Multi people picking up

[michellesmunchkins]

I hear ya Jec ... releasing a child to someone other than the parents is a risk ... this is why having them choose upon enrollment at least TWO emergency contact people their child can be released to if that child needs to be picked up and neither parent can get to them in time is required by the Day Nursery Act ... my enrollment form has place for two emergency and two 'anytime' people as well...if a family needed more I would just add more lines for them to their contract.

However even with that plan in place - I can tell you that in my 20 years in the field there are MANY family emergencies that arise where both parents are unable to make it to pick up - a car accident, parent has a serious workplace accident, parent has a heart attack or other emergency hospitalization for example where one parent goes rushing to be by the side of their spouse in that moment ... and if the two emergency people are not available for some reason the parents might have no choice but to arrange for a neighbor or family friend as a 'one time back up' in that case because it is hard in that crisis to choose to LEAVE your spouse in crisis even to go get your child

This is why I do the extra step of the 'family password' for giving verbal directions over the phone if they want their child to be brought to them ASAP so they can be together as a family ... however in reality in a true emergency like that were no one could come I would be willing to just keep the child in care until all the kids were gone and than TAKE the child to the hospital or other parent if need be.

Sometimes until you have been 'faced' with a true family emergency like that you do not even stop to reflect how you would 'handle' it ... either the parents or the provider.

Agreed! Family dynamics change so drastically in today's society. I have a friend who does daycare and this is what happened to her: One day parents love grandparents and its ok for them to pick up, the next week their has been a nasty fight and parents no longer wish for them to see the child, yet they show up at daycare to pick him/her up for a visit. Parents didn't inform provider that grandparents were no longer allowed to pick up and their info was all listed on the forms as ok to pick up. Grandparents had picked up many times before and it was never an issue. Provider released child to grandma only to have parents freak out an hour later as grandma was no longer allowed to see the child...ugh...the provider was totally stuck as it had all been ok the week before...

I really only like to release them to mom/dad. I too would do what Reggio does and take the child to the parents myself to save any issues.

[jec]

Agreed! Family dynamics change so drastically in today's society. I have a friend who does daycare and this is what happened to her: One day parents love grandparents and its ok for them to pick up, the next week their has been a nasty fight and parents no longer wish for them to see the child, yet they show up at daycare to pick him/her up for a visit. Parents didn't inform provider that grandparents were no longer allowed to pick up and their info was all listed on the forms as ok to pick up. Grandparents had picked up many times before and it was never an issue. Provider released child to grandma only to have parents freak out an hour later as grandma was no longer allowed to see the child...ugh...the provider was totally stuck as it had all been ok the week before...

I really only like to release them to mom/dad. I too would do what Reggio does and take the child to the parents myself to save any issues.

I wouldn't say your friend was stuck - as the parents should have done their part to advise your friend the Grandparents were no longer able to pick up their little one.
I'll add that to the form- it is their responsbility to ensure that they update the pick up list- as you say, family dynamics change so fast.
I like the password idea but, in a situation of life and death not sure I would remember the password!

thanks for your input ladies ~ always valued !! Helps me see things differntly

[michellesmunchkins]

Jec, I added it to my forms the very day she told me and had all my families sign new ones as well, you just never know. I too would probably forget the password in an emergency situation, heck let's be honest I'd probably forget what word I used in a normal situation lol

[Inspired by Reggio]

Ya Michelle that is the PARENTS fault not the providers ... legally she did nothing wrong if the parents had filled out a consent form allowing the pick up and not bothered to update it that is their issue not the providers!

Same with CUSTODY issues one parent cannot just arbitrarily say 'dad can no longer pick up child' and expect that her word is enough .... if dad shows up the provider is legally required to release the child unless there is a court order signed by a judge saying dad is not to have access to the children or that dad may only access the child FROM MOTHER and than she can call the cops and say he is trying to 'kidnap' the child from care as he is not allowed to access them from the provider .... and sadly THAT too has happened often enough that centres have policy around what to ... what to do if a non-custodial parent shows up on daycare property .... most have a plan that one caregiver takes the child to a locked secure area and calls 911 on a cordless phone while the other caregiver attempts to 'calm' the parent if they actually made it into the building before all the doors could be locked down .... it is sad world we live in sometimes

[michellesmunchkins]

Ya Michelle that is the PARENTS fault not the providers ... legally she did nothing wrong if the parents had filled out a consent form allowing the pick up and not bothered to update it that is their issue not the providers!

Same with CUSTODY issues one parent cannot just arbitrarily say 'dad can no longer pick up child' and expect that her word is enough .... if dad shows up the provider is legally required to release the child unless there is a court order signed by a judge saying dad is not to have access to the children or that dad may only access the child FROM MOTHER and than she can call the cops and say he is trying to 'kidnap' the child from care as he is not allowed to access them from the provider .... and sadly THAT too has happened often enough that centres have policy around what to ... what to do if a non-custodial parent shows up on daycare property .... most have a plan that one caregiver takes the child to a locked secure area and calls 911 on a cordless phone while the other caregiver attempts to 'calm' the parent if they actually made it into the building before all the doors could be locked down .... it is sad world we live in sometimes

I've had a set of parents try that crap on me Reggio where Dad all of a sudden didn't want Mom picking up the child after they split...I had to tell him until he gives me court orders I cannot stop Mom from picking up the child and that I would in NO WAY get pulled into their custody battles. That's the job of the court, not me. They figured out their visitation and sent me email schedules of who was picking up and when so it all worked out, but I refuse to be a pawn in the middle of those situations. Your right, it is a very sad and scary world!