Cirriculum

[Unregistered]

Ok-so, I started the Mother Goose Time cirriculum with my kids this month. Most of them are 18 mos-4, so I figured they would benefit from it. I paid for the first month, so the parents can see it for themselves, and then told them if they would like their child to continue, it would be $15/month to cover the cost for their child. It is optional, but I let them know if they choose not to do it, their child will not be bringing home the additional activities. (they will still participate in the group time, just not the activities to re-inforce the skills we learned).

Most of my parents were super excited, and more than willing to pay. I have one set that I just had a feeling wouldn't want to. The thing that gets me about these parents: They want the BEST for their child-just don't want to pay for it. When they found out that I include meals, for example, they told me that they only wanted him to eat natural, organic food. I told them they could bring the food and I would make sure he got it, but the price was the same. I provide meals as a service, and do not charge for that. He has never brought his own food. Why do parents want the best for their kids, but only if THE PROVIDER pays?

Was I wrong to do it the way I did? I wanted it to be optional-should I have just ****ed it up and paid, so all the kids will be doing the art/skill activities? That would run me about $100/month, and I just don't think it is fair for me to have to pay it all.

[SilverSabre25]

Honestly...I would pay for it until the first of the year and then you can raise rates for everyone to cover the "rise in living expenses such as food and utilities" and in addition, you'll now offer MGT to everyone for no additional cost! Raising your rates $5/week would give you about $20/month, so more than the cost of the curriculum. Yes, yes, we know and you know that the real reason for the rate change is to provide the curriculum, but *they* don't have to know that. It's not fair to exclude a child from a fun activity like that for any reason. This way, everyone gets treated the same.

Alternatively, you could leave the rates the way they are for everyone who is willing to pay and then raise this family's rates as stated above at the beginning of the year, paying for their child's share in the meantime, but I wouldn't. I would just raise everyone's.

Oh, and no offense...but it's spelled "curriculum."

[Unregistered]

Oh, and no offense...but it's spelled "curriculum.
"

Ha ha! I didn't think that looked right!

[MarinaVanessa]

To prevent problems within your familes and daycare I would either have them all pay the extra fee to cover the curriculum or not charge any of them and cover the cost myself. Personally I plan my own curriculum and all of the craft and other supplies are all included with my weekly rate since it's all tax deductible anyway. If you cover the cost of your curriculum whether it's planned for you or not it's still tax deductible. It's great that you offer a pre-planned curriculum but from what I undertstand there are still some supplies and materials that you need to purchase to do some of these activities. I don't know what your finances look like but if you can't cover the curriculum on your current rates then by all means charge the parents.

Yes it ****s for the one child if they don't want to pay extra and you'll have to exclude him but how fair is it if you have everyone else pay extra and give this one family a free ride? If I were one of the other families and I found out that I was being charged extra for this curriculum and another family got it for free I'd be PO'd. So the safest way to go is either offer it at no charge to all families or charge all families extra. Giving the families the option to decide for themselves is smart, it leaves the decision up to them. You are offering it to them and they can decide whether or not they want to use it or not.

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I agree with the others...raise your rates just slightly to cover the cost..it's not fair for that one child who's parents don't want to pay. I know it is very frustrating when you get parents like that.

I want to raise my rates in the worst way but I'm so afraid a couple of my parents will beat feet because they would rather spend less without considering of the quality.

I bought the Sept. Mother Goose Time for 3 kids (my 4 year old daughter and 2 daycare boys) and I can't afford to keep buying it on my low rates I have now. I LOVE the curriculum and have had fun with it with my own daughter but she's in Kindergarten all day so I only have done it with her on the weekend and once when she was recovering from being sick. My one daycare boy is part time and comes at naptime and the other 2 year old boy just isn't even interested. I think it will be another year before the 2 year olds will really benifit from all the crafts...my 2 1/2 year old DCB just picks things apart and could care less.

Anyway, I know how expensive it is to keep up with it, so if it's something you really wish to do, I would casually raise the rates...seriously thinking about raising my slightly soon.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I purchased a curriculum this year for the first time and loving how much easier it makes my planning times! The way I did it, though, was let parents know how much the curriculum reimbursement cost is each month (or the whole year upfront), and pretty much left it at that. If you want your child to get preschool, you pay your share of it, or they don't get it. All of our parents who want their child in preschool with us pay it without questioning it. I sent out a sheet telling what all the curriculum includes, what types of learning will take place (alphabet, science, numbers, self-help, and language activities, etc.). They all seem really happy with it so far and don't complain about the cost. If the full time families wanted to send them to another preschool and then bring them to daycare after preschool each day, they'd be paying for that other preschool on top of their daycare rate, so they'd be paying even more. We actually save them money so they don't have to do that. In our area it's like paying us $10/ month for preschool compared to the minimum of $80-$90 they'd pay for preschool elsewhere.