Losing ANOTHER One!! :(

[WImom]

I just want to cry....I went from 8 kids this spring to 3 starting in September. I've always had shorter hours 7-4:30 and only care for kids 2-5y. I've never had a problem getting kids. This year I happen to have 5 kids leaving for either 5K or All day 4K. Two left in June, One in July and now the other three leave this week. This has been an emotional/stressful summer. I have no spots filled!!

I'm thinking I need to be open longer - Trying to decide on 5:00 or 5:30 and do I up my price then? Right now I offer extended care until 5pm for an additional fee. Currently I do a fee based on how many days they are here, maybe I need to switch that now that some could be here 10 hours, some 9 etc. Before everyone was here mostly 7:30-4:00/4:30.

If I offer care for 20 Month to 5 years - Is a 20 month old that much different than a 2y year old? Will they sit for a short circle time, only take one nap, stay on a nap cot, sit in a small kids chair? I really don't know, can someone help me with that? (My own kids are older and I've always had over 2y)

I HATE that I have to extend my hours. BUT I'd rather work one more hour than be forced to get a 2nd job or one outside my home that could also be until 5:00/5:30.

[Jack Sprat]

I am loosing 9 kiddos tomorrow. I just started my home daycare at the end of May. Its so stressful! My one who is staying will be with me (fingers crossed) for the next three years and maybe they will have a couple more!

I open at seven and close at five-thirty. I have thought about opening earlier to accommodate factory workers etc. I have also thought about taking one family who would need care every other weekend. I am raising my drop in rates. I currently charge $20 no matter how long they are here. Now I am going to charge $30. Also, new families will be pre-paying for their care. I have thought about raising rates but, I feel I need to stay competitive with other daycares in the area. Even though they are full.

My dh is very supportive and continues to tell me I will get more soon. But, it scares me to see that drop in income. :hug: It will pick up!

[Jack Sprat]

Oh yeah! My 20 month old has sat for circle time since he was 18 months old. He was taking two naps but is now down to a 2-3 afternoon nap. I don't find him much different then a 2 yr old. Maybe a little harder to understand! We are potty training so that can be taxing but, no I don't feel he is that much different.

Would you consider taking younger ones? I know I prefer not to have infants but at same time would take one but no more then one.

[melilley]

I'm sorry you are losing all of your kids! :hug:
As for your question about if 20 mo. olds are different from 2 year olds, I think that it just depends on the child. I have two kids who are 2 months apart (one just turned 2 and one will in Sept) and when they started one of the dcb's slept on a cot with one nap (all my kids 12 mo and older have one nap and adjust very well to it, sometimes it takes a little to get them used to it though), kind of sat in circle, but definitely listened to what was going on in circle, sat in a kid chair. But as for the other dcb, he did take one nap, but other than that, did not one of the things that the other child did.

I take children 8 weeks (well from now on I think I'm going to do 12 mo and up) to 5 years kindergarten bound so I am used to kids under 2 and would say go for it, but then again a lot of people don't like the under 2 age group.
And around here, if you aren't open until at least 5 or 6, you are likely to not get any children. I guess it differs from area to area and what type of job(s) the parent(s) have.
Good luck!

[LK5kids]

I would love, love, love to take kids 2-5 yrs 7:00-4:30!!! I am in WI too, but a small, rural area and I would not fill without longer hours, younger ages. I will not take kids under one after present wee ones are older and my hours are 7:00-5:30. We have full 4k too and that takes lots of kids out of the equation!

I have an 18 mo who loves stories so he will sit a little for story time, my 20 mo will sit a little. The 18 mo is in a pnp but would probably stay on a sleeping bag. The 20 mo sleeps well on the floor. They both sit in chairs well for snack and lunch. I have always had toddlers and they kind of do their own thing during circle, but it has never been a problem. It doesn't take long for them to begin to sit during a short circle time.

I wish you the best in being able to continue with those great ages and hours!

[Brooksie]

I just want to cry....I went from 8 kids this spring to 3 starting in September. I've always had shorter hours 7-4:30 and only care for kids 2-5y. I've never had a problem getting kids. This year I happen to have 5 kids leaving for either 5K or All day 4K. Two left in June, One in July and now the other three leave this week. This has been an emotional/stressful summer. I have no spots filled!!

I'm thinking I need to be open longer - Trying to decide on 5:00 or 5:30 and do I up my price then? Right now I offer extended care until 5pm for an additional fee. Currently I do a fee based on how many days they are here, maybe I need to switch that now that some could be here 10 hours, some 9 etc. Before everyone was here mostly 7:30-4:00/4:30.

If I offer care for 20 Month to 5 years - Is a 20 month old that much different than a 2y year old? Will they sit for a short circle time, only take one nap, stay on a nap cot, sit in a small kids chair? I really don't know, can someone help me with that? (My own kids are older and I've always had over 2y)

I HATE that I have to extend my hours. BUT I'd rather work one more hour than be forced to get a 2nd job or one outside my home that could also be until 5:00/5:30.

I do 7:30-5:30. I currently only have kids under 3 years. I have a 15mo and 16 mo old atm and the 16 mo loves to listen to stories and sits in a chair wonderfully. The other one does like to come over and see what we are doing at circle time and claps and smiles when we sing. They both love to be involved in what the bigger girls were doing and every one only takes one nap, but since they are younger our nap time is 11:30-1:30. So everything is just a bit earlier in the day. Lunch is 10:40.
Good luck :hug:

[mrsmartin2007]

I just want to cry....I went from 8 kids this spring to 3 starting in September. I've always had shorter hours 7-4:30 and only care for kids 2-5y. I've never had a problem getting kids. This year I happen to have 5 kids leaving for either 5K or All day 4K. Two left in June, One in July and now the other three leave this week. This has been an emotional/stressful summer. I have no spots filled!!

I'm thinking I need to be open longer - Trying to decide on 5:00 or 5:30 and do I up my price then? Right now I offer extended care until 5pm for an additional fee. Currently I do a fee based on how many days they are here, maybe I need to switch that now that some could be here 10 hours, some 9 etc. Before everyone was here mostly 7:30-4:00/4:30.

If I offer care for 20 Month to 5 years - Is a 20 month old that much different than a 2y year old? Will they sit for a short circle time, only take one nap, stay on a nap cot, sit in a small kids chair? I really don't know, can someone help me with that? (My own kids are older and I've always had over 2y)

I HATE that I have to extend my hours. BUT I'd rather work one more hour than be forced to get a 2nd job or one outside my home that could also be until 5:00/5:30.

Why are they leaving? Is it the hours? If you communicate with the parents to see what you can do to keep the children maybe it wont be too much. Since I am license exempt and I have 2 children of my own, I can only keep one more family until my license comes through. I tried to see what I can do to better meet the family needs. I didn't inform her that I basically needed her but I just let her know that I was willing to work with her if she communicates. My hours are from M-F 6am -6pm. She works Sunday through Thursday so I keep her children temporary Sunday -Thursday until my licensing process is complete and I enroll more children. It works for the both if us.

[coolconfidentme]

I open at 5:30am & some factories open at 6am. I am the only one in my small town that opens this early & I have a waiting list on days. Crazy, I know but the money is GREAT! It's not for everyone though.

[DaisyMamma]

Ugh. I hear you! I seem to be losing them daily

[WImom]

Why are they leaving? Is it the hours? If you communicate with the parents to see what you can do to keep the children maybe it wont be too much. Since I am license exempt and I have 2 children of my own, I can only keep one more family until my license comes through. I tried to see what I can do to better meet the family needs. I didn't inform her that I basically needed her but I just let her know that I was willing to work with her if she communicates. My hours are from M-F 6am -6pm. She works Sunday through Thursday so I keep her children temporary Sunday -Thursday until my licensing process is complete and I enroll more children. It works for the both if us.

Everyone is leaving for School. It just happens to be everyone at once but 3 kids. Normally it's one or two. A Provider friend suggested I take anything to do with my hours off CL and my website and see what happens. Hopefully I will get some inquiries. I'm willing to go until 5:30 but really hoping not too, I'll be missing out on my own kids activities then.