Prek/daycare with no "open door policy"... (school, childcare)

[theBIGstep]

Why would a preschool/childcare not have an "open door" policy? According to the paperwork you must request approval first from the principle and then it may be granted for a guardian to come in to observe...which is only in 1/2 hr increments. I have never heard of such a thing have you???

[ChristineVA]

Hmmmm.....

Well, first all daycare places have an open door policy for people who are coming for visits or to interview the center. If they don't have that, then I'd be wary.

For what you are asking, though, is different. I can see why one would want some type of approval to sit in on a classroom. What if 3 parents showed up everyday? Imagine how disruptive that would be. It's not like higher grades where the kids know their parents are observing yet they are old enough to know that can't keep running up to mom or dad during class time. I think that would be pretty hard for a 2/3/4 year old.

I actually don't think this is out of line. With today's helicopter parents, they'd probably have the whoop/whoop of helicopter blades during their instruction time all too frequently.

However, it is a parent's right to drop in unannounced for a few minutes from time to time to see how things are going.

Signed,
Christine
Veteran Parent of Daycare from 1991-2002