What Do You Allow/Offer....

[cheerfuldom]

for parents wanting to transition their child into daycare? Do you allow play dates, partial days, parents "hanging out"? do you have parents asking for this type of thing?

I am talking about the initial transition into daycare, that first month....not about parents that want an open door or open access 24/7 forever.

[daycare]

Maybe I don't understand the question well. But I have an open door policy for all parents at all times.

I don't mind if they want to come see what their child is doing but they can't interrupt my program and must take the child with them when they leave.

Is that what you mean? Sorry I'm on my phone

[Evansmom]

I offer one of my MWF spots. They can come/leave anytime in the hours I'm open, I don't do contracted hours. I don't do play dates bc I feel they don't really benefit anyone, I don't do partial days for anyone, everyone pays for a full time or a MWF or Tu/Th spot.

Parents are welcome to stay for a bit or visit. As long as they know the group doesn't act as they normally do whenever we have visitors and so they are not observing what it's really like.

[Meyou]

I do 2-3 two hour visits with a parent attending where they are suppose to fade into the background as much as possible. Then I require 2-3 half days without a parent. I won't start a child FT before this happens.

I know alot of providers don't want parents in their home while they're working but I've found it to be very helpful both for the children and for the parents. By watching me work parents have a better insight into what happens during our day, how I manage the group and the dynamic I foster with the children. I have respectful, courteous families and it didn't use to be that way for me!

[Mom&Provider]

I allow 2 or 3 1/2 days as a getting to know you period. The 1/2 days are usually paid, but I don't always charge, depends on how many they want and the age of the child. Parents drop and go, same as they would for a f/t day. I don't provide a meal etc., so they drop at 9 am and pick-up by 11:30 am sort of thing - it's not even really a 1/2 day I guess...more like a few hours! It's always worked out well for me and the kids have always been pretty good adjusting.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I don't offer anything beyond my typical program.

[Laurel]

for parents wanting to transition their child into daycare? Do you allow play dates, partial days, parents "hanging out"? do you have parents asking for this type of thing?

I am talking about the initial transition into daycare, that first month....not about parents that want an open door or open access 24/7 forever.

My very first daycare mom would come 1/2 hr. before drop off and her baby would have breakfast. She would do the feeding. Mom and I would talk and I liked her very much. It worked out well. I can't remember how long she did it now but it was probably months.

Other than that, no one has ever asked. They just come for the interview and start their baby on their start day and leave. Sometimes they linger for a short while but nothing on a regular basis.

I do offer an initial interview at night and tell them they can also bring their child during one day for the child to play with the others and the parent can observe. Not all day but for a while. So far, over about 16 years, only one has taken me up on my offer.

Laurel

[Meeko]

No parent allowed more than a peek in any room at any time with any child not their own.

They come after hours to interview and look around.

They are welcome to the daycare at any time during working hours to visit with their child. They can stay as long as they like. But they will be in a different room. No contact with other children. They take their child with them when they leave.

[Blackcat31]

No parent allowed more than a peek in any room at any time with any child not their own.

They come after hours to interview and look around.

They are welcome to the daycare at any time during working hours to visit with their child. They can stay as long as they like. But they will be in a different room. No contact with other children. They take their child with them when they leave.

What she said.

I also allow parents to try a couple hours of care prior to them actually needing care. So if they are scheduled to start on a Monday, I would allow them a half day a couple of times the week prior if they wish. I don't encourage or throw the option out there but if they ask, I will allow that.

I also encourage a new parent to go ahead and call me multiple times per day the first two weeks while the child (and parent) are transitioning into place.

After the trial period though, they all know I don't entertain excessive phone calls. I understand and will be accommodating the first two weeks but after that it is either working out or it isn't....kwim?

[mema]

I usually don't offer anything other than regular service. If someone really needed a transition time, I would allow a few partial days just to get the feel, but not with the parent hanging around. And it wouldn't be a playdate-it would be a paid day.

[mom2many]

I usually don't offer anything other than regular service. If someone really needed a transition time, I would allow a few partial days just to get the feel, but not with the parent hanging around. And it wouldn't be a playdate-it would be a paid day.

Exactly this!

[My3cents]

What she said.

I also allow parents to try a couple hours of care prior to them actually needing care. So if they are scheduled to start on a Monday, I would allow them a half day a couple of times the week prior if they wish. I don't encourage or throw the option out there but if they ask, I will allow that.

I also encourage a new parent to go ahead and call me multiple times per day the first two weeks while the child (and parent) are transitioning into place.

After the trial period though, they all know I don't entertain excessive phone calls. I understand and will be accommodating the first two weeks but after that it is either working out or it isn't....kwim?

same-

[Starburst]

I would probably let them (if they want) to drop in and observe for about 1/2 hour to 1 hour on a day of the week their child would regularly be in your care before the child's first day (after you have already met with them at least twice, and they sign up and have paid for the first week), but it depends on if your state would allow this or not and you might also need to inform other daycare parents about this as well- some may not like it. Or let them call every few hours (or at least at lunch or nap time) only the first few days/ first week to ask you how the child is doing; but I probably would tell them that you prefer it if they do not talk directly to the child until the last call of the day a few hours before pick up to avoid distressing the child or interrupting the child's regular routine. Especially if the child is younger [under 4] or had separation anxiety issues at drop-off. But off course I wouldn't offer this unless the parent requested it or seemed uneasy.

If you have permission from other daycare parents you can pick a 1/2 to 1 hour on any day (such as during preschool or circle time) and record you and the DCKs doing an activity and make a short video of your program to show what the children learn on a regular day to inquiring parents (that way the parent's you already have feel safer by not having someone they don't know observe their children up close).

[littlemissmuffet]

for parents wanting to transition their child into daycare? Do you allow play dates, partial days, parents "hanging out"? do you have parents asking for this type of thing?

I am talking about the initial transition into daycare, that first month....not about parents that want an open door or open access 24/7 forever.

I don't allow any of this. The parents and I choose a date that the child will start full-time childcare (usually around the 1st of the month as I charge monthly) and the child starts. If the parent wants the first day or two to be half days (charged full price full time), that's fine - but nothing more. In my experience, the sooner both the child and the parents get into a full-time daycare routine, the sooner everyone transitions fully.

[AmyKidsCo]

What she said.

I also allow parents to try a couple hours of care prior to them actually needing care. So if they are scheduled to start on a Monday, I would allow them a half day a couple of times the week prior if they wish. I don't encourage or throw the option out there but if they ask, I will allow that.

I also encourage a new parent to go ahead and call me multiple times per day the first two weeks while the child (and parent) are transitioning into place.

After the trial period though, they all know I don't entertain excessive phone calls. I understand and will be accommodating the first two weeks but after that it is either working out or it isn't....kwim?

That's pretty much what I do. Except for infants, most of my parents haven't asked for transition days, they just bring their child the first day and that's that.