a week to fix the gate otherwise you would report it! if nothing happens i would report it and put her in another day care!

Answer 18

I would be mad and scared and I probably would have serious reservations to even take her back.  That is just scary to think that she was by herself outside, opened the gate by herself, and the provider had no idea.  I would set the provider down and let them know that that is not acceptable at all and unless she made changes, that I would not only remove my child but also report her.  That way you have given them the chance to fix things and to let them know how serious of a situation it was and how serious you are.  A child should never be left alone especially outside.  And if she could get out that easily, then it would be just as easy for someone to get in.  The more i think about it, I would probably find somewhere else to take her.  That's just my opinion.

Answer 19

I would tell her that she has broken your contract, and that you wouldn't be bringing your child back, as well as letting the state liscencing agency know what has happened so they could check up on her.

Answer 20

I would be upset and asking why my child was outside unattended. Did you do a background check on this person? I would be livid obviously if they were surprised they knew they messed up. I hope they apologized.  

Answer 21

No offense, but that is why I don't like home day-cares. If the daycare gets state funding or is state approved I would report them. I would have been livid if that would have been my child, anyone could have approached them or taken them and the provider would not have known. My child would not be returning to that day care and I would tell that woman excatly why.  

Answer 22

i would have put my child in my car then went to the door and said I'm here to pick up my kid and watch the horror on her face when she couldn't find her then i'd say shes in my car u know wen i pulled up she was all alone in the yard and she can open the gate! if my child got out and got lost or worst some one took her i would sue ur *** for everything you got then i'd bet the living h**l out of u! i would never take my kid back there

Answer 23

I would let them know that this is completely unacceptable.  Personally I would let them know that if anything questionable happened again I would remove my child from their care.  If anything had happened prior to this incident, I would pull my child out of their care and place them somewhere else.  If you truly trust the person, it is possible that they just made a mistake.  

Answer 24

I'd of simply said, "As you can see, my child was outside unattended.  Not only that, but she was more than capable of opening the gate and coming to the front yard.  I understand that things happen, but there's no way for me to know how long she was out there alone and that really scares me.  It also scares me that she was able to get out of the gate."  Then just take the conversation from there.  No longer using her as your daycare provider may be necessary.  

Like I said, things happen.  Your daughter could have unlocked the door and gone out on her own why the daycare worker was in the restroom.  I consider my home pretty child-safe, but my kids are still able to find ways to open doors or get into things that they shouldn't while I'm in the restroom or while I'm switching loads of laundry.  Again though, without talking to her, you have no way of knowing if she was outside for only a moment or if she had been outside for several minutes.  If the daycare provider can't answer that question, then it raises more flags.

Today on our local news, a young child walked away from a daycare (also a home daycare I think) and drowned in the neighbors pool.  Not only did she get out of the daycare gate, she got into the neighbors gate.  Its scary.  You pay this person to care for your child the same way you would.  When it doesn't happen, its beyond unacceptable.