I need opinions on my dilema
By ravinskye
@ravinskye (8237)
United States
September 24, 2007 12:36pm CST
Ok, my daughter started preschool this year. The catch is, I have to take her and pick her up. Which would be easy except I also have a 2 year old and a 8 week old, plus an 18 month old I babysit. So up until now I've been loading all 4 up in the van, buckling them up, running up the hill to the school, unbuckling all 4, taking them into the school for 5 min. then buckling 3 up and taking them all back home just to do it all again at 3:30. Anyways, my question is this. Would it hurt to leave them all in the van while I run my daughter into the school? before you answer, heres a little more information. The parking lot is right outside the windows, so I can see my van the whole time. I'm only in there for 5 min or less to take her into the room. We also live in a small safe town, but I still lock the van doors just incase and I would never do it if it were hot out. So what is your opinion on this? Would it hurt to leave them in the van for 5 min?
3 people like this
12 responses
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
25 Sep 07
Hi Ravinskye,
I wouldnt. A lot can happen in 5 mins, more than people think really. Most of the schools where I live, and I live in a pretty small town, have monitors that stand outside the school while parents are taking their kids to school and dropping them off. Its actually how the parking is set up, you take one drive to drop them off, and then can either exit or circle around and park your car. Then the busses have a drive of their own that they take to drop and pick up kids. How come the school doesnt provide monitors while people are arriving at school with their kids? Have you asked about it? Im sure MANY parents would find this helpful, not just you. Maybe you could work to get this started at your daughters school.
Bay xx
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
25 Sep 07
Thanks for the idea. All the other parents seem to have it under control. The teacher is going to pick her up in the mornings now, so I'll just have to worry about afternoons.
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
25 Sep 07
Thanks you two!
I was really impressed with it when I had to take a friends kid for awhile because her schedule had changed. I didnt have to get out and the monitor made sure that the kids get to the school safely.
Good to hear that you dont have to worry about the morning time anymore. What a nice teacher she has!
Bay xx
@krishnageethika (119)
• India
24 Sep 07
No, you should never leave the little ones alone in the van , even if it is for a mere 5 min. However I appreciate you for looking after all the 4 babies. You should be a very loving and caring person. But never leave the little ones alone in the van. Even if it is a little difficult to carry all of them back and forth please do the same. That will be the best for your peace of mind. Why take risk?
1 person likes this
@creematee (2810)
• United States
24 Sep 07
You know, this is a tough one to answer. I, personally, do leave my kids in the car. If the weather is hot, I take them in, but now that it is cooler, I feel comfortable leaving them in the van for those few minutes.
With that said, since some of these children aren't yours (you are babysitting, correct?) I would hesitate to tell you it would be OK. I think I would discuss it with the child's parents and ask for their feelings on it. Personally, I'd say OK, but some parents (especially new ones) get really freaked out by things like that.
Good luck with this decision! :)
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
24 Sep 07
Thanks, i actually have asked the childs parent and she is ok with it.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Sep 07
Technically I think it wouldn't hurt anything to leave them in the van...BUT things happen. Something unexpected might happen, and sometimes it won't even take 5 mins to have something really bad happen to one of those babies. Personally, I wouldn't want to leave them alone.
But since the class is so close couldn't the teacher get someone to bring your daughter out to you. Or since you can see the classroom from the van, maybe they can let her walk out to you. That'll be easier on you, and while she's walking out you and her teacher can keep an eye on her until she gets to the car.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
24 Sep 07
I wouldn't do it if I were you. What I would do instead is speak with the director of the school and see if something could be worked out. Perhaps arrangements could be made for someone to come out and escort your daughter into the school from your car. Or if signing your daughter in and out of class is one of their security issues, perhaps someone could just stand at your car while you took your daughter. I think people at preschools should be very sensitive to your situation. I bet they would be willing to work with you. Good luck with this.
1 person likes this
@Danielle11 (103)
• Australia
24 Sep 07
If you can see the car from the classroom I do not see a problem with it. We all have these sorts of delemmas at some point or another. As you stated, the car is extremely close. If you have one child acting up at the time, maybe take that child with you to prevent issues. when you return to the car. Set up a reward system for the kids for their manners and behavior whilst in the car also could help.Kids love to be praised, make the pick ups and drop offs an enjoyable trip with reward for good behavior..It definitely can't hurt.:)
@MrsFrizzle (1963)
• United States
25 Sep 07
I used to drive a van for a daycare and would leave the children in the van. I would literately only walk 1 foot from the van to the door and let the child I was dropping off walk in to the classroom with a friends or a safety. Perhaps you could request a safety to walk your child in. You know your children and how much you can trust them. I would defiantly lock them in and never leave the keys in the car.Perhaps you could even use a baby monitor or walky talkies in case they needed you while you where inside. I can defiantly understand some peoples worries. I would really check into getting a school safety to walk your child in for you. They did it for us at the day care so we did not have to take 6 other kids who did not belong there inside.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
25 Sep 07
May I say don't do it. Years ago I left my young ones in the car as I went into the grocery store just to get a loaf of bread. 5 to 10 min tops I though. Well there were longer lines than I expected. When i got back to the car my daughter had taken the cig lighter and burned herself with it. It wasn't a real bab burn but still. I still feel guilty for being so stupid. Now these were older kids 5,41/2,31/2 and 1. I thought it would be OK with one of them being 5. This was long before all the bad stuff you hear on the new today. Any way you never know what will happen to take longer than you expect. That was the last time I left them in the car.
@itkasp (266)
• Australia
24 Sep 07
Hi Ravinskye, I think it is unwise to leave children unattended in the car eventhough only 5 mins. Anything could happen during that time. I know it is hardwork to organise small children to get in and out the car, while you only need 5 mins to drop off your daughter to school. But I think the risk is just not worth to take.
Better you take longer time and bring all the children with you than you save 5 mins but with the risk of something bad might happen.
@chickangel (161)
• United States
25 Sep 07
First...do you know any of the other paerents at the school?
If you do maybe you can ask one of them to keep an eye on the kids while you run you daughter in, and agin when you pick her up. That way you are not taking the kids in and they are not alone. even if the person is not in the van they can see the kids, and you would not have to worry about the kids.
@wild_flow_r (304)
• Philippines
25 Sep 07
no.no.no. no matter what i strongly suggest to take your kids with you and do not leave them unattended. do not especially leave your kids in the van without an adult whom you know could watch them. just bring them with you. it will not take an hour for them to be in school. bring them with you.
@quickinstinct (432)
• United States
25 Sep 07
Thats a tricky question but if you do leave them in the van you should turn the vehicle off and remove the keys.
by the way: it is 'dilemma' and not 'dilema'.
