Your Experience: Is It Easier To Find FT Or PT Clients?

[Unregistered]

Hello wise ones

I'm planning to open this fall Monday-Wednesday from 7:30 AM to 5 PM. I am hoping to find 6 kids between the ages of 1-5.

From your experience, is this crazy? I am worried I will only have requests from parents looking for FT care or parents looking for infant spots.

On the plus side, I live in a major city just two blocks from an elementary school in a neighborhood where many parents are fortunate to work part-time and stay home part-time. The trend here is to hire a nanny 10-20 hours/week (for $10-15 per hour!). I'd like to direct some of that business here. I'm a former preschool teacher so I plan to offer an educational program.

Thoughts?

[crazydaycarelady]

Almost all of my dckids are part-time. Of 14 enrolled 2 are FT. I like it that way though. Having the same group 5 days in a row would makes us all sick of each other.

I think you will be able to find families that are a good fit, but it may take awhile.

[EchoMom]

Totally agree with PP. Much easier to find PT families and I also prefer it that way.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Initially, I had all part-time families. Now I RARELY get a request for part-time care. I have almost all full-timers.

[MarinaVanessa]

Although I agree that PT families are easier to find than FT families but I'm not sure about limiting the days to Monday through Wednesday. I think that's going to really limit the clients that could use you.

Retail families work about 3 days per weekday but their schedules tend to change week to week so they're out (not that you'd want to have a client with a changing schedule). Families with a parent that goes to school typically go to school 2-4 days a week so maybe if you could find a client that only needs Mon/Wed.

I have an opening right now for 3 days a week Tues-Thurs and I've been looking for a client for this spot for a month with no luck. I'm not in a hurry to fill it ... it's just a space that I have leftover but I thought I'd advertise for it to see if I could get bites. I knew it would be hard but I'm trying anyway without any expectation.

You'll have better luck with your age ranges. I offer childcare for ages 6 weeks to 5 years (non-kinder) and although I do get calls for infants regularly most of my calls are for infants between 1yo to 3yo. I wouldn't change your age range at all if that's what you want to try for, it's your availability that would worry me a bit but you can always try it out and see how it goes for you. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky .

[My3cents]

Almost all of my dckids are part-time. Of 14 enrolled 2 are FT. I like it that way though. Having the same group 5 days in a row would makes us all sick of each other.

I think you will be able to find families that are a good fit, but it may take awhile.

I have full timers. It makes for a close group. When someone is out they are missing a friend. I think they can get sick of each other no matter if full time or part time.

[daycarediva]

Mine are mostly part time. A lot of parents have flexible scheduling here as well and I was able to put 7 part time kids in 5 spaces. I think if a family has the flexibility and really likes you/your program that they will make the effort to work around your availability.

[MNMum]

I am open M-Th and have had no problem filling my spots. Some have gmas filling in, others work parttime. You may not always find M-W, but you may find people needing 2 days per week.

[just_peachy]

I'm open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. I have no problem filling all my spots. A lot of the kids I watch are watched by grandparents the rest of the week, and come here for "socialization." It works for us!

[cheerfuldom]

there is a huge demand for part time care in my area but very few parents that are willing to pay for a quality program and pay regardless of attendance. that means that many providers cannot afford to keep part time kids because the income is not regular.

but i do think there is always a demand for part time care. it really doesnt matter what parents are looking for. if you are not open to full timers or infants, then your program is not the right fit for them. be prepared to stand firm because no matter what your rules are, someone is always going to want something different.

[rmc20021]

I did daycare some 20 years ago and most parents had full time jobs at that time. These days it seems as though the majority have part time jobs due to the economics of the times.

I believe if you're in a big city it could work, but I know it would never work in my area. I'm lucky to get ft, but would be even luckier if I were able to only have those days as options for care.

[Sunnyyy1]

There's a huge demand for full time in my area, I say whatever works.

[jenn]

I prefer full time, but most of my calls are for part time. However, I am open Monday-Friday. Not sure if only being open 3 days will limit your part timers. Good Luck!

[LK5kids]

I'd love full- time but am working around part time kids. I find maybe mom works M through F but dad works three 12 hour shifts, so kiddo stays with dad two days per week.

I am back at family ch. care after being out of the business for 14 yrs. I had a lot easier time finding FT kids years ago.

I think your idea just might work in your area! Good luck!