A lot depends on how far out from town you live. The closer you are the sooner parents can get home. If they work 8 hour day having the child in care for 10 hours allows for a one hour commute. By the time they drive to work, park, get to their work desk to start on time - allowing for a few minutes to visit the bathroom and such many need that full hour. Also some work places have their people work an 8 hour day and pay accordingly but do not pay them for their one hour lunch meaning they are actually at work for 9 hours - again need travel time on top of that. I open at 6:45 (6:30 if I have to which is fine cause hubby leaves to catch his bus at 6:15) and close at 4:45. I am therefore open 10 hours and parents are allowed to use whatever hours they want within those hours. I would rather have everyone up and here for the full 10 hours then allowed to sleep in and come later as that messes with who gets tired when. At the end of the day it is just freeplay so still frees me up to make supper. Because of the cost and lack of downtown parking I also have parents that drive their kids to my house and then drive home and park the car in the garage and take the express bus to work and back so go home get the car and come for their kids so that also adds time although there are dedicated bus lanes so sometimes it can actually be the fastest way.