Ideas For Drop Off And Pick Up (New Space)

[AmyKidsCo]

I definitely wouldn't want parents wandering through my house by themselves. I'd have all the kiddos upstairs during that hour-long window and stock that room with special toys that are only used there and then - maybe a sensory table or play dough. Or comfy couch, TV and books for a quieter beginning and end to the day.

[LittleScholars]

I definitely wouldn't want parents wandering through my house by themselves. I'd have all the kiddos upstairs during that hour-long window and stock that room with special toys that are only used there and then - maybe a sensory table or play dough. Or comfy couch, TV and books for a quieter beginning and end to the day.

I'm sold on this at least until we have a better doorbell system. I just need to invest in this room. Love the comfy couch idea.

[Ariana]

I have a short window of a half an hour right now but there were times when it was more than that. In my old house I put a bookshelf in my living room and we would all go upstairs and read books until pickup. It worked perfectly. we do it now too. Another idea would be to serve a very small snack or give everyone sippy cups of cold water while waiting.

[LittleScholars]

I have a short window of a half an hour right now but there were times when it was more than that. In my old house I put a bookshelf in my living room and we would all go upstairs and read books until pickup. It worked perfectly. we do it now too. Another idea would be to serve a very small snack or give everyone sippy cups of cold water while waiting.

That's ideal. I love the short window and the focused activity. Thanks for sharing!

[daycare]

I don't have stairs but this is how I do mine.
We have a driveway camera. Links to my phone. As soon as I see someone coming child is sent to get dressed to go. I know most of the expected pick up times but sometimes parents pick up early.

I have a 30 minute window. 4:30 first pick up and 5:00 second pick up. During that time we dance, sing, read stories and sometimes we do group buildings or puzzles. BUT there is a mess to clean after that.

I would also invest in a door/driveway camera. Then when you see the parent, you immediately inform that child before seeing the parent "Johnny it is time to get your shoes on to go home". I have a baby gate they go on the other side. Parent and child stay on the other side while i sit with the rest of the group. The camera is sooo helpful. I usually see their car pull up and that's allows me time to get the child over the gate and getting ready to go.

If I know it's a 4:30 pick up, the kid is getting dressed with shoes on at 4:25. It works like a charm.

The space I have for pick up is small, so parents don't have room to hang out. They always leave right away. If they linger in the front yard I will ask them to move on. It's only ever happened once.

Good luck on your new place. It sounds exciting.

[LittleScholars]

I don't have stairs but this is how I do mine.
We have a driveway camera. Links to my phone. As soon as I see someone coming child is sent to get dressed to go. I know most of the expected pick up times but sometimes parents pick up early.

I have a 30 minute window. 4:30 first pick up and 5:00 second pick up. During that time we dance, sing, read stories and sometimes we do group buildings or puzzles. BUT there is a mess to clean after that.

I would also invest in a door/driveway camera. Then when you see the parent, you immediately inform that child before seeing the parent "Johnny it is time to get your shoes on to go home". I have a baby gate they go on the other side. Parent and child stay on the other side while i sit with the rest of the group. The camera is sooo helpful. I usually see their car pull up and that's allows me time to get the child over the gate and getting ready to go.

If I know it's a 4:30 pick up, the kid is getting dressed with shoes on at 4:25. It works like a charm.

The space I have for pick up is small, so parents don't have room to hang out. They always leave right away. If they linger in the front yard I will ask them to move on. It's only ever happened once.

Good luck on your new place. It sounds exciting.

Ohh! Do you recall what the brand of the camera is? I've been looking at the RING doorbell, but I'm not sure seeing them at the front door would give me enough time to get them ready. If I knew who was in the driveway I could actually get them ready and walk them to the top of the stairs and I'd still be able to supervise everyone.

I think staying in the small space upstairs is probably the easiest, but yesterday I was realizing it is my school-agers that really struggle. They are dying to have space to move and do gross motor play, and that can't happen in the small space. They are also my latest pick-ups, so they are so antsy by the time parents come. With that said, it still might be the best option.

We have been working on the new space forever, so I am so excited it is finally open!

[Play Care]

Im also in upstate NY. When I taught preschool in a church basement years ago, we had a similar set up/issue. Parents would be wandering through the vestry to get to the preschool, occasionally causing disruption to church meetings. We started using the outside cement stairs make sure they were clear and sanded. We put a bench and good quality mud rug at the door so parents could assist with changing boots to shoes. We reminded parents to be careful on the stairs. I don't think we had an issue.
As someone who has day care on their main level, I would be doing everything in my power to keep it on one level and make it so that my main home is OFF limits. Even for an hour at pick up.

[LittleScholars]

Im also in upstate NY. When I taught preschool in a church basement years ago, we had a similar set up/issue. Parents would be wandering through the vestry to get to the preschool, occasionally causing disruption to church meetings. We started using the outside cement stairs make sure they were clear and sanded. We put a bench and good quality mud rug at the door so parents could assist with changing boots to shoes. We reminded parents to be careful on the stairs. I don't think we had an issue.
As someone who has day care on their main level, I would be doing everything in my power to keep it on one level and make it so that my main home is OFF limits. Even for an hour at pick up.

I actually haven't tried the cement stairs while wet, so maybe it wouldn't be as horrible as I thought. We haven't applied the sand paint (whatever it is called yet) because I was told it was too cold to apply right now. But now I am eager to do so! Thank you!

[Sumshine]

I don't know what I would do if my house wasn't laid out the way it was! I am so thankful that I purchased my home a month after I decided I wanted to do childcare ! I was crazy picky! I wanted to split entry which works out well you are there go up or down down is to the general daycare area and up is to my kitchen/living room and our bedrooms.

Parents go up in the morning because they drop off during breakfast time and go down in the afternoon/evenings as that's where we always are. I have Gates everywhere which really helps for a visual of where you should and shouldn't be you. No kiddos can go back to my bedroom area or can go upstairs or downstairs without me opening them!

I almost didn't get my current house because the seller started adding some weird stipulations even though we gave them their asking price and didn't make them reapir anything per the inspection so I was ready to toss in the towel and start over luckily it worked out as she was basically told by her realtor and my realtor that she is nuts and that she can't do that !

[Alwaysgreener]

My Grandmother used this outdoor carpet to prevent slips. It does fall apart over time but it is fairly inexpensive and you maybe able to install it now.

https://jet.com/product/detail/863c3e3854a448dba01cf6744f781112?gclid=Cj0KEQiA25rFBRC8rfyX1vjeg7YBEiQAFIb3b3Y-B4r1xlen55hvQQFHVAQ8tUrXPJIloLIZaxAV-yYaAoHg8P8HAQ

You could also get an alarm like this and put on the outside steps to let you know when someone is coming down.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271245559718?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F711-117182-37290-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1588%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D148551537311_324272%2526itemid%253D271245559718%2526targetid%253D186358925049%2526rpc%253D0.11%2526rpc_upld_id%253D105331%2526device%253Dm%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252Flike%25252F271245559718%25253Flpid%25253D82%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9017451%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D672881482%2526adgroupid%253D34355259813%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-186358925049%2526gclid%253DCj0KEQiA25rFBRC8rfyX1vjeg7YBEiQAFIb3b0lu74oOARi8PlaG6yHl6DCei6DiL35TmUeSZmQczJ4aAr9R8P8HAQ%2526srcrot%253D711-117182-37290-0%2526rvr_id%253D1169824619062&ul_noapp=true

[LittleScholars]

I don't know what I would do if my house wasn't laid out the way it was! I am so thankful that I purchased my home a month after I decided I wanted to do childcare ! I was crazy picky! I wanted to split entry which works out well you are there go up or down down is to the general daycare area and up is to my kitchen/living room and our bedrooms.

Parents go up in the morning because they drop off during breakfast time and go down in the afternoon/evenings as that's where we always are. I have Gates everywhere which really helps for a visual of where you should and shouldn't be you. No kiddos can go back to my bedroom area or can go upstairs or downstairs without me opening them!

I almost didn't get my current house because the seller started adding some weird stipulations even though we gave them their asking price and didn't make them reapir anything per the inspection so I was ready to toss in the towel and start over luckily it worked out as she was basically told by her realtor and my realtor that she is nuts and that she can't do that !

You were very forward thinking! I shouldn't complain, because I'm so excited to have a new play space, but it is a total pain.

[LittleScholars]

My Grandmother used this outdoor carpet to prevent slips. It does fall apart over time but it is fairly inexpensive and you maybe able to install it now.

https://jet.com/product/detail/863c3e3854a448dba01cf6744f781112?gclid=Cj0KEQiA25rFBRC8rfyX1vjeg7YBEiQAFIb3b3Y-B4r1xlen55hvQQFHVAQ8tUrXPJIloLIZaxAV-yYaAoHg8P8HAQ

You could also get an alarm like this and put on the outside steps to let you know when someone is coming down.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/2712455...&ul_noapp=true

This is great!! I just ordered two alarms, and I'm going to get this carpet, as well! It definitely can't hurt, and it is so affordable!