There's a lot of things we as adults agree to where the consequences can be steep. This is one of the easier ones: we just show up on time. We plan accordingly and we, as responsible adults, manage to pull it off. That's not hard: so why not agree to such a thing?

Another perspective on this is why should we expect someone else to bear the consequences of our failing to meet our responsibilities? If we're late picking up our kid, they staff at the day care leave late to see their own families, they incur higher operational costs, etc.

Their request that we show up prior to their closing time is completely reasonable and that there are stern consequences for failing to meet our responsibilities doesn't seem unreasonable either... especially in light of the comment I was responding to.... I assure you the day care really doesn't want to collect that fee.

If you know you can show up on time, why not?

My guess is that day cares do this to basically mean "show up on time, we're not f'ing around."