How's This Wording?

[SilverSabre25]

Dear parents,

With the changing of the seasons comes a shift in our schedule. Remember that I begin preparing a meal or snack before it is served. If your child arrives after those preparations begin, they need to have already eaten enough to last until the next eating time. For the foreseeable future our schedule is as follows:

Breakfast-- 9:15 (arrive by 8:45)
Lunch-- 12:15 (arrive by 11:45)
Snack-- 4:15 (arrive by 4:00)

Thank you for your understanding, and as always feel free to ask if you have any questions or concerns!

[SilverSabre25]

I feel stupid sending out these things when I only have three dck and two families, but it's mainly an issue for the one family with two kids and a really annoying schedule.

[preschoolteacher]

Great wording!

[SilverSabre25]

Do you think it's fair to not feed them if they arrive after I start prepping? I don't know what others do there...

[mountainside13]

I feel stupid sending out these things when I only have three dck and two families, but it's mainly an issue for the one family with two kids and a really annoying schedule.

I wouldn't put remember that I make food before hand. IMO, it makes it sound less professional, maybe try re wording it. Like, due to food preparation times these times have been extended. Or something like that. But everything else is great! We shouldn't have to send these things to parents but unfortunately we have too! I have burnt a few meals because parents drop off during and won't stop talking!

[mountainside13]

Do you think it's fair to not feed them if they arrive after I start prepping? I don't know what others do there...

I would still feed them, I found feel bad if they say there and watched the other kids eat and he/she couldn't bc of their parents.

[Blackcat31]

My handbook (as well as reminders IF it becomes an issue) says

"Children arriving after xx time will NOT be served lunch and will need to be fed"

Then if a parent arrives after xx time, I ask them immediately if Jimmy or Susie has eaten yet. If the parent says no, I tell them I did not include them in the meal count therefore do not have lunch prepared for them so they will need to take the child and feed them before leaving them with me.

I had way too many parents counting on the fact that I could not and would not let a child go hungry. I know sometimes not staying on meal schedules can't be helped but there are definitely times in which I KNOW a parent is banking on me not wanting the child to be hungry.

[daycare]

I have in my policy that if you are expected to be at breakfast and fail to cancel by 8am I will charge you a food waste fee of $5.00

Like BC my rules say that if your child arrives after breakfast time, parents MUST feed their child before dropping off.

I will not take any drop offs after 9am.

I had one family that was charged $25 in food waste fees one week before they finally got it. OH and on top of that, they had to go take their kid to get something to eat which by here the only thing is nasty McD.

[SilverSabre25]

I would still feed them, I found feel bad if they say there and watched the other kids eat and he/she couldn't bc of their parents.

Oh, I wouldn't let the child go hungry if the parent was stupid. I would either a) send them away to go GET fed or b) feed them anyway (but not tell the parent, if that makes sense). There is often extra and I can swing it. But I don't want to HAVE to--if it's something where I make one per child and it takes some time I don't want to have to start all over again, kwim? Some things don't keep or reheat, and I cook things for daycare that I can't eat myself sometimes and I don't WANT extra hanging around or being wasted.

[Annalee]

Oh, I wouldn't let the child go hungry if the parent was stupid. I would either a) send them away to go GET fed or b) feed them anyway (but not tell the parent, if that makes sense). There is often extra and I can swing it. But I don't want to HAVE to--if it's something where I make one per child and it takes some time I don't want to have to start all over again, kwim? Some things don't keep or reheat, and I cook things for daycare that I can't eat myself sometimes and I don't WANT extra hanging around or being wasted.

It is not just about the food issue to me but a courtesy to have children in child care on time. That is why I have the "arrive before 8 or be considered absent" sign. It is a courtesy to let providers know what days they will attend and when they will arrive. My 8 o'clock rule come into play a few years ago when a few bad apples spoiled the bunch....I have an assistant and there were times one of us took the day off at noon only to have a child show up and the ratio then become an issue. Not anymore for me, be there by 8 or else.

[Jack Sprat]

I think it sounds fine...I don't feed kids if they arrive after a meal time. Its stated very clearly in the handbook when meals and snack are served. I feel if parents are going to be late then they need to take the time and feed their child.

[spinnymarie]

I think it's fine as well - you might add that if they haven't been fed they won't be admitted until they have