Parents later and later pick up

[Dreamalittledream]

Am I the only one who kind of snickers inside at worried parents, who, during interview, discuss how they will be rushing right from work, anticipating their excitement at seeing little 'Johnny'. Very quickly pick up gets later and later to just before closing time. Mom and Dad are looking refreshed and in their casual clothes. I totally get it! Happier parents=happy child:) This has happened with every single one of my families:)
I thought of adding an agreed pick up time to my contract, but with more thought, I have set my closing time (4:30) to a reasonable time for my family...and what difference does it make if it's 1 or 5 there till close?

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have one mom that does this and I was just telling my husband about it today lol. He's a handful though so I totally get why she does errands without him once or twice a week! Her pick up time varies by about 30-45 mins so it's not too bad though. I'm closed at 445 and she's never been past 430.

I do have it in my contract that I'd like them to pick up shortly after their shift ends and not wait until close if they don't have too. I don't mind it once and awhile though.

I do my end of day cleaning when I only have 1-2 kids left so it's nice that they aren't all here until the very end. However, they do pay per day so I get why some do it. Thankfully I haven't had a whole lot of those parents though

[AmandaKDT]

I have a contracted drop off and pick up time and expect parents to follow it, with accommodations if I have been notified about them. I am totally okay with picking up later if you tell me about it! My reasoning for it is that it really limits what I can do when I have no idea when each child is going to be picked up. I have had this happen a couple of times and explained to the parents that it is difficult for me to plan my day, doing this all by myself, if drop off and pick up times are going to be all over the place. For example, perhaps we would have done a little trip to the playground if I had known you were going to be an hour later than usual (but still within my hours of operation), but instead we waited around for you.

I don't charge anything extra if they still pick up before my closing time, but I see it as a sign of respect and consideration to pick your child up at the agreed upon time.

[FSD]

I have one dad who works only until noon on Friday's....mom accidentally slipped that one out.....and guess what? Friday's are the days that he's the most late!! This poor kid gets dropped off soon after 7am and usually gets picked up around 5:15. On Friday's, he's right at closing time, which is 5:30pm! One would think since he's home that he would be earlier, right....wrong. Le sigh....

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree with Amanda. It's a sign of respect for my program in my eyes. I also ask that they text if they are dropping off or picking up at different times. It's usually not a problem.

I go out in the car when I can so I like to know so I can plan things as well. Waiting around the house for kids is a quick way to annoy me lol. I don't like to just be hanging around in the dark.

[Secondtimearound]

I only have one family that picks up from 4:30 to 5:00 . Everyone else is a set time , I don't like it !! Even though I'm open until 5 and have 2 pick ups then , I find it hard to not have an exact time . I also find with the coming colder months , it's nicer to be able to have winter wear on and them ready to go as opposed to parents coming in and then trying to get them ready .
I don't really mind if it's their day off and pick up time is as normal !

[Rachael]

Many of my parents work in the city. The trip home can sometimes be 20 mins and it can sometimes be 45 mins plus. It depends on the season, if the schools are on vacation/closed for the day, if there's a traffic accident and all manner of circumstances.

Although most of mine pick up around a certain time each day, it's impossible for them to always be here at that time. For me, as long as they are here before I close, that's my only concern.

Because of this issue which isn't in their control, my program is based around the home in the afternoon. We do our walks and trips to the park during the morning. For me, this has worked as all children go down to nap at a set time, but some sleep longer than others, and those who need more nap time, are able to have it whilst everyone else carries on with activities. That said, if all of mine are awake, there are times we've gone out for a walk, knowing that the first pick up is usually at 4pm. I close at 4.30pm. Sure there are times when a parent has come when we were out, but they have sat in their car on the driveway until we returned and acknowledged that they didn't inform me of an earlier than normal pick up and that it was entirely their own fault we weren't here. Usually, we stay close to home in the afternoons and use the yard once snack time is done at 3pm.

For us, someone coming 20 mins later than normal, isn't affecting the programming when it's structured this way.

I don't think that parents are being disrespectful when they gradually show up later to collect their child. I think when they initially come to day care, they are in an unfamiliar situation of having to trust a stranger (us) to care for their child and they are highly aware that having been the main carer since birth, it's going to be a huge adjustment for both the parent and child. They rush from work partly to reassure themselves all is well, partly to ease the horrible guilt many working parents feel and partly because they truly have missed the child having gone from 24 hours a day with them to just a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening before bedtime.

As the months pass, the parents re-adjust to their new schedule, the child settles and shows the parents that they are still happy and loved, the guilt begins to lessen, and reality hits that working full time and raising a family, that sometimes, there aren't enough hours in the day.

We all know that as adults, we can get around the grocery store, or run that errand far quicker on our own then we can with a child in tow.

I don't see anything wrong with a parent picking up 15-30 mins later than normal because it gave them the chance to cross an errand off their endless list of tasks. If they can cram that errand which might take them an hour plus with their child into half the time, surely that's the sensible thing to do?

Bottom line for me is that the parent has paid for care between certain hours. The fact that they are normally picking up half an hour before closing is a perk but not an expectation unless it's specified in the contract. We all like it when we get off work a little early but most people would squeeze in an errand they would have needed to do later, if they can.

For those carers who find it an inconvenience to be waiting on an a pickup and state they could have gone to the park or out had they known...why not simply turn it the other way and ask all clients not to pick up before say 4pm? That way you know you have everyone until at least then and there is no disruption to the schedule.

It seems (looking from the outside in) that the issues are based around parents who pick up early and the effects that has when they don't. In your situation I'd either state no pick ups before x time unless they advise you in advance and if they don't notify you they have to understand that you might not be there or insist that if someone isn't going to be there at their normal time, they tell you when they drop off their child in the morning.

[5 Little Monkeys]

For myself, I do the same. I do my outings in the morning but in the past I have had a parent or 2 who wouldn't text with their later drop off time and I'd be tied to the house waiting for them. It annoyed me. There would also be times that a mom would finally text me at 11-1130 and say they weren't coming that day. In the afternoons we stick to the backyard only. I don't mind so much if the pick up time is different as long as it's before closing.

I guess I just look at it differently. Yes they pay for the day but this is still my home business and I'd rather they not treat it like a drop in centre. I like to know what's happening and if there will be changes. I want their child to get the most out of coming here and if you're just coming for lunch and nap I feel it's a waste. ( nice on my end! But you're child won't really get anything educational out of it)

I have a thing with respect I guess lol. I feel like more and more people just do what they want when they want without any regard for how it may affect others. I don't mind the odd time the pick up or drop off changes because I totally understand life happens but when it's a consistently different time all the time, I feel that shows disrespect and that their time is more important than others.

I used to have my first child at 730 and than the others came closer to 9. The 730 mom knew this and if she knew they would be late in the morning she'd text the night before so I could sleep in. It was very appreciated....but she is quite respectful and does many other things that show me she respects and values me. It's just who she is....and I like it lol.

[AmandaKDT]

I wasn't talking about a range of 15 or 20 minutes here and there due to traffic or needing to make a quick stop for gas. I'm talking having an agreed upon time and having that change on a semi permanent basis without bothering to tell me.

I don't like to be tied down to my house and I don't like having no idea when pick ups are going to be. I always get the kids ready myself for pick up time, I find it goes so much smoother for everyone (especially in winter time).

Like 5 Little Monkeys stated, I am not a drop in centre. If you agreed to a time, then stick with it and if it isn't working for you then just talk to me about it. I am big on communication and can be very accommodating if I am kept in the loop.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I completely agree! With the one mom I had, her drop off time would vary up to 3 hours!! I would be texting her in the morning to see what was going on and she'd eventually get back to me that they had slept in and she would be there soon (and than show up an hour later still so had I know that we still could have gotten a walk in before they came) or that they weren't even coming that day!! (mom didn't work). I than started just leaving the house but it never bothered her because we would still be home before she showed up so she didn't even know we had gone out lol.

[mickyc]

My families are pretty consistent. I have 1 that has pickup or drop off times that vary. It used to bother me but now I don't care. This morning he came after we did our morning craft - oh well too bad. Once it is done its done. My policy states that if I leave my home I provide 24 hours notice and need car seats supplied so parents know when we are going on an outing. As for pickup all are pretty consistent but sometimes a few vary on occasion. For the most part if the pickup or drop off is going to be completely different the parents will text or tell me at drop off. I don't worry too much about it, we just carry on with our day and if they are here they are here, if not too bad you missed out.

[monkeys]

I had one family who would drop off anytime between 7-9:30am, this was okay, but not preferred in the summer time. During the school year this just would not work. I kept reminding them that in September, they would need to drop off by 8:30 or I would be gone to take the kids to school. They found this too difficult to get here on time, so they found somewhere else.

My drop offs vary, but after the afternoon snack, if we are outside we are in the yard. I try to have the radio on, so I know what traffic is like. There are some days when everyone shows up at closing time, but that's just how it is.

I always find it funny when a Dayhome parent complains about finding time for themselves, when they have stopped on the way home for a pedicure. My spa day usually consists of me doing 6 kids finger/toe nails and then they get to do mine. No massage chair, no foot baths, just pure FUN!