By the show of hands.....(IDK how to do a poll)

[daycare]

I know that most of us try to have the kids ready to go for pick up. However, some times parents show up early to pick up their kids.

I want to know how many of you assist the parents with getting their child ready to go. Things like getting on shoes, jacket, or etc.

For the most part, I want the kids to do it, but it's not always possible.

How many of you hand the kid over and walk away?

Now, when the kid is going nuts, do you always step in, correct behavior and get the kid ready to go and get them out of the house??

[Blackcat31]

Is that what you want it to say?

[sharlan]

I try to have the kids ready to go - hair brushed, hands washed, and shoes on. I leave the jackets to the parents. If the parents come early, I'll assist with the shoes, but otherwise leave it up to the parents.

If the child is throwing a fit, I close the gate and walk away, leaving the parent to deal with the child. If the child is really out of control, I pick the child up and carry them to the car.

[daycare]

Is that what you want it to say?

yes BC thanks so much....I see that you can speak my language...

[My3cents]

I get the child ready as much as I possibly can. By the end of the day I am ready to be done and helping them along just helps the process of getting them out the door. Parents appreciate this because they are tired and just want to get home too. I try to let the child do as much as possible, self help skills.

[Cradle2crayons]

As soon as I get the 10 minute warning text, I be sure all of their things are gathered, they have their shoes etc on, their bags ready, etc and then they sit and get TV time until they are picked up.

[momofboys]

I didn't vote b/c typically I have kids ready before the parent arrives so there really is no assisting parent in getting child ready or in letting the parent handle it as there is nothing to handle. Parent arrives, I hand child over & any paperwork.

[Lyss]

I get some things ready, the rest is up to the child or parents.

For the little ones I get their diaper bags out and get all their other stuff ready to go, change diaper, wipe face...

The 2 and up crowd gets their own shoes and coat on (or DCP does it) when DCP arrives but I gather all their stuff and make sure its right by the door. If they have a sweatshirt i'll usually put that on if its cold but i don't coats. I have potty trained kids go to the bathroom 10mins before pick up time.

We pick one group (quiet) activity and play together right near the door!

[Patches]

Both...For the most part they are ready when the parents arrive. I usually will put the babies in the carseats. Otherwise, the parents just grab whatever is on the child's hook and go.

[LK5kids]

Parents get them ready. Diapers are changed and they are always clean, but parents get them ready. Cubbies and diaper bags are in the entryway.

[melilley]

We are usually outside during pick up when we can be so the kids are already pretty much ready. If we are inside, most of the parents do it themselves anyways because most of the kids don't want to leave so they give their parents a hard time and I just want to be done so I let them deal with them..or I may just put shoes on so they can leave.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If it's the last 20 minutes of the day, the children are ready to go. They put their shoes on and sit in a small chair while I read to them until their parents arrive. Then, they put on their coat/jacket if it's needed, their backpack, and grab their belongings.

If it's outside of pick-up time, then I take the child to the front door, might say hello and let them talk for a couple of minutes while the child puts their shoes on, and then I open the door to make it obvious that it's time to go. My door is locked outside of drop off and pick up times otherwise I would just walk away.

Discipline issues at pick-up I deal with because I'm on the side of the gate with the kids and the parents. I have a lot of parents who can't tell their children no and I have ZERO issues with doing so. I actually had a parent tell their child that they could use my business iPad tomorrow to which I promptly said, "No. That is for parents only. The daycare computer is the electronic you can use while at daycare." Drop off discipline issues I ignore because I am with the entire group on the other side of the gate.

[Lavender]

I don't get kids ready as far as jackets/carseats go. I have a few that bring their own bottles each day and I make sure the clean bottles are packed into the bag and I try to make sure they all have their socks on (and shoes if they wear shoes). If I had them ready and made them wait, they wouldn't understand and would get upset (my kids are the mobile infants). When the parents comes I sometimes help depending on what they need. Like the parent of a younger one trying to strap them into their carseat I will go grab their daily sheet for them while talking about their day. I'll grab their bag of bottles too if they have one. I did use to have one dad that would never step foot in my room. He expected me to put on his daughter's jacket and get her stuff for him. Drove me nuts.