Teacher Rates...

[mamac]

I also don't charge over the summer or for school breaks. I do charge a holding fee of two weeks and if they don't return the money is mine and if they do return it's used towards the 1st two weeks back.

So far, they've always brought their children a couple days a week over the summer (usually not over the breaks which is fine with me!) and while it is less money for me, it's also a nice break with my own kids since I have smaller numbers, so I don't mind at all!

So are you saying that you don't charge teachers but you still allow them to bring their children a couple days a week and then you apply any holding fee towards their return care? That seems like a win-win for them.... not so much for you. Did I misunderstand that?

[Bonnie]

Teachers Kids

I only watch teachers kids due to my choice. My husband is a teacher, we have a busy active family and all my kids are in sports year round. I work 7:30 am to 4:30 pm at the latest and take summers and school vacation days off. I LOVE IT!! I started with friends kids who were all teachers too on purpose. I look at each teachers schedule and actually figure out how many days I will care for their child. I have 3 school districts to work with. I am now in my 3rd year. Learned something every year about how to do it better and smarter. The first year I did not charge for sick days/ snow days or "Grandmas's coming to visit" days. Bad idea, lost alot of money that year.
Then came maternity leave issues, ugh!! These teachers were not used to paying for sick days nor maternity leave so this has created a problem and even more so since I am friends with them too. Double edged Blessing and Sword :-) I did address the sick day and snow day etc... issues by actually giving every family 10 free days/ subtracted that from the total and asked for them to pay year round. I get a pay check in the summer and I am not working. 10 free is alot, I know and thinking of decreasing it. But since they all came from other daycares not charging at all for sick days I was worried I would loose them. It also includes if I have to close because my own kids or I am sick. I now have a maternity leave issue to deal with again and am worried about how to handle this with these families. UGH!! No one around here charges for Maternity Leave and I want to at least charge 1/2. I have bills too ! They get payed for their Maternity Leave, I should too. I wanted to keep everything informal, no written contract and just a verbal agreement, and for the most part has worked out well, thinking my friends won't screw me over....but feel I have to kind of justify my every move and request. Hmmmm.

[WDW]

I don't charge for my teachers over the summer. Something I have always done, they are loyal to me and come back year after year. I have thought of starting to charge a holding fee but not sure how much. My fear is they will want to start bringing them and I love having that little break over the summer. I think thats what stops me.
For any other breaks though-Christmas, Thanksgiving, Spring break-They do pay.

This. I get paid from the day they go back to school until the day they are done for the year, here or not. They only pay what they use in the summer. I do charge a two week holding fee for summer, but let them use it for the first two weeks they are back in the fall.

[mema]

I charge everyone the same. Every age, part time or full time, I have 1 weekly rate. The only thing not paid is if I close for an emergency or illness.

[Mom&Provider]

So are you saying that you don't charge teachers but you still allow them to bring their children a couple days a week and then you apply any holding fee towards their return care? That seems like a win-win for them.... not so much for you. Did I misunderstand that?

Yes, I think you did misundertstand! I charge them for whatever days they do decide to bring them. Last year one family brought their children 2-3 days per week over the summer, they paid for that, plus left me the holding fee which was applied to the first 2 weeks back. I also charged them the p/t rate for care on the days they came, since they are only attending p/t over the summer.

Hope that made better sense!?

[DCBlessings27]

I only watch teachers kids due to my choice. My husband is a teacher, we have a busy active family and all my kids are in sports year round. I work 7:30 am to 4:30 pm at the latest and take summers and school vacation days off. I LOVE IT!! I started with friends kids who were all teachers too on purpose. I look at each teachers schedule and actually figure out how many days I will care for their child. I have 3 school districts to work with. I am now in my 3rd year. Learned something every year about how to do it better and smarter. The first year I did not charge for sick days/ snow days or "Grandmas's coming to visit" days. Bad idea, lost alot of money that year.
Then came maternity leave issues, ugh!! These teachers were not used to paying for sick days nor maternity leave so this has created a problem and even more so since I am friends with them too. Double edged Blessing and Sword :-) I did address the sick day and snow day etc... issues by actually giving every family 10 free days/ subtracted that from the total and asked for them to pay year round. I get a pay check in the summer and I am not working. 10 free is alot, I know and thinking of decreasing it. But since they all came from other daycares not charging at all for sick days I was worried I would loose them. It also includes if I have to close because my own kids or I am sick. I now have a maternity leave issue to deal with again and am worried about how to handle this with these families. UGH!! No one around here charges for Maternity Leave and I want to at least charge 1/2. I have bills too ! They get payed for their Maternity Leave, I should too. I wanted to keep everything informal, no written contract and just a verbal agreement, and for the most part has worked out well, thinking my friends won't screw me over....but feel I have to kind of justify my every move and request. Hmmmm.

I understand charging for maternity leave, and I would charge too. However, the teacher might not be getting paid for maternity leave. I had my first baby while teaching, and I used all my sick days to cover some of my time. The other days came out of my check as unpaid. Unless the teacher planned for the pregnancy and has disability insurance to get some of the pay, she's not getting paid for her maternity time.

I want to start watching teacher's children only if my husband gets a well-paying job. I won't charge for summers other than a holding fee because I want to spend the time with my own children. I plan to charge more per week than I normally charge to compensate for not charging over the summer.

[mamac]

Yes, I think you did misundertstand! I charge them for whatever days they do decide to bring them. Last year one family brought their children 2-3 days per week over the summer, they paid for that, plus left me the holding fee which was applied to the first 2 weeks back. I also charged them the p/t rate for care on the days they came, since they are only attending p/t over the summer.

Hope that made better sense!?

Whew! Yes. That makes sense to me now. I didn't realize you still charged for days in care during the summer plus the deposit. Much more profitable than what I originally thought! Lol.