Inconsistent drop off times

I put a note on the door when I am leaving for preschool and school drop off. Parents are given notices during the year to remind them of the drop off times. If someone is late they have to wait till I get back from drop off or if I have already put the children in the car and I am ready to leave they must wait also. I don't mine the children having breakfast here, but parents send it and I will either warm it up or just serve it to the child. If they are too late to eat, they eat as much as they can and then we leave. I will not stress myself out because a parent does not respect my time. The same as if parents are constantly late. I will have their children sitting on a bench in the hallway with shoes and coats on, the daycare room lights off, so when the parents come their child is asking them "Why are you always late". This works better than me mentioning it all the time. I will also let them know that if they continue to be late I will add an extra $20. per day to their bill. Money talks and they are always early or on time. This is your business and they need to respect that. Just because you are a home based business does not mean that your time and schedule should not be respected.

I have this issue too but I don't mind late drop offs.

All the parents are told clearly what times we are at the bus stop and everyone seems good at working around to either meet us at the bus stop, come before or after so it is no big deal.
If a parent wants to delay the day - it is better for me. I can get more stuff done before they come so I don't mind.

Sometimes the child will miss a craft or a trip to the park but there is always another day.
I am fully supportive of parents spending as much time as they want with their kids...it works out well for everyone :p
I like the idea of leaving a note on the door and letting the parent know where to find you if they don't show up...or have the parent call you.

I have one family call me almost every morning to tell me whether they will be late or meeting me at the bus because their mornings are flexible. I don't sweat it. communication is key and I appreciate that they update me so I don't have to wonder.

That said....one of the most annoying things I have found is that when you sign a new family they get PANICKED reading about late charges in the contract so they write down a really early drop off (just in case they need to drop off early) and then put the latest possible drop off. I think the parents want to cover their bases and say "well I wrote it in my contract'. So I have one parent who wrote an 8 am drop off and an 5:45 pick up. The actual drop off since the last 8 months has always been 8:30 and the pick up at approx 5. It seems all the parents do this just to avoid me complaining about lateness or being charged. So for instance this family can pick up at 5:45 without me being able to say anything because that is what they wrote and signed with me at registration. I basically have to look at the 5 pm pickup as just something I can be happy with when it happens 99.9% of the time.

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Originally Posted by Spixie33

I have this issue too but I don't mind late drop offs.

All the parents are told clearly what times we are at the bus stop and everyone seems good at working around to either meet us at the bus stop, come before or after so it is no big deal.
If a parent wants to delay the day - it is better for me. I can get more stuff done before they come so I don't mind.

Sometimes the child will miss a craft or a trip to the park but there is always another day.
I am fully supportive of parents spending as much time as they want with their kids...it works out well for everyone :p
I like the idea of leaving a note on the door and letting the parent know where to find you if they don't show up...or have the parent call you.

I have one family call me almost every morning to tell me whether they will be late or meeting me at the bus because their mornings are flexible. I don't sweat it. communication is key and I appreciate that they update me so I don't have to wonder.

That said....one of the most annoying things I have found is that when you sign a new family they get PANICKED reading about late charges in the contract so they write down a really early drop off (just in case they need to drop off early) and then put the latest possible drop off. I think the parents want to cover their bases and say "well I wrote it in my contract'. So I have one parent who wrote an 8 am drop off and an 5:45 pick up. The actual drop off since the last 8 months has always been 8:30 and the pick up at approx 5. It seems all the parents do this just to avoid me complaining about lateness or being charged. So for instance this family can pick up at 5:45 without me being able to say anything because that is what they wrote and signed with me at registration. I basically have to look at the 5 pm pickup as just something I can be happy with when it happens 99.9% of the time.

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My families have contracted hours too. Instead of letting them fill in the times needed I get some info from them and fill in the times myself. I find out when each of them gets off work and where they work. For example, I have a teacher who works literally two blocks away. I know school gets out at 3:10 and she legally has to stay for 15 minutes after the bell. This means that she has a pickup time of 3:45. Enough time to stay after the bell, get her stuff together and come get her child.
I have another family who works in our local shift-work plant. I know the commute there is barely 15 minutes and it goes against rush hour traffic. So DCM gets out of work at 3pm. Her pickup time is 3:30. She tried to set it at 5pm but I refuse to work so others can live...kwim? She wanted to go to the gym daily. I provide care so that families can work, and that's what I'm comfortable with. I understand that others don't care what their DCFs do so long as they are paid, but I care. I don't mind if they are sick and want time to sleep...or if they took the day off for an appointment and used it for some 'me' time too. I do mind if that's a daily thing though and won't allow for it in my contract.

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Originally Posted by Judy Trickett

You just tell them that by 9am you are ready to get the kids rolling so you can start your day. You tell her that by 9am she needs to be there so you can get to the park, go for your walk, whatever it is you like to start your day off with.

We go for a walk or to the park everyday. The parents know this. And they know that if they are not here by 9am no one will be here to accept their child.

Just be honest with her. And then, if she is still holding you up, you just leave. Put a sticky note on the door and let HER track YOU down.

It is unfair for the other kids in your program to suffer the effects of not getting to do activities simply because of the tardiness of one parent.

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Thats what I do! Twice the parents have had to come find us! Not my problem! They get the message fast especially if they need to get to an appt! Why should we be calling them to let them know we are going out. If your going to be late call me!