Please tell me it gets better

[dEHmom]

Ok, so into 2nd week of being licensed. These kids are driving me nutso!

Before I was licensed, I provided all food/snacks/drinks. I did this because it bothered me with some of the foods parents sent, either lack of, or just it being crap!

Parents right now are doing pretty good, except yesterday one dck came with weiners. Nothing else, just weiners. ugh!

However, my really good, dcb that i've had for a long time is entering terrible 2's. And I know he's finding it hard with the extra kids now, because it's not him being the baby anymore. I truly feel bad, but right now I'm just at my wits end. He just went down for a nap, but I don't know how else to deal with this.

Because being licensed, it's not worth it for me to provide food anymore, rates are nearly half of what i charged before, and there is no incentive, plus it's a PITA to do menu. So I don't provide any longer. However, now, the kids are wanting what everyone else has. My really good dcb I mentioned above, will very very quickly,steal someone elses food and eat it! Literally before I can catch him. I sit him down at the table and put his food in front, but he sees other people have something different, and immediately starts to cry. He is impossible to calm down when he does cry, which is rare, but more often now. I have to let him CIO because you cannot talk to him when he is upset. He throws his head back, mouth wide open, and wails. Then he steals everyone elses food. I'm at a loss what to do. I do not have individual highchairs and no way to do it. But they each have their own seats at my kitchen table. Tomorrow I'm going to strap my booster seat high chair to one of the chairs and push him away from the rest a little bit so he can't reach them as easily, but what can I do about the meltdowns over not having the same foods?

Sorry this was a little bit of a vent, but more of a PLEASE HELP ME!

[mismatchedsocks]

Im confused, how are rates now half of what you charged before because you are licensed? Are you on the food program?

As far as the little boy taking food, I would just sit with them or stand right there and remind them to eat their own food. If it continues then start feeding him before the other kids, that way when he has a melt down, he can be excused from the table. Let him know this will not be tolerated, and after a few days of not eating all of his food and being hungry I am sure he will get it, and stop. At least i hope!

[DaycareMom]

When kids bring their own food, I divide everything between everyone so all kids get a little bit of everything an no one complains that someone has something they don't.

Problem solved!

[countrymom]

I don't understand the half rates either, wouldn't you be making more money because you have more kids.

[small_steps]

and have you considered being on the food program. If you're licensed you shouldn't have a problem with that. And maybe then you could continue to provide meals. I find it so much easier than them bringing their own lunches

[dEHmom]

I used to charge on average 25-30 a day (depending on the pickup times, as i adopted Nan's scale). Now, rates are 16.40 a day because with licensing, you charge their rates. I'm in Canada.
We don't have a food program here. So there is no benefit to me providing food. I'm sure there might be some program where the government chips in, but it is just not worth it to provide the food anymore. It's nothing like what you guys get with the food program.

I make more money licensed, because I get quarterly operating grants, and i have more kids, which equals more money. But the rate has to be 16.40 or 20.40 for babies, if I want the grants. EVERYONE that I know that does licensed daycare, including the coordinator, has said, it's not worth it to provide food/drinks. It's much more beneficial to have them provide their own, in terms of money and time.

[laundrymom]

That----- ****S.

Period.

I used to charge on average 25-30 a day (depending on the pickup times, as i adopted Nan's scale). Now, rates are 16.40 a day because with licensing, you charge their rates. I'm in Canada.
We don't have a food program here. So there is no benefit to me providing food. I'm sure there might be some program where the government chips in, but it is just not worth it to provide the food anymore. It's nothing like what you guys get with the food program.

I make more money licensed, because I get quarterly operating grants, and i have more kids, which equals more money. But the rate has to be 16.40 or 20.40 for babies, if I want the grants. EVERYONE that I know that does licensed daycare, including the coordinator, has said, it's not worth it to provide food/drinks. It's much more beneficial to have them provide their own, in terms of money and time.

[Heidi]

Are you allowed to charge an additional fee for food?

I have never had families provide their own food. I actually think it would be more work for me. The fighting, the poor choices, the forgetting. I'd rather make a little extra at dinner, and feed the kids the same thing the next day.

I think in our state, if parents provide meals, they still have to meet the USDA guidelines!

[mismatchedsocks]

Wow that really STINKS! Maybe take a survey in your daycare to see if families are willing to pay a "food" fee. I'm thinking $25 a week per fulltime child? $5 a day?

[dEHmom]

So I was told, it's my choice if I want to offer lets say maybe a breakfast program, for an additional fee and it has to be OPTIONAL. I decided to start a milk/juice/water program because I've got a 1yo coming with koolaid jammers, and juiceboxes everyda, blah!. The coordinator sort of gave me a hard time with it, but said she supposed if it's optional, as I cannot rates fees. Unfortunately the mom who sends the koolaid jammers never opted to join that program. . boo.

I could probably offer to do a lunch program too, but I know not everyone would be on board with it. and because it has to be optional for me to charge it, I just don't see it working either.

[godiva83]

Wow- I never realized that they tell you what to charge...if you don't mind where are you in Canada? I am in Ontario and the going rate for my area is anywhere from $35-$50 a day

[dEHmom]

Wow- I never realized that they tell you what to charge...if you don't mind where are you in Canada? I am in Ontario and the going rate for my area is anywhere from $35-$50 a day

Well there's a catch for it. I'm in MB, and the way it works, is technically I could charge anything I want. But the need for licensed daycares is so high, that everyone wants it, and most need/want subsidy.

In order for me to be able to provide subsidy, I have to charge the lowest rate set by the government, which is 16.40 and 20.40 for infants/day. Also, most people cannot afford the 25/day which is why they want licensed daycare.

I also do not qualify for any grants if I charge more than the minimum, so it is more than worthwhile for me to charge the rates I mentioned, because I will get pay from the government now to make up the difference.

If I start adding fees outside of those rates, I still have to claim as income, and provide receipts, which could affect my grants and stuff. So it's best to just leave it alone.

There are providers that charge more than the set rates, but they get hit hard later on, and find it more difficult to fill spots.

[countrymom]

hmm, I don't think I could do it. I get calls for subsidy too, but I just don't do it, when you mean that people want licensed daycares are they just subsidy people. I can't see kids costing that much, I can easily make a meal for under 2 dollars per kid. they don't eat much. This is why I would never ask parents to bring food, because I don't want to deal with the melt downs and the junk that would be brought here to eat.

[cheerfuldom]

Why not create a food/snack/drink policy? You don't provide any food or drink BUT this is what you do allow in the daycare, to be provided by the parents. You can base it off the USDA guidelines or whatever and outline what parents are to provide as far as meals. Then do a "no" list to include candy, soda, and whatever else that is not allowed at the daycare. Anything sent to the daycare will not be given to the child, it will be thrown away. That solves the 1 year old with koolaid issue. It is going to be more work but since licensed daycare is in high demand, a compromise on the food will be something that most parents can handle. I bet most, if not all, your existing parents would be fine with some general guidelines. some people just don't think before they send their kid with junk to eat. It seems so easy to them and there is nothing that tells them it is not allowed.

You can also keep some emergency lunch options on hand. If the parent does not provide a suitable lunch, then an emergency lunch will be provided for a fee. Make the fee high (and something avoidable because if they follow your guidelines, they won't ever have to pay it). You don't have to be micromanaging about it, just general do's and don'ts.

Many of my DC parents admit that they don't have any clue about what to feed a child so the child ends up eating what the parents are eating (usually junk) or ends up picking for themselves (cartoon themed junk, ha ha). Some of them have really appreciated my handout that goes over ideas for healthy lunch options. Its not anything crazy.....just simple reminders like "instead of sending a sugary pudding, how bout trying a no sugar applesauce?"

[Country Kids]

Does Canada have anything like the USDA program? It might be hard to tell the parents what to bring if they have nothing to follow.