What Hours Do You Operate?

[MaritimeMummy]

Me: 7am - 6:00pm.

My rule is that the kids can come and go anytime within those hours.

And two of my 4 kids (after today I will be down to 3) is here every minute of that time.

My "rule"...KINDA BACKFIRED! It's a long freaking day! I started doing it just because I keep my cousin's little guy and she is a nurse and works long hours, so it was a favour to her. The other kids came from 9-5. But then another parent started noticing just how long my cousin's son was here, and slowly started asking to bring her child earlier and earlier and then stay later and later. I couldn't really say no...what could I say, "No sorry, I have a special arrangement so she gets preferential treatment"?

I don't want to lose my cousin because she is great, we grew up together, we're close. I know that she NEEDS these hours and she is not going to find another child care arrangement that is going to accommodate this. But I am burning out fast keeping 2 children at 11 hours a day.

Honestly, if I just cared for my cousin's little guy those hours it wouldn't be bad at all. He's very mellow. It's the other DCK. She's good, but very high-strung and needs CONSTANT supervision. She's 2.5 and by constant supervision I mean I have to take her to the bathroom with me when I go or else she could very well stand up on a chair and open my fridge freezer for something, I think part of the problem is that she thinks she's 12, LOL. Anyway, ethically speaking, can I tell one parent that I am reducing my hours of operation and tell another parent who just HAPPENS to be my cousin that she can continue bringing her son for 11 hours? Or am I pretty much doomed to continue suffering until one or the other leaves on their own?

[Truly Scrumptious]

My families all have contracted hours based on their work hours. But, no one can contract after 4:30 in the afternoon.
They also have "off day" hours. And, everyone has to be in care no later than 9:00 am or I will lock the door and they can't attend day care for the day.

[akpayne]

I dont have set hours. All my DCP have contracted hours. However, I do not start before 7am and I dont work past 6pm. My daily rate is based on 9 hours. They are free to come and go within 9 hours. After that, I charge by the hour.

[kayla]

7-5 no nights no weekends

[Crazy8]

my max is 7am - 5pm but I do contracted hours so families contract for the hours they need, only one is here from my open to close (I extended my day a half hour for them and I feel the difference, I won't do that again!!).

[lil angels]

I am 7-5 most don't come till 7:30 and most are gone by 4:30. I do have one little girl that comes at 6:40 every other week but mom will pick her up by 3:30 those weeks and she doesn't come ever on Fridays. So I am willing to work with that.

[AnneCordelia]

I have contracted hours. I won't open my doors before 7am and I won't work past 5pm. Otherwise all my families contract their hours within those.

[Childminder]

Mon-Sat 6am to Midnight are my official hours but do keep children overnight on occasion.

[Lilbutterflie]

I am open 7am - 6pm because I feel that if I close at 5p, I loose a very large percentage of possible clients around here. We live about 30-60 min outside of all of the major cities & many parents have quite a commute.

Each of my kiddos is here based on their parent's work schedule; they have contracted hours. Any changes to their contracted hours have to be mutually agreed upon in advance. They also have a 10 hr maximum. They have to pay $5 per day if they REALLY need that 11th hour of care. I have not had one parent yet willing to pay for the 11th hour, thus they find a way to keep it at only 10!!

[MNMum]

7a-4:30p. Mon-Thurs.

I charge a surcharge for 7a-8a in 15 min increments. I give a discount if contracted pickup is between 3:30-4:15.

If parents know they can save money by adjusting their work hours, they will usually do it. Everyone benefits, dck spend more time with parents, I have fewer dck when my own school agers are here.

[snowball]

My hours are 7:30-4:30 but I have contracted hours as well.
Yes, you absolutely can tell the parent that your cousin has special arrangements. I would tell the parent that if she wants those hours it will be an extra charge for them.

[akpayne]

Mon-Sat 6am to Midnight are my official hours but do keep children overnight on occasion.

My goodness that is a looooooong day! How do you manage that with personal/family time?

[saved4always]

I always had contracted hours. Each client had their specific contracted hours during which I watched thier child for thier specific contracted fee. They had to sign a contract with thier hours listed for each day and the price they were to pay. If I wanted to make a "special" deal with a client, especially for family or special circumstances, I would not feel guilty for not extending it to everyone.

My first child came at 6:40 and the last child left by 4 p.m. I never contracted anyone after 4 p.m.

[mbullette]

7am-6pm. Most of my families pick up around 5:30 but I have one that comes close to 6pm. In my area, I am the only one that is open that late and I have a waiting list right now.

[Country Kids]

I do hourly and my hours are 7-5:30. Those are my hours that I'm open and I have some children that are very close to being here most of those hours. Its fine with me though as that is what there parents need. What stops the ones that don't need it is when they receive a bill for being here everyday/all open hours. The hourly rate adds up quickly and then suddenly they don't need that many hours and it starts evening out to the hours they really need.