7:27...I Let Them Stand at The Door Ha!

Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>7:27...I Let Them Stand at The Door Ha!

Boymom 06:04 AM 10-27-2016

I might be being way too picky with this, but I have a dcm that likes to push rules here and there. Sometimes she knocks on my door a few minutes early and I just let her stand there!!

I'm thinking, I'm about to watch your kid for TEN hours and I need every minute to myself I can get. She knocked at 7:27 and I let her stand there for 3 minutes until I opened the door at 7:30. This is not the first time she's done this, but you would think that she would just learn and just wait in the car for a few minutes until I actually open...

I know it's only 3 minutes, but those 3 minutes feel like a lifetime! And it's not like she's in a hurry....she sits on my couch for 20 minutes while she holds her 3 year old like a baby...after she carried him in....

Does anyone else do this or am I just mean?

lovemydaycare0912 06:16 AM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by Boymom:
I might be being way too picky with this, but I have a dcm that likes to push rules here and there. Sometimes she knocks on my door a few minutes early and I just let her stand there!!

I'm thinking, I'm about to watch your kid for TEN hours and I need every minute to myself I can get. She knocked at 7:27 and I let her stand there for 3 minutes until I opened the door at 7:30. This is not the first time she's done this, but you would think that she would just learn and just wait in the car for a few minutes until I actually open...

I know it's only 3 minutes, but those 3 minutes feel like a lifetime! And it's not like she's in a hurry....she sits on my couch for 20 minutes while she holds her 3 year old like a baby...after she carried him in....

Does anyone else do this or am I just mean?

Nope. I live in an apartment complex so parents have to buzz in and I accept it to let them in. Or they text me when they're here and I come outside. After many times of me not picking up the buzz call before 730 or me texting them at 720 that I would be down in 10 minutes, they got the hint. They don't try it anymore.

Boymom 06:26 AM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by lovemydaycare0912:
Nope. I live in an apartment complex so parents have to buzz in and I accept it to let them in. Or they text me when they're here and I come outside. After many times of me not picking up the buzz call before 730 or me texting them at 720 that I would be down in 10 minutes, they got the hint. They don't try it anymore.

I'm glad I'm not the only one ha! I can't believe they texted you 10 minutes early. That would make me so mad!

I would say that this dcm's clock is just off, but, because she pushes the envelope with everything else, I'm pretty sure that's not the case!

Fiddlesticks 06:54 AM 10-27-2016

Parents are not allowed to come to my door until the lights go on at 7:00. On the few occasions that it has happened, I explain that I do not open until 7:00 and they will know I am open when the lights are on. I tell them that I have learned that 3 minutes turns into 5, turns into 11, turns into 15 and before you know it I am working at 6:30....

Once I had a grandma dropping off one of my daycare boys and she was practically dragging him up the sidewalk at 9:30.. he was telling her they couldn't go up because the light wasn't on! I have learned not to turn them off until everyone has arrived.

Cat Herder 07:27 AM 10-27-2016

"am I just mean?"

Nope.

I'd charge her $3.

midaycare 07:40 AM 10-27-2016

I tell parents that I have to give my hours of operation to the State of Michigan. Any early arrivals could result in a termination of my license. What they don't know....won't hurt

Blackcat31 07:57 AM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
"am I just mean?"

Nope.

I'd charge her $3.

Same here.

I don't leave them standing on the doorstep, instead I just take them in and charge the fee. If it's a repeat occurrence, I double the fee. Early arrival doesn't usually happen more than twice.

daycarediva 09:23 AM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by midaycare:
I tell parents that I have to give my hours of operation to the State of Michigan. Any early arrivals could result in a termination of my license. What they don't know....won't hurt

Not for nothing, but my INSURANCE is only active during my hours of operation listed with the state. Parents don't have to know that is 6-6, I'm too lazy to formally change it but I work 8-5 now.

JackandJill 09:32 AM 10-27-2016

I have tried the reminder route, the sign on the door, the "not open until lights are on" and there is always that one parent who comes at 7:58. So now I just let them stand there.

Heart12 10:14 AM 10-27-2016

No, I dont think it is mean. Daring, & I like it

I only came across this situation with 1 parent over the summer. I took in the child & charged her the $$$.

Did the DCM say anything about standing out there for those 3min?

MarinaVanessa 10:41 AM 10-27-2016

I don't think it's mean either.

I have a keypad on my front door and I give all of my full and part time clients their own code to get in and set it up so that it only works during their scheduled days and hours. It won't work even one minute before or after so that stopped all of those problems.

LostMyMarbles 11:10 AM 10-27-2016

If you are mean, so am I then.

I have a family that comes at 715 four days a week. The other day I start at 7:30.

On a day that I didn't have the early family, a dad randomly showed up at 7:20. 40 minutes before his scheduled time. I didn't answer a knock, or a phone call. I mean come on, that 10 minutes is gold for me in the morning. That's time to put a load of laundry in, or just have an interrupted moment in the bathroom!!!
He showed up at his normal time and told me he came early. I told him that I plan on kids coming at their scheduled times unless special arrangements are made in advance.

i have had many try and come early. I keep my door locked until my opening time. PERIOD. They can wait in their can until opening time. Does Best Buy open if you show up 40,or 10 minutes early? Nope!

MY philosophy is LACK OF PLANNING ON YOUR PART, DOES NOT CONSTITUE AN EMERGENCY ON MY PART.

daycarediva 11:22 AM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
I don't think it's mean either.

I have a keypad on my front door and I give all of my full and part time clients their own code to get in and set it up so that it only works during their scheduled days and hours. It won't work even one minute before or after so that stopped all of those problems.

What is this magic device and how do I get one?

EntropyControlSpecialist 11:31 AM 10-27-2016

I do this. I also turn my porch light ON the second I open and unlock my door so there's a clear indicator. The porch light goes off when the drop off time slot is done as well. I tell parents this, too. I usually don't have someone ring the bell early more than once (twice if they're especially challenging). Not much fun staring at a door, I guess.

EntropyControlSpecialist 11:35 AM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by daycarediva:
What is this magic device and how do I get one?

I want to know, too!

MarinaVanessa 11:45 AM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by daycarediva:
What is this magic device and how do I get one?

I have the Schlage keypad door hardware and pay the extra $10/month for the service that lets me add and manage up to 15 (I think) key codes. I can set up specific codes to work during certain hours and days which has stopped my problem with people trying to get here early or later then their contracted times. If they punch in their code early they can't open the door or get in, same goes if they're late. This way there's no discussion whether they were late/early or not.

It also helps me with the whole "open door" policy with my clients. I can still keep my front door locked at all times but from the inside the door is always "unlocked" in case of an emergency. The parents punch in their code and unlock the door then walk in on their own. This way I don't have to stop what I'm doing if I'm in the middle of something to open the door and the lock locks itself again after a few seconds.

It also comes with an app and I can lock and unlock the front door from my phone. Super helpful if I'm in the back or away from home and someone needs to be let in. Also super helpful because I always lose my keys and this way I don't have to carry them with me. My 11 year old and 5 year old also have a code of their own that always works so I don't have to give them keys. If I need to run out of the house and my 11 yo comes home she can let herself in and wait for me.

Online on the website you can see the times that people punch in their codes. You can also set it so that it sends SMS messages to your phone when certain people or everyone punches in their code so you know who's coming in. Pretty handy. It's a pretty penny but some finishes are less expensive and part of the hardware itself is a business expense. The monthly service I claim 100% deductible because you can add up to 5 codes without the service that work all of the time (for family members) and the service allows you add more codes and set the schedules (for clients).

https://www.amazon.com/Schlage-FE599...e+Nexia+Keypad

Boymom 01:14 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
"am I just mean?"

Nope.

I'd charge her $3.

I have it in my contract that I charge $1 per minute, but it's easier for me to make them stand outside than for me to make them pay me haha!

childcaremom 01:16 PM 10-27-2016

I do this, too. I might be meaner because I wouldn't let dcm hang out at my place either.

Boymom 01:18 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by JackandJill:
I have tried the reminder route, the sign on the door, the "not open until lights are on" and there is always that one parent who comes at 7:58. So now I just let them stand there.

Some parents just don't get it and it drives me crazy!!!

Boymom 01:19 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
I have the Schlage keypad door hardware and pay the extra $10/month for the service that lets me add and manage up to 15 (I think) key codes. I can set up specific codes to work during certain hours and days which has stopped my problem with people trying to get here early or later then their contracted times. If they punch in their code early they can't open the door or get in, same goes if they're late. This way there's no discussion whether they were late/early or not.

It also helps me with the whole "open door" policy with my clients. I can still keep my front door locked at all times but from the inside the door is always "unlocked" in case of an emergency. The parents punch in their code and unlock the door then walk in on their own. This way I don't have to stop what I'm doing if I'm in the middle of something to open the door and the lock locks itself again after a few seconds.

It also comes with an app and I can lock and unlock the front door from my phone. Super helpful if I'm in the back or away from home and someone needs to be let in. Also super helpful because I always lose my keys and this way I don't have to carry them with me. My 11 year old and 5 year old also have a code of their own that always works so I don't have to give them keys. If I need to run out of the house and my 11 yo comes home she can let herself in and wait for me.

Online on the website you can see the times that people punch in their codes. You can also set it so that it sends SMS messages to your phone when certain people or everyone punches in their code so you know who's coming in. Pretty handy. It's a pretty penny but some finishes are less expensive and part of the hardware itself is a business expense. The monthly service I claim 100% deductible because you can add up to 5 codes without the service that work all of the time (for family members) and the service allows you add more codes and set the schedules (for clients).

https://www.amazon.com/Schlage-FE599...e+Nexia+Keypad

This is AWESOME!!

Boymom 01:20 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by childcaremom:
I do this, too. I might be meaner because I wouldn't let dcm hang out at my place either.

Hahaha that's the next thing on my list to fix ;-)

Boymom 01:22 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I do this. I also turn my porch light ON the second I open and unlock my door so there's a clear indicator. The porch light goes off when the drop off time slot is done as well. I tell parents this, too. I usually don't have someone ring the bell early more than once (twice if they're especially challenging). Not much fun staring at a door, I guess.

The porch light is a good idea. I'm going to try that!

Boymom 01:24 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by LostMyMarbles:
If you are mean, so am I then.

I have a family that comes at 715 four days a week. The other day I start at 7:30.

On a day that I didn't have the early family, a dad randomly showed up at 7:20. 40 minutes before his scheduled time. I didn't answer a knock, or a phone call. I mean come on, that 10 minutes is gold for me in the morning. That's time to put a load of laundry in, or just have an interrupted moment in the bathroom!!!
He showed up at his normal time and told me he came early. I told him that I plan on kids coming at their scheduled times unless special arrangements are made in advance.

i have had many try and come early. I keep my door locked until my opening time. PERIOD. They can wait in their can until opening time. Does Best Buy open if you show up 40,or 10 minutes early? Nope!

MY philosophy is LACK OF PLANNING ON YOUR PART, DOES NOT CONSTITUE AN EMERGENCY ON MY PART.

Amen!!! I want to tattoo that to my forehead for my dcp's to see!

Boymom 01:27 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by Heart12:
No, I dont think it is mean. Daring, & I like it I only came across this situation with 1 parent over the summer. I took in the child & charged her the $$$.

Did the DCM say anything about standing out there for those 3min?

She never does, which is odd! And I think she could tell I was annoyed because I wasn't my normal cheery self, but she will probably do it again

Boymom 01:29 PM 10-27-2016

Originally Posted by Fiddlesticks:
Parents are not allowed to come to my door until the lights go on at 7:00. On the few occasions that it has happened, I explain that I do not open until 7:00 and they will know I am open when the lights are on. I tell them that I have learned that 3 minutes turns into 5, turns into 11, turns into 15 and before you know it I am working at 6:30....

Once I had a grandma dropping off one of my daycare boys and she was practically dragging him up the sidewalk at 9:30.. he was telling her they couldn't go up because the light wasn't on! I have learned not to turn them off until everyone has arrived.

How funny!!

Tags:early arrival - policy, early arrival fee

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