Child Care Basics
Public Washington
Public Washington
Active 7 weeks ago
Public Washington
What to do when parents are late to pick up their child?
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What to do when parents are late to pick up their child?
Emily replied 2 months, 3 weeks ago 427 Members · 1,164 Reply
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Laura Jones
MemberApril 24, 2024 at 9:35 pmSince this has happened a few times before, I would gently remind the parent of what the written policy states and listen to what the parent had to say to open a discussion of what is going on to better understand the situation.
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Sonny Helms
MemberApril 25, 2024 at 12:45 amI would attempt to understand the parent’s perspective by asking what their schedule is like and if there is something that is preventing them from picking up their child at the designated time. I would express empathy for whatever the situation is, but follow up by explaining that it’s not fair to rely on staff to extend their day past the agreed upon time. The staff may have family obligations or time commitments as well. I would also express that the child is excited to be reunited with their family at the end of the day and prolonging that reunion past the expected time can be very disappointing for the child and can damage their sense of trust.
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Genesis Berg
MemberApril 26, 2024 at 5:01 pmFind out what might be causing the lateness. Is there family problems, or work problems? Discuss with the parent that you need your time also and try to work out a plan if they continue to be late.
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Sydni Morin
MemberApril 26, 2024 at 11:24 pmI would potentially set up a meeting with the parent at a different time, since the center is already closed. I would kindly explain how picking up late affect the teachers and the child. I would also ask questions about what maybe has been happening to make her late and work with her to find a solution.
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Sydni, your response shows empathy and understanding towards the parent’s situation, while also prioritizing the impact on the teachers and the child. Your suggestion of setting up a meeting with the parent at a different time to discuss the issue and work towards finding a solution is a thoughtful and proactive approach. It’s important to address the issue with sensitivity and open communication to find a resolution that benefits both the parent and the childcare center. Well done!
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Nizhoni
MemberApril 29, 2024 at 3:08 amI would catch the parent when it’s time for pickup and ask them if anything is going on. The best thing to do is understand why she’s been late and if we can find a solution and work things out.
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Bethany Greenwod
MemberMay 5, 2024 at 12:00 amI would make sure that the parents know that it is not fair to the employes that have families to keep them late. I will ask them if there is something we need to do in order to help them pick up their child on time.
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- Reinforce the importance of punctuality and adherence to pick-up times, highlighting the impact of late pickups on the staff’s schedules and the program’s operations. However, do so in a non-judgmental and supportive manner, focusing on the shared goal of ensuring the smooth functioning of the program for all families.
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Lilly Schlepp
MemberMay 9, 2024 at 7:05 pmI would let the parent know that I understand how it could be hard to get there on time but this is an issue that affects everyone. I would explain how others are affected and remind mom about our policies regarding late pick up.
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Lilly, your response shows empathy and understanding towards the parent while also emphasizing the impact of late pickups on the center and other families. It’s important to communicate the center’s policies and the importance of punctuality. Additionally, offering support and discussing potential solutions with the parent could help address the issue effectively. Great response!
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Sequoia Steimle
MemberMay 15, 2024 at 12:26 amI would ask Mrs. Hopkins what was causing her to be late and see if there was a way we could work together towards a solution, explaining that arriving 20 minutes late effects the child and the staff.
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sasikala
MemberMay 15, 2024 at 5:24 pmIn my opinion, if this happens often, then you should talk to the parents and find out the objective reasons and let them understand that the lateness of the parents may affect the child, because the child may think that he was abandoned, and its not encourage thing, It’s affecting the teacher schedule and their personal time.
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Sasikala, I agree with your perspective on the issue. Communicating with the parents about the impact of their lateness on their child and the teacher’s schedule is crucial. It’s important to approach the conversation with empathy and understanding, while also setting clear boundaries and expectations. Collaborating with the parents to find solutions that work for everyone involved is key to addressing this recurring issue. Well done on highlighting the potential emotional impact on the child and the practical implications for the teacher.
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Diana Marcela Salcedo
MemberMay 15, 2024 at 5:47 pmse debe ser muy prudente a la hora de decirle a la madre de familia para no crear malos entendidos como: entendemos que su desplazamiento desde su trabajo hasta aqui es muy complicado pero queremos que nos entienda que al usted lleagr tarde a buscar a su hijo tambien hace que nos atrasemos en las salidas generales y eso genera un poco de desorden a la hora de la slaida de los niños , muchas gracias.
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Amudha Alagarsamy
MemberMay 16, 2024 at 12:34 pmI would start off with asking if there’s a reason why they are so late. Then, if needed, I would kindly ask if there’s someone that could be at the daycare sooner to pick up the child so that the child isn’t getting emotional waiting for their parents/caregivers.
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Amudha, your response shows empathy and understanding for the child’s experience, which is commendable. It’s important to address the issue of late pickups with Mrs. Hopkins in a non-confrontational manner, and your approach of inquiring about the reasons behind the lateness and offering potential solutions is thoughtful and considerate. It’s also essential to ensure the well-being and emotional stability of the child during these situations. Well done!
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Rachelle
MemberMay 17, 2024 at 6:33 pmI think that before you go into this you need to take a step back and try to understand the point of view of the parent and the child, it’s tempting to come at this immediately with your own concerns and frustrations in mind and say things like “this is unacceptable, this is such an annoyance to me and the staff…” and it is true that if someone is consistently late this can become very frustrating as it impacts your ability to close up for the day, get required cleaning done and so on, but I think it’s important to remember that you don’t know everything going on in that family’s life, and that the mother probably doesn’t want to be late either and is probably just as embarrassed and frustrated.
On the other hand, for the child who is always late being picked up, this can be very uncomfortable and sometimes frightening, embarrassing, disappointing, etc. We can imagine how being consistently late to be picked up can make the child feel unimportant, or feel like they don’t get the stability they need from their parents.
I feel it’s important to remember that more often than not, you both want the same thing: what’s best for the child. Being late doesn’t automatically mean that the mother doesn’t care enough to pick her child up on time. There may be circumstances outside of her control, such as a demanding job she can’t leave any earlier that she has to work in order to provide for her child. When you begin to address the issue with the parent(s), you can do your best to come at it from a place of understanding, and wanting to work towards a better system for the benefit of that child. You can address your concerns that you’ve noticed Mrs. So and so is often late and gently ask about it without blaming or judging. Then you can talk to them about your perspective, how it impacts your team, and how it impacts the child, especially if you have noticed things like the child crying when their parents are late. There may be solutions you can come up with together, such as another family member or trusted friend agreeing to pick up the child on days when the mother cannot.
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Rachelle, your response demonstrates a thoughtful and empathetic approach to the situation. It’s important to consider the perspectives of both the parent and the child and approach the issue with understanding and compassion. Your suggestion to address the issue with the parent in a non-blaming and non-judgmental manner aligns with best practices in communication. Additionally, your emphasis on finding solutions that benefit the child’s well-being is commendable. Overall, your response reflects a mature and empathetic understanding of the complex dynamics involved in addressing lateness in pick-up. Well done!
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Rachel Sowle
MemberMay 19, 2024 at 7:32 pmits important to recognize that this is a conversation and not a lecture.
“Mrs. Hopkins, ive noticed that theres been a few instances of a late pick up. Is there any additional support you need or something going on that we may need more communication about?” and depending on that answer (1- there IS something going on that we can support) (2- nothing needed/possible to support)
1- we can provide resources (late programs/ start times,) or suggest that one of the other contacts given can help with pick up times until things are back to normal
2- remind her that 20 minutes can feel long to a child without friends around and of any late fees that may be billed. ask her to respect the centers hours so we can provide adequate care to all our kids/ students.
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I would let them know this is becoming a pattern, is there anything we can help her with? what’s going on, can family or friend help her with picking up the child. let her know this is affecting our staff. affects the child being the last one to leave very late.