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So all 5 of my kids occasionally get dropped off at the same time in the morning. 3 out of 5 of them are usually crying for their parents and the parents drag it on and on. The other two sometimes start crying just because everyone else is crying. How do I calm the mass chaos and reassure the parents that it only lasts for a little bit and then we all settle into a routine. I hate when the parents see only the worst part of the day and not the calm after the storm. It's my least favorite time and I'll take any tips on how to run it more smoothly. P.S. all these kids are between 16 months and 2 yrs.
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Drop offs...
Be very clear with the parents and tell them that the child is just fine once they leave. I think parents sometimes stick around to get a reaction to reassure themselves that their child still loves them the most. I hate that more than anything! My policy is that the parents need to keep drop offs and pick ups very brief. Children adapt so quickly, but they can't adapt until the parents leave! You could make a policy and post it so that all of the parents can see it and say that drop offs and pick ups are limited to "x" minutes. Good luck! -
I don't have any real advice since I haven't ran into this quite yet. I have one 3 yo dcb that gets clingy to mom every once in a while. Just last week, I opened the door to him screaming that he wanted to go home. Mom looked at me so frustrated, he wanted to go back home to pee. :-)
Who knows why. She sat him down and explained I had a potty, stood there for an entire 3-4 minutes trying to calm him down. I assured her that he would stop once she left....he did. Mom says, "I know" and walked out. I don't understand the dragging out nonsense but I would imagine leaving your child is not fun. I even had parts in my handbook about drop-off needing to be quick and painless, like ripping off a band-aid. Most parents get it but some don't.
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I have them give the dog a cookie,.. or see if I closed the fridge,.. or something fun like a pop up tent.Comment
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I talk in the interview with parents about this very thing. I tell them that when it starts to escalate, I will look at them with "the look" and say to them "goodbye Mom" and that is their cue to get out of my house and don't look back. If they look around the corner and their child sees them, they take the child to work that day. I say it in a fun way in the interview. But then when the child starts, I do just what I said I would. They leave quickly. The issue is short-lived.
Yes, I think parents enjoy it in a sick kind of way when their child cries. I've had moms comment that it's the only time their child cries for them. It's like when a child who never cuddles gets sick and just wants to lay in mom's arms.Comment
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I haven't had too much of an issue with this, but I've made it a routine to pick the child up and hold them for mom or dad to give a kiss and hug to, and to say goodbye. It gives both the parent and the child closure, and then mom or dad hasn't had to chase the kid down for a kiss goodbye. And then I carry or walk the child to their high chair for breakfast (whether the parent has left yet or not). Prolonged drop-offs are a pet peeve of mine -- I've got things to do, and parents (hopefully) need to get to work. I like to make good-byes quick and then get the child interested in something immediately. Sometimes I wish I had the same routine for the parents
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I have a mom that does that, also. All the other parents of the toddlers have a job to get to, so they know they can't drag it on. Even if the child is crying, they have to hand them off (or if I have others dropping off at the same time and they're all crying and I'm holding one already, they sit them down with their sippy and go). But this one mom only has her child (a 2 yr old) here for socialization purposes 3 days a week. SOO, when she drops her off, she drags it on and on. I have a routine and schedule to keep, and the kids are getting rowdy bcause of no structure, but here this mom is still hanging around, and I feel bad ignoring her, and of course when another parent is here, that's when the kids start acting up. The 2 yr old is fine, and occupied with a toy or something, but it's like the mom can't stand that her child isn't crying for her. So she goes over to say bye bye several times! When she finally decides to leave, she acts like she's trying to "sneak out so she doesn't notice I'm leaving and cry". If she'd just sign her in, give her a toy (if she has to take that much time), and then GO, it'd be no problem. This 2 yr old never cries for her when she leaves, unless the mom has just drug it out way too long, and then she might give a couple obligatory tears 
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