Do You Remind Parents...

[daycare]

I have a news letter that I post it in as a reminder, but like many others I make sure that I hand out a list of dates closed at the start of each year.

I also have a posted reminder as well as a reminder on all invoices.

I can not believe how horrible the parents are with communication these days. just the other day I have dcm call me to tell me dcg is out sick today. 5pm rolls around and dad comes to pick up. DCM never told dcd. Sad part is that this happens all the time with this family.

[Leigh]

http://www.kumandgo.com

Really not a joke The Midwest is just really weird

The really funny part is what the "men" around here call it (probably too raunchy for this board, so I won't share it).

[Sunchimes]

I put it in the handbook, and I reminded them this week. I am closing (unpaid) on Thursday and open Friday. I only have 2 families and both are off. But, since they are paying for that day, I told them they were welcome to bring the kids if they wanted to shop. I wouldn't be doing anything anyway, and I can't afford to lose 2 days of pay. Both told me that they would not be here, they were just going to hang out at home, but I think that when they talk to dad, and think about it a bit, they will take advantage of the chance to shop. I sure that neither will come if they really are just hanging out at home. Both of my families are crazy about their kids.

[permanentvacation]

I always remind my parents of days I close as it gets closer. People get busy and some things slip their mind. It's not that they don't care to remember. Everyone has times that they forget things. So I tell parents verbally and give them a note with the date I will be closed whenever I decide to take the day off - typically about a month in advance, then I tell them and give them another note a week in advance, then remind them the day before the day I will be closed.

I had a daycare child on Thanksgiving Day one year - a 3 year old boy. The mother told me that he would 'just be in the way' of them preparing Thanksgiving Dinner!!! Poor kid!!! He came in here crying something awful. He told me that his Grandmom had come to help cook Thanksgiving Dinner at his house and he just wanted to help his Grandmom cook! Tell me that wasn't just the saddest thing you could hear! So I gave him a big 'ole bowl of mashed potatoes and a serving spoon and told him that he can help me cook Thanksgiving Dinner. That boy stirred those mashed potatoes for the longest time and was happy as ever to help me cook! Now, why couldn't his mother do that for him? All she had to do was just give him something to stir for a while so he felt included in the special activities at his house!

When I did overnight care, I had 2 girls (sisters) overnight on Christmas Eve! It wasn't any wrongdoing on their mother's part though. She was a police officer and single mother. She had to work overnight on Christmas Eve. She brought them here at 10:00 Christmas Eve, went to work 11pm - 7am and then came here around 7:30 am Christmas morning to pick them up and take them home to celebrate Christmas Day at home.

[Lucy]

I didn't used to, but one Monday morning when we were about to leave for a vacation, a mom showed up. When my husband answered the door (he would've usually been at work), she realized her mistake and said "oh my god!", and rushed back to her car saying she had to hurry and drive out to her mom's, which was very much backtracking. I felt really bad for her. I'm sure she was in a panic and felt stupid, but there was nothing I could do. We had to catch a plane.

After that, I started giving out reminder notices a couple weeks ahead. I did that for awhile, then decided I'd just have a list of days off on the inside of my front door, and a few days before a day off, I write it on a bigger sheet of paper saying, "REMINDER: Closed Monday" or whatever.

[Sunshine74]

We post a note on the door, and try to casually give parents a verbal reminder at some point the week before. If we remember. Otherwise, they should have read the door.

[Play Care]

I didn't used to, but one Monday morning when we were about to leave for a vacation, a mom showed up. When my husband answered the door (he would've usually been at work), she realized her mistake and said "oh my god!", and rushed back to her car saying she had to hurry and drive out to her mom's, which was very much backtracking. I felt really bad for her. I'm sure she was in a panic and felt stupid, but there was nothing I could do. We had to catch a plane.

After that, I started giving out reminder notices a couple weeks ahead. I did that for awhile, then decided I'd just have a list of days off on the inside of my front door, and a few days before a day off, I write it on a bigger sheet of paper saying, "REMINDER: Closed Monday" or whatever.

This happened to me also. So I have a three-way policy Meaning I tell parents at least three ways that I am closed. In the newsletter, verbally, and a sign on my door as it gets closer. And yet I still have had dcp's be surprised at a day off If I didn't live where I work I would be tempted to not bother, but I can't stand when I see cars pulling up as I'm getting ready to go

[CedarCreek]

Omg! So which is funnier? Kum n Go, Pump and.Munch or Go Go Yak?
Pump and Munch gets my vote! LMAO!

Right?! I'm having a hard time deciding!

The pump and munch is a GOOD one! ::

I probably never actually contributed to the thread...

I do remind them of the days of closure in our monthly newsletter but that's about it. I haven't had one show up before but I have had parents ask that I charge half for those days even when they know they are PAID holidays. It's infuriating

[originalkat]

Kum and Go has always bothered me. LOL!

My parents get a yearly calendar each August. I send home upcoming closure reminders in my monthly newsletters. I usually post a reminder on the door saying :
"Reminder: We will close at Noon on Wednesday. Closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving."

[Texasjeepgirl]

...that's a fun name for a store.

That's the first thing I thought also...

[Texasjeepgirl]

I remind them...
constantly..
I send out emails... and combine reminding them of closing dates... and also hit on any other issues that might have recently been a problem...

I post it on the dry erase board on the entrance door...

No matter how much we would like these parents to be 'well trained'... and 'pay attention'...and remember... there is a certain percentage of the population that....well.. they just DON'T pay attention to certain things...

[Annalee]

I remind them...
constantly..
I send out emails... and combine reminding them of closing dates... and also hit on any other issues that might have recently been a problem...

I post it on the dry erase board on the entrance door...

No matter how much we would like these parents to be 'well trained'... and 'pay attention'...and remember... there is a certain percentage of the population that....well.. they just DON'T pay attention to certain things...

::yep! I feel like making signs for these occasions like when dcp show up on my off day..... Just like the song says..."HERE'S YOUR SIGN!!!!" ::

[daycare]

When these parents leave our DC and go to formal schooling they are going to get a rude awakening.

The school gives you one hand out and one reminder in their childs take home folder.

I can already see the number of parents that are going to take their children on in-service days, holidays, etc because they didn't read the handout or check their child's folder.

Oh well, they won't be my problem anymore by then....

[Texasjeepgirl]

I'm honestly not ever concerned about them showing up at my door...
if you've ever read any of my previous posts...
I live inside a 16,000 sq ft retail furniture store.... my daycare entrance is on one side of the building and is inside an 8 ft chain link fence with razor wire on top and a double wide gate that stays closed and locked nights and weekends... so they aren't going to get to the door...


I really just remind them for their own good...because I know they need to make alternate arrangements for their child....and allot of them put it off and then end up in a bind for care...
NOT my problem.. but.. I can't tell you how many clients thank me for the reminder because they let time get away from them.. and the reminder prompts them to figure out what they will do...

https://www.tammyschildcare.com

[Atroya]

At the end of the school year, I HAND OUT a letter with all 10 of my scheduled vacation days for the summer. I also remind them either by text or verbally the week before the day arrives. Since I take the days from Dec 24-Jan 1 off, I HAND OUT a letter around Thanksgiving to each parent as a reminder, with details of which days are paid and which are not, and a total due for each week. I emphasize HAND OUT because otherwise they can say they didn't see it, etc.