Dropping off early

[Littledragon]

Dropping off 5-10 minutes before opening. What would you do?

[Play and Learn]

I don't open my door until I open, at 7:30 a.m. I tell them this at the main interview, and when they're signing the papers; I also state that I program all my clocks to the Ottawa Weather Network, and for them to do the same. IF you want me to open at 7:20, you have to pay me more ($10)!

Just don't open the door for them. They'll soon enough get the point.

[KingstonMom]

I had a parent do this, except a few times it was 20 minutes early!! Most times it was 10 minutes before their scheduled drop off time. They were my first client of the day, at 7am, the others came at 7:30. So some days, I was brushing my teeth when they would ring the doorbell, or still tidying up, getting ready for the day. It irked me SOOO much!! And I always like to open the door for them, cause they were the type to ring the bell instead of knockingl when my kid and husband were still sleeping!!) So I would see them pull up and open the door for them. Them coming early meant that they woudl ring the bell and sure enough, my kid would be up. Back then, my son would sleep till 8:30am, so him getting up at 7am meant a long morning for me with his crankyness.
I ended up canning them since they were flexible part time and I needed to fill with a full time spot. But this was among some of the many reason why I loved seeing them go!!!

Any new client who have asked for a 7am drop-off, I straight out tell them," please make sure its right at 7, and not before, I have limited time in the morning and I'd like to be ready for when you come." One current client kept coming early, but would stop at Timmies for a coffee and wait till 7 to bring her son over. She later found that the clock in her kitchen was fast and that why she always has her son ready to go earlier than normal time. But at least she had the respect to not bring him until 7am on the dot. It does make a huge difference if you're anything liek me. I cherish those 15 minutes I can eat my breakfast and enjoy my coffee and news before they come.

Maybe the next time you are talking, ask if they use their cell phone for the time in the morning, casually say that a few time they have came early and you hadn't quite had your coffee, or the bed made yet or whatever, maybe they can get the hint.

[kidlove]

I have hid in the kitchen in the dark for 15 min before because a parent tried dropping off early. I felt like a total goober, and hoped they didnt see me, but I felt I had to proove a point...otherwise it could become a habit. My door is locked until 6:30 am. Have had parents ask to drop off early before, nope...I tell them. 6:30 is early enough. :)

[KingstonMom]

If you can stand them at the door ringing and knocking and it wont wake anybody in the house, then let them do this. Answer on the 4th knock or 2nd, 3rd doorbell ring. rush to the door, say that you must not have heard them, as you are still getting ready for the day, or, better yet, show up with a towel on your head and ask "is it 7:00am already?? I thought it was only 10 mins to!"
if they cant get the hint after this, you'll have to ask them straight out, please dont come until my scheduled 'open' times.

Im a wimp when it comes to confrontation, so any 'subtle' hints, I'm all for them! :)

[Momof4]

I don't open my door until I'm open at 7:30.

[playfelt]

Five minutes wouldn't bother me that much since most of my kids come from at least a 10 minute drive away which translates into several stop lights/stop signs so the length of time needed to get to my house can vary by their luck at the lights. At the same time some mornings go more smoothly than others and seems silly to just stand there watching the clock.

Had a family that often arrived 5-10 minutes early and they would sit in their car in my driveway reading books, singing songs, etc. till the appointed hour and while it was the right thing to do it did seem silly when the kids could have just come in and watched tv till everyone got there but I did appreciate that they respected my time. I have a 5 minute or so grace period on both ends of d rop off and pick up.

[jec]

I figure 5 minutes isn't always early as everyone seems to run off different times - meaning my clock says 7:30 and their's says 7:35 type of thing. I just make sure that I'm ready 10 minutes before arrivals so I don't get caught.
I did however have a family that used to arrive some times 15 minutes early and I was chatting with them one day saying don't you just need that 10 minutes with your coffee before you start work with quiet and the Mom was agreeing with me and then I said that it's how I look at my mornings and if she is 5 minutes early no problem but 15 is my tea time. She saw it differently and never happended again.

[apples and bananas]

I open my door 5 minutes before scheduled drop off. My parents know if my door is open you are welcome to come in as I am expecting you. If it's closed, then I'm not expecting you and either text me or check your clock again. I've never had a problem.

[Judy Trickett]

Okay, once again, let's do some math. We will take the middle of between 5 and 10 minutes and choose 7 minutes for our equation.

260 work days/year X 7 minutes = 1820 minutes

1820 minutes = 30.33 hours

So, if you open your door just 7 minutes early you are working nearly an entire work week each year for FREE.

Now, toss in only an extra 7 minutes again at the end of the day and you are looking at working an additional 60 HOURS a year for FREE.

Nope, don't open the door.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup I agree with Judy ~ my hours of operation are set for a reason ;)

If you arrive early you sit in your car until your car clock says I am open ~ if your clock is FAST than you best set it to MINE cause all my clocks match my computer and phone which are both automatically set to the online one the governments use to determine the 'time' and sets itself on daylight savings and power outages and so forth so is 'accurate'!

Their ability to PLAN their commute is not my problem ;)

The reality is that unaddressed the 3 minutes early turns into 5 minutes, 7 minutes, 10 minutes and just keeps getting 'earlier' cause it is allowed and they get more time to 'relax' when they get to work and so forth ... I say this from experience in centre care where we had clients constantly doing this both at the start and end of the day and because staff 'rotated' and the consequence was never 'consistent' parents just kept doing it cause majority of time they got away with it and if not they just waited outside or paid the late fee if they got a staff member who enforced the rules :cursing:

[michellesmunchkins]

What do you ladies suggest for those who are arriving early but your already open. This client is leaving in a few weeks, but I have others who are doing this as well. Technically, I am open at 6am. Her scheduled drop off time is 8:15. For the last few weeks they have been showing up at 7:35-7:45...no need for it since nothing has changed in their lives. STill the same commute etc. So technically I am open, but now she is getting 30-45 minutes of extra care without even asking me.

[Inspired by Reggio]

What do you ladies suggest for those who are arriving early but your already open. This client is leaving in a few weeks, but I have others who are doing this as well. Technically, I am open at 6am. Her scheduled drop off time is 8:15. For the last few weeks they have been showing up at 7:35-7:45...no need for it since nothing has changed in their lives. STill the same commute etc. So technically I am open, but now she is getting 30-45 minutes of extra care without even asking me.

This I would address in a few ways ~ a conversation that went something like ...

'I have noticed that there has been a gradual change in drop off time for XXXX resulting at earlier and earlier drop offs which is posing some challenges for the program. First as discussed at beginning of care I feel strongly that children need and thrive in consistency this is why upon enrollment we 'set' hours of care in our contract for service, second my arrival and departuress work best when 'staggered' so that there is proper parking spaces, room in the foyer, opportunity for me to support a child into or out of the program and so forth which is why I set hours of care upon enrollment with each new client to help plan this, also I plan daily activities and when to start and stop new things based on my hours of care so children are not arriving right at the end of something they will not be sad they missed or leaving in the middle of something 'fun' and finally I need my hours of care and actual care to match as close to possible for my record keeping and tax purposes of use of home for business and so for all these reasons I need you to please STICK to your hours of care as per our contract ~ if you need to CHANGE these than we can discuss that however if you are needing MORE hours than previously agreed up please note there would be additional fees because the fees your contract currently state are reflective of the hours agreed to at that point of signing that contract and how they fit into the aforementioned criteria at the time."

[apples and bananas]

That's exactly why I don't post "open" hours. I post close hours on my website cause that's the latest, but no open hours. And I never tell clients when other kids arrive. For example, I have one child that comes at 7am every day. A client once asked "I notice little suzie is here every day when I arrive, what time do you start? " My answer "Her drop off time varies some days... and then when she's sick or on vacation I get to sleep in a little" This way they don't know.

Again, I have a great system. My front door is open and welcoming when I'm open and closed when I'm not. If my door is shut then someone has gotten something wrong! Some days I have a drop off at 7 and then not until 8:30. My door opens at 5 to 7 and closed after the arrival until 8:25. It's how I control it.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I wish I lived somewhere I felt safe to leave my door open :o

I use to be the same way Apples and Bananas ~ open door policy where they just came in. But in the past couple years we've had daytime home invasions in this neck of the woods and another time someone robbed a bank and took refuge in a house 4 doors down from me and we had our area 'locked down' and swat teams on the street and at each house :(

So now my door is now ALWAYS locked here even when we are home and clients have to 'knock or ring' .... only time it is not locked is if I have a client who has arrived and not 'left' and another one shows up for them.

When we upgraded our door I had order that an extra 'hole' be put in cause I had intended to have a keycode deadbolt put in above over the handle so I could have that locked during business hours but give clients a code to let themselves in and lock it when they leave again ... and than the door handle would house a second deadbolt that would be locked anytime we are not open for business .... however the bloody door game and they made the upper deadbolt hole 'smaller' than the door handle whole cause apparently 'standard deadbolts' are smaller but the key code lock will not fit cause it is not 'standard size deadbolt' it is door handle size whole ~ so not it sits there waiting for us to find someone who is willing to make the hole 'bigger' for us ~ so far no one is willing to try cause its a stainless steel door and if they 'screw up' it is not 'fixable' :(

[fruitloop]

If a parent shows up early I tell them they are early and I don't open until 7:30am. I go by my cell phone time. I tell them that even though it's only 5 minutes and it doesn't seem like much, I can get A LOT done in 5 minutes. They get it the first time I tell them and are never early again!.

[Momof4]

I said on page 1 that I open at 7:30 and would not open my doors one minute early. But I'm very lucky that my first clients are usually here at 8am and most of them are like clockwork for dropoff and pickup times.

Then I have one family who arrive anytime between 8 and 8:30 and pickup anywhere between 4 and 4:30. I never know exactly when they will be here morning or evening, but it's ok and doesn't bother me. If they were coming after 9am and I want to be out the door to go someplace at 9 I'd be mad. And if they were coming late and were the last pickup of the day I'd be mad again, but they are the 2nd last pickup of the day so they are not making me mad.

It's different in every case for everybody's situation because we are all different.

[apples and bananas]

I wish I lived somewhere I felt safe to leave my door open :o

I use to be the same way Apples and Bananas ~ open door policy where they just came in. But in the past couple years we've had daytime home invasions in this neck of the woods and another time someone robbed a bank and took refuge in a house 4 doors down from me and we had our area 'locked down' and swat teams on the street and at each house :(



I just locked my door. :unsure::unsure::uns ure:

[Inspired by Reggio]

I just locked my door. :unsure::unsure::uns ure:

Sorry did not mean to spread my paranoia :o

[apples and bananas]

Sorry did not mean to spread my paranoia :o

LOL, I live in a fairly safe area and lucky for me I have family on both sides of me always home. As it is my backdoor is always unlocked cause my hubby comes home through the back door several times during the day, he works close. My set up is just really good for a daycare arrangement.

[Momof4]

I was raised out in the country and we always locked our doors. It's just been something we have done regularly for safety and I couldn't imagine living anywhere and leaving my doors unlocked. There are too many crazies in the world. The daycare parents have to ring my doorbell and wait until I can get there to open the door.

[kidlove]

love it, Judy!!!!! Its rude because its "taking advantage" and to go farther... it's taking advantage because it's "expecting something" (your time) for "nothing" (no $). I wouldnt go to a store or the bank before they were open and bang on the door demanding service. same thing.

Not to mention, some of us are get up and be ready at the last minute kind of people. my day starts @ 6:30 over at almost 6. thats a nearly 12 hr day already. I would greatly appreciate an extra few min in the am for a little peace. Its just respectful to show up ON time! not too early.

Doesnt like everyone in the world have cell phones which run off sattilite time so, no excuses of "my clock must be off"

[kidlove]

You know, maybe if any of you are having an issue with doorbell ringing and waking up kids, put a note on the door asking them to not use the door bell during daycare hours. ( i dont have one so its not an issue) maybe use a open/closed sign instead, if the sign says closed, please wait! I am open at ---- time. I couldnt imagine having my doorbell rang all day long, waking kids/babies, making my dogs crazy...no thanks. I have open door here, parents dont knock, they just come in. I find it annoying to have to drop what I am doing to open the door for everyone. They come in take kids shoes and coat off and I finish what I am doing then greet the child and parent. Spose my play area is also in living room which is also near the front door. everyones different. :)

[stitcherka]

When I did home daycare, including subbing in others' daycares, I didn't open the blinds, unlock the door (even if that meant locking it behind me) until the official opening time. Now that I work in a large centre, the same applies. The door is unlocked at 7:00. If you go to a store that says it opens at 10 - do you expect them to let you in at 9:55? Just because you may be working out of your home, doesn't mean you always have to be available. It is a business and people need to respect that.

[mimi]

My clients come through my garage door to access the entry to my daycare. I open my garage door at 7:30 sharp even if they are idling in front of my house earlier than that. If you stand in front of any other business before they open do they open for you?

[Crayola kiddies]

I live in the country and when I'm out and at night my doors are locked. In the morning I unlock my door at 645 which is when I open and not a minute before. My outside garage door is always unlocked (unless I'm Not home) and parents come in thru the garage and down the stairs into the daycare. I never used to lock the door and I never had a problem until one day a parent asked if I could do a really big favor and take her child at 6 instead of 645. So I agreed and I woke uP that morning at 530 and got dressed and brushed my teeth ect and came out to the kitchen to put on the kettle to make tea and I could hear her and her child in my basement at 540am ..... I went down stairs and she had turn on all my lights and was letting her kid run around my basement using his outside voice .... I was shocked and totally pissed and I said to her " oh your early I'm not ready" I went up stairs made my tea and sat on my couch till 6 ...... My door is locked from now on. I will never open early again for anybody. My families know that if the staircase light is on I'm open.

[Toregone]

I live in the country and when I'm out and at night my doors are locked. In the morning I unlock my door at 645 which is when I open and not a minute before. My outside garage door is always unlocked (unless I'm Not home) and parents come in thru the garage and down the stairs into the daycare. I never used to lock the door and I never had a problem until one day a parent asked if I could do a really big favor and take her child at 6 instead of 645. So I agreed and I woke uP that morning at 530 and got dressed and brushed my teeth ect and came out to the kitchen to put on the kettle to make tea and I could hear her and her child in my basement at 540am ..... I went down stairs and she had turn on all my lights and was letting her kid run around my basement using his outside voice .... I was shocked and totally pissed and I said to her " oh your early I'm not ready" I went up stairs made my tea and sat on my couch till 6 ...... My door is locked from now on. I will never open early again for anybody. My families know that if the staircase light is on I'm open.

That is crazy! Who shows up 20 minutes early when it's already a day they are getting a favour and then lets themself in? Holy Man!! I would have spoken to her about respecting personal space for sure.

[Crayola kiddies]

They are gone !!!!! They're last day was the 20th of July. So peaceful here now ... The child had no indoor voice and only one speed

[kidlove]

Lock your door and dont open until you are OPEN! unwire, or unplug your door bell, do what ever it takes for that one day, make them wait until you are open.....then ,when you open the door (at the right time) let them know, you are not open until ?, you need that time in the am to get ready. I detest when this happens to me and nip in the bud QUICK!

[Mamma_Mia]

I haven't had this happen to me yet, I always lock my door. I constantly fear the worst so everyone has to knock to get in. My parents are really good and never use the door bell, the knock because either my DD or someone is sleeping at some point.

If it were to happen to me I would remind them at the first incident - then create a open/closed sign for the front door. CLEAR message.

[daycarewhisperer]

What do you ladies suggest for those who are arriving early but your already open. This client is leaving in a few weeks, but I have others who are doing this as well. Technically, I am open at 6am. Her scheduled drop off time is 8:15. For the last few weeks they have been showing up at 7:35-7:45...no need for it since nothing has changed in their lives. STill the same commute etc. So technically I am open, but now she is getting 30-45 minutes of extra care without even asking me. Just let the parents who are coming early know that the children who are there before their child is there are paying a HUGE fee for the early drop off time. If they are interested in an early drop off time they are welcome to it as long as they are willing to pay the fee. Or....... they can come at their scheduled time and pay what they are currently paying. Just attach money to it that they have to pay EVERY week (not when they use it but rather the extra daily amount to have the option to use it).

[Littledragon]

I just locked my door. :unsure::unsure::uns ure:

HAHAHAH! I'm sorry but that's funny. Reggio's post freaked me out too, but your comment made me laugh lol

[Littledragon]

You know, maybe if any of you are having an issue with doorbell ringing and waking up kids, put a note on the door asking them to not use the door bell during daycare hours. ( i dont have one so its not an issue) maybe use a open/closed sign instead, if the sign says closed, please wait! I am open at ---- time. I couldnt imagine having my doorbell rang all day long, waking kids/babies, making my dogs crazy...no thanks. I have open door here, parents dont knock, they just come in. I find it annoying to have to drop what I am doing to open the door for everyone. They come in take kids shoes and coat off and I finish what I am doing then greet the child and parent. Spose my play area is also in living room which is also near the front door. everyones different. :)

I have three families - 2 knock, the other one walks in. They had their previous child in daycare and I guess that's the way they did it. I don't mind it, but its not something I would like if everyone did it. Mostly bc if I were a parent, I wouldn't like to know that the door was always unlocked, giving any crazy the ability to just walk in. We've had a few home invasions recently in the area, but more than that, I've had companies my landlord hired walk into the wrong house (a few times). I would hate being at work knowing it's possible for just anyone to walk into my child's daycare. For the most part, my door is always locked. This morning the door was locked when mom got here and she was stalk still for a sec like she didn't know what to do lol and then she knocked. I just hadn't let my dog out yet so I hadn't unlocked the door yet from night time lol

[Littledragon]

I live in the country and when I'm out and at night my doors are locked. In the morning I unlock my door at 645 which is when I open and not a minute before. My outside garage door is always unlocked (unless I'm Not home) and parents come in thru the garage and down the stairs into the daycare. I never used to lock the door and I never had a problem until one day a parent asked if I could do a really big favor and take her child at 6 instead of 645. So I agreed and I woke uP that morning at 530 and got dressed and brushed my teeth ect and came out to the kitchen to put on the kettle to make tea and I could hear her and her child in my basement at 540am ..... I went down stairs and she had turn on all my lights and was letting her kid run around my basement using his outside voice .... I was shocked and totally pissed and I said to her " oh your early I'm not ready" I went up stairs made my tea and sat on my couch till 6 ...... My door is locked from now on. I will never open early again for anybody. My families know that if the staircase light is on I'm open.

That's ridiculous!!!!!!!!!! ! That just made me mad lol absolutely disrespectful!

[Crayola kiddies]

Little dragon ... That family is no longer with me .... Wanna know why????? They were not happy that I allowed hand foot and mouth disease in my day care .....
How disrespectful of me ; )