Informing Parents Of My New Asst. Help Please

[daycare]

I am hiring a new asst. Not only do I want to tell the parents the good news, I also want to be able to tell them a few other things too, like

the assistant can not work for the parents

all communication is to go through the parents and I only

she is not going to be anything but an assistant. I will be the one who will continue to teach the kids, handle all discipline, and etc.

I did read Nanny de's blog, I must say its great. AND I want my assistant to be exactly what her's is. An assistant that has minimal say in what decisions are made in the child care, basically just a second set of hands and eyes to help me with my day.


I am just not to sure how to put this into writing. any help or other ideas would be awesome.....

thanks everyone in advance...

[cheerfuldom]

I dont put that all in writing. I do make sure the assistant is well aware of my rules and that she and I are both saying the same things. You dont have to tell the parents these things directly....just have your asst. ready to tell parents "no" on babysitting jobs and to direct all questions to you. The parents will get it quickly.
I also try to have the assistant NOT there at drop offs and pickups. I find it better for me to have the face time with the parents and not her.

[wdmmom]

I don't tell my parent's about new assistants.

My staff assistant does a very small percentage of the work. She doesn't have ANY contact with the parents, etc.

She comes in, changes diapers, does crafts or helps with the daily activity, feeds babies, assists with potty breaks, cleans up from lunch and cleans.

With the hours I have her work, it's very rare she would ever come in contact with the parents.

When she started, I made it clear of the rules and my expectations.

No cell phones and no working for parents outside of work.

I have had parents ask my assistant to babysit in the past and I told them something like this: My contract with you prohibits my staff assistant for working with you as long as you are a client. Because my staff assistant doesn't have direct supervision of the children, I don't know what her experience is out of daycare. I would hate for something negative to happen (injury/theft/etc) and have it negatively impact me or you have a resentment towards me if something like that were to occur. This is my lifelihood and I don't want to put someone else in the position of potentially being able to take that away."

[daycare]

I don't tell my parent's about new assistants.

My staff assistant does a very small percentage of the work. She doesn't have ANY contact with the parents, etc.

She comes in, changes diapers, does crafts or helps with the daily activity, feeds babies, assists with potty breaks, cleans up from lunch and cleans.

With the hours I have her work, it's very rare she would ever come in contact with the parents.

When she started, I made it clear of the rules and my expectations.

No cell phones and no working for parents outside of work.

I have had parents ask my assistant to babysit in the past and I told them something like this: My contract with you prohibits my staff assistant for working with you as long as you are a client. Because my staff assistant doesn't have direct supervision of the children, I don't know what her experience is out of daycare. I would hate for something negative to happen (injury/theft/etc) and have it negatively impact me or you have a resentment towards me if something like that were to occur. This is my lifelihood and I don't want to put someone else in the position of potentially being able to take that away."

so you dont tell your parents who the person is??

[wdmmom]

I give parents the opportunity to meet my assistant during the 3rd and final interview. If the staff assistant changes, I tell them after the newcomer is trained. Most parents never ask to meet the new one. Their relationship/contract is with me. Primary care is with me. My staff assistant is only here 12-15 hours a week. She's an extra set of hands more than anything.

[cheerfuldom]

I give parents the opportunity to meet my assistant during the 3rd and final interview. If the staff assistant changes, I tell them after the newcomer is trained. Most parents never ask to meet the new one. Their relationship/contract is with me. Primary care is with me. My staff assistant is only here 12-15 hours a week. She's an extra set of hands more than anything.

This is exactly me. I hire the asst., I make the decisions, I dont let the parents think that they have any control or part of the process, because they dont. The asst. is here for ME, not them. They know who she is and see her occasionally but I keep that to a minimum. They know her name and a little bit about her work experience and education. They dont have her cell number or contact her directly for anything. I am always the middle man.

I dont offer for prospective clients to meet her. I do tell them about her though. No one has ever insisted on meeting an asst. before starting here at my daycare.

[Country Kids]

I would certainly want my parents to meet anyone that is working with their child. They meet my entire family as they are here in the house at times and I do not want anyone to say-"I never met that person and have no idea who they are".

As a parent personally, I would want to meet the assistant and know who they are. How ackward if you are at the store or something and the child recognizes the assistant and want to see them but you as a parent have no idea who they are.

In good business sense, I think meeting the assistant is important.

[daycare]

thanks ladies...as you can see I am on mode FLIP OUT~~

I am having a lot of anxiety about hiring a helper. I love all of my DCK soooo much and I would just die if anything ever happened to them. I really really need the asst so that I can stay within my capacity and as said before a set of eyes and hands to help out.

I am typing everything up as we speak, so lots of hardwork going on over here....AND of course the distraction of this site....

thanks so much..

any advice is welcomed.....

[Crystal]

I would certainly want my parents to meet anyone that is working with their child. They meet my entire family as they are here in the house at times and I do not want anyone to say-"I never met that person and have no idea who they are".

As a parent personally, I would want to meet the assistant and know who they are. How ackward if you are at the store or something and the child recognizes the assistant and want to see them but you as a parent have no idea who they are.

In good business sense, I think meeting the assistant is important.

ITA....

[daycare]

I would certainly want my parents to meet anyone that is working with their child. They meet my entire family as they are here in the house at times and I do not want anyone to say-"I never met that person and have no idea who they are".

As a parent personally, I would want to meet the assistant and know who they are. How ackward if you are at the store or something and the child recognizes the assistant and want to see them but you as a parent have no idea who they are.

In good business sense, I think meeting the assistant is important.

I think we were posting at the same time here.

Of course I would tell the parents and introduce her to all parents. they all know that I am hiring someone and they are currently aware that I have people coming in and out trying out for the position. So far I have had 4 people try out and only really like one person even though I need two.

Ladies let me tell you. there is some sixth sense about us daycare provides that just does not come naturally to others.....

[littlemissmuffet]

Daycare: I would write up a contract for your new assitant wherein she agrees to confidentiality, not working for your clients outside of your childcare, leaving important/primary discussions with parents up to you, etc and have her sign it upon being hired. I would definitely introduce the assistant to my parents and just let them know (in front of her) that she's not available as a babysitter outside of your childcare and leave it at that


For those of you who have an assistant that you don't like interacting with the parents... don't you ever use that assistant when you have appointments, have to run an errand, etc? I would want my parents to know and be comfortable with whomever I leave their children with!

I understand being the boss, making all the decisions and making sure you are the primary person communicating with the parents, but I think never even introducing the assitant to parents is outrageous! She's a human being, your HELP, she's not a slave. I would never leave my kid in a daycare where I wasn't allowed to meet or even speak with someone who was spending time with my kid.

[daycare]

Daycare: I would write up a contract for your new assitant wherein she agrees to confidentiality, not working for your clients outside of your childcare, leaving important/primary discussions with parents up to you, etc and have her sign it upon being hired. I would definitely introduce the assistant to my parents and just let them know (in front of her) that she's not available as a babysitter outside of your childcare and leave it at that


For those of you who have an assistant that you don't like interacting with the parents... don't you ever use that assistant when you have appointments, have to run an errand, etc? I would want my parents to know and be comfortable with whomever I leave their children with!

I understand being the boss, making all the decisions and making sure you are the primary person communicating with the parents, but I think never even introducing the assitant to parents is outrageous! She's a human being, your HELP, she's not a slave. I would never leave my kid in a daycare where I wasn't allowed to meet or even speak with someone who was spending time with my kid.

great points here. I am also writing up tons of contracts until I find one I like the most and then will use it. I have been looking all over the net for some, but have yet to find one that says exactly what I want it to say.

I did see that one provider stated in her employee contract that if the asst cannot open a daycare within 1 year of their employment start date and must live more than 15 miles from the provider. If they do start their own daycare, they also cannot take her current clients. If they do, she has the right to sue her in the amount of $2000.00 for each client that she took......

I also need to make sure that I cover slander and bad mouthing my business...

I am one of those that plan for the worst and hope for the best of every situation...

[cheerfuldom]

Daycare: I would write up a contract for your new assitant wherein she agrees to confidentiality, not working for your clients outside of your childcare, leaving important/primary discussions with parents up to you, etc and have her sign it upon being hired. I would definitely introduce the assistant to my parents and just let them know (in front of her) that she's not available as a babysitter outside of your childcare and leave it at that


For those of you who have an assistant that you don't like interacting with the parents... don't you ever use that assistant when you have appointments, have to run an errand, etc? I would want my parents to know and be comfortable with whomever I leave their children with!

I understand being the boss, making all the decisions and making sure you are the primary person communicating with the parents, but I think never even introducing the assitant to parents is outrageous! She's a human being, your HELP, she's not a slave. I would never leave my kid in a daycare where I wasn't allowed to meet or even speak with someone who was spending time with my kid.

As I said in my previous post, the parents do know who my assistant is, they do see her when I have to leave the home and she is here for pick ups. I DO introduce them....but I dont require a meeting before enrollment, they just meet her whenever she happens to be here. Same with my husband and my other kids. She is not a stranger to them and I dont hide her in some corner like a slave. Can you tell I was irritated by your post....who said anything about not "allowing" a meeting and not allowing them to speak to one another? I just think it is best to keep the interaction to a minimum for several reasons. The biggest factor being that asst.s dont stick around forever and it is less upheaval when you have to replace them if the parents arent seeing this huge transition and being scared about it. My current asst. is wonderful and is going on almost 2 years here so thank God this has not been an issue lately (knock on wood)

[littlemissmuffet]

My post wasn't directed at you, cheer

[frugalmama4]

My two cents

I just hired two helpers myself...and announced it in my news letters. I did not give the parents the option to meet & greet one on one...only because they don't have a say in who I hire. But if they ask then I will arrange time for a meet & greet. If they trust me then they SHOULD also trust my judgement. I have four kids of my own, one who stays home with me during daycare hours...therefore I would never hire someone whom I would not leave my own kiddos with.

Think of it like this-if this was a traditional daycare center ...parents would not know every single employee..

Just announced it in your news letter, tell the helper what her roll is and thats-that.

Good Luck!