Need to fix these early drop offs/late pickups

[TaylorTots]

How far in advance do you want the request from the parent?

Also, just to be clear, you are not charging non approved late fees you are just terming? That's the way I read it but wanted to make sure. So if someone is 4 minutes late and they are not approved then they get a term notice? If that's correct then the 2nd sentence in the last paragraph is redundant.

good point, if they (this particular DCF) show up 10 minutes late and didn't call me to get approval, I will be handing them a term notice at pickup AND charging the $5 fee. Correcting that, thanks!

[TaylorTots]

How far in advance do you want the request from the parent?

Also, just to be clear, you are not charging non approved late fees you are just terming? That's the way I read it but wanted to make sure. So if someone is 4 minutes late and they are not approved then they get a term notice? If that's correct then the 2nd sentence in the last paragraph is redundant.

good point, if they (this particular DCF) show up 10 minutes late and didn't call me to get approval, I will be handing them a term notice at pickup AND charging the $5 fee. Correcting that, thanks!

[TaylorTots]

Deep breathes.. it IS hard and parents often times don't realize we are juggling/managing multiple families times so the subject is often ones parents feel we are nit picking because they only view their schedules as the only ones that you are considering when making rules or enforcing policies.

Sometimes it helps if you let them know that giving 10 minutes free to ALL 6 of your families is a free hour of care and they certainly don't stay an hour at work AFTER or BEFORE they are clocked in/out for free do they?

I would write the letter and just be really lighthearted about the whole subject and very firm about the consequences.

I ALWAYS try to toss a "Im sure you understand" in there as it usually seems to help soften the blow or at the very least get parents to comply.

I like that part about giving a little to every family = working an hour for free.

I'm sure you understand...I'm sure you understand...I'm sure you understand...I'm sure you understand...I'm sure you understand...

I'll try to remember to say that!!!

[cheerfuldom]

I would also clarify what you mean by approval.......I am assuming they need a verbal "ok" from you or a response to the text stating "ok". Some people will still read your notice like "well I let her know and she didnt say no so that was approved....." whereas what you are intending is "don't do anything outside of contracted hours until you get something verbally or in writing that says yes. Sending a notice or request without a clear response from me is NOT an approval. If I do not have the chance to respond at all, that is NOT an approval"

[TaylorTots]

Thanks cheerfuldom - this is what the DCF is getting tonight with a copy of their handbook page highlighted (it states there will be a fee, doesnt state what fee... and it states it has to be approved).

I am also going to mention verbally that if their current contracted hours are not working for them then we can discuss a new weekly rate for additional contracted hours - as long as it is within my hours of operations. That way both DCPs can talk to each other and come back and decide if they want to discuss different contractual hours to avoid late fees and the chance of not being approved for late pick up or early drop off.



Anyway, here it is in its final form:



August 28, 2014


Dear Daycare Families,

Your contracted time of care is ________ to _________. If you require an earlier pickup or drop off, you must get APPROVAL in advance. APPROVAL means a reply from the provider stating that the earlier drop off or later pick up time is acceptable.

Sending a text message or leaving a voicemail of “we will be there early/late" etc. is not sufficient, nor approval, if you do not receive a reply. If contracted hours of care are violated in the future without advance APPROVAL, a two week termination notice will be given in addition to the early/late fees.

If given APPROVAL to arrive early or pickup late, there is a fee of $5 per child for every 15 minutes of extra care beyond contracted hours WHICH IS DUE at the time of early drop off or late pick up. There is a minimum charge of $5 per child for any early drop off or late pick up. For example, if you pick up 4 minutes late, you owe $5 per child at the time of pickup. If you drop off 17 minutes early, you owe $10 per child at the time of drop off.

Do not make the assumption that requests for late pickups and/or early drop offs will be approved.

Thank you,


X Daycare Provier
X's Preschool & Childcare

By signing below, I understand and agree to all stipulations above.

_______________________ ____________
Parent Name Date

[TaylorTots]

Oh and I decided to not put a set time they have to get approval in -- I don't really care if they ask me that day or that morning, etc. But they have to get a response. No response, no approval....

[TaylorTots]

Update: Grandma picked up. She said DCM was worried she would be late. Apparently they are down to one vehicle.


I simply said there was a copy of the notice in the bag for them to review and another note about needed supplies.



I need to print out a termination notice in case 1) parents decide not to sign or 2) parents are late/early again without approval.

[Unregistered]

How do you handle car trouble or in the er? I have a family as least once a month they are at the er while I'm watching the kids so instead of having the 4 kids for 9 hours it usually ends up being over 30 hours straight. Or there car breaks down on the way to pick them up after 8 pm so they can't come get them till the next morning normally after noon. I have some friends that their old day care provider would call the cops if you were more then 5 minutes at pick up saying the kids is abandoned. My husband thinks i should put that into my contacts just because of this family.

[CraftyMom]

How do you handle car trouble or in the er? I have a family as least once a month they are at the er while I'm watching the kids so instead of having the 4 kids for 9 hours it usually ends up being over 30 hours straight. Or there car breaks down on the way to pick them up after 8 pm so they can't come get them till the next morning normally after noon. I have some friends that their old day care provider would call the cops if you were more then 5 minutes at pick up saying the kids is abandoned. My husband thinks i should put that into my contacts just because of this family.

that just sounds like they are lying and taking total advantage of you. No way in h... I would keep these people

[cheerfuldom]

How do you handle car trouble or in the er? I have a family as least once a month they are at the er while I'm watching the kids so instead of having the 4 kids for 9 hours it usually ends up being over 30 hours straight. Or there car breaks down on the way to pick them up after 8 pm so they can't come get them till the next morning normally after noon. I have some friends that their old day care provider would call the cops if you were more then 5 minutes at pick up saying the kids is abandoned. My husband thinks i should put that into my contacts just because of this family.

I require parents to have at least one local emergency contact that can pickup their kids if need be. Parents MUST find a backup plan for days off or emergencies. I dont work with families that don't have and use appropriate backup plans. I would term.

[Crazy8]

letter sounds good!

I am always torn on the "I'm running late" texts. I don't want to say ok, because no, its not really ok. But I don't want to say "hurry up" either, LOL! I charge a late fee but honestly I don't want the money, I want the on time pick up!!!

[AmyKidsCo]

How do you handle car trouble or in the er? I have a family as least once a month they are at the er while I'm watching the kids so instead of having the 4 kids for 9 hours it usually ends up being over 30 hours straight. Or there car breaks down on the way to pick them up after 8 pm so they can't come get them till the next morning normally after noon. I have some friends that their old day care provider would call the cops if you were more then 5 minutes at pick up saying the kids is abandoned. My husband thinks i should put that into my contacts just because of this family.

My policies state that parents need to have back-up care for when I'm closed, and WI licensing requires emergency contact information on the enrollment form. In both of these situations I'd call the emergency contact person to come pick up the child/ren.

I have a hard time believing there's no bus or taxi service that could be used to pick up the children, or a family member, friend, co-worker, etc, to give the parents a ride.

[Blackcat31]

How do you handle car trouble or in the er? I have a family as least once a month they are at the er while I'm watching the kids so instead of having the 4 kids for 9 hours it usually ends up being over 30 hours straight. Or there car breaks down on the way to pick them up after 8 pm so they can't come get them till the next morning normally after noon. I have some friends that their old day care provider would call the cops if you were more then 5 minutes at pick up saying the kids is abandoned. My husband thinks i should put that into my contacts just because of this family.

It's the parents responsibility to manage pick up if they can't make it for some reason.

I am not in the business of covering emergencies and car trouble or an ER visit is their issue to manage not mine.

In my program if a family is late 3x, care is terminated immediately.

As for calling the police for abandoned children, my policies state ANY time a parent is unreachable for more than 30 minutes, the child(ren) are considered abandoned and a call to CPS will follow.

If I reach the parent but the child is still not picked up by the time I close I will call CPS. My licensor said, I am technically not legally allowed to have children on site beyond my recorded business hours.