[raymundo]

I would politely tell them that this is the third time you’ve been late is there anything for us to do to help it not happen again. I would also let them know that although the twenty minutes may not seem like long but for the child it could seem like a very long time and could affect the child because of it.

[Isabella]

I feel the best answer would be to address the issue with the parent, explaining that being 20 minutes late might not seem a lot, but their child in that time missed them and may start to feel slightly abandoned. In the future if it doesn’t get any better then maybe it is a smart idea to address the idea again kindly.

[Megan VanBishler]

I would clarify to Mrs. Hopkins when her child needs to be picked up by and any policies the facility has regarding late fees. I would then ask her if she has something going on that may prevent her from picking up her child, and work with her if this is the case. I would also discuss with her how this affects her child, who may feel as though they are being left behind.

[Logan White]

Although it is not my place to scold or reprimand the parent, I would convey to the parent the potential negative effects on their child due to their repeated tardiness in an objective yet sympathetic manner. That, and make sure that they are aware of the late pick-up fee that occurs when picking up your child after hours as a means to deter future late pick-ups.

[Gemma]

I would respectfully and non-judgementally express my observation of her tardiness and explain that, while flukes or accidents occur and we completely understand an occasional tardy pickup and love to have her child around/of course would take care of her child in those cases, these recurrences are becoming frequent and I’m a little concerned. Then, I’d explain how coming to pick-up can negatively impact the child (make the child feel unsafe, forgotten, etc.) and impact the staff/business (requiring staff to stay late, potentially violating contracts or legal or licensing requirements, etc.). I would make sure to validate her as a parent, expressing that we both want what’s best for the child, and ask if there’s a specific reason for the recurring lateness (getting off of work late, traffic, an errand, etc.) Depending on if there was a reason, and what the reason was, I would express compassion and understanding for the reason and I’d work with her to navigate a solution that works for her, the child, and the caretaker (me/us/the center). This could look like brainstorming how we could help her get here on time or looking into an additional/backup caretaker that could pick the child up if necessary.

[Marcia]

In the comments I found a variety of solutions were discussed, including consequences like late fees for deterrence, explanations that point out the negative effect late pick up can have on their child and the staff, suggesting an alternative adult is available to pick up the child on short notice for emergencies, and reassessing if the program is the right one for the family given the pick up difficulties. Approaching the parent without preconceived assumptions, asking if something changed or is going on that is preventing on-time pick up, and offering to help find a solution seem like important basics for sensitively collaborating to find a solution.

[Caitlin Hain]

Now that this can be considered a repeating event, I would request to meet with the parent. During that meeting I would discuss why they might be late to pick up their child and how that problem can be solved. To make sure the parent understands that this is an issue I would emphasize the difficulties with a late pick up while also offering my support.

[Aisha]

Prioritize the child safety and well-being while also communicating clearly with the parent.address the situation with the parent and potentially implementing a late pickup policy with fees.

[maria]

i would start by talking to parent about how hard it is to be picked up late for the child that they get scared and worried about them, remind the parent about center policies regarding late pick ups

[Catalina]

Having a conversation about 20 minutes late actually being very difficult when it’s a common occurrence. asking why she is late and reminding her politely that its extra work and time for all of the staff when she’s late is disrespectful to us. its also scary for a child when their parent is late, and a lot of children can get very emotional, which is an emotional stress on them.

[Rifka]

If Mrs. Hopkins is late for the third time, I would kindly greet her and ask if everything is okay. Then, I would gently remind her of the center’s closing time and explain how late pickups affect staff. I’d offer support by asking if she needs help finding a backup plan. If the issue continues, I would document the conversation and inform a supervisor if needed.

[Em]

The child will panic, I know this would happen as I experienced a situation where the parent who was supposed to pick me up did not. Then my mom came to pick me up and explained that she had a carpool or a turn taking system that did not go right. Experiences like these are cemented into a child’s life. It can potentially harm or help them.

[Benjamin]

I will ask/communicate if the parent is ok , evaluate the situation, and offer help/resources

[Mirtha Rubio]

Approach Mrs. Hopkins with empathy, assume positive intent first. Speak with her about pickup time and gently remind her of the policy, late fees if there are any, and ask if she needs help arranging a backup pickup person or adjusting routine. Keep a record just in case the issues continue. If it does, that would be a time to involve director or supervisor for formal follow-up.

[Alysa]

If a parent is repeatedly late picking up their child, like Mrs. Hopkins, it’s important to speak with her privately and respectfully to understand the reason. You should remind her of the center’s pickup policies and any late fees, offer support if she needs help to arrive on time, and document each late pickup and conversation. If the lateness continues, involve your supervisor to work together on a solution that supports both the family and the program while ensuring the child’s safety.