Having Issues With My Assistant

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I wouldn't tell a staff assistant that I didn't "need" them to be hurtful. I would tell them that because it would be the truth. I've had staff assistants that I needed because my license and capacity required it. I've had staff assistants because I WANT someone to do the work of the child care that I don't want to do.

There is a BIG difference between those two. The "need" staff assistant is much more expensive than the "want" staff assistant. The "want" staff assistant is much easier to find then the "need" staff assistant. Blowing off work or coming late for a "need" assistant can cause much harm to your business. The relationship and heirarchy of work with the "need" assistant is more complex because their actions and presence can profoundly affect your livlihood.

It's not personal. It's just the way registration and rules work. The majority of my eighteen years I have done care I have had "want" staff assistants. I only care for the number of kids I can legally have by myself. I truly do not NEED help. I have a helper just for ME to be happy. When they aren't doing the things I want them to do then I'm not happy.

I make it very clear when I interview that the staff assistant is for ME. I hire out the portion of the business I don't want to do. If they are coming in late they are taking away from what I want. If they are doing their nails on the couch then they are stealing time which is stealing money from me. If they are taking my time to eat my food while they are separate and away from the work they are there to do then they are stealing time from me and causing me the double whammy of paying for it.

It sounds like your job is very different than what I have staff assistants do. I don't leave my staff assistant here while I leave the premise. I would only do that for extreme medical appointments that can't be done on nights and weekends. That happens once or twice a year. I have someone else come in to supervise my assistant when that happens so she is not here alone with the kids.

My staff assistant doesn't make ANY decisions about what she does every day. She does the work that all of the assistants before her did. I decide everything and after doing this for so long that "everything" is wrought from years of experience where I know how every minute is going to go and what I want the helper to do within our system. She doesn't have to be creative or fill in the blanks. I decide what she will do and what I decide really works well.

I can out perform any staff assistant I could ever hire. I couldn't afford someone as competent as I am. My current helper is thirty years my junior and has been hand trained by me for 2.5 years and I run circles around her. I'm WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY FASTER in EVERY SINGLE THING she does. I know more in my pinky then she does in her whole body. She's very knowledgeable for her age and experience but she isn't knowledgeable in the way I am. We have very low turnover so the number of kids she has had a life experience with is very small. She's only had three babies in her time here.

On the days she is gone I start getting the kids ready to go outside at the same time she does. It takes me about fifteen minutes to change three diapers, get seven kids in whatever outdoor wear they need, and get everyone from the basement to the stroller out front. It takes her about 40 minutes. When I do lunch by myself it takes about twenty minutes. It takes her 40 minutes. When I do diapers it takes me less than a minute per kid. She averages three to four minutes per kid from start to stop.

Now she does this work every day. She changes a hundred diapers for every one I change. She does a hundred lunches for every one I do. She does a hundred get kids ready and get em upstairs for every one I do. Despite the fact that she has WAY more experience doing these direct care chores with these kids than I do and is thirty years my junior... no matter what... I can pop in and have it done in a FRACTION of the time it takes her... even with my inexperience because I hire it out on a day to day.

I can work longer, harder, faster, and with more minute to minute ability because I'm a hard worker, fast, and I know what I'm doing. When I say I can do it with my hands tied behind my back and my eyes closed... I don't mean that litterally but theoretically I CAN do this at a level she simply can't. I've only had one assistant that even comes close to my abilities technically and she was here over seven years and VERY fast. She became so expensive that my business couldn't sustain another highly experienced person.

You said: If a person isn't needed why would they be on time and why would I do anything with the children if I'm "not needed" for it anyway?

If you worked here it would be because your job IS the hours I hire you for and I specifically tell you from the begining that I don't need you... I want you. I want you to do the work I don't want to do. The job IS to do what I want. The job isn't to do what I can't.

I have a really great relationship with my helpers. They stay for a long time for a worker in this business. I'm very very easy to get along with if you do your job. I'm the type of person who just puts out whatever I don't like and then forget it before I even get to the top of the stairs. I don't hold grudges and I don't expect anyone to work like I do and can. I understand that learning this craft takes YEARS and I really really take the time to teach my helper everything I know about caring for kids. These guys are phenomenal care providers when they get three years or more under their belt here.

The kind of training I do here on daycare.com and in my consulting business is the same kind of training I do IRL onsite with my helper. Anyone of the ladies on here that I have consulted with will tell you that within a few minutes of talking to me that they KNOW i KNOW what I'm talking about and can explain very complicated things in a simple workable way. If I can do that with a stranger on a situation dependent basis... you know I can pull it off with an in house worker who is with me for years with kids I know like the palm of my hand.

So........... if I had a worker that painted nail on my couch it would be a declaration of war here. That would mean that all my hard work was for nothing. If they came late and took up even more time for herself... it would mean all the work I do here doesn't matter to them. It would be an insult and I would be pissed.

Work hard and do what I tell you to do and the rewards will be a great salary... a lot of paid time off... great raises... and an education you could never get in a book or a class.

Don't punish me for all the good I do by behaving in a way that shows me that all you want out of this is easy money. I don't NEED you... I WANT you.... Make ME happy and I will make YOU happy and a lot better off financially and educationally.

I didn't mean I wouldn't show up for work if I wasn't "needed". In another part of my post I mentioned scenarios of when it'd be nice for people to take off work, but because it's my job, and I'm supposed to do it, I show up with a good attitude about it. Even on low attendance times (when several children are out for some reason, if I'm supposed to be there, even if I'm not feeling 100%, I still go in ready to work and do my job. It's all in the attitude of want vs need. If you tell someone you don't need them, that you're better than them, what kind of attitude is that? Yeah, you can have it because you own the business, but should people go around with that attitude just because they can? If someone else went around with the better than you attitude, how often would you want to be with them? If you have attitude of I don't need you, I can do it better than you when you're not here, then if that's true, why would that person need to come in? If you just want them there for your convenience, I imagine it'd make it much easier for someone to call in all the time with some excuse or another. After all, it doesn't matter if they come. You can do it all better and faster without them. I'm not saying they should do that, because it IS their job to show up on time and when scheduled, but it makes it easier for a person to make it ok in their own head for calling in. "I'm really tired this morning, my child was up late last night sick. Since she can do things better without me, it will be ok to call in. It won't hurt anything if I do". I am NOT making excuses for the assistant of the OP. She should NOT be coming in late, talking on her phone, painting her nails () or whatever else. I'm just saying that an attitude of "I'm better than you. I don't even need you. I can do it much better than you with hands tied behind my back", etc is not going to encourage an employee to shape up and do their job better. Simply tell me what my problems are, what you want me to change, etc with a professional attitude ("I'm better than you, and don't even need you" is NOT professional) and I'll be more than happy to. But then, I give this 100%. I don't take it lightly. This is what I plan to continue doing throughout life in one form or another (teaching preschool, having my own home daycare, etc). I do everything I can to make this business as easy as possible on the owner. She has enough to worry about with all the paperwork, state licensing, food program, etc. and 11 hour work days (when I'm not closing for her) dealing with children from the moment she wakes up to the moment that last parent arrives 11 or 11 1/2 hours later. Then her own children and husband after she gets home. I arrive on time or early (if there's something I need to do there to get ready for the day), and show up every single day I'm scheduled (which is everyday, unless there's there's a big decrease in enrollment) and then I show up on the days she tells me to show up. If I'm sick and not feeling a bit well, etc I know I'm supposed to be there, she's counting on me being there, so I show up. It's too hard to get a substitute, so common sense says I have to be there.
A few posters have said the assistant of the OP is just too young and that's the problem. NO, age doesn't have anything to do with the job you do (unless you're too old and can't get around, or you're still in highschool and don't have any experience yet). But even then at that age, they should know to be on time, and not painting their nails while on the job! I get paid minimum wage, no paid holidays or sick days, no paid vacations, no benefits (except she does encourage me to eat while I'm there, even if I'll be leaving soon after the children go to sleep at nap time). I don't take advantage of that though. I don't eat their snacks, or drink their milk, etc. I bring my own water (although she says I can drink whatever is there) to drink with my lunch. But even with no benefits, I consider it benefit enough to have a job to begin with, and to get to work with her (we've become close friends, so that's a big benefit in itself!), and she's really easy to work for. If I see something that isn't working, she doesn't have an attitude of "I know more". She thinks about it, and considers if it's something we should change. Usually she'll try the change and see if it works. If something is going well, and I have an idea that might make it better, she considers it as well. But she seems to appreciate suggestions and encourage them. We help each other do the best we can with suggestions and constructive criticism for what is best for the business and for the children enrolled. She treats me like a partner for the most part, and asks my opinion in a lot of decisions she has to make. She makes people feel valued and appreciated. That alone makes me want to try harder, and I'm sure it's the same for all the home daycare providers on here when a parent makes them feel valued and appreciated.
To the OP, your assistant has NO excuse to perform like that. In my opinion, you're doing the best thing you could have. NO ONE should expect to have a job and show up late, painting nails on your time, forgetting kids inside during a fire drill, etc. Keep your back bone with her you're doing a great job!

[nannyde]

I didn't mean I wouldn't show up for work if I wasn't "needed". In another part of my post I mentioned scenarios of when it'd be nice for people to take off work, but because it's my job, and I'm supposed to do it, I show up with a good attitude about it. Even on low attendance times (when several children are out for some reason, if I'm supposed to be there, even if I'm not feeling 100%, I still go in ready to work and do my job. It's all in the attitude of want vs need. If you tell someone you don't need them, that you're better than them, what kind of attitude is that? Yeah, you can have it because you own the business, but should people go around with that attitude just because they can? If someone else went around with the better than you attitude, how often would you want to be with them? If you have attitude of I don't need you, I can do it better than you when you're not here, then if that's true, why would that person need to come in? If you just want them there for your convenience, I imagine it'd make it much easier for someone to call in all the time with some excuse or another. After all, it doesn't matter if they come. You can do it all better and faster without them. I'm not saying they should do that, because it IS their job to show up on time and when scheduled, but it makes it easier for a person to make it ok in their own head for calling in. "I'm really tired this morning, my child was up late last night sick. Since she can do things better without me, it will be ok to call in. It won't hurt anything if I do". I am NOT making excuses for the assistant of the OP. She should NOT be coming in late, talking on her phone, painting her nails () or whatever else. I'm just saying that an attitude of "I'm better than you. I don't even need you. I can do it much better than you with hands tied behind my back", etc is not going to encourage an employee to shape up and do their job better. Simply tell me what my problems are, what you want me to change, etc with a professional attitude ("I'm better than you, and don't even need you" is NOT professional) and I'll be more than happy to. But then, I give this 100%. I don't take it lightly. This is what I plan to continue doing throughout life in one form or another (teaching preschool, having my own home daycare, etc). I do everything I can to make this business as easy as possible on the owner. She has enough to worry about with all the paperwork, state licensing, food program, etc. and 11 hour work days (when I'm not closing for her) dealing with children from the moment she wakes up to the moment that last parent arrives 11 or 11 1/2 hours later. Then her own children and husband after she gets home. I arrive on time or early (if there's something I need to do there to get ready for the day), and show up every single day I'm scheduled (which is everyday, unless there's there's a big decrease in enrollment) and then I show up on the days she tells me to show up. If I'm sick and not feeling a bit well, etc I know I'm supposed to be there, she's counting on me being there, so I show up. It's too hard to get a substitute, so common sense says I have to be there.
A few posters have said the assistant of the OP is just too young and that's the problem. NO, age doesn't have anything to do with the job you do (unless you're too old and can't get around, or you're still in highschool and don't have any experience yet). But even then at that age, they should know to be on time, and not painting their nails while on the job! I get paid minimum wage, no paid holidays or sick days, no paid vacations, no benefits (except she does encourage me to eat while I'm there, even if I'll be leaving soon after the children go to sleep at nap time). I don't take advantage of that though. I don't eat their snacks, or drink their milk, etc. I bring my own water (although she says I can drink whatever is there) to drink with my lunch. But even with no benefits, I consider it benefit enough to have a job to begin with, and to get to work with her (we've become close friends, so that's a big benefit in itself!), and she's really easy to work for. If I see something that isn't working, she doesn't have an attitude of "I know more". She thinks about it, and considers if it's something we should change. Usually she'll try the change and see if it works. If something is going well, and I have an idea that might make it better, she considers it as well. But she seems to appreciate suggestions and encourage them. We help each other do the best we can with suggestions and constructive criticism for what is best for the business and for the children enrolled. She treats me like a partner for the most part, and asks my opinion in a lot of decisions she has to make. She makes people feel valued and appreciated. That alone makes me want to try harder, and I'm sure it's the same for all the home daycare providers on here when a parent makes them feel valued and appreciated.
To the OP, your assistant has NO excuse to perform like that. In my opinion, you're doing the best thing you could have. NO ONE should expect to have a job and show up late, painting nails on your time, forgetting kids inside during a fire drill, etc. Keep your back bone with her you're doing a great job!

Former you sound like a great employee.

My SA job just isn't anything like what you describe. I do require excellent attendance and the assistant to work the whole time they are here. It's just a part of the job..... not because they feel needed or based on MY skill set. They have to be on time every day and have excellent attendance because it's the job NOT because I do or don't need them. They have to work the whole time they are here because it's the JOB not because I can outperform them.

I interviewed a girl a month or so ago who was a part time assistant in a day care on the other side of town. The daycare isn't doing well census wise so her part time hours were cut dramatically. I spoke to her current boss before the interview and her reference was pretty good. She had attendance issues that I needed to address but other than that she had a pretty good reference.

She came with cpr, first aid, mandatory reporter, and had been approved to be a substitute for the other day care. She was one of the most qualified (as far as the DHS is concerened) applicants I have had in years.

She had a couple of college classes in ECE and the part time experience for about six months. She had the minimum standard classes (cpr etc.) that can get really pricey when you have to pay for and get the employee certified. She also had a current physical which is another minimum standard.

So she came with some plusses and I was willing to pay the salary she wanted which was about two bucks an hour more than she was making in her current job with near full time hours IF she turned out to be someone I wanted.

I had one of my former assistants sit in on the interview and it was basically her telling us that she had experience and that she wanted a job where she was able to be independent and do an educational/craft/play with the kids kind of job.

I had already talked to her before she came over for the interview and had explained five ways of Sunday that I was looking for a worker bee. I made it clear I don't hire someone to play with the kids and that this is a well oiled machine here. I explained that any "suggestions" she had for improvement would most likely NOT work with my system. I have a system and there really isn't any room for creativity here.

I also questioned her about the attendance issue and her version of it was quite different than her boss. She felt she had excellent attendance. :confused:

She was a really sweet kid. She was newly 21 and had a high school diploma. She had the classes the DHS required so her start up cost here would be pretty low. She had done the typical three/six month stints at a couple of centers which totaled two years of hands on experience. She was someone I would have considered doing a second interview on but when she called back the day of the second interview she told me she didn't think it would work.

She thought a lot about what I wanted in the job and she knew she couldn't manage it. She wanted to be a team. She wanted to do a developmentally appropriate program. She wanted to have a say in what she does daily and wanted to have the job BE primarily playing with/educating the kids. She knew from the interview where I and my former staff assistant told her that the job was pretty much the opposite of what she really liked.......... that she would not work out here.

She said even though she thought she could learn something from me... she wanted a job where the employer was open to learning from her. She wanted input and to be more equal.

She liked her job at the other day care where she was left alone with the kids and could come up with and do what SHE was educated to do. She felt that her classes in ECE prepared her for caring for kids and she wanted to use her education. (she didn't have a degree ... just a couple of classes).

I was really happy that she understood and realized that this job would not work for her. I loved that she was willing to walk away from a job that paid hundreds of dollars more a month and was a secure full time job in an established day care because she KNEW she couldn't manage the job. That's putting your money where your mouth is

She really wanted more of a job like the one she had with the other home provider. She didn't have any insight to know that the way the other provider was managing her business was WHY she was basically out of a job. She knew she hated center work but wasn't far enough along to realize that what she wanted out of the home day care job would be awful hard to find. It would be hard to find a home provider who could support what she learned in school. Her former employer tried it and couldn't make it work.

I encouraged her to do what SHE wanted to do and gave her a couple of numbers of people I knew were looking for employees (not in child care). She checks in with me once a week or so to see if I know of any other jobs. Her former boss now has completely cut her position and she is still looking for work. She hasn't been able to find that home day care situation that pays what she wants and has the full time hours. She's broke and jobless but she at least knows what she wants.

She's a cool kid and she reminded me a lot of myself when I was her age. She could have had a shot at a great job here but her what she wanted out of the job was something I couldn't offer.

The things you value in your job are things I could not offer. You wouldn't consider working here anymore than the girl I interviewed. It's really important that the staff assistant and the owner are a good MATCH just like provider and parent need to be a good match.

I can't offer a job where the staff assistant is needed. I don't want to run the number of kids it would take to HAVE a job where they were needed.

I can't offer a job where the staff assistant is as competent as I am or as fast. I couldn't afford that person.

I can offer a job where I don't need the staff assistant and they aren't as competent or as fast/hard worker as I am. I can offer a job where the person is solely a worker NOT a partner. I can offer a job where the staff has little to no input in the day to day job.

The person who takes my job gets paid handsomely for not being a partner and not having input. Your boss pays you to be a partner like employee and to have a say in your day to day. I pay for someone who doesn't want that. Both are worth paying for ..... that's for sure.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

Ah, now I see what you're saying, NannyDE. Your employee description is different from those around here. Very different from what I've heard other providers talk about from other areas, as well. But as long as your employees know ahead of time what to expect, and they're okay with it, that's great. It sounds like your employees do well to work for you. paid time off, paid holidays, paid vacations, high hourly rate, able to work even when the enrollment is low (that's a huge one for me because I never know from month to month what my income will be and how many hours I will be able to receive because it all depends on whether there's enough children to pay me the full time amount). Most of the time my income is dependent on being needed. So when enrollment is low I'm praying just as hard as the owner for more children But also because I do want her to be successful in daycare. When she hired me, she was looking for someone who could do hands on things with the children. Down on the floor type. She wanted someone to take over planning and teaching preschool, and who could help her in other areas as well, before or after preschool hours. I began doing everything as she was, but she encouraged us (at that time she had another assistant, but she couldn't depend on her being there all the time) to give suggestions on things that might work better, so I felt free to give ideas. I have taught preschool and worked at daycare before this one, but did not have any higher education when she hired me, so I don't think I know everything (a have a lot of learning to do), but I've always been willing to try something new. So when I hear something that worked for someone else, or have seen how someone else does something that works well for them, I try to take from it, and apply it to our situation, as long as the owner is ok with it.
Can I ask, what does your assistant do? What is a typical day for her? I'm just a little confused since you don't hire them to do things with the children like playing and doing activities with them. We have a very structured day, starting at the time I walk in, until the children wake up from nap. We do worship and Bible story, then I begin circle time and preschool activities, then we have snack, finish preschool activities if needed, then free play outdoors (or in, if the weather prevents outdoors), then lunch, and nap. Then we walk down to get the school agers off the bus, come back in for snack, and then free play outdoors again (or indoors if we can't go out), until all the children have gone home. During the last 15 min of the day, I begin vacuuming, cleaning up, preparing trash to take out, sweeping the floor again from snack crumbs, etc (very few children by this time, so all this can be done while they are free playing). The children's care during any free play periods are up to me, giving the owner time to do other things. Part of that time, of course, she spends preparing lunch. So if things are calm, and they're playing well, I can sit and read with some, or put puzzles together with another, help another sound out words to spell, etc. If not, I'm just busy keeping an eye on everyone, and reminding them to clean up after themselves before they get out more toys from another center, helping some in the restroom, if needed, reminding them to use their words and work things out for themselves, reminding them to use walking feet (they have to be reminded of this over and over and over again some days).... Only one of us are working after 1:30 or 2:00 every day, so anything after that is all up to one person to do, without back up, since the other has already left for the day.
Whoops, I'm off topic. Sorry, I'm going now!

[nannyde]

Ah, now I see what you're saying, NannyDE. Your employee description is different from those around here. Very different from what I've heard other providers talk about from other areas, as well. But as long as your employees know ahead of time what to expect, and they're okay with it, that's great. It sounds like your employees do well to work for you. paid time off, paid holidays, paid vacations, high hourly rate, able to work even when the enrollment is low (that's a huge one for me because I never know from month to month what my income will be and how many hours I will be able to receive because it all depends on whether there's enough children to pay me the full time amount). Most of the time my income is dependent on being needed. So when enrollment is low I'm praying just as hard as the owner for more children But also because I do want her to be successful in daycare. When she hired me, she was looking for someone who could do hands on things with the children. Down on the floor type. She wanted someone to take over planning and teaching preschool, and who could help her in other areas as well, before or after preschool hours. I began doing everything as she was, but she encouraged us (at that time she had another assistant, but she couldn't depend on her being there all the time) to give suggestions on things that might work better, so I felt free to give ideas. I have taught preschool and worked at daycare before this one, but did not have any higher education when she hired me, so I don't think I know everything (a have a lot of learning to do), but I've always been willing to try something new. So when I hear something that worked for someone else, or have seen how someone else does something that works well for them, I try to take from it, and apply it to our situation, as long as the owner is ok with it.
Can I ask, what does your assistant do? What is a typical day for her? I'm just a little confused since you don't hire them to do things with the children like playing and doing activities with them. We have a very structured day, starting at the time I walk in, until the children wake up from nap. We do worship and Bible story, then I begin circle time and preschool activities, then we have snack, finish preschool activities if needed, then free play outdoors (or in, if the weather prevents outdoors), then lunch, and nap. Then we walk down to get the school agers off the bus, come back in for snack, and then free play outdoors again (or indoors if we can't go out), until all the children have gone home. During the last 15 min of the day, I begin vacuuming, cleaning up, preparing trash to take out, sweeping the floor again from snack crumbs, etc (very few children by this time, so all this can be done while they are free playing). The children's care during any free play periods are up to me, giving the owner time to do other things. Part of that time, of course, she spends preparing lunch. So if things are calm, and they're playing well, I can sit and read with some, or put puzzles together with another, help another sound out words to spell, etc. If not, I'm just busy keeping an eye on everyone, and reminding them to clean up after themselves before they get out more toys from another center, helping some in the restroom, if needed, reminding them to use their words and work things out for themselves, reminding them to use walking feet (they have to be reminded of this over and over and over again some days).... Only one of us are working after 1:30 or 2:00 every day, so anything after that is all up to one person to do, without back up, since the other has already left for the day.
Whoops, I'm off topic. Sorry, I'm going now!

She does all the physical care and supervision of the kids when she is in the house. Our daily walk takes about an hour and a half of staff time average. It's a bit more in the dead of winter. She serves meals, supervises, hand feeds, and cleans up afterwards. She does the food program paperwork, folds laundry, cleans and sorts toys. She also helps with peeling and chopping for our meals.

She's physically in the room the entire time the kids are up even if we just have one kid in the room. I don't cut her hours based on census. She gets the same hours regardless of whether or not we are low on kids. When we are low on kids she does the super deep cleaning stuff and organizing.

She does some of the table stuff you do. We rotate toys and activities out so she will supervise the kids at the table, fold laundry, and watch the kids out on the floor. She gets out our collections of toys and sets them up for whoever is doing that activity. She supervises the cleaning and sorting of the collections which takes about a half hour or so each play cycle.

We have so many toys here that we are able to just rotate the collections to the kids. They have something "new" pretty much every day to keep them occupied. We also have a great group of base toys that are always on the floor. She doesn't play with them but she does get them out and set up the area for whatever they are doing.... playmobil, lincoln logs, beads, puzzles, trains, etc.

We do about a half hour a day of Kindy prep for the kid or kids going off to school the next session IF they have been with us since they were babies. We wouldn't do it for kids that came in at a year or over. We have four years of "go play toys" before we work with them to shore up the prekindy stuff. It's very easy to do once the kids have had four years of "go play toys". She can do those activities with the oldest in the late afternoon when most of the kids are gone or clean toys, do paperwork while she's doing it. She pretty much multitasks whatever needs to be done that day. She stays busy from the minute she gets here till she leaves. There's no down time. Less kids means more work here.

[Sprouts]

She does all the physical care and supervision of the kids when she is in the house. Our daily walk takes about an hour and a half of staff time average. It's a bit more in the dead of winter. She serves meals, supervises, hand feeds, and cleans up afterwards. She does the food program paperwork, folds laundry, cleans and sorts toys. She also helps with peeling and chopping for our meals.

She's physically in the room the entire time the kids are up even if we just have one kid in the room. I don't cut her hours based on census. She gets the same hours regardless of whether or not we are low on kids. When we are low on kids she does the super deep cleaning stuff and organizing.

She does some of the table stuff you do. We rotate toys and activities out so she will supervise the kids at the table, fold laundry, and watch the kids out on the floor. She gets out our collections of toys and sets them up for whoever is doing that activity. She supervises the cleaning and sorting of the collections which takes about a half hour or so each play cycle.

We have so many toys here that we are able to just rotate the collections to the kids. They have something "new" pretty much every day to keep them occupied. We also have a great group of base toys that are always on the floor. She doesn't play with them but she does get them out and set up the area for whatever they are doing.... playmobil, lincoln logs, beads, puzzles, trains, etc.

We do about a half hour a day of Kindy prep for the kid or kids going off to school the next session IF they have been with us since they were babies. We wouldn't do it for kids that came in at a year or over. We have four years of "go play toys" before we work with them to shore up the prekindy stuff. It's very easy to do once the kids have had four years of "go play toys". She can do those activities with the oldest in the late afternoon when most of the kids are gone or clean toys, do paperwork while she's doing it. She pretty much multitasks whatever needs to be done that day. She stays busy from the minute she gets here till she leaves. There's no down time. Less kids means more work here.

Wow I need to get my assistants to do all of that! And you do consulting right....??

So I am just curious, what do you do through out the day? I can assume this website is high on the list

[nannyde]

Wow I need to get my assistants to do all of that! And you do consulting right....??

So I am just curious, what do you do through out the day? I can assume this website is high on the list

I do all of the care of the kids when she is not in the house. A few weeks ago we went from operating about twelve hours a day to now about ten. She's here about six of those. I do all food purchasing, storing, and cooking (with the exception of some peeling/chopping). I set up lunch in the playroom so when the kids come in all they have to do is sit and eat. I do all kitchen work (about three hours a day total) and wash and dry laundry (about a half hour). I do ALL parent contacts. Arrivals, departures, and daily communications are a little over an hour of my ten hour day.

I have the playroom on camera so I supervise my staff as she works and monitor the kids playing. I intercede when need be. She's only at the 2.5 year mark of experience so I still do quite a bit of training with her as she learns the biz.

I do my side businesses when I have time in the midst of that.

[Country Kids]

I do all of the care of the kids when she is not in the house. A few weeks ago we went from operating about twelve hours a day to now about ten. She's here about six of those. I do all food purchasing, storing, and cooking (with the exception of some peeling/chopping). I set up lunch in the playroom so when the kids come in all they have to do is sit and eat. I do all kitchen work (about three hours a day total) and wash and dry laundry (about a half hour). I do ALL parent contacts. Arrivals, departures, and daily communications are a little over an hour of my ten hour day.

I have the playroom on camera so I supervise my staff as she works and monitor the kids playing. I intercede when need be. She's only at the 2.5 year mark of experience so I still do quite a bit of training with her as she learns the biz.

I do my side businesses when I have time in the midst of that.

What made you cut your hours? Did you have to let people go in order to do that? How did you go about letting people know. I cut mine by 1/2 hour and you would have thought it was hours earlier the way some of mine responded. I did it to get parents to pick there child up and have to make an end to their day.