Parent Pick Up Times Question?

[melskids]

Our pick up times vary from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. Most leave between 5 and 5:30, but they NEVER clean. The problem is that I'm currently just an assistant (until I open my own next year!) so I don't have any say. We have a bucket of about 50 little dollar cars that are thrown everywhere--not really played with nicely. We also have a bucket of 6 or 7 Mr. Potato Heads with tons of accessories where the lid doesn't even fit on the container anymore and the kids just dump it....I don't think they even know how to insert the arms and legs because they don't play with it. Yesterday I collected those two bins and pick up took about 15 minutes. Today I didn't and it took about an hour and still half the kids play. On successful days, we get the kids to clean up by letting them know we're going to do a game or coloring and if one kids wants to then everybody does, so that is the only thing that has partially worked. If you ask me, we have too many toys and it is just a dumping game.

OMG! i'm having the same issue. licensing expects us to have all these "choices" for the kids, meanwhile, there's not enough space, the kids dont really play with anything, and nobody cleans the mess. i really think it just overwhelms them more. i recently packd up everything, and put it in to storage, and i will rotate toys in and out. i dont care anymore what "they" say. the night before they show up for my ECERS review, i'll put it all out so it looks good..... but no way, they no longer have free rein of ALL the toys at once.

[Abigail]

too many toys

I was also told that books, blocks, and balls were the three necessities to run a daycare. That I agree with! I will definitely have those. The Mr. Potato head really should be for "game" time for the older kids who want to create their own potato head. The dollar cars bin....even with a dozen mobile children, they never all play together. The most cars they would possibly need with having choices should be a dozen cars. They can only have one in each hand. LOL. I'm super excited to start my own daycare. We just applied for a house loan today! I need to start writing on paper now my plans of actions instead of in my head. ha ha, no dumping games will be tolerated.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

Our pick up times vary from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. Most leave between 5 and 5:30, but they NEVER clean. The problem is that I'm currently just an assistant (until I open my own next year!) so I don't have any say. We have a bucket of about 50 little dollar cars that are thrown everywhere--not really played with nicely. We also have a bucket of 6 or 7 Mr. Potato Heads with tons of accessories where the lid doesn't even fit on the container anymore and the kids just dump it....I don't think they even know how to insert the arms and legs because they don't play with it. Yesterday I collected those two bins and pick up took about 15 minutes. Today I didn't and it took about an hour and still half the kids play. On successful days, we get the kids to clean up by letting them know we're going to do a game or coloring and if one kids wants to then everybody does, so that is the only thing that has partially worked. If you ask me, we have too many toys and it is just a dumping game.

I am also an assistant, but I close pretty often in the evenings. What do you mean exactly, that you don't have a say? Just curious. Does the owner not listen to your suggestions?
We have the same problem, so glad a lot of providers have this same problem of the kids having more fun dumping than playing, then not cleaning up. I'm lucky, because we have them clean up before lunch (I think we end up doing it, but even if they do a couple things it helps, but even that little bit usually involves a lot of nagging). Right after lunch is nap, and right after nap is snack. Directly after snack, most of the kids leave (around 3-4 pm), so by the time it's outdoor time, they haven't had too much time to dump toys, and with fewer kids it's easier to get them to clean up. Plus bribing them with going outside makes them move a little faster . So during outdoor play the parents pick them up, and the inside stays clean.

[momma2girls]

One thing that has helped me with pick up times is- have the child ready to go 5-10 min. before the end of your pick up time. It has worked for me, I have tried the outside thing as well-now I have too many small ones to do this out front. Good luck!!

[MARSTELAC]

WAHHHH!!!! Just had a child dropped off while I was changing diapers. Several of the children decided to go and hide under a table in the front room and scream! I couldn't get them to stop and this parent who just dropped off probably thinks I have no control over these kids (which I didn't at the moment as I was busy with the babies)! I remind them frequently that when a parent comes/goes, they must be respectful and behave....they really are good the rest of the day (99.9% of the time) but today was horrible! Looking forward to a day off next week!

[DancingQueen]

this is a common problem here as well. It is driving me batty. i think that from now on 4:15 - 4:30 will be quiet activity at the table time.

Going out doors isn't always an option for us unfortunately
now that the weather is colder we go out for shorter periods of time too.


i find it opposite most of you guys too - when we go outside my house stays messy while we are out there and then I go inside and clean when everyone goes home. But when we are inside - i start cleaning at about 3:45 - 4:00
and most are picked up by 4:30 so I have very little cleaning to do.

Pick ups are MUCH longer and drawn out whenever we have pick up outside.
Inside people feel less comfortable and don't want to stay.

I HATE that everyone gets roudy.

12/1 I send out my new handbook and contracts. I'm going to reitterate what is already stated about pick ups needing to be quicker. Some parents think that if they are the last pick up you want them picked up quick - but if they are the first one - you are there anyways so they can linger with you. NO NO NO they just do NOT realize that this is not normal behavior!!! These kids are amazing until ONE single new person arrives.

[laundrymom]

Im the mean one,.. I actually say to the parent,.. excuse me,.. Turn around and call the offender to me and make them hold my hand,.. then return to the conversation.... or I say,.. excuse me a moment please,... I turn around and address the children,... Excuse me friends,.. Look at me,.. eyes up here,... and I tap my nose,.... Are you supposed to act this way if Miss Jill is talking to an adult???? no you are not,.. I think you need to sit down before someone gets upset. I will make sure you get to play loudly in a moment but right now,.. its time for you to sit and be still. and they all must remain calm,.. and I return to the parent, say thank you,.. and shoo them out.

[DancingQueen]

Laundrymom - I love your approach but 3 of mine are under 2 and it just wouldn't work. No, strapping them into a booster seat for coloring..LOL now that work!!!

[laundrymom]

get a flashlight and turn off the lights for the under 2 crowd,.. play catch the light. =-)

Laundrymom - I love your approach but 3 of mine are under 2 and it just wouldn't work. No, strapping them into a booster seat for coloring..LOL now that work!!!

[Mainedaycare]

I just started roll playing parent pick up and drop off with the kids. They are reminded if they get ready the right way the recieve a sticker to go with the other children get one aswell. They never know when they will earn a sticker. I find they remind me that they have cleaned up toys or their area after craft ect...Even the little ones are watching and learning from the pre schoolers. It took several weeks for them to adjust but I think they get it now ; )