I Signed Up Too Many People....

[Unregistered]

Here is my delimma, I signed up a super well behaved 2 year old a few weeks back. He is not supposed to start until next monday. In the mean time I filled up all the other spaces but his, but one boy who is 6 was only going to be two weeks and his two weeks are up friday (super sweet well mannered child). Well last night I filled the last spot with a friends child that has been to my dc before knowing that 6y dcb would be leaving friday anyways so 2y dcb would have his spot. Well 6y dcb mom let me know this morning that dcb really likes it here and they were just going to finish out the summer with him here ???

I would love to keep him, he is a great little boy but I cant.....

I also have a 2y dcg who only comes 2-3 days a week and pays full time (I dont accept part time) that is a little mess and also comes way earlier than anyone else but leaves way earlier and sleeps when she gets here until other children come, she is difficult but nothing horribly bad

So should I just say, sorry, you told me two weeks so thats it....or should I knock one of the 2yo, I really dont want to knock my youger children bc when my SA children go back to school I will also lose my two 4y dcb's to Kindergarten. Then that only leaves one infant and two 2y olds, but I do have a teacher with 2 & 3y old boys who would like to start but she needs to start 2 weeks before school starts and i will still be full until school starts.......

Here is another angle...I have....


An 8yo who only comes 2-3x week (days vary)
The 2y dcg who comes 2-3x a week(days vary)
One 4y dcb who only comes W and Th
New 2yb will be 3-4 x a week (days vary)

6y dcb comes M-Th

I basically always have at least one to two children out each day of the week so that leaves the possibility of an open spot but what if by some off chance everyone needs the same day one week? I get scedules 2-4 weeks in advance for most children so I could spot the day in advance and have my dh take off and take our son somewhere for that day so I could stay in ratio, that is allowed right? Uhh, so frustrating

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

You tell Mom that she gave you her two weeks notice and you filled the spot. It's the truth and the 2-year-old will be with you much longer than a school ager who is just attending for the summer.

[Blackcat31]

Once I accept written notice of a child leaving my care, then their space is no longer theirs after that date.

If mom is interested in staying, she'd have to get on the wait list as a new enrollee.

[williams2008]

You tell Mom that she gave you her two weeks notice and you filled the spot. It's the truth and the 2-year-old will be with you much longer than a school ager who is just attending for the summer.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I would probably tell the 6 yr old's parents sorry, you gave me notice and I filled the spot.
I wouldn't give up the 2 yr olds that you could have for at least 3 more years.

[daycarediva]

No way should you keep a 6yo for the summer when you have a 2yo.

Tell Mom that you're sorry, but her space is filled. Ask if she wants the random days you have available, or if she would like to be put on the waiting list.


Also- nail down those varying days with pt kids, so that you can enroll someone else opposite those days!

[daycare]

I feel for you dealing with the same thing. I would tell the mom that gave notice that you already filled the spot. If she had no issue leaving once, she will have no issue leaving twice.

PLUS..

not too much longevity in caring for a 6 year old as there is when you care for a 2 year old.

[Unregistered]

No way should you keep a 6yo for the summer when you have a 2yo.

Tell Mom that you're sorry, but her space is filled. Ask if she wants the random days you have available, or if she would like to be put on the waiting list.


Also- nail down those varying days with pt kids, so that you can enroll someone else opposite those days!

All of the parents pay for a full time spot for the convienence of being able to have varying schedules each week. Right now I take the children I have and then plan ahead for drop ins only with advance notice, I get paid full time and dont have to work "full-time" with every child being here every day. Althoug I still put in like 60 hrs a week, they are just not ALL here, for example I only have 1 for sure on friday, the rest may or may not need friday, this week I will have 2 on Friday plus my 2 SA. Out of 8 children (10 with mine) Im happy. Althiugh tomorrow I will have 9..... I am tired just thinking about it:-)

[Blackcat31]

All of the parents pay for a full time spot for the convienence of being able to have varying schedules each week. Right now I take the children I have and then plan ahead for drop ins only with advance notice, I get paid full time and dont have to work "full-time" with every child being here every day. Althoug I still put in like 60 hrs a week, they are just not ALL here, for example I only have 1 for sure on friday, the rest may or may not need friday, this week I will have 2 on Friday plus my 2 SA. Out of 8 children (10 with mine) Im happy. Althiugh tomorrow I will have 9..... I am tired just thinking about it:-)

But if you have parents pay for the whole space, it should be available to that paying parent at any time since they paid for it.

If you squeeze in drop in's into empty spaces, you are essentially getting paid twice for one spot and as a parent who is paying for a full space, I'd be upset that you were "giving" my space to someone else in my absence....kwim?

If parents pay for the availability of a full time space, it should always be available to them.

[daycare]

But if you have parents pay for the whole space, it should be available to that paying parent at any time since they paid for it.

If you squeeze in drop in's into empty spaces, you are essentially getting paid twice for one spot and as a parent who is paying for a full space, I'd be upset that you were "giving" my space to someone else in my absence....kwim?

If parents pay for the availability of a full time space, it should always be available to them.

Very true but. I so this a well. And here I how.

I require all schedule changes to be given the Friday before. If a family that pays for full time but is only coming 3 days that coming week I would allow for others to take it. I don't allow last minute schedule changes.

No way could I say on you pay full time come when you want. I have to much to prep for to allow that and it woul never work.

[Unregistered]

But if you have parents pay for the whole space, it should be available to that paying parent at any time since they paid for it.

If you squeeze in drop in's into empty spaces, you are essentially getting paid twice for one spot and as a parent who is paying for a full space, I'd be upset that you were "giving" my space to someone else in my absence....kwim?

If parents pay for the availability of a full time space, it should always be available to them.

I really dont see why this would bother someone, I only have 2 parents that do drop ins as I am their back up provider, they call the night before they need care and if I know so many children will not be here then I say yes or no, parents give me their schedule, they are only allowed the amount of days they signed up for but know they can pick their own days. They pay for convienience, I give them convienence. If a parent needs to switch days, they can. Drop ins do not have priority and the parents sign up knowing whats what when they start. The fact is I may have one drop in a month but I wont fill their spot, they can still pick their days each week.

[Blackcat31]

Very true but. I so this a well. And here I how.

I require all schedule changes to be given the Friday before. If a family that pays for full time but is only coming 3 days that coming week I would allow for others to take it. I don't allow last minute schedule changes.

No way could I say on you pay full time come when you want. I have to much to prep for to allow that and it woul never work.

I guess the way I'm looking at it is what if a family that pays for a full time space asks for M-Th care but then suddenly needs Friday as well but you already scheduled a drop in?

Does the drop in get to still come or does the family that actually paid for the space get it?

I too, have a rule about schedule changes and not liking or accepting changes after they are turned in but I understand that stuff happens and parents may need to switch their days up here and there, especially if they ARE paying for that space to be available.

I have families that pay for 3 days a week (for either 3 set days or 3 varying days~days change from week to week) but that 3 day rate is less than the full time rate so I feel I have a right in that case to fill the space around that child if they aren't coming.

I don't because I sometimes like the lighter work load and really don't like doing any drop in care.

I could just never charge a family for a full time space and then tell them they couldn't use it if they needed it.

I really dont see why this would bother someone, I only have 2 parents that do drop ins as I am their back up provider, they call the night before they need care and if I know so many children will not be here then I say yes or no, parents give me their schedule, they are only allowed the amount of days they signed up for but know they can pick their own days. They pay for convienience, I give them convienence. If a parent needs to switch days, they can. Drop ins do not have priority and the parents sign up knowing whats what when they start. The fact is I may have one drop in a month but I wont fill their spot, they can still pick their days each week.

If your parents signed on knowing they are simply paying for convenience in scheduling, (and NOT the availability of all 5 days all the time) then I understand what you are saying.

It just doesn't make sense to me to tell a parent that they are paying for a full time space and then saying they can't use it on a rare occasion that you do have a drop in. Know what I mean? That's what I was commenting on.

There is a BIG difference between paying for convenience and paying for a full time space.

If your rate is based off convenience, then it all makes sense.

[itlw8]

I would have told 6yr old dcm I am sorry I do not have any room now you said 2 weeks. I would not let anyone else go.

[MarinaVanessa]

Here is my delimma, I signed up a super well behaved 2 year old a few weeks back. He is not supposed to start until next monday. In the mean time I filled up all the other spaces but his, but one boy who is 6 was only going to be two weeks and his two weeks are up friday (super sweet well mannered child). Well last night I filled the last spot with a friends child that has been to my dc before knowing that 6y dcb would be leaving friday anyways so 2y dcb would have his spot. Well 6y dcb mom let me know this morning that dcb really likes it here and they were just going to finish out the summer with him here ???

I would love to keep him, he is a great little boy but I cant.....

I also have a 2y dcg who only comes 2-3 days a week and pays full time (I dont accept part time) that is a little mess and also comes way earlier than anyone else but leaves way earlier and sleeps when she gets here until other children come, she is difficult but nothing horribly bad

So should I just say, sorry, you told me two weeks so thats it....or should I knock one of the 2yo, I really dont want to knock my youger children bc when my SA children go back to school I will also lose my two 4y dcb's to Kindergarten. Then that only leaves one infant and two 2y olds, but I do have a teacher with 2 & 3y old boys who would like to start but she needs to start 2 weeks before school starts and i will still be full until school starts.......

Here is another angle...I have....


An 8yo who only comes 2-3x week (days vary)
The 2y dcg who comes 2-3x a week(days vary)
One 4y dcb who only comes W and Th
New 2yb will be 3-4 x a week (days vary)

6y dcb comes M-Th

I basically always have at least one to two children out each day of the week so that leaves the possibility of an open spot but what if by some off chance everyone needs the same day one week? I get scedules 2-4 weeks in advance for most children so I could spot the day in advance and have my dh take off and take our son somewhere for that day so I could stay in ratio, that is allowed right? Uhh, so frustrating

I would keep the child that I knew was long term. If you keep the 6yo boy through the summer you know he's going to leave in the fall anyway so you'll have to find a replacement for him later. I'd keep the longer term child (the 2yo that you can keep for a long time until he goes to school). It makes more sense.

[Unregistered]

I'd keep them all. It's ONE child right? And you said DH would be off to take your son OUT of the home for those days? If he is willing to do that, and it sounds like he is, as long as you don't have ALL the kids home at same time, it should be fine. It could be good bonding time for dad and son too and get your son away from the monotony of the daycare day in and day out. It'll be a great experience for him to have summer with daddy and also give you a little break from your own child.


Just be careful that if your husband CANNOT do it, that you ask your licensor if it's ok to take the extra child for a day or so. In my state, you can overlap a couple kids so so long as it is once in awhile and not every day. I just have to call her when I know those days will happen so I can get approval.