Just Curious About Rates

[Blackcat31]

That's why I only charge per day. When you have a 12 - 5:30, it's going to be very difficult to find a morning person to fill that spot. I explain to my parents that exact thing and then also tell them it benefits them because on days that the child does not have school they are guaranteed the whole day with me because they're paying for it and then they don't have to worry about finding a place for him/her to go. I have never had anyone object to it at all.

I don't offer care on a part time basis at this time so I would never have a child who comes from 12-5:30. I USED to offer partial days but when I did it was either in an a.m. block or a p.m. block of time. A.M. care was from 7:30 until 11:00 and P.M. care was from 2:00-5:30. Neither block if time included lunch or nap/rest time. If lunch was needed, I charged a full day rate since lunch IME, is the busiest, toughest time of the day...especially for part timers.

Restricting the times in which part timers can come allows me to be able to fill the time around them.

Thanks everyone. I didn't mean to offend anyone and say you were doing it wrong. I was just curious as to your point of view. In my opinion, there is no wrong way, just what works out best for you.

I am sure you didn't offend anyone as we all do what works for us and our situations.

I charge according to contracted times because I prefer to know exactly when I need to be at work and exactly when I will be getting to go home.

I don't live in my daycare home, which is why contracted times work awesome for me. Often times I will have days where I am done by 3:30 and I love it!

[Country Kids]

OK big question here-What time do your parents go to drop kids off and go to work.

It I were to have parents get off at 3:30, they would have to be to work at 7:00 which means kiddos arriving at like 6:30.

IMHO it seems that parents that go into work later are being punished by having to pay a higher childcare rate. Most of my families are 7:30-4:30 or 8-5.

I just think if you want them to leave earlier, you have to start work earlier.

[Blackcat31]

OK big question here-What time do your parents go to drop kids off and go to work.

My earliest drop off is 7:00 once per week and 7:30 the rest of the week.

It I were to have parents get off at 3:30, they would have to be to work at 7:00 which means kiddos arriving at like 6:30.

Most kids have two parents. I have yet to run into the situation where BOTH parents go to work early and would need to drop off at 6:30

IMHO it seems that parents that go into work later are being punished by having to pay a higher childcare rate. Most of my families are 7:30-4:30 or 8-5.

No one is punishing anyone.....if my hours/rates don't work for a family they can simply look for a care provider who bills in the manner they want or accepts kids at all hours. I have been billing this way for a while now and have had no issues enrolling families when I have space available.

I just think if you want them to leave earlier, you have to start work earlier.

Not always the case as I said above. I have DCD who goes to work at 7:00 in the morning but the mom drops off at 8:00. Then dad picks up at 3:15 when he is done (although mom doesn't get off work until 4:30).

When I had a straight daily rate, guess who was here from 7:00 until 5:30?

I answered in bold above

[Country Kids]

I answered in bold above

OK, see my situation is totally different then most. I actually parents that work at the same offices and have the same schedule. (3 families)

Then another set one parent works 1/2 away from me and lives closer to their work. Other parent has to come through town to get to work so drops off/picks up.

Another parent goes in at 7;00 get off at 4:00 and picks up. If there is OT the other parent who goes in at 8:00 doesn't pick up till 5:15.

Another parent works odd hours so other parents does all drop off/pick ups.

So the earliest I usually have kids being picked up is 4:15.

[Blackcat31]

OK, see my situation is totally different then most. I actually parents that work at the same offices and have the same schedule. (3 families)

Then another set one parent works 1/2 away from me and lives closer to their work. Other parent has to come through town to get to work so drops off/picks up.

Another parent goes in at 7;00 get off at 4:00 and picks up. If there is OT the other parent who goes in at 8:00 doesn't pick up till 5:15.

Another parent works odd hours so other parents does all drop off/pick ups.

So the earliest I usually have kids being picked up is 4:15.

That would be tough then. I guess the need for quality child care in my area is great enough that I can be choosey about the families I enroll.

I used to work 12-13 hour days but as time has gone on, I have shortened the number of hours I am willing to work and the things I am will do above and beyond my normal services.

I am growing weary and could not fathom working days that long any more. I have enrolled several teacher families in the last few years and have even toyed with the idea of closing for the summers or closing by 3:30. We will have to see what the next few months/years bring my way.

I did my time in the trenches for many years doing LOOOOOONG days, dealing with horrible parents and wild kids and I will not allow myself to do it again.

[lovemykidstoo]

This sounds really good. I like the idea of a daily rate. So do you have people that only need one or two days a week? I'm worried that I would get into that and then have to worry that if I get full time schedules, 5 days, I would be over ratio some days when I have what I would consider part timers..that only come a few days...even though they are paying the full daily rate. How does that work for you?

It really has never been a problem. I only work Monday through Thursday and I only have 1 child that comes those 4 days. I have twiins that come 3 days a week, the rest are all boys and 1 comes 2 days a week, 3 of them come 3 days a week. Alot of times people will want 2 or 3 days and they don't care what days because the grandparents take them the other and they are flexible. so really according to my 4 day a week work schedule, only 1 is full time.

I should add that the kids range with drop off times from 7:30 to 8:45 and pick up times from 3:30 to 5:00

[Country Kids]

That would be tough then. I guess the need for quality child care in my area is great enough that I can be choosey about the families I enroll.

I used to work 12-13 hour days but as time has gone on, I have shortened the number of hours I am willing to work and the things I am will do above and beyond my normal services.

I am growing weary and could not fathom working days that long any more. I have enrolled several teacher families in the last few years and have even toyed with the idea of closing for the summers or closing by 3:30. We will have to see what the next few months/years bring my way.

I did my time in the trenches for many years doing LOOOOOONG days, dealing with horrible parents and wild kids and I will not allow myself to do it again.

Oh, I'm very choosing on who I take! All my parents work professional jobs. I have parents that work for the courts, state, teachers, city, bankers, etc. Thats the thing-most of the hours are 7-4 or 8-5. I'm open 10.5 hours and all 10.5 hours are filled with kids in one way or another.

[momma2girls]

I have work and commute times only. If you say I am open from 7-5, there are some families that will take advantage of every min. you are open!! I had one just call me on a 6-6 time. I told her I am not open 12 hrs. and I really don't know anyone that is open that long. I asked her what her working hrs. are- she said 8-4:30, but she has to go home , get ready for work and workout everyday after work!!!!! I said I am sorry, I don't know of anyone that would do this for you to refer you onto. UGHH!!!!

[Blackcat31]

Oh, I'm very choosing on who I take! All my parents work professional jobs. I have parents that work for the courts, state, teachers, city, bankers, etc. Thats the thing-most of the hours are 7-4 or 8-5. I'm open 10.5 hours and all 10.5 hours are filled with kids in one way or another.

I didn't mean the type of families you are choosy about. I meant the hours families need.

I will take a family that needs care until 3 or 4 before I would enroll a family that needed care until 5:30.

[Crazy8]

OK big question here-What time do your parents go to drop kids off and go to work.

It I were to have parents get off at 3:30, they would have to be to work at 7:00 which means kiddos arriving at like 6:30.

IMHO it seems that parents that go into work later are being punished by having to pay a higher childcare rate. Most of my families are 7:30-4:30 or 8-5.

I just think if you want them to leave earlier, you have to start work earlier.

My earliest is 7am so 4:30 gives them a 9.5 hour day, 5pm gives a 10 hour day. I do charge more for those leaving at 5pm instead of 4:30pm because that extra half hour is at a premium to me. I have things to get to at 5-5:30pm most evenings so I will choose the 4:30 client over the 5pm one any day - I don't really want their money, I want the earlier pick up time. Almost all of my families have one parent drop off, the other pick up. I have had calls for care starting at 6-6:30am or ones who need 6-6:30pm - they get turned away. Its not punishment for the parents - it just does not fit my lifestyle/schedule.

[NiNi.R.]

After loads of hesitation I went from a flat weekly fee to a rate based on their departure time.

BEST THING I EVER DIDhappyface

I went from working 6-6 to 7:30-5:30

I'm actually making the same amount of money or more money if you look at it from an hourly standpoint.

[daycare]

I am thinking about this, but because the parents here dont seem to be bothered by cost I dont think that it will work.

I have a few parents that will spend an additional $40-50 a week in need to pick up past their contracted time or needing to drop off early.

BUT it sounds amazing and I wish I could find a way to make it work.

[lovemykidstoo]

I like the idea of charging less for people that pick up early too. My concern is if you have 4 kids for example and 3 of them take advantage of picking up at 4:00 to get a reduced rate and then the 4th person says, sorry have to pick up at 5:15 because I can't get out early. So the idea that you might get done working early goes out the window and you might as well kept the other 3 and made more money. That would be my concern but if I could be guaranteed that they all picked up at 4:00 it would be worth it. Have you ever had that happen?

[Blackcat31]

I like the idea of charging less for people that pick up early too. My concern is if you have 4 kids for example and 3 of them take advantage of picking up at 4:00 to get a reduced rate and then the 4th person says, sorry have to pick up at 5:15 because I can't get out early. So the idea that you might get done working early goes out the window and you might as well kept the other 3 and made more money. That would be my concern but if I could be guaranteed that they all picked up at 4:00 it would be worth it. Have you ever had that happen?

Spending that last hour or so with only 1 child rather than all 4 makes a HUGE difference in the day and how it ends.....kwim?

If I can ease out of the day with one child rather that be running around like a crazed lunatic trying to entertain 4 kids instead works great for me.

It isn't always about getting done or off work earlier as it is about having less kids sometimes. I personally enjoy an hour or two in the evening with only a couple kids rather than having all 12 of my kids here until the minute I close.

Getting done early once in a while is just a perk to this rate system but for me not the whole point.

[lovemykidstoo]

Spending that last hour or so with only 1 child rather than all 4 makes a HUGE difference in the day and how it ends.....kwim?

If I can ease out of the day with one child rather that be running around like a crazed lunatic trying to entertain 4 kids instead works great for me.

It isn't always about getting done or off work earlier as it is about having less kids sometimes. I personally enjoy an hour or two in the evening with only a couple kids rather than having all 12 of my kids here until the minute I close.

Getting done early once in a while is just a perk to this rate system but for me not the whole point.

Oh I definately know what you mean. I would just like to figure out a way to actually be done working by 4:30 so I can get to my kids sporting functions, but I don't see that happening. Most of the time I'm down to 1 or 2 by 4:30, so that definately is nice.