Snow-Do You Allow Earlier Drop Offs?

[Miss Lindsey]

She is my first drop off and my last pick up. I am thinking I will tell her that usually I do not because the family is still sleeping at that time, but given the extreme weather, I will make an exception. I also plan to tell her that I DO need her to be here on time for pick up since she's my last pick up and it's usually 6pm...I don't wanna be watching her daughter at my own dinner time and family time. If it's an issue, she'll have to pay for it.

Thanks for all the feedback! I appreciate hearing how other people do it!

[boysx5]

I open early if they need me to for all reasons. I figure if they are good to me when I need something then I to the same in return

[Lucy]

I'm in Oregon, but in a valley at only about 150 ft elevation, so we don't get snow but maybe once a winter on average. It's funny you had this topic posted, because I literally JUST finished an email conversation back & forth with 3 parents about this. We are forecast to get freezing rain Tuesday at 4:00 pm, so one parent started it off by asking if she could come an hour early in the morning and pick up about 90 min early in the evening. I told her it was fine, and then I emailed the other 2 parents. Sounds like I'll have an early day tomorrow!! Yay me!

[Cat Herder]

From my experience, once you start making exceptions you will be expected to more often.

Could not agree more.

[Lucy]

From my experience, once you start making exceptions you will be expected to more often.

While I agree with that in principle, I think there are times where I WOULD make exceptions. I pick & choose what requests I will allow. If I feel ok about it, as I do with this one, then yes. If I have reservations about it, I wouldn't let myself get walked all over. It's a give and take. Also, if you don't normally allow exceptions or special requests, hopefully they will feel like they're really getting something from you and will appreciate it. Of course, that depends on the quality of parents you have. I currently have long-timers who I'm very comfortable and happy with.

[nannyde]

Wow she is already there eleven hours a day? Please tell me she is only three or four days per week.

Normally I would allow an early drop off but I would NOT allow this with a kid that was already in care eleven hours UNLESS they were paying full time and only coming three days a week.

If it's a Monday thru Friday kid I wouldn't even be working for them. Eleven hours in day care five days a week is just too much for ANY kid for ANY reason.

[misol]

First, I would consider the parent's track record with me. If they always pay on time and usually pick up and drop off on time then I would probably do it, otherwise absolutely not. I would however, charge my early drop off fee which is $1.00 per minute per child. At drop off I would remind her that even in inclement weather she is still expected to pick up on time or she will get a late pickup fee (also $1.00 per minute) as well. Hopefully since she got to work early, her boss will let her leave early so she can pick up on time.

I don't know of any center around here that would open early because of bad weather. In fact, most would have a delayed opening!

As pp has warned, be careful when you start making exceptions.

[Miss Lindsey]

Wow she is already there eleven hours a day? Please tell me she is only three or four days per week.

Normally I would allow an early drop off but I would NOT allow this with a kid that was already in care eleven hours UNLESS they were paying full time and only coming three days a week.

If it's a Monday thru Friday kid I wouldn't even be working for them. Eleven hours in day care five days a week is just too much for ANY kid for ANY reason.

YES! She gets dropped off at 7am(sometimes she knocks at 6:55), and is picked up between 5:45 and 6. She is only here Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays, and she has a family friend that watches her the other 2 days. She is charged $25 a day. I do part time care, so I only charge the days they are here. But yeah...she's here spending time with me more than she spends time with her mom. Mom picks her up at 6, and they're in bed by 8pm, and back up at 6am.

[Live and Learn]

I am just plain lazy so if they already coming at 7am and want to come EARLIER....uh, no thanks!

Miss Lindsey...what is it worth to YOU? You are already only getting paid approximately $2 hour (good heavens please tell me you aren't providing food and diapers too!) what more does she want?...so if it were me ....minimum $20 for before 7am drop off.

Good luck!

[nannyde]

YES! She gets dropped off at 7am(sometimes she knocks at 6:55), and is picked up between 5:45 and 6. She is only here Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays, and she has a family friend that watches her the other 2 days. She is charged $25 a day. I do part time care, so I only charge the days they are here. But yeah...she's here spending time with me more than she spends time with her mom. Mom picks her up at 6, and they're in bed by 8pm, and back up at 6am.

That is a rediculously low rate for that many hours. When I said I hope she is coming a three/four days a week I meant that you are paid full time and she is coming three/four days a week.

I would do eleven hour shifts for three days IF I got full slot pay. I wouldn't do it for regular day pay.

Doesn't matter where you live. Two dollars an hour is very very very low.

[Keri'sKids]

Anything over 30 hours/wk is full time and requires full pay. This is standard. And BTW $25/day is way way too low. If you don't respect yourself enough to ask for a decent amount you really must expect your DCM's to also not respect you. Double that, yes $50/day, actually forget the per day part it is full time it is per week so minimum $150/week