Parents picking up children late?

My hours are 7 - 4:45pm and I don't allow anyone to be later than 4:45. At the first interview I explained that I'm not flexible on my closing time. I've got children, homework, dinner...basic family stuff. My day is nearly 10 hours long and that's plenty. I did have one family who I interviewed say that 4 days out of the month they would need to pick up at 5:15pm and I said "sorry I can't do it".

That's one of the things I just won't budge on. I made the mistake once a while ago, when a family asked if they could bring their child a little earlier in the morning and they would pick up earlier. So we agreed to a 6:45 start and they said they would pick up 4:15. Well they did the 6:45 start but didn't come till 4:45. So I stopped that and since then have refused to negotiate my times.

With that said, if there's a winter storm and parents are a few minutes late...I'm okay with that. But if there is a winter storm, they should know to leave a lot earlier to get here on time.

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Originally Posted by Alphaghetti

I am going through something weird like this right now...

Parents and I agreed during our interview that dad could pick dck up closer to 6pm on some Mondays, as his hours vary, and the mom works late every Monday evening. I agreed to this because mom was picking up before 5pm every other day, and I close at 5:30 - it was an extra favour.

HOWEVER - dck is now consistently being picked up at 5:30 now, despite her mother having the same hours at work. Dad always does pick up, and often shows up telling dck that "mommy is waiting at home", or "daddy went home and made dinner, so it's all ready".

Grr....I agreed to the late occasional Monday to accomodate their work schedule, not so that they could go home and sit around while I worked overtime for free! This is one of many reasons I am considering terminating them - just as soon as I work up the nerve...sigh.

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I think you should say something...or ask a question.
Just ask them "by the way...I wanted to ask you about the pickup schedule. I think you initially said only Mondays would be an issue but lately it seems some of the other days have gotten later too. Is there something that has changed? Our nights get pretty busy around here so I just want to make sure we are on the same page."

I don't charge late fees as we cannot control traffic, transit or weather however with that being said I would hope that parents have the common sense to call me if they are going to be late. I haven't had too much of an issue yet but the few times I did I sent an email to the parent (therefore avoiding a confrontation) stating that I really need the parent to make sure they pick up on time or I was going to start charging late fees.

As for your other problem about the family who picks up at 6 once a week....every family has different needs and if you feel that you want to go ahead and accomodate them then do so (each family doesn't need to know the details of the terms you have put in place.

I agree with Spixie33. If you don't address the concern right away then it may only get worse and you could get taken advantage of.

Please tell me how I can say something without upsetting people ..when one of my families first started they said on the occasion it may be a 5:15 pick up as I close at 5 now it is consistantly 20 /25 after the child is tired and getting hungery for his dinner and my family is choppin at the bit for their dinner and we have activities in the evening that we have to rush out for I really don't want to upset them but I am starting to feel taken advantage of :(

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Originally Posted by mamaball

Please tell me how I can say something without upsetting people ..when one of my families first started they said on the occasion it may be a 5:15 pick up as I close at 5 now it is consistantly 20 /25 after the child is tired and getting hungery for his dinner and my family is choppin at the bit for their dinner and we have activities in the evening that we have to rush out for I really don't want to upset them but I am starting to feel taken advantage of :(

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This is why I simply will not accept someone into care who does not fit into my hours. So, if, like you I closed at 5pm I just would NOT accept anyone who could not pick up before 5pm. I would pass on those clients.

In the interview if I have someone say, "What is your late policy? We are going to try really hard to be here by 5pm but it's might be hard some days" then they get a ...............NEXT! That is a red flag to me and I would NOT take them on.

So, now that you are here and have made the mistake of allowing this thus far the only thing you can do is simply make it stop. Put your foot down, tell them NO and go from there. If they can work it out and be there by 5pm then they can stay. If they can't then they go.

I state in my contract that parents will be charged $1 a minute for late pick up.

ALSO-I agree with Judy. I had a family come in and during interview say they would usually pick up at 4:30 but sometimes it would 5:30pm and I just let the know that my daycare closes at 5pm and they would have to pick up by 5pm because that's when I close.

I also find it to be a bad sign if a parent asks about late fees in the initial interview; it shouldn't be of a major concern if you are planning to be on time. I let those parents go on their way and fill the space with someone who has no problem with my hours.