Would It Be Fair?

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  • QualiTcare
    Advanced Daycare.com Member
    • Apr 2010
    • 1502

    #16
    Originally posted by 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.
    the OP is not a family daycare owner. she works for someone else and i would assume is paid by the hour, and probably not very much. 10 extra minutes each day adds up to an extra hour a week she isn't getting paid for.

    Comment

    • Missani
      Daycare.com Member
      • Dec 2010
      • 214

      #17
      I have this same problem. I am open until 5:30 and EVERY one of my kids are here until 5:30 on the nose. Then we talk, etc. for a while, kids get ready (I have a couple of toddlers that really fight getting ready so it can be a long time), then they walk upstairs, then the kid gets side tracked upstairs, then we talk some more. Then, they are all coming at the same time so it's a lot of kids getting ready at once and me trying to talk to everyone at once about different things, etc.

      It's a tough one for me. I close at 5:30 because it is already a long day by then and because on Wednesday nights I have to be somewhere at 6:00. Also, my own kids go to bed about 7:00-7:30 and it takes that long just to have dinner, take a bath, read a book and we never get to enjoy any family time in the evenings. However, I also know that all (well all except one) of my parents work until 5:00 and legitimately work 30 minutes away. Usually, I just appreciate that they get here as quickly as possible, but as it is (call me a pushover) I NEVER get done before 6:00. I can go weeks at a time having no days where all of the kids even have a parent there by 5:30 (one mom is 5:35-5:40 every day) much less get out of my house. On Wednesdays, I am sometimes leaving before they are out the door (dh is home), but I do wait until they are all there. I sometimes get frustrated that I always have to work such long hours and never know what time I'm going to be done for the day and can't plan anything for the evening, etc., and this is on a NORMAL day, I am also in MN where it snows most days (usually right at rush hour) and that can easily make parents an hour late or more. Sometimes I get a little upset that they don't plan better.

      Most of the time, however, I am okay with it because I understand that they really are trying to get there and that they want to get home for the day as much as I want to be done for the day. I want to still talk to them, etc. I don't usually charge late fees (again I'm a pushover) but I don't want to be taken advantage of either. It's tough. I wish there were a better middle ground. But, to answer your original question, yes I think it's fine for you to add that they need to be GONE by your closing time. That way hopefully they will plan better and get there early enough that you can still be personable with them. Good luck!

      Comment

      • dEHmom
        Advanced Daycare.com Member
        • Dec 2010
        • 2355

        #18
        I agree completely with Greenshadow!

        I enjoy the 5-15 minutes of talking time with the moms/dads. It is definitely a great way to end a day with a bunch of kids.

        BUT I see the point about respecting closing time and frequently being late. If you want to be out of there by 5:30 (which seems early to me but maybe just because of where we live), then you need to set your pick up time at 5:15 to allow for that extra 15 minutes. Say something like Pickup 5:15, doors lock at 5:30. Besides, if you have 2 or more kids tryign to get out the door and parents coming in, it's going to take much longer.

        Being in a home setting, I think the box is not appropriate for payments, unless you have a center, or even just an assistant that deals with parents coming at the end of the day. That makes sense.

        And the clock idea! I love that! We all set a clock to the same time, i know every clock in my house is different, and constantly changes even though I have sync'd them all up a few days ago. Cannot understand it! My stove is slow, microwave is fast, vcr is sometimes slow sometimes fast, and wall clock is usually an hour wrong because of time changes ( I know!).

        Comment

        • Greenshadow
          Daycare.com Member
          • Jun 2010
          • 238

          #19
          Originally posted by Baybee0585
          I agree completely with Greenshadow!

          I enjoy the 5-15 minutes of talking time with the moms/dads. It is definitely a great way to end a day with a bunch of kids.

          BUT I see the point about respecting closing time and frequently being late. If you want to be out of there by 5:30 (which seems early to me but maybe just because of where we live), then you need to set your pick up time at 5:15 to allow for that extra 15 minutes. Say something like Pickup 5:15, doors lock at 5:30. Besides, if you have 2 or more kids tryign to get out the door and parents coming in, it's going to take much longer.

          Being in a home setting, I think the box is not appropriate for payments, unless you have a center, or even just an assistant that deals with parents coming at the end of the day. That makes sense.

          And the clock idea! I love that! We all set a clock to the same time, i know every clock in my house is different, and constantly changes even though I have sync'd them all up a few days ago. Cannot understand it! My stove is slow, microwave is fast, vcr is sometimes slow sometimes fast, and wall clock is usually an hour wrong because of time changes ( I know!).

          I totally agree with your reply. I love the clock idea as well.

          Comment

          • dEHmom
            Advanced Daycare.com Member
            • Dec 2010
            • 2355

            #20
            Then Greenshadow,
            We have agreed to agree with agreeing with each other

            Comment

            • Crystal
              Advanced Daycare.com Member
              • Dec 2009
              • 4002

              #21
              Originally posted by 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.
              Well said, and I agree with both of your posts 100%

              Comment

              • momma2girls
                Daycare.com Member
                • Nov 2009
                • 2283

                #22
                I have one parent that is consistantly late- 5 or 10 min. every evening, then she stands and talks to me for about 5-10 min. while she is getting her boy dressed if not longer than that!! I need to really have the baby in the car seat ready to go everyday, but I just haven't done it yet. I did place in my contract, the late fees will be implemented from now. It doesn't matter to her, as long as I keep allowing her to do this. She has come in numerous times, when I had to be someplace at a certain time- "Sorry" this is all she says!! So now I added, if you are not here at your contracted time and I need to leave, your child will be with me, and there will be a note left on the door where I will be at. Also the late fees will be implemented from now on. I guess until I stand up and say something, it will continue to be this way. I just don't want to lose them over this. It seems like within the last yr. or two, there are so many daycares out there, and we are all struggling to keep children, etc. that everytime you stick up for yourself, you have the chance, that the families will leave. UGHH!!! I have had some families leave for dumb reasons before. One family I was helping her daughter with her name, and the daughter didn't like it- another family left, because they found daycare that didn't have a contract at all!!! I guess there have been 2 families that left and found someone without a contract!!

                Comment

                • dEHmom
                  Advanced Daycare.com Member
                  • Dec 2010
                  • 2355

                  #23
                  Originally posted by Iowa daycare
                  I guess there have been 2 families that left and found someone without a contract!!
                  So let them.
                  The contract is there to protect both you and them. If they want to put their child in a place without a contract then god forbid anything happens where they wish they had it.

                  Comment

                  • momma2girls
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Nov 2009
                    • 2283

                    #24
                    Originally posted by Baybee0585
                    So let them.
                    The contract is there to protect both you and them. If they want to put their child in a place without a contract then god forbid anything happens where they wish they had it.
                    I agree!! I told them both Good luck with everything!!!
                    Both parents didn't like to follow the contract, that they signed!!

                    Comment

                    • momatheart

                      #25
                      I know what you mean. I charge for that one minute that they are late. I don't budge. We have a nice sign we put on the sign in sheet that lets them know they owe late fee right now and they are late.

                      Weather conditions humm snow storm is coming well to me that is why you have your alternates listed on pick up form. Call them to pick up, leave work early, or pay the fee.

                      Comment

                      • momma2girls
                        Daycare.com Member
                        • Nov 2009
                        • 2283

                        #26
                        Originally posted by momatheart
                        I know what you mean. I charge for that one minute that they are late. I don't budge. We have a nice sign we put on the sign in sheet that lets them know they owe late fee right now and they are late.

                        Weather conditions humm snow storm is coming well to me that is why you have your alternates listed on pick up form. Call them to pick up, leave work early, or pay the fee.
                        I totally agree with you!

                        Comment

                        • Preschool/daycare teacher
                          Daycare.com Member
                          • Jan 2010
                          • 635

                          #27
                          I'm not saying I don't want to talk to the parents, or that I don't care about them or something. I love talking to the parents at the appropriate time. But when we are supposed to be closed at 5:30, and they don't come until 5:40, and then take forever to get out... it's not really the best time for a long conversation or to watch their child play on someone else's time. If they want to see their child playing, couldn't they allow time for it, arriving a little early? I cannot change our closing time as I'm not the one in charge. And we want to work with the parents as much as we can, so that they have time to get off work and get to daycare to pick their child up. If we made it earlier, some of the parents would have to find another daycare. Since we DO love their child and want them here we wouldn't want that.
                          All I'm asking for is some respect for my time. I respect their's and don't prolong their drop off time with a long conversation or serious discussion and make them late for wherever they're going. And at pick up I try to have their child ready so they can get to their evening activities on time. Not everyone has something going on every evening, so on those days they take their time. Poviders have to get places too in the evening. Even if it's just getting home to take care of things there. Supper or whatever.
                          So can't parents and providers respect each other?

                          Comment

                          • momma2girls
                            Daycare.com Member
                            • Nov 2009
                            • 2283

                            #28
                            Originally posted by Preschool/daycare teacher
                            I'm not saying I don't want to talk to the parents, or that I don't care about them or something. I love talking to the parents at the appropriate time. But when we are supposed to be closed at 5:30, and they don't come until 5:40, and then take forever to get out... it's not really the best time for a long conversation or to watch their child play on someone else's time. If they want to see their child playing, couldn't they allow time for it, arriving a little early? I cannot change our closing time as I'm not the one in charge. And we want to work with the parents as much as we can, so that they have time to get off work and get to daycare to pick their child up. If we made it earlier, some of the parents would have to find another daycare. Since we DO love their child and want them here we wouldn't want that.
                            All I'm asking for is some respect for my time. I respect their's and don't prolong their drop off time with a long conversation or serious discussion and make them late for wherever they're going. And at pick up I try to have their child ready so they can get to their evening activities on time. Not everyone has something going on every evening, so on those days they take their time. Poviders have to get places too in the evening. Even if it's just getting home to take care of things there. Supper or whatever.
                            So can't parents and providers respect each other?
                            There are many times, I have to take my daughter to activities, religion, girl scout act. and meetings, eating out, or just start making supper for my own family.

                            Comment

                            • DBug
                              Daycare Member
                              • Oct 2009
                              • 934

                              #29
                              Is there any chance you could have the toys cleaned up, chairs put up, a few lights turned off -- you know, make it look like closing time the way they do at restaurants and stores? Maybe it would help parents get the idea?

                              Personally, I also make sure to welcome the parents, spend a moment or two chatting about the day, and then start tidying with my back to them, or start talking about homework with my sons or telling them to get ready for whatever activity we're doing that night, just to kind of give them the idea that I have things to do and places to go. It works pretty well, and parents rarely stay after close -- the closer they are to closing, the quicker they leave .
                              www.WelcomeToTheZoo.ca

                              Comment

                              • dEHmom
                                Advanced Daycare.com Member
                                • Dec 2010
                                • 2355

                                #30
                                Originally posted by DBug
                                Is there any chance you could have the toys cleaned up, chairs put up, a few lights turned off -- you know, make it look like closing time the way they do at restaurants and stores? Maybe it would help parents get the idea?

                                Personally, I also make sure to welcome the parents, spend a moment or two chatting about the day, and then start tidying with my back to them, or start talking about homework with my sons or telling them to get ready for whatever activity we're doing that night, just to kind of give them the idea that I have things to do and places to go. It works pretty well, and parents rarely stay after close -- the closer they are to closing, the quicker they leave .
                                This is how I am. Sitting there telling daughter to get her boots on, or hubby to warm the van up. LOL. Instead of me saying "sorry I gotta go" I use the subtle approach.

                                Comment

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