It's twenty minutes past your usual closing time and Jane is the only
child left. Jane's mother is late, again.
One of the most frustrating aspects of being a child care professional is
late parents. Here are some things to help you with this
problem.
Before accepting a family, make sure you can accommodate the parent's work
schedules. Some parents never work late while
others have last-minute meetings almost every day.
Often, parents don't realize it is a problem when they are late. Their
previous provider may not have minded if they were late.
Or they may not mind working late and assume you are the same way. These
parents are not truly inconsiderate - they are just
not aware that they are causing a conflict. It is up to you to avoid this
problem by clearly stating your policy during the original
interview with the parents.
You might consider charging a late fee for time worked beyond your
standard closing time. Charging a fee for each fifteen
minutes a parent is late will often discourage parents who are trying to
take advantage of you. If you use this system, be sure
your policy and the fees you will charge are clearly stated during the
interview and are written down in your contract with the
parent.
Despite your careful preparations, you may still have a parent who is continually late. If this happens, try explaining how the parents behavior is affecting you and your family by using “I messages”. Focusing on your own needs is more likely to lead to a solution.
For example, you might say: “When you are late, it prevents me from getting home to my own family. My children are really hungry and tired by the time we eat.” Or you might say, “Because you were late, I had to cancel the meeting I was planning to go to. What can we do so this doesn't happen again?”
It can also be helpful to point out how the parent’s behavior affects the child. Children find great comfort in consistency and may find it stressful when their routine is changed. Late parents may find their child difficult to deal with the entire evening. Children also worry when parents are late. Often, parents are not aware of this. Parents may make more of an effort to be on time if you explain this to them.
By using the above techniques, you are less likely to have problems with
late parents. Clearly stated policies and good
communication are the keys to success!
