Pick up time destruction

[midaycare]

I have a few kids who recently have started doing something odd at pick-up. Odd to me, you guys have probably seen it dozens of times before.

When dcm or dcd walks in for pickup, dck will acknowledge parent and then run away, wanting to play with all the toys that I just picked up. Literally dumping toys out. Maybe the block bin will get dumped out and then a few other bins. By the time the dck is ready to leave, I have at least another 5 minutes of cleaning. The dcf's don't have good enough control to stop them, and I don't "parent" for them at this time. When parents are present, I expect them to do the work.

I would like to do bye-bye outside, but these particular dcf's have a "window" they pickup in, which is about a half hour. I do not want a child with wet boots stomping around my home for 30 minutes.

One dcb in particular was very weak parents. You know the type...everything is cute behavior ...even when it's a tantrum

Ideas?

[daycare]

I had one of those same pick up issue.

I waited until parent knocked. I refused to open the door for the kid until the child was 100% ready to go. I told the parent this was the only way they could stay on my program because it was so bad. It worked out because the parent could hear me twll he kid well I guess you don't want to see dad or mom because your shoes are still not on your feet. He was 4.
I often saw the parent pull up and would tell the kid to immediately get ready to go. Worked out just fine.

[childcaremom]

I have a few kids who recently have started doing something odd at pick-up. Odd to me, you guys have probably seen it dozens of times before.

When dcm or dcd walks in for pickup, dck will acknowledge parent and then run away, wanting to play with all the toys that I just picked up. Literally dumping toys out. Maybe the block bin will get dumped out and then a few other bins. By the time the dck is ready to leave, I have at least another 5 minutes of cleaning. The dcf's don't have good enough control to stop them, and I don't "parent" for them at this time. When parents are present, I expect them to do the work.

I would like to do bye-bye outside, but these particular dcf's have a "window" they pickup in, which is about a half hour. I do not want a child with wet boots stomping around my home for 30 minutes.

One dcb in particular was very weak parents. You know the type...everything is cute behavior ...even when it's a tantrum

Ideas?

My last dcks leave btwn 5-5:30.
5:00 Coats out. Toys start getting cleaned up.
5:10 coats on. Reading books in the playroom.
5:20 we are sitting at the door reading books with our boots on
5:30 I am closing the door.

This works very well for me in the winter months. The playroom gets cleaned up and stays that way. If someone leaves 'early', it is easy enough to throw the coat on and come upstairs to put our boots on and say good bye. I have 'special' pick up time books so the dcks look forward to them.

[midaycare]

My last dcks leave btwn 5-5:30.
5:00 Coats out. Toys start getting cleaned up.
5:10 coats on. Reading books in the playroom.
5:20 we are sitting at the door reading books with our boots on
5:30 I am closing the door.

This works very well for me in the winter months. The playroom gets cleaned up and stays that way. If someone leaves 'early', it is easy enough to throw the coat on and come upstairs to put our boots on and say good bye. I have 'special' pick up time books so the dcks look forward to them.

My worst offender has this schedule. I have my daycare in the bottom floor of my home, so pickup is where the toys are.

We have muddy/slushy weather here until May, and we go out late in the afternoon, so I don't want boots going on, or dck overheating in a warm coat, hats, gloves,etc, while I wait for pickup.

It works great the rest of the year, though!

[Snowmom]

Try asking the parents to text or call you when they arrive (telling them to come in after a couple minutes) and you will get the child ready to leave and pass them off at the door.

Or

Be candid and address the issue with the parents. Tell them that you expect your house rules to be respected at all times. That their child knows it's not free-play time any longer and it's time to go, not play.

[rosieteddy]

I had all the kids picked up between 5 -5 :30 We picked up got coats on picked books and sat in the front foyer-porch.They were not allowed to get off their seats until parent came.They greeted the parent nicely, got a sticker from me and left.Infants were put in car seats so parents could just pick up and go.If a parent arrived early they called from car and I met them at the door.You could talk to parents and change the routine to avoid the chaos.

[Rockgirl]

When I have had this come up, I say, "Johnny, we have picked up for the day--it's not time to get toys out now." If parents won't address it, I will. I won't spend my after-hours picking up toys!

Edited to add: we usually have one activity going on for all remaining kids at the end of the day: floor puzzle, coloring, etc, so they are doing something other than sitting and waiting.

[midaycare]

All good advice, thank you everyone!

[Hunni Bee]

My worst offender has this schedule. I have my daycare in the bottom floor of my home, so pickup is where the toys are.

We have muddy/slushy weather here until May, and we go out late in the afternoon, so I don't want boots going on, or dck overheating in a warm coat, hats, gloves,etc, while I wait for pickup.

It works great the rest of the year, though!

Honestly, I know you said you don't parent them, but its still your daycare and this is a problem to YOU and not the parents, so I would just take the lead.

Get coats, etc laid out. When dcp drives up, quickly dress child. Body block them from returning into the playroom and say "nope, all done til tomorrow. have a good evening, dck!" Parent has no choice but to leave since they are trapped in your entryway with a screaming kid.

I have a classroom in a center and I do this. I don't play that game.

[Unregistered]

Is there an option to make a small gated off coat area within the daycare. When parents arrive, children are escorted to the gated area and gate is closed. No more running back into the play zone. Provider can discuss child's day from other side of the gate while parent gets child ready.

[daycarediva]

When I have had this come up, I say, "Johnny, we have picked up for the day--it's not time to get toys out now." If parents won't address it, I will. I won't spend my after-hours picking up toys!

Edited to add: we usually have one activity going on for all remaining kids at the end of the day: floor puzzle, coloring, etc, so they are doing something other than sitting and waiting.

Honestly, I know you said you don't parent them, but its still your daycare and this is a problem to YOU and not the parents, so I would just take the lead.

Get coats, etc laid out. When dcp drives up, quickly dress child. Body block them from returning into the playroom and say "nope, all done til tomorrow. have a good evening, dck!" Parent has no choice but to leave since they are trapped in your entryway with a screaming kid.

I have a classroom in a center and I do this. I don't play that game.

YUP!

At 5 we are picked up completely. We do table top activities, and I have even resorted to a small snack for my younger kids (helps hold them over for dinner, too).

[laundrymom]

I would implement a cleaning fee. Lol

Families whose children get toys out after parent arrival in afternoons will be charged $5 per item. Please do not allow your child to get things out of you do t wat to pay the clean up fee.

Lol

[midaycare]

Honestly, I know you said you don't parent them, but its still your daycare and this is a problem to YOU and not the parents, so I would just take the lead.

Get coats, etc laid out. When dcp drives up, quickly dress child. Body block them from returning into the playroom and say "nope, all done til tomorrow. have a good evening, dck!" Parent has no choice but to leave since they are trapped in your entryway with a screaming kid.

I have a classroom in a center and I do this. I don't play that game.

It's my setup that is difficult for this. My walkout basement is used, and I don't have an "entryway". One step in, your at a center. A step in the other direction, you're at the train table.

I haven't parented yet while dck's have parents there, but I guess that's what I will have to do. I don't mind it. I'm just 8x stricter than parents. A parent walks in, order goes to chaos. You all know

[Ariana]

I just posted about this! This is what I did. I have her in her coat and boots and she sits on a bench waiting for mom. She is not allowed to move a muscle. I also explain to her before mom comes that she is not to touch any of the bins. Mom comes in and I literally hand her off to mom. I don't talk and if mom is asking me questions I keep it VERY brief. So far it is working beautifully! Maybe you can set up a chair or a bench or even a mat to sit on by the entryway. Be very firm in stating the expectation that they are to go to mom and leave. No emptying bins or running around.

I had been trying parenting but it wasn't working. With her mom there she was a completely different child. I tried it for a few weeks but this is working much better for me.