I have contracted drop off and pick up times. But lately everyone needs to come early or later than these times. Some days all the kids attending come or are picked up at different times. Maybe it's just me, but it's driving me absolutely insane! I feel like I can't do anything because my entire plan for the day is messed up. I have kids of varrying ages (5 months to 3 1/2yrs.), which is hard enough planning our day to include meals /bottles /diapers / pottying/ art/ circle time/ outside time/ etc. I have part time kids and full time kids so the ages I have vary daily as well and aren't the same each week. On top of that I have multiple families who have been keeping their kids home on random days lately- which is fine but also screws with my plan. I know I probably need to relax, but I am really struggling. If everyone came when they were supposed to, at least I would have a plan. It's honestly been a few weeks now since everyone has come when they are supoosed to (it has NEVER been this bad before). I feel like I can't relax and teach and do curriculum until everyone is here. What does everyone else do? I thought about saying no drop offs after 9:30am and no pick up's before 3 (NO exceptions). But is that reasonable? Most of my kids are early/late due to things like: one parent is out of town, appointments, meetings/going into work late or early, one dad started going to a bible study every other Monday, etc. -None of these are super crazy, I mean it's not like laziness, their schedule has just changed. I get that things come up but I am having a hard time dealing with the way it's affecting my day, everyday. Then this morning a mom said she got a late start and wanted to drop off at 10:30 an hour late, but then came 20 min early. Which doesnt sound like a big deal except I was in the middle of something because I thought we still had 20 min. (not to mention I pushed our art time back so the child could be included) Is it asking to much to have people bring their child by 9;30 or not at all? Does anyone do that? Also I am crazy about staggering drop off/pick up times, I HATE having multiple families here at once, I feel overwhelmed trying to talk to everyone (some families are MUCH worse than others). But when people change there times, often they want to come at another families time. How does everyone else feel/handle this/ drop off and pick ups? THANKS I really need some advice!!

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• ALL drop offs must be before 9:00 a.m.
• NO pick ups until 3:00 p.m.
• ALL schedules must be in writting & turned in by Friday before upcoming week.
• No changes allowed in schedules after turning it in. (Unless out sick or not coming at all)
• $1 per minute fee for late pick up or early drop off outside of scheduled times. Even one minute.

Be SUPER strict about enforcing those policies and everything will go great!!

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I have a set drop-off time (I am open from 06h30-16h30)

before 07h30 and they get breakfast
after 07h30 you need to have fed them

and must be dropped off by 08h00 because we are leaving for a walk by 08h15. (weather permitting)

EDIT for pickups after 15h00 unless there is a doctor's appointment and, if so then I prefer right after lunch, before nap- never during nap.

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I've been in your shoes in the past. I really entertained the idea of having no drop off/pick ups after a certain point, but felt I just couldn't do that with the families that I had - for various reasons. I always felt as though I had to wait for everyone to be here to participate in our activities. Instead, what I did was set my curriculum schedule a little firmer and if the kids weren't here during the time I had things planned they missed out that day. I didn't feel it was fair to the other kids here to not maintain our routine and schedules. Once the parents realized that their kids were missing out on the fun, it seemed that they made efforts to become more regular with their drop off/pick up times.

Now that I have all teacher kids, it's not an issue since everyone has to be here before 8 so they can get to work, but I do remember going through that same struggle years ago. I also used to freak a little when I had all the parents pickup/ drop off at the same time, now I kinda welcome it. It gives the parents a chance to network a little. I don't always get a chance to chat with everyone when this happens but it kinda gets everyone out of here quicker. (due to limited parking, somewhat small entryway, etc)

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There are times where that happens to me too. I just go about my daily routine. If someone misses out on an activity, they miss out. When we are outside and I am still expecting a child, I put a little sticky note on the door saying that we are out back. If I am in the middle of doing something and the door bell rings I don't rush to the door...I finish what I am doing and then answer and let them know "sorry, I was in the middle of changing a diaper" or whatever else I might have been doing. The parents always say "oh, don't worry about it, I know your busy!" HTH

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This is exactly what happens over here, too.

Since I am extremely strict about WHEN breakfast is served (they can take their time eating it, but it is only served between 8:00-8:10am since I have some slooooow eaters and it throws our schedule off to serve it any later) and I don't serve it a minute after they all try to get here during that time. I only say hello to the first parent there for the day since they are who I unlock the door for. Everyone else brings themselves in and lets their child come towards their little tables (a few rooms back but you can see it from the front). They are QUICKLY in and out in the mornings this way!
It works out well, because if they don't come between 8:00-8:10am they either a.) Have to feed their child at home before coming because they know they are late of b.) Take their child home to feed them because they ran later than they thought they were.

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