Having them dressed at pick up *rant*

[Discoveries]

While it is not fun to endure the switch in behaviour once pick up time starts, I still do not have the children dressed to go. The room is pretty much picked up. Everything each child needs for home time is all set. I do gate a smaller area at the entrance way of the daycare and once the parent arrives, then I escort the child (de-toyed already) through the gate for the parent to get ready. I've opted not to have them ready to send out the door as I have overheard and been apart of many parent discussions where they view this as a red flag (or have been told it is a red flag). Some have pulled their child from other daycares because of it. Since we are not inspected this few minutes at drop off and pick up is their few minutes to view the daycare. Is it reasonably clean? How many kids are there? What is the general atmosphere/mood etc. Some say it creates a feeling like you just can't wait to get rid of their child for the day. An unwelcoming feeling, especially if they are picking up well before closing. Then of course there is a few that are the complete opposite and really just want to avoid the gong show at the end of the day and get home. So really you can't win I've just opted to limit the chaos.