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Just a random thought today but I feel a little frustrated about some misleading ads I have seen lately......providers that are saying they have X number of years experience in daycare but they are counting babysitting from age 13 on. For instance, one person that I know for sure is brand spankin' new to home care giving a large number of years experience (almost 20!) when I know for a fact that she is just getting started in her home and her only real experience is a couple months at a daycare facility. I am frustrated for families that are misled by a large number of years "experience". If people are counting occasional babysitting 15 years ago as a teen, then I would imagine 95% of the US has "daycare experience". I feel it would be more honest to say "I have provided daycare in my home for X number of years. Prior to that, I did occasional babysitting, I was a camp counselor for the summer, and I worked at a daycare facility for a short period" or whatever the case may be. Be honest and thorough with your daycare families! Watching TV while one child sleeps ( aka babysitting at 14) is certainly not the same as the day in, day out care of a half a dozen small children as a full time job. I don't think that teen babysitting is much, if any, preparation for the real hard job of full time daycare services. I dont like that parents think they are getting one thing and receiving another. And there are certainly parents out there that would be fine with a newer sitter, someone who isnt burnt out from care and still has a lot of enthusiasm for the job so being honest does not mean people will not come to you. It just means that hopefully you can sleep better at night knowing you represented yourself in an honest way. Alrighty, rant over! I am sure you will understand my frustration. We were all new at one point so this is not to hate on newer providers! I just don't know how some people can feel comfortable listing their qualifications the way they do.....perhaps I am out of line here in my thinking and if that is the case, set me straight! I am fine with that. Am I right in feeling uncomfortable with this type of marketing? I have also seen people listing a vague comment about education within child development but it was actually one class ten years ago.....just doesn't set right with me......and does a disservice to those providers that worked hard for current classes or degrees in child development or educational fields. Also, listing X number of years experience but that number is actually the number of years of motherhood. Being a mom certainly teaches us a lot of caring for children but it is not the same actual experience in a daycare/educational setting, wouldn't you all agree? sorry so long!!!!
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I let potential dcf's know I have 10 years babysitting experience, 1 year volunteer and 8 months in a licensed center. Then started in my home in August 2013. Plus my passion and reason for in my home and why I feel it is better than a center. I do add in my education( early childhood education and other education classes) if requested but since it was a few years ago I don't advertise it. No false advertising here
however I agree that babysitting or even parenting is not the same as watching children in your home.
I started in August and had two part time kids. I got my first full time kid in October and that was a bit of a wake up call for me as I really hadn't established a schedule or routine. I am losing him in September though which stinks but since I am expecting my own child mid September I don't mind. It gives me a good amount of time to write up my policies and contracts and such to get prepared for when I am ready to take on a new kid. Since I have none of it right now. -
People actually advertise like that?! Wow, that stinks. When I first began in child care x4 years ago :
: I think I told people how much I babysat as a teen and that I was one of the oldest in my family and had a lot of responsibility. But it was all in conversation, not in my policy or in an ad or brochure or anything. And I would never say any of that any more.
I did get a lot of experience though
When I was 14 I was babysitter and housekeeper from 7 am - 6 pm. Did the laundry, cleaning, cooking and took care of an 8 month old for the summer.
When I was 15, I had four kids from 3 to 9
happyface::::::
Fulltime for the summer. Now that was some child care
I always went above and beyond babysitting, because I always liked working with babies and littler kids. But I would still never advertise any of that. Well, especially now. Because that was x6 years ago ::::::
Fill in your own digit for the "x"
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I wouldn't worry too much. Parents can figure this out. Most parents who want quality daycare will see right through this. And if they don't care, then they're probably just looking for the CHEAPEST daycare--since providers who fib on these things are probably doing so because they don't have a lot of good, truthful things to offer--and you don't want parents who are just looking for the cheapest rate.Comment
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I have a 6 and 4 year old, do I have 10 years of parenting experience? ::
Hehehe
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This is the kind of advertising that drives me insane more so than including parenting or babysitting as child care experience. "Mary has worked in child care for 10 years; Ann for 10 years and Linda for 10 years. They have a combined 30 years experience!!"
No they don't!! No matter how you cut it, they each have 10 years experience! Sorry; just a little pet peeve of mine!
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I agree. I despise when people advertise like that. 10 years is 10 years. Just because three people have 10 years experience does not magically make it 30 years!This is the kind of advertising that drives me insane more so than including parenting or babysitting as child care experience. "Mary has worked in child care for 10 years; Ann for 10 years and Linda for 10 years. They have a combined 30 years experience!!"
No they don't!! No matter how you cut it, they each have 10 years experience! Sorry; just a little pet peeve of mine!Comment
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It's funny, you'd think any parent worth their salt would ask if how long they'd been open. And where they worked before.
Here's our marketing math: 1 licensed teacher with a BA in Early Childhood + 1 licensed teacher with a BA in Early Childhood = 2 teaching licenses and 2 BAs in ECE (not 4 teachers)
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I've never noticed that before but yeah, that does bug me. I am proud of my 22 years experience doing daycare. And that means 22 yeas of owning/operating a daycare. If I added in babysitting as a teen then I have 31 years of experience! LOLComment
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Bugs me too. I'm going on 30 years fully licensed (albeit in two different states) I hate it when people lie. My area has a problem with women saying they are licensed providers when they aren't. They show a business license and some parents think that's OK!
There are also 2 kinds of daycare certificates here in Utah. One is like me...fully licensed. The other is called residential certificate. It entails a class, a few hours a year training and SIX WEEKS notice that the state is coming to do an inspection. An inspection that is much less intensive than fully licensed.
The idea behind it was that the state figured "a little bit licensed" was better than nothing. But the problem is, these providers are sometimes advertising themselves as fully licensed. They are less trained and have less requirements.
I have nothing against residential certificate providers. Many are WONDERFUL providers who just don't want to be a bit more free of the state intrusions.
But it drives me crazy that they tell parents they are fully licensed.
So much so, that I tell interviewing parents to ask specifically when they visit home daycare homes and then ask to see the certificate on the wall. A residential certificate is NOT the same as fully licensed and a city business license doesn't mean anything at all on it's own!Comment
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