What Would You Do?

[Francine]

Well right now this won't be an issue, I received an email from Mom #1 stating that as much as she appreciated me taking the time to interview her, to show her around my home etc. They are not going to use my daycare because they don't agree with my vaccination policy, all my policy says is that the parents are to keep it up to date.

Now I do understand this, not all people want to vaccinate their kids. The thing that I do have an issue with is when I give a person my handbook, especially somebody that I think would be a good if I always tell then that the book is not carved in stone and if there is anything at all that they don't agree with please by all means talk to me about it.

She really sounded like she wanted the spot so I don't know if this is just an excuse or if it's legit. Hopefully the other Mom will call, she was out of town all weekend and wanted to call my references so I'm not going to start stress yet. Thanks for all of your advice!

[misol]

Well right now this won't be an issue, I received an email from Mom #1 stating that as much as she appreciated me taking the time to interview her, to show her around my home etc. They are not going to use my daycare because they don't agree with my vaccination policy, all my policy says is that the parents are to keep it up to date.

Now I do understand this, not all people want to vaccinate their kids. The thing that I do have an issue with is when I give a person my handbook, especially somebody that I think would be a good if I always tell then that the book is not carved in stone and if there is anything at all that they don't agree with please by all means talk to me about it.

She really sounded like she wanted the spot so I don't know if this is just an excuse or if it's legit. Hopefully the other Mom will call, she was out of town all weekend and wanted to call my references so I'm not going to start stress yet. Thanks for all of your advice!

Most providers have some sort of vaccination policy - especially since most states require it. There are ways for her to "opt out" in most states. A normal parent should be leary of a provider with NO vaccination policy whatsoever. I think she was just letting you down easy. If she is against vaccinating her children then she A) should have asked this question in the interview and B) should have been willing to discuss it further.

I hope Mom #2 works out for you.

[originalkat]

Most providers have some sort of vaccination policy - especially since most states require it. There are ways for her to "opt out" in most states. A normal parent should be leary of a provider with NO vaccination policy whatsoever. I think she was just letting you down easy. If she is against vaccinating her children then she A) should have asked this question in the interview and B) should have been willing to discuss it further.

I hope Mom #2 works out for you.

***I agree***

[Former Teacher]

At my former center..we NEVER gave out ANY paperwork (except a price list) unless there was a deposit placed. Should the parent want to start at a later date then we would offer to give the parent the paperwork and either A. they had to fill it out then and there or B they had to wait until the child actually started (we had way to many parents say they lost their paperwork!)

Anyway back to the OP. Before you got closure from Mom 1..I would have called ONLY because you failed to mention about the holding fee etc. Otherwise like everyone said first come first served. In the call I would have said, you have until such and such time and if I don't hear from you then I will refer to other parent.

Now however HAD you told her about the holding fee etc then yes I would have gone with Mom 2 without a call because you snooze you lose

[misol]

At my former center..we NEVER gave out ANY paperwork (except a price list) unless there was a deposit placed. Should the parent want to start at a later date then we would offer to give the parent the paperwork and either A. they had to fill it out then and there or B they had to wait until the child actually started (we had way to many parents say they lost their paperwork!)

Anyway back to the OP. Before you got closure from Mom 1..I would have called ONLY because you failed to mention about the holding fee etc. Otherwise like everyone said first come first served. In the call I would have said, you have until such and such time and if I don't hear from you then I will refer to other parent.

Now however HAD you told her about the holding fee etc then yes I would have gone with Mom 2 without a call because you snooze you lose

Former Teacher, that's interesting. Was there some other way that the parents were able to review the policies BEFORE making a decision to enroll? Like maybe online or something? I would never put down a deposit unless I had a chance to read through all the details and fine print beforehand.

[Former Teacher]

Former Teacher, that's interesting. Was there some other way that the parents were able to review the policies BEFORE making a decision to enroll? Like maybe online or something? I would never put down a deposit unless I had a chance to read through all the details and fine print beforehand.

Misol..we would discuss with the parents all our policies in person..mainly the sickness policy and the holiday schedule as that's what parents tend to want to know. As I would do the walk thru I would answer as many questions as I could. After 17 years you kinda get a feel of what the parents need and want to know ::

Our policy about handing out the handbook etc without the deposit was to protect us in 2 ways. 1. Being that we didn't want someone else to "copyright" our wording etc. 2. Because of money. It costs money to print up ALL those papers only to wind up in the trash.

[QualiTcare]

money talks - whoever signs first gets the spot.

don't worry about it.

[Chickenhauler]

At my former center..we NEVER gave out ANY paperwork (except a price list) unless there was a deposit placed. Should the parent want to start at a later date then we would offer to give the parent the paperwork and either A. they had to fill it out then and there or B they had to wait until the child actually started (we had way to many parents say they lost their paperwork!)

Anyway back to the OP. Before you got closure from Mom 1..I would have called ONLY because you failed to mention about the holding fee etc. Otherwise like everyone said first come first served. In the call I would have said, you have until such and such time and if I don't hear from you then I will refer to other parent.

Now however HAD you told her about the holding fee etc then yes I would have gone with Mom 2 without a call because you snooze you lose

Misol..we would discuss with the parents all our policies in person..mainly the sickness policy and the holiday schedule as that's what parents tend to want to know. As I would do the walk thru I would answer as many questions as I could. After 17 years you kinda get a feel of what the parents need and want to know ::

Our policy about handing out the handbook etc without the deposit was to protect us in 2 ways. 1. Being that we didn't want someone else to "copyright" our wording etc. 2. Because of money. It costs money to print up ALL those papers only to wind up in the trash.

Having done contractual business for most of my adult life, I'd turn around and walk away (and have done so many times) from anyone who says "You can't have a copy unless you sign it, I'll just tell you what it says and you sign it here".

I'm not committing to anything, or putting down any money until I have had a chance to read, understand, and review multiple times, ANY contract where it's financially and legally binding.


To me, this sets off more alarms than a prison break.


Maybe I'm just paranoid, but it's kept me from getting ripped off more than once (nothing personal to you former teacher).

[misol]

Having done contractual business for most of my adult life, I'd turn around and walk away (and have done so many times) from anyone who says "You can't have a copy unless you sign it, I'll just tell you what it says and you sign it here".

I'm not committing to anything, or putting down any money until I have had a chance to read, understand, and review multiple times, ANY contract where it's financially and legally binding.


To me, this sets off more alarms than a prison break.


Maybe I'm just paranoid, but it's kept me from getting ripped off more than once (nothing personal to you former teacher).

My thoughts exactly!

Former Teacher is right though - it gets very expensive printing off all those pages. My parent packet has approx. 30 pages. That's why I recently put everything on my website. They can go there at theor leisure and read my policies and print off the contract and forms themselves!

[Chickenhauler]

My thoughts exactly!

Former Teacher is right though - it gets very expensive printing off all those pages. My parent packet has approx. 30 pages. That's why I recently put everything on my website. They can go there at theor leisure and read my policies and print off the contract and forms themselves!

That sounds fair....or if they don't have internet availability, make them cough up $5 when you give them a copy if they want to take it home and review it at their leisure and tell them it will be credited towards their first weeks bill if they sign it and bring the child to your daycare center.

[QualiTcare]

i think most people are able to view things online these days - so they could print the policies at home if they wanted. so, yeah, that seems fair.

i would just find it very shady if i asked for a copy and i wasn't given one or directed to a website at the least.

it's a cost of doing business, really, and would be nice to just be given a copy. but the alternative of being able to go online would be ok.

[Unregistered]

I also go over my policy book at the interview and tell the parents that if they want to take it home they can pay me $5 that will be credited to their first bill or wait to get the packet after they enrolled, I've actually let someone take the packet when they didnt have any cash on them asking if they choose not to use me to bring it back and they came by and paid me $5 even though they didnt go with me, yes i was shocked but it was nice.. Kiddie Care

[Former Teacher]

I TOTALLY understand where everyone is coming from and actually agree with everyone. However let me try to explain more if I can

We were/are a licensed child care center (55 kiddos). Our policies weren't even really "policies" like you have in the home daycare setting. Meaning that our policies were mainly all TX Minimum policies. In an odd way, TX rules not ours so to speak. Which of course anyone can check out online.

As for the paperwork, as I would hand the parent the paperwork and explain each part and have the parent read it. Registration/deposit costs mainly hold the spot for the child. If a parent decides to pay for a spot and then reads the paperwork and decides no, then of course I personally would refund. Provided that it was in a reasonable amount of time. However in my experience parents don't read what they sign ::

I hope I explained myself better...I don't think I did but I hope!

[mismatchedsocks]

I offer to email the policies to parents, but if they interview I do hand out to each parent, the policies. The other paperwork I give them once they want to start.

I am the oddball though, I like to touch base after an interview. Usually its by email just saying thank you for interview, please let me know if you have any more questions. I have always received an email back saying yes can we start on X date, or if they decided they are not coming here they let me know that too. Its nice to know either way.

[misol]

I offer to email the policies to parents, but if they interview I do hand out to each parent, the policies. The other paperwork I give them once they want to start.

I am the oddball though, I like to touch base after an interview. Usually its by email just saying thank you for interview, please let me know if you have any more questions. I have always received an email back saying yes can we start on X date, or if they decided they are not coming here they let me know that too. Its nice to know either way.

Oh, I have done that before. I will send an email immediately following the interview saying that it was a pleasure to meet them and if they have any questions to contact me. What I have not done is contact the parent after a few days to see whether they are interested in the spot.