I Feel Blackmailed

[Laurel]

My insurance would have thrown the book at me. NO way... I would tell dcm that DCG age 13 is no longer able to attend due to the fact that she is not covered by your insurance. Thanks for understanding.

That is a good idea. I didn't think of the insurance aspect.

I don't do free days at all but I have watched drop-in's before. My insurance covers 6 children and 6 children is my legal limit but it doesn't specify which 6 children. If I was taking a drop-in then I would still be legal as I don't go over 6. A drop-in can only come because I have some part time children and am not always at full capacity (as I don't choose to be). In my case they would be covered but I could always say they weren't if I wanted a good excuse.

Good idea there!

Laurel

[Mister Sir Husband]

I also am allowing parents free days if their kids are sick (with limits of course). I wouldn't have even thought of charging for the 13 year old.. but instead would have told her fine.. keep them all at home. No way is a parent gonna tell me that if I don't take an extra kid she isn't sending any of them. Plus, the way my contract is written, the free days are only useable if your child is sick. By her own words, her two little ones clearly are not sick, so I'd be charging for them anyways.

[Blackcat31]

In my state a 13 yr old can be used as a helper.

Having her present would have allowed me to have 2 additional children in care.

The food program stops allowing me to claim her at age 11.
The state assistance program stops paying for their care at age 12.
The state allows them to be considered helpers at age 13.

My daycare liability insurance covers enrolled children and their parents
My home owners insurance covers anyone on my property.

Having that 13 yr old attend wouldn't have had an impact on me in any way (other than food) but I still would not have been happy about the way the mom presented it.

If I were OP, I would simply have allowed the daycare kids to stay home with their sister and would have worked on re-writing my policy about free days.

[Laurel]

My policy is that full time kids get one free absence per month.

So dcm asks me if her 13yo can come with the two younger kids and help me out today (mostly she just wants to come play with the puppies I am fostering.) If she can't come then the two younger ones will just stay home with her (meaning they use their free day and I don't get paid.)

So the 13yo is here but it is just making the day draaaaag on.

So did the 13 year old at least help?

Maybe if you put her to work that will end it for the future.

I used to have a 12 year old that was homeschooled help me a few hours for a few days a week but I paid her and she was never a daycare child. She was fantastic. She was 12 going on 21 though.

Laurel

[DaisyMamma]

That really is a lot of free days. Doesn't it hurt financially?
I use to do one week per year. I don't do that either any longer. Even losing $175 in a month screws up the finances. Now I charge 52 weeks per year regardless of attendance, vacation, closings or holidays.
But I understand that you need to compete with what others do in your area.

Since you didn't charge for the 13yo perhaps that takes up their free day this month, eh?
::

[DaisyMamma]

And then you could say, ohhhhh I thought you meant that you wouldnt take your free day if she could come. ..

[CraftyMom]

And then you could say, ohhhhh I thought you meant that you wouldnt take your free day if she could come. ..

[Unregistered]

I agree with Daisy Mom.

I would say (Monday)
It was great swapping the free day for watching your (13YO) and it was great to have her here! Thank you for doing that.


She probably did NOT mean it that way, and will gawk at you, but then if she says anything against it, I would then be tempted to say "O, well I didn't charge you for (13yo). If you want me to charge for her instead, that's fine too" and smile.

[Laurel]

And then you could say, ohhhhh I thought you meant that you wouldnt take your free day if she could come. ..

Love it. Great idea!

Laurel

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I agree with Daisy Mom.

I would say (Monday)
It was great swapping the free day for watching your (13YO) and it was great to have her here! Thank you for doing that.


She probably did NOT mean it that way, and will gawk at you, but then if she says anything against it, I would then be tempted to say "O, well I didn't charge you for (13yo). If you want me to charge for her instead, that's fine too" and smile.

Bingo!

[My3cents]

I used to offer one free week a year of absences (which is kind of customary around here for home daycares.) But one year several families all took their week in December. So I changed the policy to one free day per month, which is actually more free days for them. This way I never lose more than 1 days pay per month. Part-timers don't get ANY free days. The days don't stack up, it's just one per month. A lot of months they don't even use the free day.

I DO like this girl and she is helpful. You guys just know how it is when someone is here that isn't usually here. The kids are different plus I worry about her being bored. I didn't charge for her.

never heard of this....... be paid for when you work! When you offer free days it drives down the price of daycare for everyone! Not cool-

[daycaremum]

never heard of this....... be paid for when you work! When you offer free days it drives down the price of daycare for everyone! Not cool-

This is simply not true. Many "daycares" in my town do not charge for abscences and charge much less than me. It does not drive my price down.

[Mister Sir Husband]

never heard of this....... be paid for when you work! When you offer free days it drives down the price of daycare for everyone! Not cool-

I agree! I do get paid for when I work. However if all my kids take a free day, I am not working.

[rosieteddy]

Wow you guys are super nice.In my area most providers charge the full rate 52 weeks,take paid holidays and vacations.I now have all Holidays ,and 3 weeks paid vacation.If they take additional time I am still paid .It took years to get here but its great.New clients know before they commit that its policy.

[crazydaycarelady]

If every single family used every single free day then I would potentially lose a lot of money I suppose, but it doesn't work out that way. It sounds really good when they read my contract that they get 12 FREE days per year but they really only take a few of those. I get paid for way more days that they aren't here that they must pay me for anyway. It is only FT families also.

never heard of this....... be paid for when you work! When you offer free days it drives down the price of daycare for everyone! Not cool-

I get paid for when I work. The free days are for when their kids are NOT here.