The morning drop off vent

[daycare]

I am sure I am not the only one here that has this issue.

I am having a really hard time finding a way to break parents of this.

I work on contracted hours only. My fees cover 9.5 hours per day
anything over that is $6.50 per hour or fraction thereof

I have my parents set out to arrive at 10-15 min apart arrival times

Parents are contracting me at 730 and not showing up until 745-800, sometimes later.

These are my first arrival kids.

I need to figure out a way to either 1, have a different method of set-up or 2 find a way to have parents STOP being able to do this.

We teach preschool here, so there is a lot to be done each morning, we also cook breakfast each morning, so there is a lot going on. We all know that drop off is the most difficult part of the day so I need to get it under wraps.

I thought about saying if you are more than 15min late without notice, then I have the right to fill your spot, but I think that is very harsh.

I have been having issues with a few clients on this, one in particular that claims that she needs a 15 minute window each morning to drive the additional 1.5 miles that we moved.

I accidentally laughed in her face this morning....yeah thank god its fridayhappyfacehappyface

[Unregistered]

Let me guess...... This is the same lady who wanted a discount because You moved your daycare.

[Kabob]

I don't think the 15 minute rule is harsh. I added it after one dcm started dropping off as late as 2 hours late without notice. She wasn't paying (her ex was) so she didn't care about fees. So, I just added the policy. She was really disrupting our routine and making it difficult to plan anything for the children who were here on time. Why punish the families that do make an effort to be on time because another family can't plan ahead? Maybe that's just me...I like routine.

No reason to need an extra 15 minutes for 1.5 miles...I would've laughed too...

[daycare]

Let me guess...... This is the same lady who wanted a discount because You moved your daycare.

YEsssssssssssssssssss

[lovemykidstoo]

If it's a problem, maybe do a reminder note to go home to the parents that their time is their time and to respect it. How many kids do you have?

[daycare]

If it's a problem, maybe do a reminder note to go home to the parents that their time is their time and to respect it. How many kids do you have?

reminder notes dont seem to work at all.....

I have 11 kids here for breakfast daily and 14 total throughout the day

[Cat Herder]

I set a "no drop off after __am" rule. It works because that is what time curriculum starts. Easy peasy.

(barring doctors appointment)

[daycare]

I set a "no drop off after __am" rule. It works because that is what time curriculum starts. Easy peasy.

(barring doctors appointment)

well I have that, but it is 9am. no drop off after that time.

I am talking about the parent that is supposed to drop off first, contracts me for 730, but then does not show up until 15+30 min later.

[TheGoodLife]

I had a DCM (my first family, an old college friend) who was always 15-20 mins late. I told her I was going to have to change her drop off time if she wasn't coming on time (an extra 15 mins of sleep- yes please!!). And I did.

[lovemykidstoo]

reminder notes dont seem to work at all.....

I have 11 kids here for breakfast daily and 14 total throughout the day

Hugs to you, I don't think I could handle 14 different drop offs. I have only 6 and most times they're almost all at the same time. It's sometimes crazy, but at least it's all done at once. Sounds like you're just going to have to flat out tell the person then.

[BrooklynM]

I think that with a big group like that you have to let the parents know the "whys" so they understand the policies. I think they will be more likely to follow them if they know why. My group is small and I have varying schedules, but it works for me because I never have more than 6 at once, but 14, yeah, you have to stick to some boundaries and get them all on the same schedule!

[Cat Herder]

well I have that, but it is 9am. no drop off after that time.

I am talking about the parent that is supposed to drop off first, contracts me for 730, but then does not show up until 15+30 min later.

I understand. What I am suggesting is to let your boundary go since it is only upsetting you and creating more adult care drama.

DCM pays her contracted rate anyway. Breakfast is served, if kid misses it he can wait until snack. Preschool does not start until X time...no drop offs are allowed after that anyway. So the only thing stressing you out is policing/keeping score of your 15 minute boundary.

Simplify things and let go of what you can't control.

I am all about less stress than more order. You already know that about me... ::

[SignMeUp]

happyfaceI have the answer!happyface

I attach $$ to the a.m. drop-off time, just like so many providers do for the evening pick-up time.
Under the guise of "controlling their costs", I gain control of my time
Well, and they do get to control their costs. Most parents will cut it to the quick, in order to save a couple of bucks
Then, if they come before their contracted drop-off time, there is an "early fee" that is equivalent to my "late fee" at pick-up time.

[CraftyMom]

I have been having issues with a few clients on this, one in particular that claims that she needs a 15 minute window each morning to drive the additional 1.5 miles that we moved.

I accidentally laughed in her face this morning....yeah thank god its fridayhappyfacehappyface

Since she obviously KNOWS that she needs 15 minutes extra, then SHE will need to adjust HER schedule accordingly, to allow herself 15 minutes to drive down the road.

[daycare]

I understand. What I am suggesting is to let your boundary go since it is only upsetting you and creating more adult care drama.

DCM pays her contracted rate anyway. Breakfast is served, if kid misses it he can wait until snack. Preschool does not start until X time...no drop offs are allowed after that anyway. So the only thing stressing you out is policing/keeping score of your 15 minute boundary.

Simplify things and let go of what you can't control.

I am all about less stress than more order. You already know that about me... ::

the thing with this is that I have to control it.

if I let all 12 families drop off at the same time, heck even 4 families at the same time then it would cause massive issues on my street and my neighbors would be complaining to the city in seconds