IS It This Or Is It That? Always An Excuse

[daycare]

I work on contracted hours. When families enroll I give them 3 weeks to figure out what time works best for them and then we write it down in their contact and agree to those times from then on out. Of course, I am always flexible with later or earlier drop off times or pick up times when I am given advance notice.

well of course things change over time and some families moved to a different city or changed work hours so they have been dropping off later and later, now to where I never know when their child will be here. I have said nothing, because they are always getting here by at least breakfast time.

Well, then everyone started doing it and I said enough. I am taking the sign in and out log and going to take the last three months average of drop off time and that will now become your contracted drop off time. Same for pick up.

Some parents said ok, that makes sense. But then I have one that says that they still need a drop off time of 715am, even though the average time they drop off is about 815am and dropped off 2 times in a 3 month period at 715am. So I said fine, you can have the 715am drop off, but I am going to hold you to it. Part of me wonders if they are trying to find a way out of their contract.

Well then today this DCF comes in and says well I need to know how long my daughter is sleeping during nap time becuase I cant' get her to go to bed at night. This DCF knows what time we nap, I let them know any time their child sleeps past normal nap hours and its not very often. So DCF excuse now is that because their child is napping here too long that they can't get them to go to bed on time, which then results in the DCF can't wake their child up in the morning and they are late every morning. I don't know why this kid can't go to sleep at night. We are so busy all day and have at least a solid 2.5 hours of outside hiking, runing, or playing hard most days. I fall on my face.....
UUUGGGHHHH It's always back on the daycare any time something goes wrong.

Part of me is sick and tired of now show 715am arrivals, I value my sleep... So part of me is really pushing for the later arrival.

I know that the later drop off in the morning are my fault, I didn't say too much about it, as I was trying to be flexible and it really was not that big of a deal, that was until everyone started doing it.

I am not sure if I just needed to vent or if there is any advice you could give on this, but let me say this

TGIF!!!!!!!!happyfacehappyface

[Hunni Bee]

You should stand by what you said, as far as the late arrivals go.

I'd tell them that you accommodated their 7:15 drop off, it never happened and one more drop off later than 7:15 will result in their drop off time being changed permanently to 8:15. Any requests for earlier arrivals will have to be submitted in advance, earlier arrivals without notice will be kindly required to come back at contracted time.

As for the napping, I'd tell them let's see what happens once she starts coming at 7:15 and starting her day earlier

[butterfly]

You should stand by what you said, as far as the late arrivals go.

I'd tell them that you accommodated their 7:15 drop off, it never happened and one more drop off later than 7:15 will result in their drop off time being changed permanently to 8:15. Any requests for earlier arrivals will have to be submitted in advance, earlier arrivals without notice will be kindly required to come back at contracted time.

As for the napping, I'd tell them let's see what happens once she starts coming at 7:15 and starting her day earlier

[daycare]

You should stand by what you said, as far as the late arrivals go.

I'd tell them that you accommodated their 7:15 drop off, it never happened and one more drop off later than 7:15 will result in their drop off time being changed permanently to 8:15. Any requests for earlier arrivals will have to be submitted in advance, earlier arrivals without notice will be kindly required to come back at contracted time.

As for the napping, I'd tell them let's see what happens once she starts coming at 7:15 and starting her day earlier

thank hunni bee...it is really irritating me a lot. I never know when I am going to start my day and this family is my first arrival, well they are supposed to be. Since my door is far from my private areas of my house, it's not like I can go and do laundry or other house hold chores while I wait sometimes an hour for them to get dropped off.

I said if change it to the 715 drop off time and they continue to be dropping off 15min later outside that time frame I will terminate care.

I guess I don't understand the whole I cant get my kid up on time thing. So then try waking her earlier and make them get up. Then like you said, if they get here at that time, then we will see how they do with going to bed at night. This family does have a 20min commute time to my home, so I don't know.......

Again...TGIF

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I only provide early day care with advance notice. I have one family that has been using it infrequently (2-4 times a month) and they will always text message to ask if they can the night before, which is fine for me.

I hate late drop offs where you never know when the child will come and that causes a lot of anxiety for me. I don't mind a child being 10-20 minutes late, I promise. But, an hour span makes me anxious.
I just switched one of my recess times to 8:35 AM for the summer months since it gets extremely hot here. I made a big fuss over a new rule stating "ALL DROP OFFS MUST OCCUR AT THE ___ FACILITY BEFORE OR AFTER RECESS! NO CHILDREN WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO CARE OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY!"
All of the children that were arriving between 8:15 AM-9:30 AM (you never knew when they would come) are now arriving before 8:35 AM. It's either they arrive before 8:35 AM, they arrive between 9:20-9:45 (when we are back for potty breaks, water, and writing), or after 10:30 when we are back for good.

My question for the family who has a child struggling to fall asleep is, "What time are you attempting to put her to bed at?" I once had a parent say that to me, and they were trying to put their child to bed at 7:00 which just didn't work anymore now that they were playing and learning hard and getting a 2 hour nap.

[daycare]

I only provide early day care with advance notice. I have one family that has been using it infrequently (2-4 times a month) and they will always text message to ask if they can the night before, which is fine for me.

I hate late drop offs where you never know when the child will come and that causes a lot of anxiety for me. I don't mind a child being 10-20 minutes late, I promise. But, an hour span makes me anxious.
I just switched one of my recess times to 8:35 AM for the summer months since it gets extremely hot here. I made a big fuss over a new rule stating "ALL DROP OFFS MUST OCCUR AT THE ___ FACILITY BEFORE OR AFTER RECESS! NO CHILDREN WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO CARE OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY!"
All of the children that were arriving between 8:15 AM-9:30 AM (you never knew when they would come) are now arriving before 8:35 AM. It's either they arrive before 8:35 AM, they arrive between 9:20-9:45 (when we are back for potty breaks, water, and writing), or after 10:30 when we are back for good.

My question for the family who has a child struggling to fall asleep is, "What time are you attempting to put her to bed at?" I once had a parent say that to me, and they were trying to put their child to bed at 7:00 which just didn't work anymore now that they were playing and learning hard and getting a 2 hour nap.

thats a great question. I dont know what time they are putting to bed at night, I just know that the parent said they are not going to sleep until around 9pm.

I don't buy the whole I can't wake them in the morning, YES You can. You are just choosing to let them sleep in. i used start work at 7am years ago when my older two were in school, they got up at 545am every day. Most of the time not willingly either.... But my work at that time was not flexible, so I HAD to be out that door.

I hate it when people just make excuses...Like NIKE says, JUST DO IT!!

[RosieMommy]

I work on contracted hours. When families enroll I give them 3 weeks to figure out what time works best for them and then we write it down in their contact and agree to those times from then on out. Of course, I am always flexible with later or earlier drop off times or pick up times when I am given advance notice.

well of course things change over time and some families moved to a different city or changed work hours so they have been dropping off later and later, now to where I never know when their child will be here. I have said nothing, because they are always getting here by at least breakfast time.

Well, then everyone started doing it and I said enough. I am taking the sign in and out log and going to take the last three months average of drop off time and that will now become your contracted drop off time. Same for pick up.

Some parents said ok, that makes sense. But then I have one that says that they still need a drop off time of 715am, even though the average time they drop off is about 815am and dropped off 2 times in a 3 month period at 715am. So I said fine, you can have the 715am drop off, but I am going to hold you to it. Part of me wonders if they are trying to find a way out of their contract.

Well then today this DCF comes in and says well I need to know how long my daughter is sleeping during nap time becuase I cant' get her to go to bed at night. This DCF knows what time we nap, I let them know any time their child sleeps past normal nap hours and its not very often. So DCF excuse now is that because their child is napping here too long that they can't get them to go to bed on time, which then results in the DCF can't wake their child up in the morning and they are late every morning. I don't know why this kid can't go to sleep at night. We are so busy all day and have at least a solid 2.5 hours of outside hiking, runing, or playing hard most days. I fall on my face.....
UUUGGGHHHH It's always back on the daycare any time something goes wrong.

Part of me is sick and tired of now show 715am arrivals, I value my sleep... So part of me is really pushing for the later arrival.

I know that the later drop off in the morning are my fault, I didn't say too much about it, as I was trying to be flexible and it really was not that big of a deal, that was until everyone started doing it.

I am not sure if I just needed to vent or if there is any advice you could give on this, but let me say this

TGIF!!!!!!!!happyfacehappyface

Is that the only reason the drop off hours change? I'm a parent and I have a job where some mornings I have to be in court and others I don't so our drop off changes depending on how my job goes. I always let our provider know what morning I need to drop off and it's never a problem as long as I let her know. I don't know if she does this for other parents. I would say if the reason isn't something like on some mornings they have to be at work earlier or something like that, then you should hold them to a strict drop off time if it's really important to you. If it were me, I'd seriously ask the parents that have issues with a strict drop off time what the issue is. If it wasn't something like needing to be at work, then I would hold them to ONE time unless they gave advance notice AND stuck to it (I definitely wouldn't be ok with a family that constantly requests earlier drop off but then they are never early for example). Also I think it's perfectly fair if this is an accommodation you're willing to make for some families and not others.

[daycare]

Is that the only reason the drop off hours change? I'm a parent and I have a job where some mornings I have to be in court and others I don't so our drop off changes depending on how my job goes. I always let our provider know what morning I need to drop off and it's never a problem as long as I let her know. I don't know if she does this for other parents. I would say if the reason isn't something like on some mornings they have to be at work earlier or something like that, then you should hold them to a strict drop off time if it's really important to you. If it were me, I'd seriously ask the parents that have issues with a strict drop off time what the issue is. If it wasn't something like needing to be at work, then I would hold them to ONE time unless they gave advance notice AND stuck to it (I definitely wouldn't be ok with a family that constantly requests earlier drop off but then they are never early for example). Also I think it's perfectly fair if this is an accommodation you're willing to make for some families and not others.

thanks for responding, always nice to have a parents prospective on things.

This family does have a set schedule with work I would say 98% of the time. the other 2% of the time, I just ask that they let me know in advance I will be more than happy to accommodate them when I can. I just ask that they request it the day before, not the morning of.

The issue is that this family says they want a 715 am drop off. I get up out of bed earlier for this family. The rest of my families don't drop off until 8am-830. so that is 45min earlier. I am actually opening up early for this family and I don't do it for the other families. Well that is unless they ask me in advance.

I require parents to sign in and out each day, so I looked back over the log book to see what time they are dropping off and most mornings it's 815am or later. I teach a preschool program from my home #1 reason they chose me, so I have to have a set schedule so I know how to plan my day each day. No schedule for me=chaos for them.

The DCM reason for the later drop off when I asked her is because she now says it's because her daughter is napping here too long and won't go to bed at night and therefore won't wake up in the morning. the funny part is that her daughter has been here 1.5 years is 4 years old and we have always had the same schedule. Nothing has changed. I even went back to the sign book and looked back further, they have never dropped off at 715 but maybe once or twice a month if that.

I try really hard with this family. They always find a way to blame daycare for everything. I guess I was just venting..

But as a parent, do you think that what I am asking is fair of them? What I am asking is that if they want a 715am drop off then they need to drop off at that time give or take 10min or so.

[RosieMommy]

thanks for responding, always nice to have a parents prospective on things.

This family does have a set schedule with work I would say 98% of the time. the other 2% of the time, I just ask that they let me know in advance I will be more than happy to accommodate them when I can. I just ask that they request it the day before, not the morning of.

The issue is that this family says they want a 715 am drop off. I get up out of bed earlier for this family. The rest of my families don't drop off until 8am-830. so that is 45min earlier. I am actually opening up early for this family and I don't do it for the other families. Well that is unless they ask me in advance.

I require parents to sign in and out each day, so I looked back over the log book to see what time they are dropping off and most mornings it's 815am or later. I teach a preschool program from my home #1 reason they chose me, so I have to have a set schedule so I know how to plan my day each day. No schedule for me=chaos for them.

The DCM reason for the later drop off when I asked her is because she now says it's because her daughter is napping here too long and won't go to bed at night and therefore won't wake up in the morning. the funny part is that her daughter has been here 1.5 years is 4 years old and we have always had the same schedule. Nothing has changed. I even went back to the sign book and looked back further, they have never dropped off at 715 but maybe once or twice a month if that.

I try really hard with this family. They always find a way to blame daycare for everything. I guess I was just venting..

But as a parent, do you think that what I am asking is fair of them? What I am asking is that if they want a 715am drop off then they need to drop off at that time give or take 10min or so.

I mean, I get that it might be hard to wake up their daughter in the morning but she's 4 and well, they CAN make her get up, get her dressed etc and out the door. She's a small child. And frankly, if the parent HAD to be somewhere or they would lose their job, they could and WOULD probably get their child up for the earlier drop off. Because of that, I think it's fair to give them a 10 min window. If they can't get her there within that time frame (and are actually showing up a whole hour later), as much as they might WANT the earlier drop off, they may not actually NEED it. So for me, you have to decide how much of an inconvenience this is for you (given their stated reason) and if it's worth it to you. I would probably be less inclined if the parent didn't actually NEED to earlier drop off since it's an accommodation I'm specifically making for this family (and I'm concluding they don't need it since they are usually there by 8:15).

[kathiemarie]

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I guess I don't understand the whole I cant get my kid up on time thing. So then try waking her earlier and make them get up. Then like you said, if they get here at that time, then we will see how they do with going to bed at night. This family does have a 20min commute time to my home, so I don't know.......

Again...TGIF

I bet she is taking a nap on the way home.

[daycare]

I mean, I get that it might be hard to wake up their daughter in the morning but she's 4 and well, they CAN make her get up, get her dressed etc and out the door. She's a small child. And frankly, if the parent HAD to be somewhere or they would lose their job, they could and WOULD probably get their child up for the earlier drop off. Because of that, I think it's fair to give them a 10 min window. If they can't get her there within that time frame (and are actually showing up a whole hour later), as much as they might WANT the earlier drop off, they may not actually NEED it. So for me, you have to decide how much of an inconvenience this is for you (given their stated reason) and if it's worth it to you. I would probably be less inclined if the parent didn't actually NEED to earlier drop off since it's an accommodation I'm specifically making for this family (and I'm concluding they don't need it since they are usually there by 8:15).

I agree. They can get her out of bed and make her do it but like erything else with this family they always give in. I know the Mom struggles with guilt all the time because she's a career woman, and you can have both, but you should still parent your children. If you don't your going to be dealing with issues like this at age 4 and much worse issues at age 14.

I actually requested to change their drop of to 8:10, but they are ARUGING with me saying they need 7:15. Lol. I just don't get it.

[daycare]

I bet she is taking a nap on the way home.

I never thought about that but I doubt it because usually they are always off to some where like bike riding, dinner, aunts house and etc.
all I can say is I know I do my job. Now it's turn form them to do their and if they choose not to, well don't blame me...

[Unregistered]

What I'd do as a provider is tell the parent based on sign-in's they do not "need" 7:15 drop off time, and if they do fell they want or "need" it that they need to be there AT THAT TIME. Tell them if their kid isn't there by 7:30 each morning, you will begin to assume the child is not coming at all, and you will not be available after this time. Tell them after 3 times of doing this they will be termed. Tell them if they are SURE they will always be late, then to make the later time their "dropoff" time and the earlier time their "call and request" time.

That usually lights the fire under them to either start coming earlier or to change their time. Let them know that you have been making exceptions for them and not the other parents and your other parents are noticing this and it's creating friction.

This is just one of those things where YOU need to not let this family argue with you. Perhaps, put a sign on the door that says "Open at 8am; earlier by appt only" if you are wanting the later start time.

[RosieMommy]

What I'd do as a provider is tell the parent based on sign-in's they do not "need" 7:15 drop off time, and if they do fell they want or "need" it that they need to be there AT THAT TIME. Tell them if their kid isn't there by 7:30 each morning, you will begin to assume the child is not coming at all, and you will not be available after this time. Tell them after 3 times of doing this they will be termed. Tell them if they are SURE they will always be late, then to make the later time their "dropoff" time and the earlier time their "call and request" time.

That usually lights the fire under them to either start coming earlier or to change their time. Let them know that you have been making exceptions for them and not the other parents and your other parents are noticing this and it's creating friction.

This is just one of those things where YOU need to not let this family argue with you. Perhaps, put a sign on the door that says "Open at 8am; earlier by appt only" if you are wanting the later start time.

I like this tougher approach generally.

[daycare]

I'm almost tempted to post every families drop off time on a board everyone can see.

Smith family 7:45
Dow family 8:00
Smile family 8:10.

Do you guys think this is a bad idea?