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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 9/20/2009 7:51:16 PM
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| We have a problem in our church with parents not picking up their children from kids' church in a timely manner. We usually have around 30 children. Most of the children are picked up within 15 minutes of the end of the service, but we have several that are left up to a half hour after the service ends. Volunteers (2 adults and 3 or 4 teens) are asked not to leave until the last child is picked up. This is affecting some of the volunteers, especially some of the teens who rely on others for transportation. Our SP has suggested that after 15 minutes, the remaining children should be escorted back to the main building. The children can then go find their parents. It's a small building, but I'm still concerned about safety. Also, whoever escorts the children to the main building is then expected to go back to the kids' building and help clean up. Any suggestions on how to handle this?
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Forum Expert
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Boy, it's like dominos! If parents don't pick up their children in a timely manner, the teachers can't gather their children, so their children's teachers have to stay and so on and so on.
When I encounter this problem, I make sure to explain the expectation to parents, by announcement or email, that parents are to pick their children up in a timely manner. (You will need to decide what "timely" means at your church. At our church it's 10 minutes after the service.) I keep the communication upbeat and positive!
If it's just a few people causing the problem, I suggest that the director speak to the parents that are very late to see if there is a legit reason. If so, the director offers to have someone bring the child to them. Usually it's me - the Children's Minister! I do that a lot for my Sunday morning teachers who are waiting for parents to pick up their students.
(If you do this, use adults and arrange the special pick-up with the parents and the child's teacher at check-in time.)
If the parents are simply abusing your team by socializing before they gather their children, I'd have an adult leader take the child/ren and find the parents. Usually, if done with a smile and a servant heart, they get the message. They may even apologize for being tardy!
Lisa B from NC
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What about taking the children to the main building for the close of the service each week? During the closing song (if you have one) allow them to go to their parents, return, clean up your area and be done when church lets out. I have no idea how large your church is, but it does make things easier.
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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Forum Expert
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We use to have some who did this, some had real reasons for not being able to pick them up right away and we were ok with that (and they didn't do it very often maybe once or twice). Others however, would stand and talk with people and just not come get their kids. We would take the kids over to the adult service and find their parents. This usually made an impression because other adults saw it and they felt bad for leaving them. If it was a constant problem we would ask the parents to assign someone (like an older sibling, friend, family member etc.) to be able to come get their kids so the workers for that day could go home. This always seemed to work, they got the point that we weren't a babysitting service and they would then be over to get their kids right away. We never lost our cool and always kept it very nice so no one would get upset.
If it is a problem even after you have tried other ideas, I would talk to your pastor or an elder and see what they think should be done. Most of the time parents just need a gentle reminder that the childrens workers have family too, and they can't be there all day waiting for people to get their kids.Good luck and God Bless!
Melissa - NY
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| We've tried lots of these ideas. Putting it in the bulletin, hand outs, talking to.... The hard truth is there are certain parents that will not come get their kids until they are done socializing. And invariably it is the kids that, um, require extra grace who end up staying the longest. It is frustrating for the volunteers and for the kids who are watching every other kids get picked up and are eagerly waiting for their parents to come. As Children's Director I'm not locked into a classroom and can gather those kids and go find the parents so the teachers can get on with their day. Some parents are apologetic and an embarrased and some don't seem to get the hint. Sigh.
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