What Would You Do? Daycare Situation

Hey, I don't blame you for not wanting her shoes all wet. I have missed some of my kids jumping in puddles. I don't ALLOW it. Kids are fast. Usually, it's the other way around for me. Parents hand me a kid that has socks on or maybe nothing, and they tell me that their shoes are wet and muddy. And yet, they KNOW that we will likely have to leave the house that day. We go places all the time. Lately, I've been having people show up with kids in pajamas with no other clothes to change them into. I don't want to take kids out and about for field trips in pajamas!

I do think you need to just leave it alone. It's not likely to happen again and they will just see you as a whiner if you say anything. Wait to see if they do it again.

As far as the sock thing.. I get so frustrated with my kids taking off their socks. After putting them back on once, they can just have cold feet!

Bring some extra shoes and socks for the daycare to use if she gets into water again. If it was a nice day, they probably didn't want to keep the kids trapped inside all day. However, when you give them the extra things just say that you noticed her shoes were wet yesterday which made it a concern for you taking her outside again to go home so you would appreciate it if they could keep her feet as dry as possible and covered, and here are some spares in case it happens again.

I dunno... I don't see the huge issue. The other day it had been raining tons here we took kids out when there was a break in the rain and they all came back in with soaking wet shoes, socks and pants. We immediately changed them into dry clothes and went on with our day. The entire process took about 15 minutes... hardly time enough for them to catch pneumonia. The had a blast.

I mean, if you had come in and she was still in wet socks or cold wet clothes I would understand your concern, but if it were me I'd let this one go, or send rain boots on days when there might be puddles.

Sorry, there are worse battles to be fought. I wouldn't constitute this as poor care of your child.

Oh for the love of God, really? We were given this beautiful gift of a warm day in winter following a snowstorm and you're really upset that the daycare - egad! - allowed the children to go outside in the sunshine and - gasp! - get their feet wet? Please get over this. Do you really think that children get pneumonia from wet feet? Really?

Sorry, but you are the one who lacks common sense here. Let this go, your complaint is crazy. Feet dry, socks dry, shoes dry. It's all good, really.

Deep breath - I'm assuming this is your first and/or only child. We tend to freak out more when that's the case. Other moms have commented on the speed of the playing child - they can get dirty/wet, etc. faster than superman can fly around the block! LOL

Have an extra supply of clothes there just in case.

The only thing that will happen if your daughter gets cold and wet is that she'll be uncomfortable for a little while. Pneumonia is from a bacteria or virus, not playing in puddles - it's just an old wives tale when you hear "get out of the cold, you'll catch pneumonia". :)

The only way for them NOT to get wet is to stay inside.
I'm sure you don't want that?
Also, you must realize that colds (let alone pneumonia) are not "caught" by having wet feet, right?
If it's a concern, by all means keep some extra shoes and socks at daycare, but your daughter WILL get wet, feet and all, outside.

Do you let your child go barefoot at home? I dont see a problem with her being in barefeet at daycare. She cant get sick from being wet for a few minutes while outside, and it happens so fast even you wouldnt have been able to keep her dry. Just walking thru the grass would get her shoes wet. My grand daughter takes her shoes off at preschool and all the kids spend the day in socks only. We all had to send a change of clothes, including socks just in case they needed them. Maybe you should send a little bag with extra clothes for your daughter just in case it happens again. I think the staff of your daycare was being very thoughtful to get your little girl out of wet socks and shoes so her feet wouldnt be uncomfortable. Maybe you could stop by a store and pick up a pack of a dozen socks for all the kids to use in the future.

My suggestion is to talk to her teachers to clear up your confusion over how her socks and shoes got so wet. You know they go outside and you like that, but why so wet? I might also talk to the center director and let her know that you were a little disappointed to find your daughter without shoes and socks when you came to pick her up. What's the use of having spare clothes at the center if they aren't going to use them? I mean, you can understand little kids splashing in puddles or playing in a snowbank that hasn't melted yet. Those things are fun! But why couldn't they at least get her socks on her? Maybe they had just come in?

I wouldn't have been happy either if I found my daughter sans footwear at daycare (for hygiene reasons mostly). Then again, everyone makes mistakes and I could overlook something like this once. Twice though, I would think there was a problem.

Did you notice that we had snow, fog and rain this weekend. Just walking to the car your shoes get muddy. If they let the kids outside to get some
air and run off some of the energy, their feet will get wet. Everything is
saturated. I do not get the feeling that they purposely let them jump in
puddles.

I would just ask them that if that were to happen again, please be sure she gets dry socks on.

Shoes get wet. No biggie. Your child isn't going to catch anything from playing in the rain. I'd bring a spare pair of shoes and socks for her to use in case her shoes get messed up again.

I'm glad you clarified.

Hmmm, I did some daycare work so i'm trying to see how this might have happened. Daycare make me thinking 2-4 yo?? I do understand your concern. It's been a weird winter here in OH but it is still winter and she is little.

I think your best approach is to catch a lead teacher or the director in the AM when everyone is fresh, and if you have to, go ahead and call. I'd ask really friendly, Director so and so, can you please go over your outdoor recess policy with me again?? I was concerned when I picked up little Angel and her boots and shoes were soaked. Can you give me advanced notice if you will be taking the kids out in rainy weather and I'll (uhhhh not sure) I"ll make it a point to bring her another pair of spare socks in additon to the ones in her change of clothes box/bag??? That last part is just to underscore in a polite way that you didn't appreciate her cold tootsies.

HTH I'm good with them being outside, not good with them gettng that wet. but you could ask how long they were out. it's possible the teacher looked out the window saw blue skies and didn't go out and check for puddles.

Hi K.,

I would go in a little early tomorrow morning and just speak with them about it. Tell them that you are concerned about your daughter getting sick and you would really appreciate it if they don't allow her to get so wet next time. If they happen to get wet---at least change her into new, clean/dry clothes! So sorry this happened---I know its uncomfortable to talk about, but you have to do what you feel is best for your child no matter what the reaction of the other person. GL

M

Of course they should be able to play in the mud. They absolutely should be outside whenever they can and honestly if there is a single mud puddle on an entire acre, my son will find it and jump in it before anyone can stop him. But they should be wearing boots (we are required to bring in a pair of boots for the season). Also - doesn't she have at least a spare pair of socks at school? In PA, kids are required to have an emergency change of clothing including socks.

If it were me I'd be happy the kids were out stomping in puddles (or whatever they were doing). When it rains here I love to take the kids out and we all play in the rain and get wet...then we come in before we get too cold. Kids LOVE that kind of thing! It's so fun. As long as your daughter was happy and went inside before she got too cold, I'd think nothing of it. It sounds like maybe you are not an outside person (?) and don't think going out and splashing in puddles and getting wet would be fun. I'm guessing here. To me this is a valuable part of being a kid...getting wet and dirty. ;) Now if they were taking them out daily in the rain and their boots were getting soaking wet daily - that would get to be a pain.

I think if kids go outside for even 5 minutes they are going to find any little tiny bit of water and go splash in it.

Our kids go barefoot all the time in childcare at some places. Others consider it to be a safety issue, if the fire alarms go off the kids don't have the chance to put socks and shoes on, they are taken outside barefoot even in snow. They even wore their shoes to nap at that particular child care franchise.

I would just ask the teacher to make sure your little one had the opportunity to put on her dry socks. I assume she is old enough to know where her cubby is and that she can go get them herself if that is an option.

How do you know they "let" her jump in puddles. My son has stomped in puddles before I could stop him plenty of times. As to the coat, just say you noticed her coat was dry and that you would like your daughter to have her coat on when she is outside from now on. Just say it matter of factly.

Our daycare asks that we send boots (in addition to the shoes my son wears) every day. We can leave them in his cubby and they put them on when the go outside. That way his shoes stay dry. Your daughter is going to splash in puddles no matter what. I would just send rain/snow boots and ask that they change her shoes for outside time.

I would just request that they not let your daughter walk around barefoot. I know its easy to start seeing red when you see something you don't like going from people you are trusting to care for your child. I've been in that position and have found it better to just nicely reiterate or let it be known when I don't like something.

it happens kids get into everything i would find out what the purpose of the extra socks is if they dont put them on P s you dont catch a cold from wet feet hang in there

Colds are caused by germs. not water or weather. Being cold and wet does NOT make you more susceptible to catching a cold-- they've done scientific studies!

Keep extra socks and shoes in her bag or day care cubby and let them have some FUN!

i would thank your daycare provider for allowing your child to have the golden opportunity to stomp in some mud puddles.
she won't get sick from being barefoot while her shoes dry.
send in extra socks and worry about more important things.
khairete
S.