How Many Of You Have Wrote A New Contract After Being On This Site?

[Maria2013]

I thought my contract covered all the unpleasant scenarios possible in this business but since I've been on this site, I'm reading things I never thought possible

I have made up my mind, as of January 1st, I'm re writing my entire contract
..how many of you have done so because of what you read on here?

[Patches]

Rewrote? No. Add? Yes! In fact, my parent handbook and contract have nearly doubled in size in the past (almost) year I've been on here

[TwinKristi]

I will be as of Jan 1st as well.

[April]

I am in the process of changing my contract as well! I sooo wish I would have found this forum before I opened my daycare. Could have saved me a lot of stress.....

[Maria2013]

I'm happy to know I'm not the only one :: and yes I meant: adding, changing etc

I'm so glad I found this site :hug:

[Josiegirl]

Just curious what kinds of things are you adding or changing?
I've let dcks borrow things from here before but will no longer do that after several items have come up missing and no one knows where they are.
I allow dcks to bring things from home, always figured it was a good lesson in sharing, but after 1 dcm having allowed her dd to bring too many small items, I'm not allowing that anymore.
I will stick to late payment fees, have been too wimpy about it.
I will close at 5:00 and will only stay open with prior approval, maybe a certain number of times a month. Anything other than that and I will charge late pick-up fees.
I'm also going to stress actions that help with potty-training, such as elastic pants, no onesies. I have a little dcg who has done so well potty-training but some days she comes in jeans that are even hard for me to get off her. If she has an accident because she didn't get them down in time, dcd says 'you need to go to the potty earlier'. cripes she's only 2 1/2. I already have this written up in my policies but evidently they forget.
Oh yeh, thought of some more...
dcps have to be at the cars with dcks. So many chat and let their kids go to the cars without them.
No more cups, snacks, anything thru the front door, unless it's something meant to be shared with all.

[Laurel]

I have a 2 page agreement that doesn't have every possible scenario, only the basics. My provider friend has 1 page that she calls Guidelines and parents don't sign it. They do sign mine though. We really both felt that was all we ever needed. I don't have a handbook either nor does she. A third provider friend does the same as us. We have all done child care for 18 plus years.

I feel like she does with her guidelines. They either follow the guidelines or they leave. It is not necessary to write down everything that could ever possibly happen, we both just tell them what we will and won't allow when it comes up. I've never, ever had anyone say "Well that isn't in the agreement" when I've told them something. And if they would I would just say "I know it isn't. It just came up and I am going to handle it this way." They can take it or leave it.

Like I've had a problem with tiny hair clips and necklaces. I just said for safety reasons please don't send your child in them and they say okay they understand. I had one ****ing on the necklace and another one pulling on the other one's necklace. But I don't have not to wear jewelry in my agreement.

When the potty training issue comes up then we discuss it. I tell them what I will and won't do, what the children need to wear, etc. I don't see a need to write it down. I feel it limits me too. If I have it written down I can't change my mind. (without a contract revision)

Things like closing times and anything regarding payment and sick policies (2 sentences in mine) and those types of things are in my contract.

If there is a problem that is affecting everyone then I'll send a note home. If it is only affecting one then I just talk to them.

My contract doesn't have anything in it that would be a legal issue as I don't collect deposits at all. I just tell people I will hold a spot for 2 weeks for free and after that fill it if they don't show. On leaving, I don't have a two week notice. I just ask, in my agreement, that they give as much notice as possible. They pay for the last week of care upon enrolling so I'm not out any money. I see no reason for a notice except as a courtesy so I can find someone else. Most people comply and give me more than 2 weeks notice. Some don't but I keep a waiting list. Also, if I want to term them, I don't want to have them here for 2 more weeks. I have never termed anyone but if I want to I can do it with as much notice as I want but I would give notice because I have a reputation to uphold. But if things got really bad, I feel good knowing I can term on the spot.

This system has worked really well for me.

I feel a lengthy contract is restrictive to ME. I don't want to have to stick to something that might not fit every situation. I have really never had a problem doing it this way. Just a thought....

Laurel

[cheerfuldom]

I have a 2 page agreement that doesn't have every possible scenario, only the basics. My provider friend has 1 page that she calls Guidelines and parents don't sign it. They do sign mine though. We really both felt that was all we ever needed. I don't have a handbook either nor does she. A third provider friend does the same as us. We have all done child care for 18 plus years.

I feel like she does with her guidelines. They either follow the guidelines or they leave. It is not necessary to write down everything that could ever possibly happen, we both just tell them what we will and won't allow when it comes up. I've never, ever had anyone say "Well that isn't in the agreement" when I've told them something. And if they would I would just say "I know it isn't. It just came up and I am going to handle it this way." They can take it or leave it.

Like I've had a problem with tiny hair clips and necklaces. I just said for safety reasons please don't send your child in them and they say okay they understand. I had one ****ing on the necklace and another one pulling on the other one's necklace. But I don't have not to wear jewelry in my agreement.

When the potty training issue comes up then we discuss it. I tell them what I will and won't do, what the children need to wear, etc. I don't see a need to write it down. I feel it limits me too. If I have it written down I can't change my mind. (without a contract revision)

Things like closing times and anything regarding payment and sick policies (2 sentences in mine) and those types of things are in my contract.

If there is a problem that is affecting everyone then I'll send a note home. If it is only affecting one then I just talk to them.

My contract doesn't have anything in it that would be a legal issue as I don't collect deposits at all. I just tell people I will hold a spot for 2 weeks for free and after that fill it if they don't show. On leaving, I don't have a two week notice. I just ask, in my agreement, that they give as much notice as possible. They pay for the last week of care upon enrolling so I'm not out any money. I see no reason for a notice except as a courtesy so I can find someone else. Most people comply and give me more than 2 weeks notice. Some don't but I keep a waiting list. Also, if I want to term them, I don't want to have them here for 2 more weeks. I have never termed anyone but if I want to I can do it with as much notice as I want but I would give notice because I have a reputation to uphold. But if things got really bad, I feel good knowing I can term on the spot.

This system has worked really well for me.

I feel a lengthy contract is restrictive to ME. I don't want to have to stick to something that might not fit every situation. I have really never had a problem doing it this way. Just a thought....

Laurel

I agree 100% with you. I have been doing daycare for 6 years and I recently redid my contract to be 2 pages only. I have no problem addressing things as they come up. I talk to the parent directly and do not waste my time sending notes home, texting, emailing or posting notes. If a child comes in with various toys and things, I just put them in the bag for the day. There is no need to even mention it to a parent really. If a child is potty training and comes in with inappropriate clothing, I will tell the parent if its an ongoing issue. If it is just a random day, I will put them in something else for the day, leave the onesie unsnapped or whatever else I have to do to make it work for that day. I don't tell parents every single small issue like "susie kept pulling janie's necklace", I just take the necklace off and put it in the bag and that's that. If parents are letting kids run to the car, I will say right then "Tammy you need to get Aiden right now. I can't have him running out to the driveway or street alone, that's not safe"

BUT all that to say that if a provider, especially a newer one, feels more confident with a contract to back them up, by all means, do it!

[Crazy8]

They either follow the guidelines or they leave. It is not necessary to write down everything that could ever possibly happen, we both just tell them what we will and won't allow when it comes up. I've never, ever had anyone say "Well that isn't in the agreement" when I've told them something. And if they would I would just say "I know it isn't. It just came up and I am going to handle it this way." They can take it or leave it.


Laurel

I feel the same way. I don't spell out every little thing - if it comes up and I say it can't be done that way I expect parents to not do it. If they do it falls under the "disrespect" category and they are termed.

I actually did just redo my contract this summer, but that is after 12+ years of making tiny revisions along the way and I changed it mostly because I wanted to have a separate financial agreement (because that changes more often with some families) and then a handbook. The handbook still doesn't include half of what others here do. I figure if they aren't going to read it thoroughly anyway it might as well be short enough where there is a chance of them catching something in it.

[Blackcat31]

If I could, I would not have anything other than a contract for payment.

Unfortunately like many other states, I am required to basically spell out the way I will practice/perform certain requirements.

The list of areas I need to cover is extensive thus resulting in a lengthy handbook.

Trust me, I am open, upfront and vocal enough to NOT have rely on everything being spelled out detail by detail but apparently licensing doesn't agree.

[Laurel]

I agree 100% with you. I have been doing daycare for 6 years and I recently redid my contract to be 2 pages only. I have no problem addressing things as they come up. I talk to the parent directly and do not waste my time sending notes home, texting, emailing or posting notes. If a child comes in with various toys and things, I just put them in the bag for the day. There is no need to even mention it to a parent really. If a child is potty training and comes in with inappropriate clothing, I will tell the parent if its an ongoing issue. If it is just a random day, I will put them in something else for the day, leave the onesie unsnapped or whatever else I have to do to make it work for that day. I don't tell parents every single small issue like "susie kept pulling janie's necklace", I just take the necklace off and put it in the bag and that's that. If parents are letting kids run to the car, I will say right then "Tammy you need to get Aiden right now. I can't have him running out to the driveway or street alone, that's not safe"

BUT all that to say that if a provider, especially a newer one, feels more confident with a contract to back them up, by all means, do it!

Exactly how I feel.

Laurel

[Laurel]

If I could, I would not have anything other than a contract for payment.

Unfortunately like many other states, I am required to basically spell out the way I will practice/perform certain requirements.

The list of areas I need to cover is extensive thus resulting in a lengthy handbook.

Trust me, I am open, upfront and vocal enough to NOT have rely on everything being spelled out detail by detail but apparently licensing doesn't agree.

Wow, our licensing doesn't even require us to have guidelines or contracts or anything like that. As long as we follow their basic rules we can let the parents know any way we want to or not at all I guess.

It is kind of interesting how different places do it so differently. I am always amazed at how many children can be watched in other areas. Also, when provider's here say they are legally unlicensed that was something I had never heard of. Oh, how I wish..... I can only watch one child (or two from the same family) in order to not be licensed.

Laurel

[Josiegirl]

Wow, 1 or 2 pages? I wish I could do that.
Besides, it's so much easier for me to write it all up and have them (hopefully) read it.
I might try to reduce mine in places because it does get wordy. But it's not all that long. Wish I knew how to post it via link or something, here. I'd love feedback on it.