For Those Of You That Run Contracted Hours

[Angelwings36]

I run contracted hours with my daycare families. Right now I have a family that has contracted hours of:

Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 5:15pm
Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm

For the last few weeks I have been having an on going problem with this family dropping off between 8:15am and 9:00am. My contract with this family states that the children must be dropped off between 7:30am and 8:00am monday through friday. I will allow a later than 8:00am drop off with a phone call/text but families are not to make a habit of this. Obviously this has become a habit with this family.

I have written them up a letter and I think I'm going to put them on a 3-strike system for the next month. This means if this family is later than 8:00am to drop off the kids more than 3 times in the month, the children will be excluded from care that day and fees for that day will be non-refundable.

I felt I needed to attach a consequence to the 'unacceptable' behaviour.

Does this consequence seem good to you?

Also please note that daycare dad is off work right now due to a neck injury.

Thanks.

[Blackcat31]

How come they can't drop off later? If they paid for the time, they are the ones missing out on what they paid for.

I am just wondering. I hate when parents say they will be here at a certain time and then are late so I do truly understand, I am just wondering what the specific reason is that they can't be late. Do you guys have to leave to go somewhere or is it just the inconvenience factor?

[sharlan]

I don't understand either.

As long as they call and let you know that they won't be there on time in the AM, but pick up on time in the PM, what difference does it make?

Now, if you have to take kids to school, I would go along with my normal routine and let them get there before or after.

I don't care what time they come in the AM, but I'm very picky about what time the pick up in the PM.

[laundrymom]

If they contract 7-4 and drop off at 330 and pick up at 359. I'm fine with it. It's the overages I won't mess with.

[wdmmom]

I have a policy that if the parent doesn't call and notify the daycare 1 hour before their designated drop off time of a late arrival or an absence, there is a $10 convenience fee per day in addition to your regular daily rate.

I started doing this because I had a girl come in at 615am and the DCM had a habit of being late or not calling in. My other DCK's didn't come in until 730am so I specifically made it for the early arrivals but as time has went on, I do it for anyone.

My time is valuable and we operate on a pretty strict schedule. I can't hang out and hold the kids back from enjoying the activities that they should.

[laundrymom]

Also. I don't hold activities. I do them with who is here and those that miss,... Miss.

[Angelwings36]

I find it inconvient to have a later drop off. We do circle story time at 8:30am every morning, that's how I start off our daycare day. I have a group that will not remain in the circle or be attentive if we get disrupted. I also have two children that have to catch a bus every morning at 8:15am which means I have to be planted by the window to make sure they get on the bus ok. If I have to answer the door I can not see the kids get on the bus at the same time. I also do all of my drop offs and pick ups on my main floor and then move everyone downstairs once everyone is present to the main play area. I do not have an active door bells (hate them!) and can not hear if someone knocks on my door if I am in certain areas of my house so I normally keep a watch out for when parent's are coming. I guess there are alot of factors that I expect parent's to drop off within half hour of when they are suppose to

[daycare]

I run contracted hours with my daycare families. Right now I have a family that has contracted hours of:

Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 5:15pm
Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm

For the last few weeks I have been having an on going problem with this family dropping off between 8:15am and 9:00am. My contract with this family states that the children must be dropped off between 7:30am and 8:00am monday through friday. I will allow a later than 8:00am drop off with a phone call/text but families are not to make a habit of this. Obviously this has become a habit with this family.

I have written them up a letter and I think I'm going to put them on a 3-strike system for the next month. This means if this family is later than 8:00am to drop off the kids more than 3 times in the month, the children will be excluded from care that day and fees for that day will be non-refundable.

I felt I needed to attach a consequence to the 'unacceptable' behaviour.

Does this consequence seem good to you?

Also please note that daycare dad is off work right now due to a neck injury.

Thanks.

Why dont you just tell the family:
I noticed you guys are starting to come later every day. WOuld that work better for you and the kids? If so, lets change your contracted times it would really help me when planning my days. This way I will know when to expect the kids each day.

Leave it at that.

then change their contract times and let them know that if they need to go back to the old times that you will need to have a 2 weeks notice.

I do this all the time...and yes i agree with you that its annoying that you dont know when a child is going to arrive or leave.....

[daycare]

Why dont you just tell the family:
I noticed you guys are starting to come later every day. WOuld that work better for you and the kids? If so, lets change your contracted times it would really help me when planning my days. This way I will know when to expect the kids each day.

Leave it at that.

then change their contract times and let them know that if they need to go back to the old times that you will need to have a 2 weeks notice.

I do this all the time...and yes i agree with you that its annoying that you dont know when a child is going to arrive or leave.....

sorry i guess we posted at the same time...

If this is the case, and I know what you mean. I also run a preschool program and dont allow late drop offs either for the same reason you listed.

This is what I did. since the family kept coming in late and disrupting class, I figured out a time where we were in transition. I kept an open window for about 10 min and this is when I allow for this child to be dropped off. The parent knows that they are to come to the door (which I unlock 5 min prior to child arrival) help her child take off shoes and jacket. Put things in the cubby box and then I meet her half way in the other room and I walk DCK right into our activity that we are setting up.

It has worked out fine, but the family would have to be open to contracting at a later time each day..

[WImom]

I have one family that is scheduled for 7:30/8:30 but is usually there around 9:30. I don't wait for them. I told mom when she started coming later and later that it's fine but her DD will be missing out on preschool activities.

[Christian Mother]

I ashually have kids arrive from 6:15am to 9:30am and I work around the delivery. Each parent has there own key and they assist there child in the door and to me so I don't need to do much but greet and usher then to what ever activity we are doing. I had a child last week come just as we where doing our art activity and he wanted to play with toys. I was fine with that as I got to finish up what I was doing with the other children and then when they where finished they went off to play with toys also. It was a little later I got to transition this little boy on his own to do his project and it was super quick as I didn't need to keep going from one child to the next. I just make it work. The problem that I think I have is having parent drop off late expecting that they can pick up late too and it not be on there contract. I am having a problem with that as we speak.

[Angelwings36]

I ashually have kids arrive from 6:15am to 9:30am and I work around the delivery. Each parent has there own key and they assist there child in the door and to me so I don't need to do much but greet and usher then to what ever activity we are doing. I had a child last week come just as we where doing our art activity and he wanted to play with toys. I was fine with that as I got to finish up what I was doing with the other children and then when they where finished they went off to play with toys also. It was a little later I got to transition this little boy on his own to do his project and it was super quick as I didn't need to keep going from one child to the next. I just make it work. The problem that I think I have is having parent drop off late expecting that they can pick up late too and it not be on there contract. I am having a problem with that as we speak.

I think it's a neat idea that all of your clients have a key, however, I wouldn't feel comfortable giving all my clients a key to my house and my husband would be really mad at me if I did, so that's not an option.

[Blackcat31]

I find it inconvient to have a later drop off. We do circle story time at 8:30am every morning, that's how I start off our daycare day. I have a group that will not remain in the circle or be attentive if we get disrupted. I also have two children that have to catch a bus every morning at 8:15am which means I have to be planted by the window to make sure they get on the bus ok. If I have to answer the door I can not see the kids get on the bus at the same time. I also do all of my drop offs and pick ups on my main floor and then move everyone downstairs once everyone is present to the main play area. I do not have an active door bells (hate them!) and can not hear if someone knocks on my door if I am in certain areas of my house so I normally keep a watch out for when parent's are coming. I guess there are alot of factors that I expect parent's to drop off within half hour of when they are suppose to

Ok, I gottcha. It can be very disruptive to havve late arrivals. In your case, I totally understand why it is bothering you. Not sticking to times (whether at pick up or drop off) is disrespectful. Especially because I am assuming that the times you are contracted with them are based on the times THEY told you.

Why don't you try implementing a policy that if a family is more than 15 minutes late with out calling that you will not accept them into care for the day? It might work in this case to help the deter them from being so late/disruptive.

[Angelwings36]

Ok, I gottcha. It can be very disruptive to havve late arrivals. In your case, I totally understand why it is bothering you. Not sticking to times (whether at pick up or drop off) is disrespectful. Especially because I am assuming that the times you are contracted with them are based on the times THEY told you.

Why don't you try implementing a policy that if a family is more than 15 minutes late with out calling that you will not accept them into care for the day? It might work in this case to help the deter them from being so late/disruptive.

The thing is the dad is already texting me literally every morning at different times to tell me he is going to be late. I only take on families that have drop off times earlier than 8:00am. This family told me their drop off time would be 7:30am.

[Blackcat31]

The thing is the dad is already texting me literally every morning at different times to tell me he is going to be late. I only take on families that have drop off times earlier than 8:00am. This family told me their drop off time would be 7:30am.

Well, maybe it is time then for a probationary period. Three late drop offs and you are done.......next.

Doesn't sound like there is going to be anything you can do to "fix" the issue if the consequences aren't swift and harsh.

Hang in there. If you do a probationary period there are only two outcomes;

1.) they will start following your policies or
2.) you'll have to let them go and then it won't be a problem any more.

Either way, you win.