How Do I Tell Parents That Extra Cost Extra ….

[Blackcat31]

I think what everyone is missing is the OP said she runs a SCHOOL AGED program.

Sippy cups and assitance with dressing and/or toileting needs are usually not something a provider of school age children require.

[rhymia1]

I think what everyone is missing is the OP said she runs a SCHOOL AGED program.

Sippy cups and assitance with dressing and/or toileting needs are usually not something a provider of school age children require.

That said, if I did school aged only care, I would not accept a child in to care that needed diapering, feeding, etc. For me, that's the whole point of the school aged only program...Now, I'm not totally sure that this child needs that type of care, it seems unclear if the OP even knows for sure. I wouldn't be charging more, but I wouldn't be taking them child on to begin with.

[Willow]

I think what everyone is missing is the OP said she runs a SCHOOL AGED program.

Sippy cups and assitance with dressing and/or toileting needs are usually not something a provider of school age children require.

She said that after the fact.

But anyway....... if she was that adamant about never doing such tasks then why ever take a younger child that needs even very minor assistance with their very basic needs?

[crazydaycarelady]

I definatley would not go with an itemized bill. If you do decide to charge them more I would just say something along the lines of "So and so requires extra care and the charge will be $."

[daycare]

This just blows my mind......I'm sorry, but seriously?


I'm all about encouraging self help skills but that's just so far out of my realm of comprehension that you couldn't be bothered to help a child put their shoes on with the alternative being you'd charge the parents if you ever were......



Different strokes for different folks I suppose. To each their own.

Sorry but I agree with OP. I would not help SA kids dress themselves.
In my opinion that's enabling them.

[Willow]

Sorry but I agree with OP. I would not help SA kids dress themselves.
In my opinion that's enabling them.

Did I miss the part where this child is SA? Was an age even mentioned?

Because I have a 3 year old in pre-K, that doesn't mean I'd declare her a SA-er.

And since when is assisting a kid with a picky zipper is enabling?

A shoe lace gets knotted and a 5 year old can't undo it and that's enabling?

I have another pre-k kiddo here (age 4) who has dance immediately after care once a week. I help her get dressed because she struggles with the tights that go under her leo......and you'd consider that enabling?


Maybe I'm missing something here.....are there really providers who charge for such things?


Not to mention, the phrase:

"I should mention that I do not charge extra for younger children just for extra services."

still hasn't been addressed.

So we're not just talking about school aged children here. We're talking about every age. Younger children needing help with such things aren't in need of "extra services." That's par for the course of caring for a younger child.

If there is a herd of one year old's running around not needing the "extra service" of regular diapering, assistance with sippy cups and able to dress themselves I'd love to be directed to them! That would be AWESOME!!!

[daycare]

Did I miss the part where this child is SA? Was an age even mentioned?

Because I have a 3 year old in pre-K, that doesn't mean I'd declare her a SA-er.

And since when is assisting a kid with a picky zipper is enabling?

A shoe lace gets knotted and a 5 year old can't undo it and that's enabling?

I have another pre-k kiddo here (age 4) who has dance immediately after care once a week. I help her get dressed because she struggles with the tights that go under her leo......and you'd consider that enabling?


Maybe I'm missing something here.....are there really providers who charge for such things?


Not to mention, the phrase:

"I should mention that I do not charge extra for younger children just for extra services."

still hasn't been addressed.

So we're not just talking about school aged children here. We're talking about every age. Younger children needing help with such things aren't in need of "extra services." That's par for the course of caring for a younger child.

If there is a herd of one year old's running around not needing the "extra service" of regular diapering, assistance with sippy cups and able to dress themselves I'd love to be directed to them! That would be AWESOME!!!

I guess I assumed that the kids were SA since I have been on this form for awhile now, I tend to know a little about some of the providers here, OP being one of them.

Yes, I agree having to assist a child every once in a while with shoes, coat or etc. because there is an issue is much different than having to dress a child daily, because they are not able to do it themselves. Once kids show me that they are capable of doing something, I expect for them to continue to do it without my help. unless there is an issue with something, I let them figure out how to do it and gain some independence.

I actually had a 4 year old that had dance and swim and YES she did put all of her stuff on by herself. I taught her how and she then took over and did it by herself. If she asked me for help, of course I would help her. BUt again, it was not becuase she was not able to.

Just curious, why are you picking on the OP so bad, you did this to me the other day too. We are here to get advice, a second opinion or help. We are not here to be torn apart or picked on because of how WE choose to run our business. I don't think that the OP needs to explain anything in detail that is outside of her original question that she asked. Plain and simple.

[countrymom]

To repeat:

This provider found a sippy cup while investigating the child's backpack.

It was not handed to her and told that she was expected to assist him with it. Could be for use in therapy sessions so avoid spills, for in the car or while visiting grandma if they bring the same bag with everywhere....as most parents do.



There are tampons in the bottom of one of my kiddos diaper bags right now, that doesn't mean they are for the child or for the child to use while in my care

To jump to accusations that because a sippy was found in a backpack means the parent was lying is flat out over kill.

please reread my post. No where in my post did I say that I was accusing anyone. I simply asked a question because they said that he can get his own water.

[countrymom]

I guess I assumed that the kids were SA since I have been on this form for awhile now, I tend to know a little about some of the providers here, OP being one of them.

Yes, I agree having to assist a child every once in a while with shoes, coat or etc. because there is an issue is much different than having to dress a child daily, because they are not able to do it themselves. Once kids show me that they are capable of doing something, I expect for them to continue to do it without my help. unless there is an issue with something, I let them figure out how to do it and gain some independence.

I actually had a 4 year old that had dance and swim and YES she did put all of her stuff on by herself. I taught her how and she then took over and did it by herself. If she asked me for help, of course I would help her. BUt again, it was not becuase she was not able to.

Just curious, why are you picking on the OP so bad, you did this to me the other day too. We are here to get advice, a second opinion or help. We are not here to be torn apart or picked on because of how WE choose to run our business. I don't think that the OP needs to explain anything in detail that is outside of her original question that she asked. Plain and simple.

so it wasn't only me who noticed this either.

[Willow]

Just curious, why are you picking on the OP so bad, you did this to me the other day too. We are here to get advice, a second opinion or help. We are not here to be torn apart or picked on because of how WE choose to run our business. I don't think that the OP needs to explain anything in detail that is outside of her original question that she asked. Plain and simple.

I don't mean to pick on anyone.

The situation was presented on an open forum and questions asked by the OP and it didn't make sense to me is all.

It still doesn't which is why I'm asking questions.


I'll admit I can come across very blunt and strong but I'm not telling OP what to do, I am only giving my opinion. I still disagree that run of the mill tasks associated with age specific childcare should be considered extras. It doesn't make sense to say I don't charge for younger kids but I do charge for many of the things necessary to care for younger kids. I've never heard of such a thing.


I think it's one of those things where personal experiences just must differ. I've cared for many differently-abled kiddos and although I could maybe see where if there was some really out there tasks associated with their daily care charging differently I can't imagine charging extra for the basics.


Chalk it up to me being a Libra. I am near obsessed with ethics and justice for all and all that jazz. This one just rubbed me the wrong way so I was hoping to pick brains about it and gain some understanding as to how one can justify charging more for helping a child put on a coat when they're in the childcare business.

[countrymom]

I'm just confused about the part where you take school agers, so is this child a school ager, and will he be in your care all day.

I would give it a two week trial and see if it works out. Sounds to me like you are getting conflicting information. Now if the dad sends you an email with all sorts of other info then I would decline them because they were holding the truth back, and what parents don't realize, is that by doing this is really hurting your child.

oh and I have a special needs school ager here, great kid. But I don't charge any extra but he's high functioning.

[Willow]

I agree with every family is different. We all have the basic contract but if we need to do special then its per family.

I would just be worried about what else they didn't tell you. dumb question, if he is getting his own water then how is he putting the lid on the sippy cup. And why can't whoever takes him to the appointments take him to the bathroom like we take all the other children. Hmmm, this really makes me go hmmm.

This isn't an accusation??

I'm sorry I read it that way it you weren't meaning to imply the family had lied to the OP already, so what else could pop up.

[familyschoolcare]

To help people understand the I do not charge more for younger children but do charge more for a child that needs to be diapered or needs to be feed. I thought I addressed this in post number 8 but apparently I did not make myself clear.

I have a based rate this is for basic school aged care I never take a child younger than 18 months as they will not fit into my program I will never accept a child that needs a scheduled nap as they will not fit into my program. I charge extra for things that are extra work in my program this includes but is not limited to feeding a child, interacting with Sippy cups, diapering a child or dropping a child off at an after school class, or anything else that the kindergarten teacher would not be expected to do. Yes, I will help with the occasional difficult shoe lace or zipper, but will not place the actor or shoes on the child for them.

So for example, if someone wanted to send a child to me that is 19 months old that is fully potty trained, and can feed themselves there would be no extra charges even though they are considered an infant. However, if someone wanted to send a 5 year old to me that is in kindergarten that needs to be in diapers and needs to be feed then there are extra charges. The charges are based on the extra care not the age of the child.

[littlemissmuffet]

OP, I think you should reconsider the questions you ask parents during the interviewing process. As a childcare provider who does NOT charge extra for diapering/ippy cups/help feeding/etc, I ask very specific questions like:
Does the child drink from a bottle, sippy cup or regular cup or a combination? Then follow up with what kind of bottle, sippy or cup are they used to (this has no bearing on what brands I use, I simply ask in case there are issues when I switch the kid to my brands, etc)?
When it comes to toilet trained vs. in diapers I ask LOTS of specific questions - the first being "What is your definition of potty trained"? Can the child pull down/up pants and underwear on their own? Get onto a large toilet on their own/with a stool? Wipe themselves? Wash hands by self? Is there ever a time or situation you put the child in a diaper of pull up (naps, shopping, appointments, etc)?
With feeding I ask if the child is capable of feeding themselves - with finger foods, and utensils. What kinds of foods they like/don't like? And so forth.

Also, because you didn't ask these question initially - and are now curious, do you not feel it is your responsibility to ask NOW? What are you waiting for? Why jump to conclusions when you can simply ask dad at pick up about the sippy cup and if he's prone to accidents outside of therapy, etc?

Finally, having an extra sippy cup on hand costs less than $5 and charging a fee because you have to help a child to fill it up sounds very off too me. And I don't care how inexperienced someone is - changing one diaper does not take 5 minutes. I am all for charging extra when providing extra, but I hardly consider a sippy cup and SINGLE diaper change providing extra - even if you do only provider SA care.

[familyschoolcare]

So back to the original question ….

So is there a reason that I cannot think of for why it would be uncalled for me to send a letter home on Friday September 28, 2012 saying

Dear DCP,

When we interviewed the following things did not come up that DCB would be needing Which is why I did not bring it to your attention at that time that those service cost extra I realize that perhaps you did not think that those would cost extra. Therefore, starting the week of October 15, 2012 (the payment due October 12, 2012) your new fee will be $X. All other aspects of the contract will remain the same. Please sign and return this to me no later than 6:15PM on October 7, 2012.

Parent signature__________________________________________ Date _____________________


Signed me

I will deiced after having the boy today and Wednesday and Thursday what if any extra charge will apply, As discussed here they may not be much other than the charge for putting on a diaper which I am not sure I have room to put a diaper on a child that age. (but that is another story)I have yet to receive the E-mail that Dad said he would send me so maybe he really did cover everything.