Starting Preschool

[CaliMom]

I have a DCB that is FT, M-F and will be going to preschool in the fall 2 days a week. I have not discussed prices with Mom yet, but would you lower the price since he won't be here for 3-4 hours on those days or still charge for FT? I would not be transporting the child.

[MNMum]

Most people I know would not give a discount,as he would still be occupying a FT spot. I have a family that will be cutting down to 2 days for preschool, and I will give them a deal because they are soooo respectful, their child is an easy kid and I wouldn't fill up anyway (I can have 6 under schoolage, but I prefer more like 4, so I would still take him and 4 others).

[Countrygal]

I charge by the hour. I had a preschooler last year and did not charge for the hours she was not here. But that's just the way I do it.

[boysx5]

I charge its very hard having them coming and going and its not easy to fill a spot for the few hours they are gone

[WImom]

I have one that goes to preschool two mornings a week and I don't give a discount because (a) I have a great preschool program (b) I'd never fill that space. Mom sometimes uses it the hours if preschool is closed (summer, school break) so it works out.

[mac60]

No discount here either. I could never fill the spot, nor would I want to have a changeover for 2/3 hours. Plus, I have a program here.

I have actually thought of charging a fee for going to outside preschool because it is a disruption of my day x 2. Pickup and drop off. It interferes with my breakfast and lunch times and I have to shuffle my schedule around on the days the kids go to "real" preschool. I hate interruptions.

[DCBlessings27]

I wouldn't discount at all. The brother of my 17mo dcb was in preschool. He came one day because his babysitter was sick. He was here from 12-5:30, so I charged the same price as I charge for a whole day. If they are here for more than 5 hours, I charge for a whole day.

I agree with those who say that it's a distraction too. I have some who will be going to preschool in 2013 if they're still with me. I'd rather not deal with the half day thing, so I may not ask for them back after I have my baby in December.

[mac60]

I think what parents forget is that we have a schedule that we follow each day and have the disruptions interrupts our schedules.
This year I had 3 kids go to outside preschool. 2 went W TH F from 8 to 10:40, 1 went M W F from 12:10 to 3. I was constantly juggling my meal times to accommodate them. Not only that, I was trying to do my own preschool activities here which was very difficult due to the various schedules of outside preschool and the days the kids were even here.

I have changed this for next year. If you are involved in "outside" preschool, I will not include you in mine. I am tired of juggling my days around other peoples choices, repeating activities, etc.

[MizzCheryl]

I charge for the spot. Here or not they pay the same.

[Countrygal]

I have changed this for next year. If you are involved in "outside" preschool, I will not include you in mine. I am tired of juggling my days around other peoples choices, repeating activities, etc.

I agree 100%. I may be facing this in the fall, and I'm not sure how to charge. The boy I have is only pt now (4 days a week) and if he goes to half days I will probably have to drop him and fill the slot with a full time or they will have to pay for full time. I am not accepting any part-timers under 30 hours.

[SunshineMama]

I would not lower my rate because that family is occupying a full time spot. You could replace them and keep the same level of income. That's great they are attending preschool, but you should not have to suffer financially for it, kwim?

[momma2girls]

I used to give a break on being gone for 3 hrs. for preschool about 4 yrs. ago. I would never give a discount anymore!! They are taking up a spot, plus it is very hard to keep track of. I had 3 girls at one time- going to preschool, 2 in the am, and one in the afternoon. I couldn't wait for them to start Kindergarten or an all day 4 yr. old program!! It was way too much!! Their schedules were- one MWF at 9am-11:00, one was T-T 12:00-3:00, and the other one T-T at 9-11:00, could you imagine???? It was not fun at all. I had to have each of them ready and send them out the door. There were 2 mothers that wanted me to carry their booster seats out to the cars, and get them both fastened in their car seats. I refused and said there is no way, I could do that!!! Then they made the poor driver do it.

[mema]

I don't change the price. It's their choice to send them, but they are taking a spot that wouldn't be able to be filled. When my kids went to dc I had to pay my regular weekly rate when they went to preschool and was totally fine with it. I have 1 that comes 3-4 days a week during the winter because dcd isn't as busy at work, but they still pay for all 5 days to make sure they have the spot the rest of the year.

[CaliMom]

Thank you for all the replies! The crazy thing is I do have a preschool program that I do here and the Mom loves what her son brings home and says he's learning so much here but she still wants to send him 2 days a week for a couple hours. So basically he will be missing preschool time with me so he can do it somewhere else, seems kinda silly to me but oh well. I will let her know I won't be giving her a discount for those hours.

[My3cents]

Thank you for all the replies! The crazy thing is I do have a preschool program that I do here and the Mom loves what her son brings home and says he's learning so much here but she still wants to send him 2 days a week for a couple hours. So basically he will be missing preschool time with me so he can do it somewhere else, seems kinda silly to me but oh well. I will let her know I won't be giving her a discount for those hours.

does she know this, really know this? This does seem silly. What is her reasoning for this? I would want to know, esp if your offering this service already

No discount- I agree. It is a spot you can't fill for those hours