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This message is for parents who may have children in the care of 2 daycare providers in the Kirkaldy area who attended a local park today. In the best interest of your child you might want to question the amount of time your providers spend on their cell phones while your little ones are being knocked over by other kids and walk near the road. One little white phone got a lot more attention than your kids did today.

I took my group to the park today (not kirkcaldy!! Lol) and took LOTS of pictures to send to parents and use on my daycare fb page. As I was doing so, I was thinking to myself, "someone is gonna see me and think I'm not paying attention"....  
 
I hate that ebrandon makes me so paranoid about what I do in public!

I usually wonder if people are judging me when I am on my phone too. It's almost always a text or picture message to the parents, so I'm sure the families don't mind getting an update during the day.

Sammy... As a daycare provider you are NOT allowed to Facebook your daycare children. Breach of confidentiality! Licensed or Unlicensed!.. I know this because I have been licensed for 13 years. You can send pictures to parents and delete. Or use for take home and no copies. I can send you copies of paperwork if needed...

I also use my phone while I'm tending to children. As stated previously, pictures to send to families, post on a blog, or so use for future crafts. People are so damn quick to judge. How do you know what was going on? This wasn't me, as, I'm not from Brandon...but, before you judge, please be well known of the facts.

Oh gotta love ebrandon! I had 1 daycare kid today and we went out for lunch. I was on my phone during that time to - with my husband who always texts me at lunch. I also was texting mom letting her know what we were up to and how the day was going.  

I also have a Facebook page and post photos. They are never of the children's face (unless it is my own child). I also have a signed form from parents getting permission for photos (sharing between parents, on Facebook with no face showing, using for crafts/in my home).  
 
I know for a fact Sammy does the same.

1979 said "Sammy... As a daycare provider you are NOT allowed to Facebook your daycare children. Breach of confidentiality! Licensed or Unlicensed!.. I know this because I have been licensed for 13 years. You can send pictures to parents and delete. Or use for take home and no copies. I can send you copies of paperwork if needed... "

I didn't know that!! Oops!  
 
My clients sign a permission form and faces are covered up or not even in the pic, is that still not allowed?  
 
Edited by sammy, 2015-08-07 22:34:50

How is it any different from the permission form I sign for my child's school saying photos will be taken and used.  
 
My daughter's picture is in after school activities and her photo was used on their website.  
 

School division vs daycare... totally different! I nap my kids on matts, schools nap on the carpet they walk on!

Schools don't nap kids anymore!?!

I've seen quite a few facebook pages and/or blogs from licensed homes and centre's, that have pictures of chosen in them. In fact, I've even seen my child in advertising when she was enrolled in a centre. I think that's why there's permissions for parents to accept or decline. I've never seen an online picture of a daycare child with a visible face though, it's usually edited out.  
 
Edited by some...body...., 2015-08-07 22:45:13

My child's school has nap/quiet time! They use the carpet and if your child has a sweater or jacket for a blanket in kindergarten thats nap time! School-daycare rules 100% differ, refer to the childcare office for knowledge.

1979 said "My child's school has nap/quiet time! They use the carpet and if your child has a sweater or jacket for a blanket in kindergarten thats nap time! School-daycare rules 100% differ, refer to the childcare office for knowledge. "

I did a quick google search but couldn't see anything. I'd be interested in more information about the pics please  
 
Sorry to the OP for sorta going off topic!!!  
 
Edited by sammy, 2015-08-07 23:11:08

The provider was doing more than taking a few photos for parents if there were children walking near the road and getting knocked down without any notice. Sometimes a quick text to a parent is necessary, but the child's safety is priority.

Alert the media, a kid got knocked down! While playing with other kids. On a playground. Is this seriously a point you're trying to make? Even if the provider was watching, kids still get knocked down, fall down, get hurt. Remember being a kid and getting hurt while playing outside? No? Than you didn't have a great childhood, sorry about that. To keep bringing up how a kid was knocked over during this incident is ridiculous and brings no merit to this conversation. Just sayin.  
 
On the other hand, a provider should never be on their cell phone while in the presence of their children. Parents pay you to care for their kids! Instead you spend that time texting and taking photos? I don't care if it's your husband. Unless there's an emergency put your damn phone away and do your job. Otherwise you could end up with an emergency when a kid falls off the playstructure and breaks an arm. What do you tell the parent then? "Oh sorry, I didn't see what happened. I was too busy texting you about their day"

There is a big difference between getting knocked over while playing and being an 18 month old purposefully being knocked over and being left to be picked up by a stranger because his daycare provider was busy googling. You know full well what my "point" was. My initial post was very clear.

Since you're so interested in facts, why don't you survey the parents of the children you are tending to and ask them if they would prefer you watch their children or are they fine with you posting to your cute little blog instead? I can wait till Monday evening for the results. There was no "bitching" in my post only concern for the safety of the children. Your reaction says a lot about what you value.

The OP saw something they thought warranted mentioning. They did not have all the facts but they certainly had more facts than those bashing them as they were there. There opinion of what they saw is subjective but, guess what, every opinion is subjective.  
 
There may have been wrong doing on the part(s) of the provider(s) or there may not have. Make you choice, Is it better to mention something that may or may not be a problem or just simply walk away from something that may or may not be a problem. I would say that choice depends on whether you think you see a problem. The OP thought they saw a problem so, in my opinion, made the right choice.

I have been to a playground in that area and witnessed the same thing by daycare located there as well. The provider was on her flip cell phone while a 8-10 yr old boy kept hitting/knocking down a 7-9 yr old girl. She would tell him to stop from several feet away, which of course, he did not. When they left I counted and there were 12 kids in her care, which is over the limit even for licensed daycares, I believe.  
 
Pretty sad when you take your kids to the park and end up watching other children who are there because their providers are not.  
I don't agree with providers being on there cell phones any more than parents being on them while spending time with their children.  
 
Edited by Bahamamama, 2015-08-08 10:36:52

I 100% agree that children's safety should be one of the main priorities for anyone dealing with children. I can completely understand the OP's concern with what they saw. However, I think if it was a huge enough concern, they should have talked to the 2 providers in question. They would either have explained what they were doing or they would have been called out on their behaviour and thought twice before doing it again. The children's safety would have been better addressed at the time it happened.  
 
There have been times I've had to step in and address other kids at the park because parents and/or licensed centre staff were too busy talking to each other and didn't notice their children were being mean to My daycare children. Cell phones aren't the only distraction and aren't always to blame for inadequate supervision.

Well glad my parents aren't helicopter parents. As a provider I do not have my eyes on everyone's child all day long! It's not possible. I make meals, change diapers in the other room, spend time in the bathroom (potty training as well as using the bathroom myself) all while leaving children children not 100percent supervised. I answer my phone, I text, go on Pinterest, water my flowers etc while I am working. Kids need independence and certainly don't want me trailing behind them all day. Luckily my parents are great and are ok with that.

even if you have only a child i do not believe that any daycare or any parents can supervise children every step and every 1 second on their entire day, even when they are sleeping one cannot be checking a child while their entire sleep. If a parent blame a daycare for something happened well maybe that parent(s) should stay home with their child and take care of their child themselves and do provide a daycare yourself see how it easy it is to check every child with no scratches or injuries happen. As long as there is only one human on the planet there is always be something to happen because no humans are perfect. No easy to be a parent and not easy to take care of daycare.

This is just another example of how people are married to their phones. Put the damn thing in your pocket and just do your job.  
No reason you have to text your husband or mom to let them know how your day is going, you can tell them when you are not being paid to do a very important job.  
Maybe I'm out of touch but how many employers allow their employees to have their phones out and text, take pictures, etc. while working. If I walked into a store, bank or office and this was going on, I would be pissed. Excuse the language, but this obsession with phones really annoys me.  
O.k., I'm old.....

I disagree with the posts that say "put your phone away, you're being paid to watch the children".  
Pictures are a huge part of documentation. I don't do worksheets, etc. My goal is play based learning. The best way for parents to understand what their child is learning all day, is through documentation. I know my families appreciate that I continue trying new ways to document our days.  
And I know the children I care for get a lot more supervision than the children at the centre near us. I usually leave the playground when they show up, because I often end up watching my 5, and half of their group. And they don't have their phones/cameras out. They are just sitting and visiting each other.  
What I'm trying to say, don't judge someone for having their phone out. That is not the only indication of the level of care they are receiving.

some...body.... said "I disagree with the posts that say "put your phone away, you're being paid to watch the children".   Pictures are a huge part of documentation. I don't do worksheets, etc. My goal is play based learning. The best way for parents to understand what their child is learning all day, is through documentation. I know my families appreciate that I continue trying new ways to document our days.   And I know the children I care for get a lot more supervision than the children at the centre near us. I usually leave the playground when they show up, because I often end up watching my 5, and half of their group. And they don't have their phones/cameras out. They are just sitting and visiting each other.   What I'm trying to say, don't judge someone for having their phone out. That is not the only indication of the level of care they are receiving. "

Unfortunately when you have providers proudly posting that they are checking Pinterest on their phones while getting paid to "watch" other's children, it can be tough to tell who is being responsible.

How did child care providers get through the days prior to all of this fancy shmancy technology?  
 
Personally, I don't think I would have a major want/need to know the play by play of what my young child is doing all day. Sick? Call me. Injured? Call me. Something urgent? Sure, by all means.. call me! Tell me about my child's day when I pick him/her up.  
 
I am young myself, but happen to find the need for constant contact with people to be kind of too much...  
 
I know for a fact it would ease my mind knowing my child is being properly looked after rather than getting little picture/text updates throughout the day. That's obviously just myyyy preference though.....  
 

I actually find it harder to talk at pickup time. The kids are all tired at the end of the day, more likely to fight with the others, etc. If i'm at the door with a parent, then there's no supervision in the toy room. If it's mid-morning, and everyone is playing happily, why not send a picture? At least I can see the kids playing, and they're far less likely to have a problem the requires my assistance. Compared to tired, grumpy, and in a separate part of the house (if I'm talking at the front door), picture messaging seems like the better option.

I appreciate that you have taken the time to send out this notification. I believe that you have done so because of concern for the children. The parents should know. It is also not fair to others who use the park. I wish there was a better way to hold these people accountable for their actions so that everyone can enjoy a pleasant experience in public spaces.

Redtree said "Since you're so interested in facts, why don't you survey the parents of the children you are tending to and ask them if they would prefer you watch their children or are they fine with you posting to your cute little blog instead? I can wait till Monday evening for the results. There was no "bitching" in my post only concern for the safety of the children. Your reaction says a lot about what you value. "

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on some points. Yes, I agree that the children shouldn't have been unsupervised near the road.  
I disagree that all parents care if the provider is texting or not. In my daycare policy, it clearly gives the parents the option to opt out of me taking pictures of their child. The next line gives them me permission to use the picture of their child in a display, in their artwork, in advertising, etc. And in a different part of my policy I mention that I use my cell phone for communication more than my home phone. These are all things they know about me before we even schedule an interview. All of my families like the daily updates.