How Do You Tell

[littlemisssunshine]

How do you tell the parents you need to be off early one day? I have a drs appt at 5 and the child gets picks up at 7!

[Breezy]

Just tell them as soon as possible so they can make other arrangments

[MyAngels]

I always put it in writing:

Dear Parents,

I will be closing at 4:00 p.m. on May 15th. Per our contract there will be no reduction in fees for this day.

Thanks,

Me

[cheerfuldom]

Don't ask, just tell....like the previous poster put. If you ask, that leaves room for debate and negotiating. You can either write them a note or say "Susan, I need Jr. picked up from daycare 4:30 on Friday so I can attend an appointment."

Make sure you give yourself enough wiggle room in case they are late and for drive time!

[saved4always]

Don't ask, just tell....like the previous poster put. If you ask, that leaves room for debate and negotiating. You can either write them a note or say "Susan, I need Jr. picked up from daycare 4:30 on Friday so I can attend an appointment."

Make sure you give yourself enough wiggle room in case they are late and for drive time!

Yep...this exactly. I don't ask, I tell and I do it in writing as soon as I know about my appt. And then I give another note the day before to remind them of early pick up. I have never had any issues. The parents have usually sent a grandparent to p/u if they cannot do it.

[DaisyMamma]

Definitely don't "ask", just let them know that you will be closing early that day. You don't even need to say why.

[daycare]

I used to feel like this too....BUT you are only human and you need to take care of yourself. Don't feel bad for this.

Unless you are making a habit of it, please just tell the parent. DO NOT feel the need to ask them. YOu are not their boss, you are a business owner providing a service.

[Creek]

I let parents know asap if I need a day off, or to close early. I will send it out by email and include all dates to be remembered including any daycare closures. I really try not to cut into daycare hours, but sometimes you just can't help it. We're people too.

[LittleD]

That is my most frustrating peeve about doing daycare. Sometimes, you have to have an appointment during business hours.

Again, make sure you give yourself enough time. I had an appointment at 4:20 for my child, and I said I needed to close BY 2 at the LATEST. Most of them were picked up 30 mins early, but the one, picked up AT 2, so I had to pretty much throw her kid and her stuff at her without so much as a backwards glance to get there on time. :: Next time, I'm closing an hour early, just to make sure there's no "I got stuck in traffic/at the office/in line at the grocery store" excuses.

[MarinaVanessa]

I awlays tell my DCP's first that I need to schedule an appointment and that I'll let them know when my appointment is once I am given it. I try scheduling my apointment at a convenient time for my DCP's (like the last appointment of the day for example) and always schedule it at least 2 weeks away. Then I tell my DCP's right away in a written notice.

Occasionally I'll get a DCP that throws a hissy when this issue comes up but I remind that parent that I'm doing them a favor by closing early instead of closing the full day like I'm entitled to (I give myself 5 personal/sick days a year PAID). They always seem to respond with an "Oh" and then the discussion is over