I changed my hours after a few years being open cause I was struggling with this issue as well ~ slowly over time people were leaving their kids longer and longer than they had initially said they 'needed' cause they figured I was open so why not!

So now my hours are 7:30 - 4:30 for one fee and therefore all my contracts are based on that MAX nine hour day because most clients are able to work their day that one drops off and the other picks up to keep their child in care the 'minimal amount of time required'. Anyone needing MORE than that negotiates upon enrollment or ahead of time at an additional fee and if they are just LATE with no prearrangement that they pay a late fee of $1/per minute to compensate me for my time AND if you are chronically late in this manner you risk termination of your contract!

A wise provider friend of mine coined the phrase that failure to plan on someone elses part does not make an emergency on MINE ... my hours are clear you drop off and pick up within them or arrange for someone else to do so on your behalf!

I give parents an annual 'buffer' of not having a plan in place for a true 'emergency' where I do not charge late fees ... and like Kidlove I use that one 'buffer' as a reminder of what will happen NEXT TIME and as a result clients are not late again in the future and if they know something is coming up they PLAN AHEAD and request an extended hour arrangement for a day rather than just assuming I will be ok with them showing up late