Departures

[mac60]

Just wondering how many of you, or if any of you, have coats on the kids so they are ready to go when parents pick up. I am talking for kids whose parents pick up consistently at the same time, where their coats would be on for no more than 5 min or so before pickup.

I ask because, I have been doing this for for the past couple months, and then the parent tells me not to do it, because they could get too warm. OMG, rediculous. I started doing it because I was tired of them waking everyone else up from nap. They leave approx 30 min to 45 min before the others get up, and guaranteed everyday they are loud and the others get woke up. It is not just the children that are loud, but the parent too. I started to put their coats on to make the departure quicker and with less noise.

Now what do I do. I have tried the note on the door "Quiet please", does no good. I need to grow a set of ***x, parents have no problem with rediculous request as this, why do I feel so intimidated to simply say "Quiet please little ones are sleeping"?

It has not been a good 3 weeks here. I swear the stars are out of alignment or something.

[SilverSabre25]

oh good grief, and I bet this parent leaves the coat on the kid in the car seat in the warm car and one the kid in the grocery store and other stores....

I think the parent is just trying to control you.

[Crystal]

I'd nip it in the bud. They can either be happy that you have their children prepared, THEY will be quiet and not waking other children up, OR they have to pick up at a different time. No exceptions.

Anyways, I put their jackets on about 5 minutes before pick up as well. Nothing wrong with 5 minutes in a jacket while we wait for our parents.

These parents sound like control-freaks

[Crazy8]

I've recently had issues with kids getting a little crazy when parents are here - leaving the playroom, running down my hall, etc. so while I can't do jackets 5 min. before because pick ups can vary by 30 min. or so, I have started to have everything ready and quickly put the childs jacket on when parent pulls in the driveway.

Honestly, it takes about 30 seconds to get a jacket and hat on a child, so while I agree with not letting parents control you and you have every right to just put your foot down and do it the way you have been, if you would like to be accommodating you can also just put the jacket on as soon as you see parent pull up and then quickly shuffle them out the door as soon as parent reaches it.

Personally I just don't allow pick ups during nap time!!

[mac60]

Parent comes in, ask them how their day was, were they good, did you go potty, blah blah, they are loud. I know it is rediculous. I know they wear their coats in the car. And yes, this parent likes "control". I know if I started putting them on when she pulls in, she would still get mad. I will be telling them to be Quiet from now on, I figure if she can request stupid crap then I am going to speak up too. I don't know why I find it so hard to speak up on behalf of myself, as many parents find no problem speaking up with stupid stuff.

[DaisyMamma]

I've always had luck with making the parent feel they are in control by asking them what to do? Tell them the kids are being woken up and they need their nap, and oh my, what to do??

[Texasjeepgirl]

I see this on here allot.. putting coats on before the parent arrives.. Meeting the parent at the door and not 'allowing' them inside your home...etc...
I'm kind of amazed at that concept... but then again.. as I always say on here... it is YOUR DAYCARE BUSINESS... and YOUR RULES should apply..
PERSONALLY ... I would put a stop to pick ups falling during my scheduled naptime... period.... I had to do it.. In fact... I put a stop to parents dropping off any ol' time they wanted..
I had one client a few years ago that would start the day out that her son was staying home for the day with dad.. (he worked from home).. then mid day he would schedule an appointment.. and she'd show up with a cranky, screaming toddler..who didn't want to lay down.. She'd walk in .. middle of naptime.. then she'd STAY to attempt to SOOTHE HIM.. ugh.. just GET OUT...
anyway...
New RULE.. If your child is not here by 9:30 a.m...they can not attend for the day... exceptions to this are... well care visits to the doctor.. if you notify me AHEAD OF TIME... and...
NO NAP TIME PICK UPS except in an emergency situation... (like if the emergency is that I called you because your child is ill)...
otherwise.. you can just wait till my naptime is OVER... so you do NOT interrupt my sleeping room full of children.

My daycare is 1 LARGE room... 730 sq ft... but the entrance opens directly in to the room.. I don't have an entry area... a foyer... like many of you with traditional houses... (see pics at website)...

I have been having an issue with one client the last SEVERAL months...and I finally had to send out an email a few days ago.. addressed to all clients.. but.. targeting HER...
She is a new client.. Since the summer.. and.. I LIKE HER SO MUCH.. she is a teacher... and...she is a single mother.. She put allot of time and research in to choosing me as her caregiver.. her son is 2.. and was in a BABY only care home... but graduated out...
she enrolled during the summer...
For the first few weeks... the afternoon temperature was so high we weren't able to play outside on the playground.. she would arrive.. pick up child.. briefly visit about his day...then leave.
Then one day.. it was cooler outside..
She gathers her son.. and leaves... about 2 minutes later.. I gather my remaining crew... open the door and send them to the playground. She and her son are out in parking lot..
Next thing I know...here they come..
I think ..oh .. he must need to potty...
NOPE..
He saw the kids coming outside to play...and wanted to join.. so she unloaded him... and ... brought him back to play for a few minutes.. At the time.. I thought nothing of it... just stood and talked with her as I supervised the kids. But.. From then on... EVERY SINGLE DAY...
As I said.. she's a teacher.. leaves school each day at 4 p.m... and.. basically drives straight here...arrives...and then .. stays.. watches her son... allows him to continue to play with the kids.. and.. basically.. HOLDS ME HOSTAGE for over an hour every single day.. I mean.. don't get me wrong.. I go on with all the things I do... feed the infant.. change the diapers... referree the scuffles on the playground.. etc.. but... she is HERE... and.. after awhile.. well..it JUST WEARS ME OUT... I made several comments .. You know.. YOU could run errands in the afternoons... before you arrive to pick him up.. so as to allow him to continue to play for awhile.. she made some comment about 'not' having any extra money to shop..so she may as well just come here...
I'm thinking.. go home... do the dishes... take a 45 minute after school nap... read a book...grade some papers... SOMETHING... ANYTHING... just stop spending an hour or more HERE...
When the temperature started cooling off...and we are no longer able to go outside in the afternoons.. I thought... ok.. YES... now we aren't OUTSIDE...so.. she will get him .. and go..but.. NO...
several weeks now that we've been inside in the afternoons....and.. she is still here... LITERALLY STAYS TILL LAST OTHER KID GETS PICKED UP...
so. finally.. Monday.. I sent out an email.. I made it a 'blanket' email that served as a reminder about upcoming closure dates for the holiday season... reminder notice of our bad weather entrance... and. then as a final closure.. hit on the issue of drop off and pick up time... especially pick up time.. being a hectic busy time where the children view the arrival of a parent as a FREE PASS to run around... and...the remaining children notice the distraction and decide to act up also... so I ended with the request that all clients be as BRIEF as possible at drop off and pick up time... That day she was only here 20 minutes.. and yesterday.. about 10... so.. we'll see about today...

[mac60]

Parents come inside my home to pick up kids. I have a makeshift foyer where I have placed a 5 x 8 area rug so there is plenty of room to take coats off and keep wet feet on the rug and not on the carpet. There is no reason for anyone to walk thru my home. I don't feel because I do childcare that this gives parents the right to walk thru my home. They can see the daycare room from the front door. Nothing is being hidden. If parents wouldn't be so disrespectful and walk on carpet with shoes and wet feet, and be quiet when they know children are sleeping, then things would be different I am sure. This parent gets out of work at 3.

[mismatchedsocks]

I have a foyer, that is hardwood and the cubbies are in it. The rest of the house is carpet. When I see a parent pull up, either on camera or out window I will call child to come get shoes. I will help child get ready, while I chat for a second about the day. The parents have to take their shoes off to even walk in "main" daycare room, and there is no need at pick up/drop off time for that. HOWEVER they can see everything that is going on by just looking in, or peeking around corner.

I think if I had their coats on ( unless they were a problem child!) that the parents would feel rushed, and I dont want them to feel that. Id rather talk for a minute at pick up them talk on phone later or have to email small things that can be said in person.

[morgan24]

Parents come inside my home to pick up kids. I have a makeshift foyer where I have placed a 5 x 8 area rug so there is plenty of room to take coats off and keep wet feet on the rug and not on the carpet. There is no reason for anyone to walk thru my home. I don't feel because I do childcare that this gives parents the right to walk thru my home. They can see the daycare room from the front door. Nothing is being hidden. If parents wouldn't be so disrespectful and walk on carpet with shoes and wet feet, and be quiet when they know children are sleeping, then things would be different I am sure. This parent gets out of work at 3.

I agree with you, there really is no need for them to come in any farther than the rug. I would keep putting their coats on and having them ready and waiting and just blow off any comment dcm has to say about it. If the noise gets too much I would say if you wake any extras you are taking them with you because if they don't get all of their nap they are grumpy bears.

[Francine]

When I have somebody picking up while others are napping, I have coat and shoes on, and we are standing in the doorway waiting for Mom. I have been known to walk the child out to meet Mom, she doesn't get anywhere near the door. Nap time is too precious!

[nannyde]

Just wondering how many of you, or if any of you, have coats on the kids so they are ready to go when parents pick up. I am talking for kids whose parents pick up consistently at the same time, where their coats would be on for no more than 5 min or so before pickup.

I ask because, I have been doing this for for the past couple months, and then the parent tells me not to do it, because they could get too warm. OMG, rediculous. I started doing it because I was tired of them waking everyone else up from nap. They leave approx 30 min to 45 min before the others get up, and guaranteed everyday they are loud and the others get woke up. It is not just the children that are loud, but the parent too. I started to put their coats on to make the departure quicker and with less noise.

Now what do I do. I have tried the note on the door "Quiet please", does no good. I need to grow a set of ***x, parents have no problem with rediculous request as this, why do I feel so intimidated to simply say "Quiet please little ones are sleeping"?

It has not been a good 3 weeks here. I swear the stars are out of alignment or something.

Just tell her that the kids aren't overheated and that you MUST do an immediate departure when she arrives. She's welcome to call you after she gets home if she needs any specific info.

She LIKES the "let's get nuts" she had before you made this change. She WANTS to see her kids go ape when she gets there. She LIKES the fact that you want her to be quiet and she doesn't HAVE to because she's the boss of you.

Open the door and hand the kids thru the door all in one move. Tell her they "did great... see ya later little dudes" and shut the door. Don't let HER in side the house.

She's disrespectful to you by not making her kids be quiet and her not being quiet. She hasn't earned the right to come in and affect the care of the kids. It's not personal... it's business. She doesn't get to tell you when to get the kids ready or visit with them loudly while your kids are sleeping. She doesn't pay for that... she doesn't get it.

[mommiesherie]

Just tell her that the kids aren't overheated and that you MUST do an immediate departure when she arrives. She's welcome to call you after she gets home if she needs any specific info.

She LIKES the "let's get nuts" she had before you made this change. She WANTS to see her kids go ape when she gets there. She LIKES the fact that you want her to be quiet and she doesn't HAVE to because she's the boss of you.

Open the door and hand the kids thru the door all in one move. Tell her they "did great... see ya later little dudes" and shut the door. Don't let HER in side the house.

She's disrespectful to you by not making her kids be quiet and her not being quiet. She hasn't earned the right to come in and affect the care of the kids. It's not personal... it's business. She doesn't get to tell you when to get the kids ready or visit with them loudly while your kids are sleeping. She doesn't pay for that... she doesn't get it.

I must agree again. I would have to tell her that the reason you have them ready is because its interfering with you nap time. It just does not work when she picks them up and wakes the other children. They need their rest and this is the best solution. Find your voice and I promise it will feel so good!!!! Practice saying it in the mirror. Don't apologize for it to her either when you say it. Make yous stand its your business. She is not your boss no matter how much she wants to be

[Heidi]

Just tell her that the kids aren't overheated and that you MUST do an immediate departure when she arrives. She's welcome to call you after she gets home if she needs any specific info.

She LIKES the "let's get nuts" she had before you made this change. She WANTS to see her kids go ape when she gets there. She LIKES the fact that you want her to be quiet and she doesn't HAVE to because she's the boss of you.

Open the door and hand the kids thru the door all in one move. Tell her they "did great... see ya later little dudes" and shut the door. Don't let HER in side the house.

She's disrespectful to you by not making her kids be quiet and her not being quiet. She hasn't earned the right to come in and affect the care of the kids. It's not personal... it's business. She doesn't get to tell you when to get the kids ready or visit with them loudly while your kids are sleeping. She doesn't pay for that... she doesn't get it.

[cheerfuldom]

okay, texasjeepgirl, I just find it strange that you think the quick pickup policies is unusual but then also go on to explain about the mom hanging out for an hour. this is why we do it that way! All my kids are completely packed and dressed and ready for when the parents get here. No parents in the house, no kids still running around trying to play, etc. My drop offs and pickups are easy to the extreme and this policy is why. I would never ever allow a parent to hang out.