Planning Your Vacation

[jokalima]

Would you check days before with your families or just pick dates and then inform?

I am taking a nice vacation at end of year, is going to be a 2 week one, my 2 week vac I am going to take them together because we are flying out of country to visit family and we can't do it often so the way we see it, if we are going to do it now, then do it good

I have not talked to my families about this, one I know it will be OK with this, the other one I know is going to be trouble. What would you do? Should I just buy my tickets and then inform? I am gultiy of asking them if is OK for me to take a specific day

And also, do you think is just to much? put the 2 weeks together? And is at the end of the year, I have 2 weeks per year plus 5 personal days. If is the last week of December and the 1st week of January, will you count them of one week this year and one week from next years vacation? If I do it like that I will still have time to rest this year before December, but again don't know if is to much.

[Blackcat31]

This is YOUR business so in my opinion, I would simply schedule your vacation dates and inform the parents.

If you ask them, that might give them the impression that they get a say or a vote in the matter and unless they do, I wouldn't even go there.

YOU pick your dates and let them worry about alternate care arrangements. As long as you are giving them enough notice, they have time to plan.

[DCMom]

Generally, I take the same days each year. I give them the list with their contract updates in December. If anything changes during the year I give them as much notice as possible.

The don't 'ask' you when they plan vacations. You shouldn't have to clear your vacation with them. I certainly would try to give them as much notice as possible, but other than that I wouldn't worry about it.

[williams2008]

I agree with Blackcat31. This is your business, do not let them decide which days you should take for vacation.

[lovemykidstoo]

I don't ask my families either. I used to have to ask to have a day off back when I worked in the public sector. I refuse to do it now. I normally give all of my time in January, but I still haven't done it yet. My husband is still not working, so it's kiinda up in the air still as to what we're doing. I'm going to have to figure it out though this week so they have plenty of time to figure it out.

[Bkind]

I let my parents know every Dec what I am taking off for the following yr and it has worked out great whether it be 2 or 1 wks

[DayCareDiva30]

This is YOUR business so in my opinion, I would simply schedule your vacation dates and inform the parents.

If you ask them, that might give them the impression that they get a say or a vote in the matter and unless they do, I wouldn't even go there.

YOU pick your dates and let them worry about alternate care arrangements. As long as you are giving them enough notice, they have time to plan.

[Texasjeepgirl]

This is YOUR business so in my opinion, I would simply schedule your vacation dates and inform the parents.

If you ask them, that might give them the impression that they get a say or a vote in the matter and unless they do, I wouldn't even go there.

YOU pick your dates and let them worry about alternate care arrangements. As long as you are giving them enough notice, they have time to plan.

EXACTLY

I just booked a trip for May 20-24 about 3 weeks ago.. As soon as the trip was booked and paid... I typed up an email notification to all clients...
Generally speaking my clients have a minimum of 4-6 months advance notice if I will be closed for vacation...

[Loveyoustinkyface]

As long as I am giving them at least a one month notice, I feel comfortable with that.

I have had a family FORGET to tell me they were on vacation, only to call them mid morning the following Monday to find out they are in the Bahamas..... I have had avfamily tell me the Friday before their week-long vacation.

I do not charge for vacation days. So I feel that I am more than accomodating with a one month notice!!

[canadiancare]

I make a vacation list in January because some of my parents need to put in their requests quite early. I only take off during school breaks because I have some teachers as well. I take a week in August (always the week before school starts), between Christmas and New Year, 2 days at Spring break, all the Stat days and the choice of one of 3 weeks in July- majority rules. The past few years it has been the week of July 1st.

If I am planning a vacation/trip then I tell them specifically when I want off but I haven't been anywhere since 2009.

They only pay me for stat days or days when I am open but they don't attend so I don't have much issue dictating when I am closed.

[rmc20021]

If you tried giving your clients the option of what works best for them, you may never go on vacation because no two families would have the same options.

But I never, ever give them the option of choosing when my vacation time is. I plan it for what works best for my family and then inform the families.

One months notice is plenty of time, but I always include it in my yearly updated policy as well, that way they have it in plenty of time to prepare.

I then post it at least two weeks before vacation and one week before I remind them verbally so there's no misunderstanding.

And if it was me...I would definitely use those two weeks as one week for this year and one week for next year. I'd let the families know that ASAP and also let them know you plan on taking another week sometime before then for your second week of this year.

I don't feel bad if I only give two weeks notice, as I know my families have other family members/friend who can take over for a week.

[jokalima]

What about taking 2 weeks together? Thinks is to much?

[itlw8]

I check but that does not mean I will pick when they are off. If I have nothing special I will try and work with them . But no guarentee.

I do set mine early enough they can make their plan around mine. most of my kids go visit grandparents during my vacation.

[Mom&Provider]

I pick my dates and send home a letter letting parents know when I am closed. I don't ask first and they know they need to find alternate care. I've never had an issue and always provide alot of notice.

[WDW]

Nope, my family is first. I pick my days off and do what I need to/want to do. I give them a nice notice (several months) for vacations, and no less than two weeks for an early closing/single day off.

Think of it this way: Would they ask YOU, and plan around what works best for YOU, when planning THEIR vacations?