Leaving Daycare for the Day

I would be thrilled that he loves daycare so much and feels so comfortable there. Do not feel hurt by it, he does love you and wants to be with you, but when kids are busy doing one fun thing, they dont want to stop - no matter how good the next coming thing is. I would just try to pick him up at the same time every day and have the provider prep him right before you come. This will pass and it will be on to something else. It is much better than him crying that he doesnt want you to leave him there.
S., mom of 3 and daycare provider

Funny...me too a little. My daughter tells me all the time that she likes school (daycare and preschool) and how much she loves her teacher. It makes me happy, but occasionally she also doesn't want to leave. When that happens, I try to give her a chance to get used to the idea that she'll be leaving soon. I spend a few minutes (10-15) there with her telling me what she does during the day. Showing me around the classroom, toys she plays with, art work, etc...and how things work. I know it's hard taking the time, especially when you have so little time at home in the evening. She's also very social so she knows going home, she won't have anyone to play with except mom and dad, and that's not nearly as fun. But, I've found that when she's particular clingy at school, it's because she needs time to transition. It's a great opportunity to for me to interact with her and her friends a bit and get to know how her days are. Try it and see how it goes. Come in and ask him what toys he payed with today and how they work. Ask for introductions to other kids by your son (even though you probably already know them), find out where he took his nap, etc.

I had a secong thought, you might want to mention it to your daycare provider also, so that she/he is comfortable with you getting a tour of their days activities. :)

What type of things do you do in your quality time at home with him in the evening? Reminding him of these activities (not just mundane supper, bath, bed routine) might be the key. Speaking from experience, evening pick up at day care is a stressful time for everyone. Taking a little extra time to "be" in his child care environment at the end of the day(and really where he spends the majority of his waking hours) may help him with the transition. Ask him where he reads books or what toy he especially liked playing with that day in addition to a good exit routine. Usually, when children feel rushed is when they will dig-in for a good power struggle. One last thing, is to break the cycle by having your provider get him ready and dressed with nothing left to do but send him out the door. A solid week of this will help break this tantrum habit, and you can start fresh with your new routine.

my son did the same thing and I see it right now with a couple of the other little girls. How old is your son. I have seen it with the kids mentioned above between 1.5 and 2 years old. It could just be a phase. I like the suggestion below to have the daycare worker give some heads up that its almost time to go. My daycare provider does that type of thing when dad or grandparents are picking him up. He adjusts much better.

If you pick him up at the same time each day, ask the daycare teachers to give him a fifteen minute warning that you will be there to pick him up (it is most useful if they have or you provide a visual timer for him to see). Then they can help him wrap up what he is playing and prepare for your arrival. If they can't do this, then when you arrive you can give him a 5 minute warning then sit down with him at whatever he is doing, let him share it with you and then clean it up together and move into a leaving ritual (see below)

My son is 4 and still struggles with transitions. Developing a ritual around leaving daycare can help (some ideas might include a hug to each teacher, say goodbye to any classroom pets, a healthy snack waiting in the car, a favorite stuffed animal waiting in the car for him, etc). Try to do things the same everyday.

how old is your son...

my son did this too for a little while, he was 2 or 3 when he did this and it turned out he was upset with me for dropping him off and going to work and not being with him during the day...so we talked about how mommy and daddy have to go to work during the day and how just like we go to work he goes to play with his friends, and about a week later the 'tantrums' stopped...

this would happen when we would mess up his schedule too, like the holidays when your in and out and everything gets a little screwy...or someone goes on vacation...
kids like routines, they thrive off them, behave better when the routines are followed. it might be a contribution to his 'tantrums'

I find with my daycare kids that it is not always that they don't want to leave but that they are testing their parents authority. It is more like a little game to them. And if that is the case just remain calm and state that it is time to leave and if he doesn't want to, just pick him up and go. It shows him you mean business and that he can also trust you to be the "parent" and helps him feel safe (even if his behavior isn't showing this :) )