How would you respond??

[Dreamalittledream]

In my old house I had a policy that I met parents atnthe door to receive/ return children....ie parents never came in past my entry way. With my new basement set up, how would you suggest imhandle pick ups? Does anyone leave all the children alone downstairs to run to the door? I was thinking of having everyone read books in our front room upstairs right before pickups start so we are close to the door.

I too have a basement playroom (it is set up to prep food etc. with fridge etc.). The children don't have access to the rest of my house except as a pass through for arrival/outdoor play/departure. In the morning I greet the first parent at the door, the rest have to bring their children down to the playroom. At home time, parents know that I keep the door locked until 3pm, after which pick-ups take place by parents walking on in and retrieving their children from our basement playroom.
At no time do I leave my little ones alone in the playroom (I have to chuckle that even my own body has trained itself not to have to go to the bathroom until nap time!). I have about a 45 min to an hour+ window during which pick ups occur (first usually around 3:15, latest @ 4:30)...can't imagine trying to keep them all entertained by the door for that long. Parents often like to hold back just out of sight of them and watch their child happily playing/doing activities in the playroom.

[playfelt]

I find that the parents that want to drop in and have multiple visits before care starts that it has nothing to do with the child and is all about the parent's issues. That is something they are going to have to come to grips with and me and my daycare children are not going to help them do it at our expense.

After I tell them about the drop in anytime and then leave with your child rule I also remind them that if they begin to abuse the privilege that it will be grounds for dismissal because I have an obligation to the other children to provide a consistent day. That can't happen when children are constantly coming and going, our storytime or craft time is being constantly disrupted.

When I remind parents that if I let them drop in 2-3 times in the week I also have to let the other families drop in that many times and that is a lot of coming and going. And well yes it is generally the newest family that wants to do the drop ins there will come a time when their child has been in care for awhile and I am interviewing other new families for a space in my daycare and then it will be their child that will have to endure the constant disruptions and often there is a lightbulb kind of moment for the new family realizing what I allow them to do now they will have to live through down the road too and don't like that prospect. They then understand why I have my 10 minute - ie say hi, dress your child and go home rule.

[mimi]

At a certain point in the day, for me 5:00 p.m., all dckids are upstairs waiting for pick up. They sit at their lunch table and play with small toys and read books or cuddle with my hubby on the couch. This way no child is left downstair during pick up.

[Momof4]

I've realized over the years that I'm really lucky to have a long entrance hallway so that my dcparents rarely come into the rest of my house. It's where the outside clothing is taken off and put back on and the backpacks are there on the stairs to my upper level. It keeps the rest of my house clean and saves me from having a parent make themselves comfortable to stay for a while as I've read in others posts.

I can see when parent's cars pull in and I get them heading to the door. I also ask the parents every morning if they will be on time to pick up their child. It may be redundant for the parents but it allows me to make sure the child is prepared to leave daycare and excited to see their parents at the right time. My goal is to keep things running smoothly all day long and to keep our routines intact.

Don't be afraid to do the same and ask the parents every morning if they will be on schedule. I also tell the parents every morning about our plan for the day, park, library, crafting, etc.