Can someone else (e.g. a grandparent) pick up my child?

Yes, of course – we understand that parents can’t always do pickup themselves, and we absolutely allow authorized individuals (grandparents, other relatives, close friends, nannies, etc.) to pick up your child with your permission. During the enrollment process, we’ll ask you to provide a list of people who are authorized to pick up your child from Playto. This is typically on the emergency contact form or a designated pickup authorization form. You can list anyone you trust – common examples are grandparents, aunts/uncles, family friends, or a babysitter. You can also update this list any time if you need to add or remove someone; just inform the center in writing (email is fine) for our records.

Here’s how it works when someone else comes to pick up:

ID Verification: The first time (or first few times) an authorized person comes, we will ask to see a government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license or passport) to confirm they are who they say they are. We compare that to the name on your approved list. This is why it’s important that the name you provide matches their ID name (e.g., use “Jonathan Smith” instead of “Grandpa John”). Once we’ve verified them, we may make a note or copy of the ID for our file.
Family Code and Introduction: We also will likely introduce ourselves and perhaps give them the door code or procedure if they’ll be a regular pickup person. If it’s a one-time pickup, sometimes parents do not share the door code – in that case, the person can ring the buzzer and explain who they are there for, and we’ll let them in after verification. We want to ensure the pickup is smooth but secure.
Child’s Response: We do observe the child’s reaction as an extra safety measure. Children usually run to Grandma or happily recognize the family friend. If a child seemed confused or alarmed (which is rare if it’s truly someone you trust and they know), we would pause and double-check with a parent via phone. But generally, it’s a happy reunion!
Ongoing Pickups: If that person will pick up regularly (say every Tuesday Grandma does pickup), after the initial introductions, they will be recognized by staff going forward. We might still ask to see ID occasionally just to keep our newer staff familiar with faces, so tell Grandma not to be offended if we occasionally double-check – it’s all for security.

If you ever need to have someone who is not on your usual list pick up in an emergency or short-term scenario, you can absolutely arrange that. You would need to contact us (by phone or a signed note or from your verified email) and give permission, including the person’s full name. We will then treat that person like an authorized pickup for that instance – checking their ID, etc. We won’t release a child to anyone, even if the child seems to know them, without explicit permission from the parent/guardian. So please ensure to notify us; otherwise we’ll be calling you and won’t let the child go until we have your okay. This can even include if mom usually does pickup and dad shows up unannounced – if we haven’t met dad before, we might check in with mom just to be 100% sure (unless he’s listed, which he should be). Safety first, always.

In summary, yes, someone else can pick up your child as long as: (1) you have listed them or directly authorized them, and (2) they have proper ID to verify identity. We’re happy to accommodate your family’s needs and we know it takes a village – many of our kiddos love seeing a grandparent or other loved one come for them sometimes! Just keep us in the loop, and we’ll handle the rest with our security protocols.