Changing My Hours...

[PolkaTots]

Changing my hours to 6:46am-4:59pm...cause some parents think my hours are 6:45AMish to 5PMish...

[Blackcat31]

:: That's funny...but I am sorry you are having trouble.

When I talk/discuss hours with my DCF's I always say...well, let's use your hours of 6:45-5. I would say "My hours are 6:45-5:00."

BUT, then I add: "What this means is parents may NOT arrive ANY earlier than 6:45 and must have retrieved their child and be out the door NO LATER than 5:00 PM. For example, If you arrive at 4:55 and cannot put your child's coat on and get to your car by 5:00 then you are considered late."

That's the "speech" I use during the interview process so parents know I am dead serious about the times they contract. If you are having issues with your current families, I would write a quick note to everyoe or post it on your parent board that says something like;

Dear Parents

I would like to remind everyone that my operating times are 6:45 to 5:00. The door will NOT be open until 6:45 on the dot. Anyone still in the daycare or on the property at 5:00 will be considered late. Fees WILL apply to ALL early arrivals and late departures. Thank your for your respect and consideration.

Daycare Provider.


{{{hugs}}} for dealing. No one (but other providers) understand how frustrating a couple extra minutes here and there REALLY is.

Our time is valuable and and when parents push your open/close times...it gets the resentment building and can definitely have an effect on your attitude toward the family.

Hang in there but NEVER be afraid to stick up for you!!!

[PolkaTots]

I have had so many talks, and even enforced my fees...but still every now and then I have a parent knocking on my door and ringing my doorbell at 6:39am (because their clock says 6:45) or arriving late because they lost track of time...or worse...standing in my doorway yapping, letting their child run free in my house while they try to negotiate them leaving from 4:47-5:04! Seriously, how hard is it to pick your child up and just leave???

I forgot to mention that it will say 6:46am-4:59pm Verizon Time...just to be certain

Maybe I could even get one of those count down clocks that starts buzzing at 4:59...if they walk in and it's buzzing, they can expect a late fee. ::

[Blackcat31]

Do you use sign in/out sheets? If so, someone on here said the second their clock hits a certain time, they take the regular sing in/out sheet away and whip out the late one and the parents aren't allowed to sign it until they are ready to walk out the door. I think she printed it a different color too so parents were completely aware that they are late.

If they are late anyways and not caring...maybe you need to have a bigger late fee. If it doesn't sink in, then maybe a $1 per minute would help.

As for mornings, get an open/close sign and hang it. When you are open, reach out and flip the sign around. Tell parents if the sign doesn't say "open" they can just keep driving until you ARE open. LEt them know they canNOT be on your property until you are open for business. Blame it on insurance if you have too.

As for closing time, use humor..."Hey Sally, you are racking up a big late fee the longer you stand around talking with Janice" then smile and laugh.

Or if they are talking to you, say "Ya know Sally I love talking with you but I am off the clock right now so you'll have to talk to me tomorrow or call me later." Or say "I'd love to continue chatting with you but I am officially done as of 5 minutes ago and would love to go spend some time with my family. I will see you tomorrow. Thanks" and then basically show them the door.


Oh, and I DO say that the time I go by is MY clock which is my Verizon phone. My handbook says to set their clocks and watches to that clock ONLY.


Bottom line though is people will NOT change their behaviors until it becomes a problem for them. Right now this is only a problem for you so maybe raising your late fee (And FIRMLY enforcing it) will help. WHat do you currently charge?

[PolkaTots]

I like the different colored sign in and out sheets! I need to find a clipboard with a clock on it too so parents write the actual time, and not rounded up or down time. Currently I charge $1 per minute with out notification, and $5 per 15 minutes with notification.

[Happy Hearts]

I only have one sign in sheet per kid for the month. Maybe I'll just change the black pen to a red pen if they're late.

[Meeko]

I'm the one with the different color sign out sheets which are even labelled as the "LATE" sign-out sheet. It's even in a red binder whereas the regular binder is white ::

I have a digital clock right by it. It's in my rules that in and out times are taken from the daycare clock ONLY.

[MyAngels]

I've always told parents that I am not open until I turn on my porch light in the morning. Even if it's daylight out already, if they don't see the light, just keep on driving around the block until that light goes on .

I can't help with the closing time. Nobody is ever late here. I think they're scared to see what would happen if they are late happyface.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I used to change the sign in sheet.

NOW, I use checkinkids.com and you set it up with your closing time. A red notice about being X minutes late comes up after that and it calculates the late fee for them. happyface Love that free program. I have a parent that is CONSISTENTLY at least 2 minutes late each day. I bill them every 2 weeks and they just paid $21 in late fees during this last billing cycle.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I like the different colored sign in and out sheets! I need to find a clipboard with a clock on it too so parents write the actual time, and not rounded up or down time. Currently I charge $1 per minute with out notification, and $5 per 15 minutes with notification.

If they are late, immediately write the child's name on the late sign out sheet. Hold the clipboard and as soon as you hear the knock, write down the time YOU see, and hand the parent the clipboard. They can't "interpret" the time anymore.

[Fruitloops1]

I'm pretty lax on my times. My hours are 6 to 6 and two kids come between 8:30 and 9 and I am OK with that. They also get picked up between 5:30 and 6. A parent came once twice after 6 and she notified me and i told her I would wave the late fee. My fiance says I am too chicken to charge a late fee....
Maybe I am...

[DaisyMamma]

If they are late, immediately write the child's name on the late sign out sheet. Hold the clipboard and as soon as you hear the knock, write down the time YOU see, and hand the parent the clipboard. They can't "interpret" the time anymore.