Making The Transition.....

[oldschool]

new to the forum...been in childcare for 20 plus years... looking to make a change to teacher only childcare as both my boys will be in school. I have come up with the idea of the teachers school schedule as I have been working from 5:30 to 6pm M-F every week and I am having a hard time getting my own things done at night. While I am caring for other children during the day I have problems getting my own childrens things taken care of. Wanting some feed back as to how to make the transistion from reg. childcare to teacher only childcare, not sure if I should give notice to my current parents as deposit come in or to give current parents the option to follow the new schedule and stay with me.

[Breezy]

Welcome to the forum!!

If you're happy with your current families, I would give them the option of changing to the new schedule and if they aren't interested give them a date of when the schedule will go into effect so they may find alternative care.

[oldschool]

making the trasistion

Thanks for the feed back, also looking at maybe cutting back on my hours and then filling the openings with teachers children. This would be a slower transistion but as far as pay goes may be the better solution for the family income. Looking at a 4:30 close knowing some children will leave but then filling the spots with the teachers children.

[Blackcat31]

Welcome to the forum!

Your status has been upgraded so you can post freely now

I agree with Breezy, I would give your current families the option of following your new schedule. Many families may welcome the opportunity to get by with a teen neighbor or relative in the summer months than to have to commit to child care contracts for the year.

I would think giving them the option to stay with your new schedule is the best thing to do as you really don't know who might take you up on it and stay. No sense having to find new clients if the ones you already have are willing to conform.

[DaisyMamma]

Personally I wouldn't tell them until you get some interviews through the door. This is coming from a financial point of view. Unless you think they would actually adapt to your schedule, then I might mention it as an upcoming possability to see what they say.
You don't want all of your families walking before you're ready.
Do your families work that long? Or are they off doing their own thing after work? Or do some come early am and others later am, all with varying pickup times?
Your hours are very very long! I don't know how you do it. Mine are 8:30-5:30. I don't allow for more than travel time during the day. Obviously my families have 9-5 jobs, so I lucked out. But if someone called that needed 7:30-4:30 I would probably turn them away. There are people out there who have the hours you want, you just need to find them!