Would It Be Fair?

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

would it be fair to put in the policy that your child's time here still counts until you actually leave? Even if you've signed them out already? When so many parents come right at the last possible minute (we close at 5:30, so some parents don't arrive until right AT 5:30 on the nose), then they take their time talking to the kids, getting their stuff to the car, talking to me, etc. So it's more like 5:40 or 5:45 before they actually leave. It's a home daycare, but not actaully IN the home. It's a seperate little building we use JUST for daycare. So I can't start supper or anything like that. I don't have kids and can't use them as the excuse. So would a policy saying they have to leave by closing time, not just be arriving at closing time be fair? That the late fee will begin one minute after closing time (which is 5:30)? even after they've signed the children out they're still there.... I don't think I should have to tell them my business of what I'm doing after daycare just so they'll leave on time, and when I don't have plans and I just want to get to my own place...
Also, how strict are you on the late pick up fee? Do you put it in place even if they are (consistently) just a minute or two after "closing time" before they walk in? Or do you give them a grace period of a few minutes even for the consistently late ones if they're just a minute or two late? To me it's like they're saying the don't respect my time and it won't matter if they're just a couple minutes late. some of these are really good families who pay on time, never cause problems, arrange for a change of schedule before they actually show up, that kind of thing. But they still pick up 1-10 minutes late every time. It's annoying for when I do have plans and tell people I'll be there at 6:00 and instead it's 6:10. I believe in being on time. I hate being late!

[Blackcat31]

I also have a separate building for my childcare and when I interview I make a point of letting people know I am leaving/closing/walking out the door/getting in my car/lights out/GONE at 5:30 because of the exact reasons you mentioned. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful DH who works at home and cooks dinner for me every single night but I open at 6:30/7:00 so by 5:30 I am OUT the door. So even though I close at 5:30 that doesnt mean come then it means be picked up and gone by 5:30.

[QualiTcare]

i would put a very "to the point" notice on the door, the cubbies, the sign in sheet - wherever! and state that the late fees kick in at 5:30 and continue until they have left the building. it's TOTALLY fair.

there was a family when i worked at a daycare who were 5 minutes late eeeeevery day. we'd just be standing there with our purses/keys waiting on this parent. OR they'd show up 5 mins early and stand around watching their kid play, looking at a book with him, etc. they were really good parents - older, it was their only child so they doted on him and i guess thought we all should too - but good lord we've looked at him for 10 hours already - GO HOME and dote!

you HAVE to actually make them PAY the fee though or putting up a notice is pointless. they might start coming on time for awhile and if they don't get a bill for the time they are late - it'll be right back to old habits.

[missnikki]

I would get an atomic clock (the kind you can't argue about accuracy because it automatically sets itself) if you are going to do anything about it. My new newsletter (to be initialled or signed after discussing with each parent at drop off) would say:

"We just got a new clock, it will be "Official Day Care Time" so set your watches to it. This is the clock I will go by, so if you or your child are still here at closing time, you will be responsible for paying a late pick up penalty starting at 5:31pm as outlined in your handbook. This is not a new rule, but it has been taken for granted lately so this will be the remedy to that problem. This new procedure will take effect starting today. Please be on time. Thank you in advance."

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I would get an atomic clock (the kind you can't argue about accuracy because it automatically sets itself) if you are going to do anything about it. My new newsletter (to be initialled or signed after discussing with each parent at drop off) would say:

"We just got a new clock, it will be "Official Day Care Time" so set your watches to it. This is the clock I will go by, so if you or your child are still here at closing time, you will be responsible for paying a late pick up penalty starting at 5:31pm as outlined in your handbook. This is not a new rule, but it has been taken for granted lately so this will be the remedy to that problem. This new procedure will take effect starting today. Please be on time. Thank you in advance."

Very good idea! Thank you! I kind of wondered about how to prevent us from arguing over whether they were on time or late 7 minutes (or something silly like that) just because our watches and clocks are different. Where could I find one of those, and how much do they cost?

Another question unrelated:
I'm the assistant, and sometimes when I close the parents I guess are not comfortable giving me the check that goes to the owner, because they look uncomfortable about it and if I don't know they owe, then they just don't pay. Any easy fixes to that? I can certainly understand because if they gave me the check how do they know I won't lose it and tell the owner they didn't pay? I would NEVER do that, of course, and am kinda hurt that maybe they don't trust me (I've never ever given them ANY reason not to!), but that's a lot of money to hand over to someone to hand over to someone else, so I can understand, too. I'd probably be the same way with anyone else taking the money than the person who it's written out to. So, any easy solutions? I don't want them to feel uncomfortable about it and it's bad for the owner when she doesn't get her money when it's due.

[MG&Lsmom]

I have the same problems. It'll be up to 20 mins sometimes for one dcm to actually leave. I decided even though I have a no shoes policy, tomorrow this child will be shoes on and packed up to leave 10 mins before pick up. When I see mom pull in the drive I'm putting on his coat. He runs around my house screaming "NO WAY" when mom tries to do it and she's so exhausted she just sits down in a chair and tries to talk him into it until I do the wrestling anyway.

As for the payments, I would ask the owner to place a mailbox or something else with a padlock on it for payments for parents. My dd's preschool has this and it's wonderful. No one, not even the director, handles payments during dropoff or pick up. Parents are expected to have the check in the box last day of the month or late fees start racking up.

[lvt77]

I am in this same boat...some parents come in take there shoes off and will start palying with whatever their child is doing....At first I did not mind, but when I open at 6am and close at 6pm, and at 620 people were still here. It became annoying.

I am in the process of rewrite of PHB I think I am going to add this in there...

[momma2girls]

I am in this same boat...some parents come in take there shoes off and will start palying with whatever their child is doing....At first I did not mind, but when I open at 6am and close at 6pm, and at 620 people were still here. It became annoying.

I am in the process of rewrite of PHB I think I am going to add this in there...

I have a mother that does this as well. She takes her shoes off and just sits on my chair and talks, waits for her son, to come to her, then it takes about 10 min. to get his shoes on and coat on as well. UGHH!!! It's right at my closing time as well. Then I have another one that is always late, it's only 5-10 min. but it does get old. I even placed in my contract, that the late fee will be implemented from now on if you are late. Then the late one, stands around and talks 5 -10 min. so I am technically open longer than what I want to be.UGGGHHHH

[lvt77]

I like these moms and stuff and dont mind it every once in awhile, but not every day...I have 3 kids of my own to take care of and time is always pressing..

[missnikki]

Wal Mart sells atomic clocks, you can get one for about $30-$50, depending on the size, other features, etc... Here's a link:

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=atomic+clock&ic=48_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0

As far as the payments, what I do is have a lockbox mounted on the wall by the parent corner, and in my handbook it says:
"3. If payment is not received by the due dates listed in figure 1 (above), a late fee of 10% will be assessed. For your convenience we have a payment box in the daycare room, right next to the sign in/out book. Please fill out a payment slip and drop in the box with payment."


Wall Mounted Drop Box with top slot for $32.99:

http://www.specialtystoreservices.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=10903

Payment slip is copy/pasta in thirds on one sheet, looks like this:

Name of Program
Child(ren)’s Name(s): _____________________________________________

PAYMENT FOR WEEK(S) of _____________________

AMOUNT PAID $_________________ CHECK #_________________

Parent signature ________________________________ Date___/___/___
***POSTDATED CHECKS WILL NOT PREVENT LATE FEES***

___ I WOULD LIKE A RECEIPT

aaaand finally, I would add in the handbook that all payments are to be placed in the lock box. Closing staff does not accept payment. (Make sure that you point to it when someone has a check they want to hand you. That way, you never touch money so they have nothing to fear, and you don't ever get accused of anything.)

[Kaddidle Care]

I would get an atomic clock (the kind you can't argue about accuracy because it automatically sets itself) if you are going to do anything about it. My new newsletter (to be initialled or signed after discussing with each parent at drop off) would say:

"We just got a new clock, it will be "Official Day Care Time" so set your watches to it. This is the clock I will go by, so if you or your child are still here at closing time, you will be responsible for paying a late pick up penalty starting at 5:31pm as outlined in your handbook. This is not a new rule, but it has been taken for granted lately so this will be the remedy to that problem. This new procedure will take effect starting today. Please be on time. Thank you in advance."

Perfect! I might add that "should you wish to discuss the child's day, please be sure to come 10-15 minutes prior to the 5:30 closing time so that we can talk without you being charged for it."

Parents don't realize how exausting child care can be. Their 1 or 2 may not tire them out but when you have 5-10, it can zap you.

Everyone looks forward to quitting time and they need to understand and RESPECT that fact.

[Greenshadow]

I guess Im a little different. I have one mom that does come and stay for 10 minutes or so, but I dont mind it. If I have somewhere to be, I tell her and she respects that. This is my business but I also want to have a healthy relationship with the parents of the children I care for. I have one mom that hardly ever comes and stays. She drops her kid off in record time but on occasion will hang around a few minutes to talk and catch up. I like it. I do not get much adult interaction with a job like this. Just to be able to talk to another adult is welcoming to me. I dont want them hanging around all morning but 10-15 minutes is okay with me. Like I said, if I have somewhere to go, I make that clear and they head out pretty quick. I like to discuss what the child did that day, ate, whatever. I also have the children ready to go when I know the parents are coming. Shoes, coats, etc. That way they can take them and go if they want to because sometimes some of the kids do throw a fit because they dont want to leave or whatever. So I guess in the end, I look at it alittle differently. These are people with people to raise. I help them every single day to do this. I feel that we as adults should communicate a few minutes a day. I want them to feel comfortable with me. Taking care of children is a big deal to me and to the parents of these children. My days are long but this is what I signed up to do.

[sahm2three]

Very good idea! Thank you! I kind of wondered about how to prevent us from arguing over whether they were on time or late 7 minutes (or something silly like that) just because our watches and clocks are different. Where could I find one of those, and how much do they cost?

Another question unrelated:
I'm the assistant, and sometimes when I close the parents I guess are not comfortable giving me the check that goes to the owner, because they look uncomfortable about it and if I don't know they owe, then they just don't pay. Any easy fixes to that? I can certainly understand because if they gave me the check how do they know I won't lose it and tell the owner they didn't pay? I would NEVER do that, of course, and am kinda hurt that maybe they don't trust me (I've never ever given them ANY reason not to!), but that's a lot of money to hand over to someone to hand over to someone else, so I can understand, too. I'd probably be the same way with anyone else taking the money than the person who it's written out to. So, any easy solutions? I don't want them to feel uncomfortable about it and it's bad for the owner when she doesn't get her money when it's due.

How about a payment box? Easy to make one even. Construct a wooden box, get a hinge and a latch that can be locked with a paddlelock. Give parents a note telling of the new box and tell them that if their payment isn't in there by the time it is due, late payments will be charged. Good luck.

[Greenshadow]

...and we wonder, after reading some of these posts, why our parents hire attorney's to scare us and dont give cards or say they are sorry for things that happen to us. I think alot of daycare providers try to run such a tight ship that they lose the human nature part of it. I understand you have to have tight reins on the parents or they walk all over you but you also have to give some too to get some. I dont see alot of that in this line of posts. Just sayin'. Attack away if you feel you need to. I am not lenient on my parents but I dont treat them like they are replaceable and without some human decency. I understand that we all have rules and contracts but sometimes, more often than not, stuff happens and that stuff rolls downhill. You have to take the good with the bad. It just seems like some of this is pulled so tight that I wonder why you do this job. If you want a job with exact hours, go work somewhere else where you can get that. But to bully your parents into signing forms and putting out boxes and threatening them doesnt seem to work either. Or maybe it does for you. What works for me is common decency and I receive that in return via cards, apologies, etc. You get what you give.

[MG&Lsmom]

...and we wonder, after reading some of these posts, why our parents hire attorney's to scare us and dont give cards or say they are sorry for things that happen to us. I think alot of daycare providers try to run such a tight ship that they lose the human nature part of it. I understand you have to have tight reins on the parents or they walk all over you but you also have to give some too to get some. I dont see alot of that in this line of posts. Just sayin'. Attack away if you feel you need to. I am not lenient on my parents but I dont treat them like they are replaceable and without some human decency. I understand that we all have rules and contracts but sometimes, more often than not, stuff happens and that stuff rolls downhill. You have to take the good with the bad. It just seems like some of this is pulled so tight that I wonder why you do this job. If you want a job with exact hours, go work somewhere else where you can get that. But to bully your parents into signing forms and putting out boxes and threatening them doesnt seem to work either. Or maybe it does for you. What works for me is common decency and I receive that in return via cards, apologies, etc. You get what you give.

In part I agree with what you said in your first post. It is nice to be able to chat for a few minutes, relay any info, share something in person that a dck did that day. And if you truly like your dcps, that 10 mins of adult talk can be enough to get you through another day. However, I feel anything consistently over 10 mins is excessive and could be politely dealt with as long as the dcp hears, understands and follows through. I think unfortunately some dcp just don't care and will continue to push boundaries. I've had this experience as a center staff member, a public school teacher, a private nanny and now as a home dcp. It may just be where our society has gone sadly. And then you need to bully. Some people just don't hear until it gets to that point.

As for payment boxes, I'm not sure why that's such a big deal? If I had 4 or 5 dcps showing up at closing on a Friday with checks being handed to me I'm sure I'd misplace at least one weekly. A specific, secure location to leave a payment sounds like a responsible and professional manner to handle what the OP said was her concern. Unless they need a receipt then and there, that would be different. I give monthly receipts.