Changing opening time, what to say?

[preschoolteacher]

I've always opened at 7. I used to have several families drop off right at 7, sharp! Now, only one of those families is still with me, and they probably haven't dropped off at 7 in six months. It's between 7:15-7:30 each day, but usually 7:30. I'd say only 5 times in the last three months has it been closer to 7:15.

My next families come at 8 am.

I'd really like to open at 7:30. That extra half hour to exercise, sleep, whatever, before they come is great, but I can't really use the time because I'm basically waiting for them to show up any minute.

The thing is I think they'd like to drop off at 7, they just never get out the door on time. I'm worried if I say something they will just start coming at 7, and then there goes that time in the morning completely!

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I did the same thing a few years ago--opening 1/2 an hour later because I only had one family who showed up when I opened, and they were coming later and later. I even stopped serving breakfast when I made the change. Made a huge difference for me, but I swear no one else cared a bit. I gave lots of notice (a few months) and said that I was making the change because it would be better for my family and because I'd noticed that the time wasn't being used. I have never raised my rates (dumb, dumb, dumb!), but I didn't change my rates when I made that change, so it was, effectively, a raise, too.

[daycarediva]

"effective Jan 1 2014 the operating hours of ABC Child Care will be 7:30am-5:30pm. Additional care outside of those hours are/are not available...."

I would just hand out a new contract in the new year to the family that currently has that drop off time.

[e.j.]

I'm worried if I say something they will just start coming at 7, and then there goes that time in the morning completely!

Don't give them the option. Just tell them that starting on (date), you will be opening at 7:30 because you've found that it works best for you.

[Play Care]

Don't give them the option. Just tell them that starting on (date), you will be opening at 7:30 because you've found that it works best for you.

This! Don't say that it's because no one was using it, then for sure they will insist they need it.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

"effective Jan 1 2014 the operating hours of ABC Child Care will be 7:30am-5:30pm. Additional care outside of those hours are/are not available...."

I would just hand out a new contract in the new year to the family that currently has that drop off time.

Exactly. I did this same thing semi-recently and then cut off early drop-offs for any new families completely. I just HATE it and it doesn't work for my own family. ESPECIALLY with people who can't get it together to drop off at the same time daily. They "need" it but not bad enough to actually be on time. Ridiculous.

[SignMeUp]

I have a graduated pay rate, depending on exact hours of care. Because I had parents signing up for that first half hour (for $1/day), I raised the cost of the first half hour to triple the next half hour increment, so $3 per day.
That took care of that problem :: No one signs up for my first half hour now and I can clean, sleep, bathe or go to the dentist