When Do You Schedule Interviews?

[mrsnj]

I prefer after hrs or weekends too. It is too hard when I have children here to focus. It takes time away from the children. BUT I tell them I prefer after hrs. If they say they want to come during or maybe work hrs do not allow it, then I try and schedule after naps but explain I will have interruptions. Mornings are too busy and afternoons are lunch and naps.

[Michelle]

I do interviews on saturday mornings. I don't interview during hours due to creepers

me too
and also evenings, but just 30 minutes after closing... my evenings are mine

[countrymom]

I only interview during nap time (so they stay short) and I don't do observations

I use to do after hours and I had too many "no shows" or people who wanted to stay late, so I stopped doing this. This is my time and my families time.

Another reason I do it during nap time is that NO ONE sees the kids till they sign up. They don't need to see the kids in action and my kids love attention but they are all 2 yrs old so they become crazy sometimes.

[mema]

I only do them at night or on the weekends. I try not to do too much daycare related stuff after hours, but a interview here and there isn't going to take a lot of time out of my year. Hopefully I just don't have to do many and it won't take tons of time. I don't do observations either.

[williams2008]

I do my interviews during naptime. After hours is my time with my own family so that doesn't work for me. I also do not do observations.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I simply say, "I am sorry, but I cannot allow anyone to interact with or be near my daycare children outside of drop-off and pick-up times when coming and going with your own child."

This has never been an issue! ALL of my daycare interviews are after hours during the week.

[LK5kids]

After hours...I hate to do it during working hours. I have had parents bring their child during day care hours to meet me and the kids. They stay a short time.

[AmyKidsCo]

I try to do them after hours because I never know how the kids will act when a visitor is here.

Plus it's easier to talk without interruptions at night... and if their child is already in a program they can bring him or her along... and there's a better chance my house will be cleaner after hours.

Sometimes they want to come during the day to see the other DCK and that's OK, but I never feel like I've given my best interview those times.