The problem of Social media for the child care

Using Social Media Can Get You Into Trouble

By Tom Copeland. Posted with permission.

Here's some situations when using social media got family child care providers into trouble with their licensor:

* A licensor walked around the back of a family child care provider's home and saw the provider texting on her phone while children were playing. The provider kept her head down texting for ten minutes before she noticed the licensor watching her.

* A provider posted a series of negative comments about the children in her care to her "friend" on Facebook. The "friend" copied the comments and sent them to her licensor.

* Here are some comments by family child care providers venting on the Daycare.com forum:

        "I'm so depressed and overwhelmed right now."

        "I'm exhausted this week. I can't seem to sleep much at night."

        "I'm going stir-crazy!!!!!"

        "I've spent most of the past two weeks on the verge of tears."

There are times when we've all felt these emotions. Talking to our family and friends about our feelings is entirely appropriate.

However, if you write them down and post them on the Internet, even seemingly innocently expressed feelings have the potential to bring you harm.

In an earlier article I shared the advice from a lawyer about being careful about what you post on Facebook, or other social media. Statements such as, "I feel so frustrated today with the children," or "I don't know what I'm going to do about this child" can be viewed by your licensor as a sign that it's not safe for you to be around children.

I've received calls from family child care licensors who are concerned that providers who are posting on Facebook throughout the day are neglecting their children.

I believe it will become increasingly common for licensors to monitor your Facebook usage during business hours. This could lead to negative licensing actions for providers who over use Facebook.

The state of New York recently instituted a new licensing rule to address this situation:

        "The use of any type of device for social or entertainment purposes, listening to music on headphones, playing screen games, using the Internet, or making personal calls by caregivers while supervising children is prohibited. Use of any devices for brief and     necessary communications or purposes directly related to the child care program such as communication with parents or the Office and its representatives is allowable."

I believe it's likely that in the future we will see similar rules adopted in other states.

You can use social media as a positive tool to promote your program, share ideas with other providers, and learn how to improve the quality of your program.

I've written about how to do this using Facebook, YouTube, and Craigslist.

At the same time, over-use of this technology, or not realizing that the comments you make over the Internet are permanent and can be seen by your licensor, can get you into trouble.

So, be smart about how you use social media.

Tom Copeland - www.tomcopelandblog.com

Image credit: www.business2community.com

A personal commentary (Ángel Olmedo)

Take care also the photos posted, and the sites where they appear: A photo in a workout, ¡great! A weekly photo in the middle of a party gives the impression that you are not a serious and reliable person.

And a text from her husband saying, "What a magnificent night! Here, I am taking my twelfth beer "or your own text" I do not know what to do with my husband, he every day drink more and more, "It will cause that your licensor think that your home is no longer safe for child care.

Facebook is extremely dangerous. It can see for your friends and also for your enemies, they don’t need even be on Facebook.