When Picking Up Children for Dr. Appt, Shots, etc.

[originalkat]

I totally agree it should only be one pick up and one drop off per day. It upsets the child saying goodbye more than once, it upsets the other children to see them go and not them(the younger ones, that don't understand) it is just way too much. Then ruining their naps, and their schedule here. I would have never done that to my daycare provider when my child went to daycare, before I quit to stay at home myself!! Sometimes drop them off at 7:30, pick them up at 10:00, right during their nap to begin with- then returning them again at 12:00 or 12:30 then expect dinner yet, when my dinnertime is 11:00 or 11:15 everyday. Otherwise picking them up at 12:00 or having to feed them early for the pick up- then dropping them back off at 2:00 right during naptime/quiet time. Waking many children up, etc.... Then having child so tired, and scream for 10-15 min. till they finally fall asleep, before waking up everyone else!! I am just tired of the whole thing!!!!! This has happened numerous times with numerous families over the yrs. and it keeps happening and happening over and over!!! I will add something to my new contract regarding this and possibly newsletters in the future!!

I understand this perspective. If I kept having issues like these I would probably have something in my policies to address appointments. All of my parents (so far in the last 2 yrs) have been very respectful of lunch/nap schedules and I havent had a problem.

[originalkat]

I don't have the issue that it upsets the child. That's not a biggie to me. The kids are used to coming and going. They have been here their whole life. My problem is that it takes staff time to dress the child to leave, meet with the parents for the pick up, meet with the parents for the drop off, and undress the child, put his/her coat, clothes etc. away and take them to the play room.

It's extra ONE TO ONE staff time I don't have built into the fees.

I was really going to say that I didnt understand your reasoning in your original post...but you have already explained it in this one.:: I guess this has more to do with your individual set-up and routine in your home. My daycare room is right off the driveway and the parents enter directly into it so it doesnt take any more time for me to send the kid out the door with their parent. If I had a basement or back playroom then I can see how this could be more of a pain and would leave the other children without your direct supervision.

[nannyde]

I was really going to say that I didnt understand your reasoning in your original post...but you have already explained it in this one.:: I guess this has more to do with your individual set-up and routine in your home. My daycare room is right off the driveway and the parents enter directly into it so it doesnt take any more time for me to send the kid out the door with their parent. If I had a basement or back playroom then I can see how this could be more of a pain and would leave the other children without your direct supervision.

No I have a staff assistant. I don't have to leave the kids unattended. My reasoning for not allowing it is because it takes more one to one time for the child and the parent contact. As I said.. I already spend an average of 80 minutes a day JUST doing arrivals and departures and that is NOT counting the time it takes to undress/dress kids and store their clothing. That's just the average amount of parent contact time.

[momofsix]

I have no problem with parents picking up/dropping off more than once either. I have never had an issue with upset kids--they are fine coming again, and the other kids are fine seeing others leave. Not a problem at all! I don't really think it takes an unreasonable amount of work on my part for them to arrive/leave either. Every arrival and departure is not a conference, sometimes it's a quick hello/goodbye that takes hardly any time at all. I guess it just depends on provider/parent preference

[Daycare Mommy]

I don't mind the extra drop off and pick ups, UNLESS it bumps into naptime. That is so irritating. I still allow it though. If it started happening frequently I'd probably say something to the parents about it and possibly update the contract, but it's just every now and then, so I haven't bothered yet.

I do put my foot down that if they aren't here for lunch they need to be fed before coming back even if it's just 30 minutes later. And bringing back a lunch isn't an option. They need to have already eaten before they come back in. It's disruptive enough if they are coming in at naptime without having to mess with a late meal time right in the middle of the other kids' napping.

[momma2girls]

I don't mind the extra drop off and pick ups, UNLESS it bumps into naptime. That is so irritating. I still allow it though. If it started happening frequently I'd probably say something to the parents about it and possibly update the contract, but it's just every now and then, so I haven't bothered yet.

I do put my foot down that if they aren't here for lunch they need to be fed before coming back even if it's just 30 minutes later. And bringing back a lunch isn't an option. They need to have already eaten before they come back in. It's disruptive enough if they are coming in at naptime without having to mess with a late meal time right in the middle of the other kids' napping.

ALso everytime two families pick up during rest time or drop off they wake up my own daughter who is in her bedroom, right next to the front door. She may have only been sleeping 15 min. and will not go back to sleep once she wakes up unfortunately!!! So I really need to put a stop to it!!! This has happened 5 or 6 times now since she has been born, maybe even more than that.

[MarinaVanessa]

I don't have an issue with multiple drop-offs or pick-ups either. It doesn't make my life difficult at all. Some mind it others don't. It doesn't take time away from me because if we are doing activities the parent's know that I will not stop what I am doing. They are pretty much ignored. They know that when they arrive they have to help their child out of their jacket, put his/her things in the cubby and sent the child to the activity quietly. They sign themselves in and VOALAH! They're out of there. If they do have to chat I just stop for a second and just tell them that we can finish the conversation later and that we're in the middle of something. I have "office hours" that are specifically reserved for phone calls and parent concerns so that this doesn't take time away from the children. I guess I don't have a problem and don't see it as being disruptive at all. Also they know not to arrive or depart during nap/quiet time either (the ones younger than 5 nap and the older ones have quiet time).