New Year's Eve Overnight PNO....Only ONE Taker!

[Christina72684]

I offered a New Year's Eve Parents' Night Out overnight from 7pm tonight till 10am tomorrow for only $30 and only had one family sign up!!! I originally said I would only do it if I had at least 3 families, and the family that did sign up had 2 relatives sign up too with a total of 4 children. I thought, "Yes! I'll make $120 and finally have some extra cash to buy a new cell phone since mine is broke!" Then one of the relatives pulled out earlier this week, and then the other did yesterday afternoon, so I'm down to 1 child! Are you kidding me?! I posted this on my personal Facebook and our daycare's FB page for the past 3 weeks, and luckily my husband's cousin signed up, so at least I'll have 2 kids. I had several friends comment saying how great this sounded, how cheap it was, if they had little kids they would definitely take me up on this, etc.....unfortunately that doesn't make me any money. UGH! So frustrated!

[momofboys]

Sorry!~ The only solution I can think of would be to have required payment up front in order to sign up. That way if they decided not to come you would have still made some $$$$. The way I look at it too is you can only take so many kids so when parents say they are no longer interested it could have cost you saying NO to someone else who could have taken their place.

[Abigail]

I see a lot of PNO offered for different occasions here. Mostly parents would prefer a sitter in their own home so their child is home sleeping in bed and the parents don't have to drop them off for the night and pick them up in the morning. I see the benefits, but I know that it would be convenient for you to have them in your home. If I thought ahead I would have offered the same here, but I want to make sure everyone I watch is enrolled and on the food program and I don't want to go through the hassle for a one-time drop in.

[momma2girls]

I almost offered the same thing here, but I was going to do a $25.00 dep. on each child.

[snbauser]

Sorry this happened to you. I used to offer it and never had any takers so stopped. If I were to offer it again I would only offer it with payment up front.

[mismatchedsocks]

I did it last year, 6pm-9am for $40 and had 2 kids. This year $40 for same time for older child and $50 for 7 month old. I figure I am home anyway, so its fine with me.

I do however ask for payment when they sign up, and that way if they pull them I still get paid.

I offer a Friday or Saturday night once a month for the families. $20 from normal pick up time-9pm. I have had some take me up on this, and dont mind it at all. I have 3 families who have no immediate family in town to watch kids, so its date night/night out for them.

Sorry this happened to you, at least you have something for tonight. Next time maybe make a contract just for this night?

[Childminder]

I had seven last night. 7pm-11am $50 each. I've been doing it for quite a few years, some years one or two is all we have some years we stack them like cord wood. We always set the clock ahead and have a celebration @ 10:00pm, I'm sure the neighbors think we're nuts. Last night someone lit some fire crackers for our benefit though so maybe not The kids have a blast throwing streamers and running around outside like a bunch of fools yelling Happy New Year! Then we come in and make a toast with champagne (sparkling cider) in real wine glasses. In bed by 11 and pancake breakfast this morning. They all slept till 9am so we had it easy this year, usually they are up much earlier.

If you try it again next year have your parents tell their friends. Usually they are going out with people of like circumstances that have children of the same age. Most parents like to be able to sleep in without the kids to worry about and not drive around taking the sitter home with all the drunks on the road. Typically it's cheaper than a sitter too. At least around here, they make double on new years so usually about $16 per hour.

[Ariana]

Maybe if you sent them an "organized activity" list with all the fun stuff the kids will be doing and how you'll celebrate it might entice more parents? I've never done this before myself but if I were to send my daughter I'd want to know she was going to have a fun time kwim?

[Abigail]

For those who are licensed and have scheduled daytime hours for licensing, do you just call and let your licensing person know you're staying open overnight for the event? We have different rules here to follow if we provide over night care, but I would be interested in taking kids overnight if it was okay without having to have each child sleep in a bed.