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I've been doing childcare as a registered provider for over 5 years now. Every year that I've been in childcare around the late end of October till about early spring I usually go down drastically from a full daycare to maybe one child. It's actually quite depressing and aggravating. I've advertised on craigslist and that does nothing for me. I've signed up for all types of websites and post ads, and phone calls are soooo far and in between. This really put me in a financial frenzy for I barely am able to provide for me and my children. I am a single mother of three and I need to be home with my children right now. Any suggestions on what I can do to help better advertise myself. Or what can I do to better prepare myself for when I'm extremely slow. All suggestions would help greatly. I'm just at my breaking point, deep down inside I know I can make this business work, I just need better resources and to be stirred in the right direction.
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why do you always lose so many kids?Comment
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I only care for about five kids at a time, and sometimes they are families with multiple children. Also parents get laid off, or move to another state, or dcm may decide to be a stay at home mom to cut cost of childcare. Just to give you some reasons that I run into.Comment
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I am a low-ratio daycare so I never take on siblings. If I have a family already enrolled and they have a second child, fine, I make space for the second child, but I will never freshly enroll a family that has more than one child. It's too hard to fill two or more spaces at once as opposed to just one.
I hand out business cards everywhere I go. Grocery stores, library, book stores, at the park - basically anywhere I see parents with kiddos. I just say "Hey I own a childcare in (this) end of town and I currently have an opening if you're looking or know anyone who is..."
I post pull tab flyers at local stores and libraries, museums and art galleries.
I leave brocures at local schools for kiddos with younger siblings.
I wear tshirts with my daycare name and contact information on it when I am out and about.
You could put ads in the newspaper, use google to advertise, get your name/logo and small ad in the phone book under "daycare", use bump0er stickers on your car, put a sign outside your home.
You could have a referral program for current families - if they refer someone and that client stays for 6 months or longer, the referring client can get some kind of discount or a free parent's night out.
That's all I can think of right now.
Good luck!Comment
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Are parents happy with your services? Word of mouth is big for me. What does your daycare space look like? Do you take classes and trainings to connect with other providers and keep up on the latest in childcare.
I try to start my kiddo's out as babies and keep them on up. You can't predict what is going to happen, families will come and go- that is just the name of the game. Keep a waiting list going of people that call looking for child care. I do the same thing as Muffet and only take more then one child if the family expands while in my care.
when out and about talk your place up and hand out business cards.
Make sure to have a policy/hand/rule book and contract and stick to it right from the get go. Have a Niche to sell yourself on, preschool program, whatever your top services are. Sell yourself.
Good luck things will turn around. When it is good, it is good, and when it is not you just have to work harder- Best-Comment
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Thank You...Yes they are happy as far as I know:
: Haven't gotten any complaints. I live in a three bedroom town house so my space is pretty fair. Yes I go to classes and continue my learning experience, so I can be in the loop it's part of my state regulations
. I haven't really had the opportunity to meet up with any providers or talk with them on the phone, that would be something to think about. I have a contract, I usually stick to it but sometimes I do deviate from it
. One thing I don't have and need to put together is a handbook, Any ideals or examples of what should be going into the handbook?
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i know how you feel..its very hard in my area because everyone wants to save money.. ive had two families discontinue because they just couldnt afford daycare costs and had to get family to help with child care instead..
it REALLY ****s when you take on ppl thinking it will be steady income.. you become full and you cant accept others that call in.. everytime i cant help to think..maybe that other family would have stayed.. wish i had talked to them first LOL..im new at this and i am so scared of the fact my bills depend on whether someone can pay for daycare or not.. but alas, its the business..praying things get better really soon!!!Comment
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I purchased return address labels from Walmart (around $4) and printed some off with my daycare name/phone number & logo. I put them inside books and on the top of puzzles and donated them to OB/GYN offices, maternity stores, pediatric dentists, pediatricians, a LOT of local stores with 'kid' areas, etc. I have gotten 2 clients from it and a TON of calls!Comment
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Well since it's usually around late october when your enrollment is low...
If you hand out candy on halloween you can try taping 1 or 2 peices of candy to business cards and hand them out.
If your kids have a halloween party at school maybe see about donating a cake that says "Have a spooktacular Halloween, curtiousy of _______ daycare"Comment
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Could you advertise for a Parents Night Out just to get people in the door and bring in A LITTLE bit of income???
I charge $16 for 4 hours and parents happily pay the $4.00 an hour.Comment
best wishes to you.
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