After hours texting

So I have a couple of clients who have gotten comfortable texting or phoning during my off hours. Mostly texting, the phone calls have been only about two. I had one client who would text me at 5 am... not sick calls, either, just questions that could have waited until they got here at 7:30 :( Fortunately, I said something, and those ones stopped. But now I have another client who texts me after hours... anywhere between 7 and 9 pm. Again, these are not "____ is sick and wont be in tomorrow" These texts are silly things, frivolous questions that can wait until drop off. I have politely dropped the hint that this is not ok with me... but this client is not getting it. Would you guys start including a notice about this into your newsletter? I can't believe I have to explain to an adult that anything non emergency should not be coming to me after hours.

I actually don't mind texts after hours. It is my choice to respond or not. I think if you didn't bother responding or sent a quick text such as "I will get back to you during daycare hours" then they would get the message pretty quick.

I guess I am different. First off I do not have a cell phone so I am not accessible via text and I was considering getting a cell but have decided against it. All of my families know that I don't generally answer my phone or check my email during the day as I am generally outside or busy with their children. I do want my families to feel that they can call me off hours to talk. Pick up can be quite hectic and I don't promote lingering so if they want to talk I always ask them to call me after their LO is in bed. I am a small business owner and want my clients to feel I am approachable for any issue concerning their child's care. It's five minutes out of my day and would prefer they talk to about anything that way when there are bigger issues they feel there is an open line of communication. Just my opinion!

I actually prefer texts as I can respond to it when I have a moment or when I feel like it. I don't mind when they text me after hours. I have texted them after hours as well if I have forgot to tell them they need supplies or if we are going out the next day and I also have texted them in the early morning if I have gotten sick over night. They all know to check their phone in the morning because if they haven't responded I will give them a phone call. I have woken up to texts from parents as well over non important things but it doesn't bother me. I sleep with my phone on silent.

However, if you don't want after hour texts that is absolutely fine! I would definitely make a note of it in the monthly newsletters and would continue to do so until all after hour texts have stopped. Keep in mind though that we are a business and part of being a business owner is being reachable. Explain in the newsletter that only emergency messages are to be texted or called after hours. Non emergency messages would be appreciated during work hours.

Wanted to add...if you are asking this of them, just make sure you are not texting them after hours for non emergency things either or else they will think this is opening up the lines to text whenever about whatever.

Do you respond to all the texts? If you do then you are just encouraging them to text. Ignore them until business hours if they are unimportant. It's just part of today's life, people text a lot, they likely don't even think that hey this person wants daycare to be over at closing.

I don't mind after hours texts and emails. I don't respond to all of them. It only takes a second or two when I do respond. I am caring for their child, they chose home daycare for the personal touch. If responding to a few texts helps them trust in my daycare then so be it. They pay me a good premium for care here so I don't mind a bit of extra time to schmooze the families :-) I had a new family that had been here about a month when they kept their little one home sick one day. I sent a text at lunch asking how the child was feeling and saying we missed her child at the lunch table. The mom went on and on about how incredibly happy she was I thought to check up on her child, that she sees how her child is part of the group and on and on. It only took me a second to send the text but for what ever reason it meant the world to this mom. I now make sure I text when ever the child is kept home, I also check in on the others. A text only takes me a second but if it can mean that much to the family then it pays off in the long run.

That said, over all, my families are great and very respectful and don't send that many texts.

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Originally Posted by adaycarelady

I gave out my cell to parents before and got many after hours text. I stopped giving out my cell to new families...but now just get parents calling me after hours on my house phone. I open at 7:30 and had a parent call me 3 times from 7:00 to 7:15 to ask if her son was too sick to be at daycare. I tried to ignore the calls while I was doing my make-up, but after the 3rd call I was mad and called her back and barked that all my policies are in my handbook. I even had a parent call a half hour after closing on a Friday with an issue. I was so mad as I was trying to relax after a long week. I'd definitely create some sort of policy, and I am too lol. Say all communication after hours can be sent through an email or will be sent to an answering machine. After that parent called me that one Friday I stopped answering my phone to any client after hours and just let the answering machine do its job...unless a parent calls 3 times in a row....The good thing about having a policy about after hours communication is if a problem parent becomes a problem and texts 10 texts, you can tell them to stop and refer to your policy about your after hours communication policy.

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I think a phone call 15-30 minutes prior to drop off with a question about whether a child is well enough to come to daycare is perfectly acceptable. There are times when a child may not seem to sick to come to daycare from a parents perspective so they are calling to get some reassurance of what the provider would like them to do. I don't see any problem with that. Rather that than dropping off a sick child or having to turn them away at my door when the phone call could have prevented dragging the child out. I have an extensive sick policy which goes into great detail but it is never going to be exhausted.....I encourage all my parents if they are ever unsure to call ahead.

I don't mind the occasional text or phone call. My point is that it is getting to be all the time. This is happening four to five nights a week some weeks including weekends and holidays. And no, I don't respond to them all, especially since they almost always come when I am putting my kids to bed.

Just because a parent texts when they think about it just as one would send an email it isn't their fault we are tied to the phone. I get emails from parents and read them whenever I sign in even if that is just before daycare opens the next day. We forget that the purpose of the text and email was supposed to be a way to contact people without bugging them on the phone as in the time to reply or even the option if to reply was up to the recipient not the sender. Turn the phone off after hours and ignore it or learn to ignore the incoming messages you don't want to answer till later.

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Originally Posted by playfelt

Just because a parent texts when they think about it just as one would send an email it isn't their fault we are tied to the phone. I get emails from parents and read them whenever I sign in even if that is just before daycare opens the next day. We forget that the purpose of the text and email was supposed to be a way to contact people without bugging them on the phone as in the time to reply or even the option if to reply was up to the recipient not the sender. Turn the phone off after hours and ignore it or learn to ignore the incoming messages you don't want to answer till later.

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Did I say something wrong? I keep my phone on after hours because my husband works late afternoons out of the city. All I was asking was how to address it to parents without coming across as snarky. I don't think listening to my phone go off four nights a week up to six times a night because I don't answer right away is ok.

If it bothers you then definitely put it in your newsletter.

For myself I don't mind after hour texts. I don't get too many though but yes I think if it was frequent I would be annoyed too.

deleted as it may contain identifying information

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Originally Posted by JennJubie

So I have a couple of clients who have gotten comfortable texting or phoning during my off hours. Mostly texting, the phone calls have been only about two. I had one client who would text me at 5 am... not sick calls, either, just questions that could have waited until they got here at 7:30 :( Fortunately, I said something, and those ones stopped. But now I have another client who texts me after hours... anywhere between 7 and 9 pm. Again, these are not "____ is sick and wont be in tomorrow" These texts are silly things, frivolous questions that can wait until drop off. I have politely dropped the hint that this is not ok with me... but this client is not getting it. Would you guys start including a notice about this into your newsletter? I can't believe I have to explain to an adult that anything non emergency should not be coming to me after hours.

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I have a couple of parents who think nothing of messaging me on a weekend or at say 8pm at night. It's hard to ignore I know as your phone starts going off and obviously being a personal cell phone, I think it is a difficult thing to turn it off if it means preventing family and friends contacting you. So here is my suggestion...Do not address this in a newsletter. There are always those people who ignore you no matter how many letters or written notices you send home, and personally I think it is a very passive way of not confronting the issue head on so doesn't ever shock me when parents use this to their advantage. I would have a face to face conversation with all the parents then you can resolve this once and for all and there is absolutely no way these people can avoid the situation or disregard it. Inform parents that text messaging is no longer a method of communicating that you are willing to have as part of your business. Telephone calls during business hours only and emails after hours if absolutely necessary which you will respond to as soon as you are able to. No doubt you will be asked why these changes to which I would simply answer that you are overwhelmed by non emergency contact on a daily basis including evenings and weekends and that you have your policy on this stated in your contract and have reminded people but that this has not helped so the cell phone number should be deleted from everyone's phone books and should you receive any future contact via this method then you will be forced to delete the message..... this will make them aware of what to expect. You are confronting the problem face to face with absolutely no passiveness, you are explaining WHY this action is being taken and you are making it clear to each and every parent what the outcome will be if they do not follow the policy. Put your foot down and deal with this now, and head on!

My parents can contact me via phone call, email or message on FB, so there is no need for texts. Although, if it's something about the child being sick or a time sensitive matter, I would rather them just pick up the phone and call me, within reasonable hours.

I personally welcome texts over phone calls, because I can get back to them at MY earliest convenience. I have had an "over texter" in the past and I would just let her texts build up over the evening by ignoring them until I had some down time and respond to all her questions then. That being said, if you are feeling overwhelmed with it I would definitely just make a note in your next newsletter: "While I love our busy days together, after daycare hours are very important for my own family time. Please address questions regarding your child's day during drop off and pick up and limit after hours communication for emergencies only. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation- my family and I appreciate it!"

I don't have to deal with this, thank goodness, but I agree with above. What she has written is perfect, polite and to the point. Maybe even just tell them that the next time that they text you. They probably have no idea that it bothers you.

I agree with 5LM, I prefer text messages and don't mind when they're sent because I choose to reply and when. I always tell parents to only call if it's urgent or need to talk to me about something important. They also know that I will only call in case of an emergency. But that's just me.