Have You Ever...

[Msdunny]

Have you ever termed a family to cut back your working hours? I have 2 dcks (same family) who are here 1 hour or more longer that the others in the afternoons. If I term them, I can immediately fill the spots with 2 kiddos who will leave at the same time (or earlier) as the others. So, would you make the change?

[EchoMom]

If you're prepared for the consequences of terming someone, then yes. Not only is it shortening your hours, it's like giving yourself a raise because you make the same money in less time, meaning, more per hour, hence a raise.

But, really consider if you want to term because in my experience, terming makes enemies.

[nanglgrl]

I did and now I get off at 3:30 instead of 5:30. It makes life so much easier! I've never had a problem staying full in the past (and I currently only have 1 opening but I want to find a perfect fit) but I kicked my advertising into overdrive so I could keep my waiting list long just in case someone leaves. I can't imagine going back to later hours.

[Starburst]

If this is important to you, you can try talking to the parents and tell them that you are thinking of cutting back hours do to private family reasons (most families will respect this boundry when you say "private" or "personal" reasons). And ask if they can possibly find someone (a relative or a sitter) pick their children up by a certain time. Or if you know that they will not be able to do this you could try to just tell them that you need to 'downsize' but then you would have to be careful about filling that spot if they live in your neighborhood, frequently drive by your neighborhood, or are friends with other daycare parents.

If its so you can run errands after everyone else leaves you can tell them that you will need to run errands and that they need to sign a waver that allows you to transport their children (if they didn't already and if you are insured to drive DCKs). If it is about having less constructive 'daycare' time you can let them know that you are changing your hours and you are willing to watch their kids after this time but that you will not be taking any more kids that will need care after certain hours but will continue care for there children only but after a certain time they will either need to read a book, watch tv, or another quite activity. Or you could tell them you will be changing hours and will be charging more for 'after hours' care $10/hr (if they are there everyday 5 days a week that is $50 more a week and about $200 more a month) though if you did that they would most likely try to find care somewhere else (who knows they may even be willing to do that).

But honestly if I didnt have a serious issue with the parents or the kids I wouldnt term. Nowadays good DCFs are hard to find. Also you don't know if the next family will be a garenteed good fit or not- and if they don't work out you will have to advertise again until you find a family that the hours do work for and that is also a good fit.

You also have to be careful about who you term because parents talk! As Echomom said "terming makes enemies" and you may wind up regreting terming them either because you realize what a good family they were and cannot fill the spot with another good family or because they may get mad at you for terming them and spread rumors or the other parents will hear about what you did and leave because they too are afraid you may term them for no reason one day.

[canadiancare]

I am currently debating asking one of my parents to make alternate arrangements for the next school year. I have a former mom who will be going back to work from her mat leave and would like a spot for her baby. I had their other son for 3 years and they are an awesome fit.

The other family isn't a terrible fit but their son shares a spot with another child who goes to school in 2013 and he will be leaving for school in 2014 along with 2 other children so it makes sense to replace him with a baby (of a family I love) now and only have 2 spots to fill in 2014.

[Blackcat31]

If this is important to you, you can try talking to the parents and tell them that you are thinking of cutting back hours do to private family reasons (most families will respect this boundry when you say "private" or "personal" reasons). And ask if they can possibly find someone (a relative or a sitter) pick their children up by a certain time. Or if you know that they will not be able to do this you could try to just tell them that you need to 'downsize' but then you would have to be careful about filling that spot if they live in your neighborhood, frequently drive by your neighborhood, or are friends with other daycare parents.

If its so you can run errands after everyone else leaves you can tell them that you will need to run errands and that they need to sign a waver that allows you to transport their children (if they didn't already and if you are insured to drive DCKs). If it is about having less constructive 'daycare' time you can let them know that you are changing your hours and you are willing to watch their kids after this time but that you will not be taking any more kids that will need care after certain hours but will continue care for there children only but after a certain time they will either need to read a book, watch tv, or another quite activity. Or you could tell them you will be changing hours and will be charging more for 'after hours' care $10/hr (if they are there everyday 5 days a week that is $50 more a week and about $200 more a month) though if you did that they would most likely try to find care somewhere else (who knows they may even be willing to do that).

But honestly if I didnt have a serious issue with the parents or the kids I wouldnt term. Nowadays good DCFs are hard to find. Also you don't know if the next family will be a garenteed good fit or not- and if they don't work out you will have to advertise again until you find a family that the hours do work for and that is also a good fit.

You also have to be careful about who you term because parents talk! As Echomom said "terming makes enemies" and you may wind up regreting terming them either because you realize what a good family they were and cannot fill the spot with another good family or because they may get mad at you for terming them and spread rumors or the other parents will hear about what you did and leave because they too are afraid you may term them for no reason one day.

Why would you advise someone to lie to daycare parents?

I would NEVER tell someone I was downsizing just to get rid of them and then hope they don't drive by and discover I lied. :confused:

Honesty and open communication is soooooo important in this business.

I also strongly disagree with the line of thinking that you have to be careful who you term due to parents talking....

If a family isn't working out, then term. Simple as that.

Who cares who they talk to? What would they say anyways..."my provider termed because my work hours didn't work out for her business hours."

How is that detrimental to your business? I think that shows that you are honest, professional and open about communicating your needs to parents...even when their needs don't work for yours.

If you need to term for whatever reasons, do it and do it professionally without lying or making up an excuse.

Open honest communication is the foundation to having a good working relationship with families. This includes when you need to term.

[slpender]

I just did this recently I had a child that was here 1 hour before anyone in the morning and 1-1 1/2 hours later in the afternoon. I just told the parents that do to better meet my families needs I was no longer able to watch her and geve 2 weeks notice. It has really help at home also because I have more time with my daughter in the morning no more rushing around and in the evening I get some one on one lpay time with my daughter outside before I start dinner.

[Country Kids]

Why would you advise someone to lie to daycare parents?

I would NEVER tell someone I was downsizing just to get rid of them and then hope they don't drive by and discover I lied. :confused:

Honesty and open communication is soooooo important in this business.

I also strongly disagree with the line of thinking that you have to be careful who you term due to parents talking....

If a family isn't working out, then term. Simple as that.

Who cares who they talk to? What would they say anyways..."my provider termed because my work hours didn't work out for her business hours."

How is that detrimental to your business? I think that shows that you are honest, professional and open about communicating your needs to parents...even when their needs don't work for yours.

If you need to term for whatever reasons, do it and do it professionally without lying or making up an excuse.

Open honest communication is the foundation to having a good working relationship with families. This includes when you need to term.

Where was it said to lie to parents? Not one provider so far has said anything about lying or even hinted at it.

[Blackcat31]

Where was it said to lie to parents? Not one provider so far has said anything about lying or even hinted at it.

I read Starburst's reply where she said: "Or if you know that they will not be able to do this you could try to just tell them that you need to 'downsize' but then you would have to be careful about filling that spot if they live in your neighborhood, frequently drive by your neighborhood, or are friends with other daycare parents." as suggesting that the provider just say they are downsizing and then having to be careful in case the family drives by the daycare or is friends with a potential new family...... to me that says lying or dishonesty.

No one said the word "lie" but why else would the provider have to be careful then if the family drives by her house or is friends with a new family???

That makes no sense to me.

[wdmmom]

I changed my hours last summer fully knowing I could possibly lose clients over it but deep down I know it needed to be done.

I was working 7am to 530pm.

My first dck came in at 7am, 2nd came in around 720am and the rest followed.

The 2nd child to come in was here 10-10.25 hours per day. Not only did it make for very long days but when everyone else was out the door by 445pm, waiting anywhere from 5-530pm each night for pick up just got to be more work than it was worth.

I notified the families it affected. The sibling group family said they would make the accommodations to pick up by 5pm each day. They're still enrolled today.

The dcb that was here from open to close left. I had an inkling suspicion he would anyway. Dcm was pregnant and I knew there was only a slim chance she would go back to work. She left her position as a nurse and now is doing daycare! She called me last week about questions. I told her to call DHS for a packet of the regs.

[3amazingkiddos]

I would talk with the family first and see if they can work something out. If they can't, then you have to do what's best for you. I'm contemplating doing the same thing because the 6am drop offs are killing me, I have 1 child that is so loud in the morning and he wakes my kids up everyday which leads to unpleasant mornings Good luck!

[Msdunny]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I really do appreciate the feedback. This is a family that I have bent over backwards trying to help over the last few months. They seemed to feel as if I owed them, even though I had given them an extremely deep discount on my rates. Nothing is ever enough, kwim?

She tried to make me feel guilty when I told her, but I really don't feel any guilt over this situation, so I know I made the right choice. This change will be best for everyone.