Getting Kids Ready To Go Home...

[toddles]

Do you get the kids ready to go home before the parents get there? I only watch two kids but have three of my own.. they come for pick-up from anywhere between 4:30 to 6:00.

[jenn]

Yes, I get them ready to go home-clean diaper, coats on, ready to walk out the door. My earliest pick up is around 3:30 and the latest is around 5:45. My families are very predictable about their pick up times, so I just get them ready a few minutes before the parent should be arriving. When the parent gets here, the child meets them on the porch. Quick hand off.

[SilverSabre25]

I will change diapers and wash hands and faces one last time, gather all belongings, and prep them ("Mommy's coming soon! When she gets here you need to be ready to stop playing and get your shoes and coat on!"

[snbauser]

Depends on the child. I have one parent that picks up anywhere from 3:00-5:15 (she is a teacher and pick up depends on staff meetings, parent meetings, whether she has bus duty, etc.). So I don't typically get him ready. My other one is between 5 - 5:15 like clockwork. About 4:55 I have shoes on so they are ready. Otherwise they take forever.

[MarinaVanessa]

I'll have their stuff ready to go and such and they'll have fresh diapers and such but I don't put their jackets or shoes on until their parents arrive. I don't want them getting too hot inside and I prefer they not wear shoes inside.

[Lyss]

I get them all ready to go!

Diapers changed, hands/face washed, belongings together and next to door, shoes on (little one anyway, muddy shoes stay off), we clean up and play one or two easy to clean up activities by the door so everyone is prepped and ready to go, no need for mom (its always mom that wants to stay and chat) to hang out or come past the entryway! ::

[Evansmom]

I can't bc I don't have contracted hours. The parents come between 4-6 pm like OP said. But I do keep all their things in one place so that they're ready to go when parents come.

[Unregistered]

It depends on the family/kids. I close at 4:45 so if anyone is still here at 4:40 I get them all ready to go. In my mind my closing time isn't when you should just be coming to pick up, it's the time you need to be gone by.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If they arrive at a time that is not our typical pick-up time (4:40-5:00pm) then their child is not ready unless they told me ahead of time when they would be picking them up.

Otherwise, the kids are ready to go!

[MissK]

I have them ready/getting ready at their regular pick up time - if the parents are here early of course they aren't (unless I'm expecting them).

[Jewels]

Other than clean diapers, no I don't, we are usually outside until pickup time, so they are either picked up outside, and the parent goes in and gathers their stuff,(I am generally not organized enough to remember to get stuff together) otherwise we are all coming in and snow gear and boots and gloves are being tossed everywhere, and I tend to let the parents go through it, and just help if something is missing, I don't usually know when kids are being picked up, and I want them to be playing and having fun until their parents get here, they would sweat having to put their coats on, and theres no shoes on in the house, and I wouldn't feel right making them wait at the door, while everyone else is playing.