Snow and Ice Safety for Home Daycares

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Why a home daycare is different

For most homes, a snowy driveway is an inconvenience for one or two drivers. For a home daycare, the same driveway and walkway are used by several families every morning and afternoon, often in the dark in December and January. Parents are usually carrying a child, a bag and sometimes a car seat, so they cannot hold a handrail or watch their footing closely.

Small children also move differently on snow. They run ahead, stop suddenly and like to climb snowbanks. The goal is a route from the car to the door that is wide, flat, well lit and free of ice at the times families arrive and leave.

Plan the drop-off route

• Decide where families should park or pull in, and keep that area cleared to full width so car doors can open fully.
• Use one main entrance for drop-off, and keep that walkway and every step to it cleared, not just a single shovel-width path.
• Make the walkway wide enough for a stroller or for a parent walking beside a child.
• Keep handrails clear of snow and ice, and turn on porch and driveway lights before the first family arrives.
• Put a mat and boot tray inside the door, with room for wet boots and snowsuits.

If parents park on the street, check the City of London on-street parking rules, which can restrict parking during snow clearing. Families who block the driveway also block clearing; our guide on where to park during a snowstorm explains why.

Ice is the bigger risk

Fresh snow is easy to see. Ice is not. Meltwater from snowbanks and roofs often refreezes overnight, so a walkway that looked fine at 5 pm can be slick the next morning. Check the steps and walkway each morning before drop-off, and again before pick-up, when the temperature drops back below freezing.

Freezing rain is the hardest case, because it coats every surface at once. A salt plan that includes freezing rain and refreeze visits takes that worry off your list. If children or pets walk the same path, ask about a pet-safe de-icer; our guide to ice melt products that are safe for pets and plants compares the options. Keep any bags of salt or ice melt stored where children cannot reach them.

Outdoor play areas and snowbanks

Children love snowbanks, but the banks at the end of the driveway and along the street are where plows and cars turn. Keep outdoor play in the fenced backyard, away from the driveway while vehicles are coming and going. Our guide on keeping kids and pets safe during plow visits has more tips.

Snow cleared from the driveway has to be piled somewhere. If you have a preference, such as keeping banks away from a side gate or a window, mention it when you request your quote.

Paperwork and insurance

If you work with a licensed home child care agency, ask them whether they have expectations for winter maintenance at provider homes. It is also worth asking your own insurer how snow and ice affect your coverage when clients visit your home. Rules and policies vary, so get the answer from them directly. Our guide on snow removal when you run a business from home covers more of this.

How a seasonal plan helps

With a seasonal plan, your driveway is cleared automatically from December 1 to March 31 whenever 5 cm or more falls. In long storms we come back for return visits, the City windrow at the end of the driveway is cleared, and you get a timestamped photo after every visit, which is a useful record if anyone asks when the driveway was done. Add walkway and steps and seasonal salt to cover the whole route to the door. Priority early-morning clearing puts your property earlier in the morning route.

Prices (all plus HST):

• Single or 1.5-car driveway: $650 to $725 for the season
• Double driveway: $815
• 3-car, paver or stamped driveway: $1,050
• Walkway and steps: from $150, or $175 for a walk plus up to 6 steps; sidewalk $90
• Seasonal salt, including freezing rain and refreeze visits: $175
• Pet-safe de-icer: $120
• Priority early-morning clearing: $125
• Season extension from November 1 to April 15: add $95

Prefer to pay only when you need it? Per-visit snow removal is $70 to $85 a visit. Seasonal plans take a 30% deposit with the balance before December 1, and seniors and front-line workers save 5% on seasonal plans. We carry $2,000,000 in liability insurance, are registered with WSIB and are LPMA members.

Get a quote before the season starts

Every quote is measured from City of London maps, and residential quotes come back within 1 business day. Ask for a free quote or call or text (548) 888-8702.