Appropriate Time in a Single Day for a Child in Daycare

[momma2girls]

I totally agree with what some of the others have said about what parents do during daycare hours being none of my business. I do wonder though, whether charging by the day is fair when one parent has their child here for only 8 hours, while another gets 12 hours of care for the same rate. I really respect the families that have things worked out so that their child spends as little time in daycare as possible (ie. dad drops off, mom picks up). It shows me that they actually do like their child :-) But occasionally I start to feel like I'm penalizing them by charging them the same as the parents whose child is here from open to close.

Someone mentioned charging a flat rate for 10 hours, and then charging hourly over that (I think ...). Does anyone else do that? Are parents okay with that? Does it change parents' drop off/pick up schedules at all?

I have heard of daycares and centers that charge overtime rates after 10 hrs. per day. I am open 9 1/2 hrs. and just this alone is 48 hrs. a week. I have one friend that does anything over 45 hrs. per week, is considered OT at the rate of $10.00 per hr. per child. THis allows for a 40 hr. week, and an hr. drive time daily.

[Carole's Daycare]

Here in my county, licensing recommends I not be open more than 6-6 M-F, and if I am, I must have a Dr's note/physical and submit a pile of extra paperwork explaining how I can take care of my family, myself, my housework, bathing, cleaning around kids etc while still maintaining safety and so forth. I decided its way to much paperwork, so informed my parents by hanging that memorandum from my county up and referencing it in a newsletter. My current contract says I am open 6:30 to 5:30, and I have clients from about 6:45 until 5:30 or occasionally later, so I'm already close to that limit. I am in process of redesigning my contract, in which I have eliminated hours of operation completely- stating hours are contracted individually based on work hours and reasonable travel time. I am also upping my late fees to make it much more expensive, therefore a better deterrent, as well as changes to my sick policy. I do agree the kids I have that push those hours really do seem to have more problems, in terms of health, general adherance to policies, behavioral issues, sleep/nutrition issues. While a blanket statement is neither appropriate nor accurate, it does seem these parents are too burnt out to be the best parents- they leave them late to do errands, take their holidays leaving kids in daycare, and these same parents often take sick days at home, leaving kids in daycare, to have a "break" and "get things done" when already most spend 3-4 waking hours per day with them at best, and those same kids are often gone on weekends due to custody arrangments. These parents are clearly under-equipped to handle their kids for extended periods, and do not prioritize their family time as much as they should. Yet these same parents have unreasonable expectations of a spotless daycare with 24-7 availability for minimal costs with unlimited activities that will miraculously have their child academically and socially equipped for the world, regardless of the raw material we have to work with. Yet I must cook, clean, shop, and do everything with 6-10 kids most of the time, and my own the remainder. Some people should not breed.

[momma2girls]

Here in my county, licensing recommends I not be open more than 6-6 M-F, and if I am, I must have a Dr's note/physical and submit a pile of extra paperwork explaining how I can take care of my family, myself, my housework, bathing, cleaning around kids etc while still maintaining safety and so forth. I decided its way to much paperwork, so informed my parents by hanging that memorandum from my county up and referencing it in a newsletter. My current contract says I am open 6:30 to 5:30, and I have clients from about 6:45 until 5:30 or occasionally later, so I'm already close to that limit. I am in process of redesigning my contract, in which I have eliminated hours of operation completely- stating hours are contracted individually based on work hours and reasonable travel time. I am also upping my late fees to make it much more expensive, therefore a better deterrent, as well as changes to my sick policy. I do agree the kids I have that push those hours really do seem to have more problems, in terms of health, general adherance to policies, behavioral issues, sleep/nutrition issues. While a blanket statement is neither appropriate nor accurate, it does seem these parents are too burnt out to be the best parents- they leave them late to do errands, take their holidays leaving kids in daycare, and these same parents often take sick days at home, leaving kids in daycare, to have a "break" and "get things done" when already most spend 3-4 waking hours per day with them at best, and those same kids are often gone on weekends due to custody arrangments. These parents are clearly under-equipped to handle their kids for extended periods, and do not prioritize their family time as much as they should. Yet these same parents have unreasonable expectations of a spotless daycare with 24-7 availability for minimal costs with unlimited activities that will miraculously have their child academically and socially equipped for the world, regardless of the raw material we have to work with. Yet I must cook, clean, shop, and do everything with 6-10 kids most of the time, and my own the remainder. Some people should not breed.

Good for you for placing their work and commute times only!! This has worked very well for me!! Let us know how it goes!!!

[MarinaVanessa]

My max is 10 hours a day. When parents work full time they are at work 9 hours (8 working hours and a 1 hour lunch) which gives them 30 minutes to commute each way. It's our state maximum too I think. No more than 10 hours in any given 24 hour period. I however, don't mind that a parent do their own thing. The way I figure is they paid for the slot, they can use it however they want as long as they don't go over their time. I'm open from 6am-6pm so my first little arrives at 6 and leaves by 4pm.

[gkids09]

I have been told by my licensing advisor that it is REQUIRED (in my state) to report any family who leaves their child at daycare 10 hours per day repeatedly. I am open 10 hours per day, and have two or three kids who are occasionally there all ten hours. All of these kids have parents that work. I agree that it doesn't matter what the parents are doing with their time. They are paying me to keep their child, and that's what I'm going to do. I love all the kids like they are my own, so I know they are getting the best care possible from me, and they are learning at the same time! So many parents come in and tell their kid they are going home so they can watch Thomas or whatever the kid is into at the time. Then they come in the next morning and say they watched TV from the time they got home til after midnight so they might be tired. REALLY?? When this happens, I'm GLAD to be keeping the kid for as long as we're open. I would much rather teach him/her than have them going home and being baby-sat by the television...But definitely believe family time is important and kids shouldn't be left any longer than absolutely necessary.

[Unregistered]

Ga

what is the approiate time a child should stay in daycare during the day?

[Unregistered]

I guess it all depends on the traffic and commute time in your neck of the woods. In the daycare I work at, we are allowed up to 12 hrs a day. We have one main highway loaded w/traffic lights and it is the one that 99% percent of commuters are forced to take to and from work. 9:00 traffic is murder and most try to get on the road before 7:00 to get to work for 8:30-9:00. It's also slow going on the way home. My DH actually gets going at 4:30 am to beat the traffic to NYC - and he doesn't have kids to drop off at a dc. He leaves NY at 3:00 and doesn't get home till 5:30-6:00 and that is the norm. All the dcs in my area have the same hours - they'd never survive if they didn't. We do have alot of parents that use up almost every minute of those 12 hrs, but around here, it just can't be helped.

[BentleysBands]

wish it were that easy here!!

i'm open 6a-6p and most others are as well, all centers are too.

i do not care how long a child is here so long as i'm paid for it. i have a flat daily rate regardless of childs age.

yes it does bother me when parents drop off to do shopping,etc BUT if they have paid for it then I can't really say what they can and cant do IMO

yes, i hate having screaming kids and wish i could do shopping w/out kids but life isnt that easy for me. i enjoy taking my kids everywhere but some parents just do not since they have me to watch them

so, as long as the parent tells me what/where they will be so i can contact in emergency then i do not care. life is too short to stress about what a parent does while you have their kids . trust me, i use to be strict like alot of you other providers. since changing my daycare ways, i'm much more happier

[momma2girls]

I used to do 11 hr. then it went to 11 1/2 hrs. now it is 9 1/2, wow what a difference!!!

[DanceMom]

Personally I feel that a child should not be in daycare any longer than 8 hours.

HOWEVER, in REALITY I know that can't happen...so with reality I say 10 hours max and that is a REALLY long day ( for everyone ) !

[Blackcat31]

Here in my county, licensing recommends I not be open more than 6-6 M-F, and if I am, I must have a Dr's note/physical and submit a pile of extra paperwork explaining how I can take care of my family, myself, my housework, bathing, cleaning around kids etc while still maintaining safety and so forth. I decided its way to much paperwork, so informed my parents by hanging that memorandum from my county up and referencing it in a newsletter.

I am also in Minnesota and I have never heard of that recommendation. I thought we were licensed through the state itself. I have never heard of a county who "recommends" how long our businesses should be open. I wish it were that way here in my county. We can be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and there is no maximum that a child can or can not be in care.
I have actually found the children who are in care with me the longest have the best behavior. They may not be the best behavied for their parent because I am the one who spends the most time with them so that makes sense to me. The kids who are here for 10 or more hours are more influenced by me and the rules and expectations I have so they are the better behaved children compared to the ones who are only part timers. It makes me sad to think of the children who are left in care for so many hours per day, but I am being paid so I can not complain. The parents who have their kids in care for so long are the ones missing out, whether it is by choice or due to work hours.

[DanceMom]

I am also in Minnesota and I have never heard of that recommendation. I thought we were licensed through the state itself. I have never heard of a county who "recommends" how long our businesses should be open. I wish it were that way here in my county. We can be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and there is no maximum that a child can or can not be in care.
I have actually found the children who are in care with me the longest have the best behavior. They may not be the best behavied for their parent because I am the one who spends the most time with them so that makes sense to me. The kids who are here for 10 or more hours are more influenced by me and the rules and expectations I have so they are the better behaved children compared to the ones who are only part timers. It makes me sad to think of the children who are left in care for so many hours per day, but I am being paid so I can not complain. The parents who have their kids in care for so long are the ones missing out, whether it is by choice or due to work hours.

Ditto to the bold. Its the same way here....all the kids that are FT and here 10 hours are the BEST ones here. The girl that is here 3 1/2 days is the worst.

The parents always tell me how horrible their kids are at home and I tell them they are the opposite here...and of course they then think that I am not running them enough outside or whatever and that is why they have more energy and out of control at home..

[countrymom]

I agree with the above post, the ones that are here the longest are the best behaved kids. I think 10 hours is long enough, anything longer is crazy, might as well let them move in with me.
BUT, my biggest pet peeve is that, fine, if you want to go and do your errands on your day off while I watch your child, BUT WHEN I WANT THE DAY OFF TO RUN ERRANDS I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY SLACK FROM THESE PARENTS. Unfortantly I have one mom who abuses it and throws a fit when I need a day off. There are some things that I just can't do after 6pm when everyone goes home.

[DEBBIES DAYCARE]

I am open from 7am-5:30. I am allowed per my state to be open 12hrs. Most of my DCP use the whole time Im opened.
To be honest I care about my DCKs and wish they can be home with their parents more. I stayed home with mine. I sacrificed and had a daycare myself so as not to miss one thing. I have babies take first steps here. Some times I dont even tell the mother so she maybe will see it that evening and think she was the first.
However......as much as I love the kids lets be honest. I am in business to make money. I am fortunate to do what I love while making it. But quite frankly its not my business what you do while your child is my care as long as I can reach you. I dont care if a parent drops off their kid and goes home and back to bed. I have a dad who goes to the gym first before pick up. I have a mom who comes with wet hair coz she took a shower at home first. Some still use my daycare on their day off.
My kids are grown. I hint to them how fast it happened. How much they can miss if they dont watch closely. But Im not in this to change the world, or to teach parents how to raise children, or to give advice or to judge. Im in this to maybe change 6 little lives for the better while I have them in my home and to make money. If you want to pay me and give me your child for the day even if your are not working or out early and miss out? Thats your loss. and my gain

[DCMomOf3]

I am open from 7am-5:30. I am allowed per my state to be open 12hrs. Most of my DCP use the whole time Im opened.
To be honest I care about my DCKs and wish they can be home with their parents more. I stayed home with mine. I sacrificed and had a daycare myself so as not to miss one thing. I have babies take first steps here. Some times I dont even tell the mother so she maybe will see it that evening and think she was the first.
However......as much as I love the kids lets be honest. I am in business to make money. I am fortunate to do what I love while making it. But quite frankly its not my business what you do while your child is my care as long as I can reach you. I dont care if a parent drops off their kid and goes home and back to bed. I have a dad who goes to the gym first before pick up. I have a mom who comes with wet hair coz she took a shower at home first. Some still use my daycare on their day off.
My kids are grown. I hint to them how fast it happened. How much they can miss if they dont watch closely. But Im not in this to change the world, or to teach parents how to raise children, or to give advice or to judge. Im in this to maybe change 6 little lives for the better while I have them in my home and to make money. If you want to pay me and give me your child for the day even if your are not working or out early and miss out? Thats your loss. and my gain

I agree whole heartedly with this.