Who Follows Their Policies To The Letter?

[DCMomOf3]

I follow them 90% of the time. I do allow for exceptions from time to time, but it is all my disgression and I make sure they know not to expect it every time. I have never gotten any push back on my policies and actions. *knock* on wood.

[DanceMom]

I dont follow them pretty much at all...which was a mistake since day one.
I feel that since I have been lenient for years that it would be hard to all of a sudden be ********. My families signed with me knowing I was working for THEM....since I know how hard it is to work outside of the home and be a parent with a child in daycare. I am pretty strict on my sick policy though. My parents dont pay late and are usually on time to pick up. If I have a problem with any of them going outside of my guidelines I talk to them about the issue - letting them know how it makes me feel or how it impacts my life and they fix the problem quickly.

[Unregistered]

Bit of a stickler

Now that I've got a few years under my belt, I know how important it is to follow my policies as they're written in my contract.

I used to let a lot of stuff slide, but not anymore. As a result, I very rarely have to deal with parents trying to get me to make exceptions.

I'm especially strict on my illness policy.

[kendallina]

I stick to all my policies, but I have fairly simple policies. The only one that parents would give me trouble for is that they have to pay if their LO misses a day. No one has even said anything about it and has always paid (well, I've only been open since August...).

My families so far pay on time.

I don't have a late pick-up fee yet. This is mostly because 6 of the 7 families are friends of mine and we all babysit eachother's kids at one point or another. So far I've had a family late twice (different families). I called them within 10 minutes of when they were supposed to be here and they each apologized profusely and one even asked if he could pay me a late fee.

I anticipate next year I'll have more families that I'm not friends with, so I will institute a late policy then.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I dont follow them pretty much at all...which was a mistake since day one.
I feel that since I have been lenient for years that it would be hard to all of a sudden be ********. My families signed with me knowing I was working for THEM....since I know how hard it is to work outside of the home and be a parent with a child in daycare. I am pretty strict on my sick policy though. My parents dont pay late and are usually on time to pick up. If I have a problem with any of them going outside of my guidelines I talk to them about the issue - letting them know how it makes me feel or how it impacts my life and they fix the problem quickly.

You work for the parents? Wow, I've always taken a different view on that. I look at being a Daycare provider kind of like a store. The provider provides a service for the parents. If they like your "products" they enroll their child. Stores all have guidelines (aka policies). You pay when you get the groceries you need, right? You can't tell them you'll pay them for your groceries next week. Do you look at a store as working for you? Or your child's school? Anyway, sorry, off topic. Just a thought. I can't imagine feeling like the parents were my boss. Why even HAVE a policy if you work for them and they tell you how they want it... But I bet your parents are all really pleased with your daycare. Hopefully they keep your needs in mind too and aren't taking advantage of you.

[DanceMom]

You work for the parents? Wow, I've always taken a different view on that. I look at being a Daycare provider kind of like a store. The provider provides a service for the parents. If they like your "products" they enroll their child. Stores all have guidelines (aka policies). You pay when you get the groceries you need, right? You can't tell them you'll pay them for your groceries next week. Do you look at a store as working for you? Or your child's school? Anyway, sorry, off topic. Just a thought. I can't imagine feeling like the parents were my boss. Why even HAVE a policy if you work for them and they tell you how they want it... But I bet your parents are all really pleased with your daycare. Hopefully they keep your needs in mind too and aren't taking advantage of you.

No no, you took that wrong...They are not MY boss and I do not feel that they are my boss , I am very clear to them that I am a business owner and I call the shots in my business, they do not tell ME what to do ever - what I am saying is I am here for them. My job is to provide a service to them so that when they leave my house they can leave it daycare stress free. If they are a few minutes late picking up, a few minutes early dropping off, because they have to get to work early or had to work late or traffic ****ed etc..I dont need to be another part of their already stressful day - I worked outside of the home and I know how hard it was to get to daycare on time and to pick up my child for every little sniffle, while of course I complied and understood completely it was very hard to do at times. NONE of my families take advantage of me, they respect me to the fullest as I do them as working parents. So I let a lot of "little" things slide...the things I let slide do not impact me, their children or my business whatsoever..if it did..then I wouldnt let them slide.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

No no, you took that wrong...They are not MY boss and I do not feel that they are my boss , I am very clear to them that I am a business owner and I call the shots in my business, they do not tell ME what to do ever - what I am saying is I am here for them. My job is to provide a service to them so that when they leave my house they can leave it daycare stress free. If they are a few minutes late picking up, a few minutes early dropping off, because they have to get to work early or had to work late or traffic ****ed etc..I dont need to be another part of their already stressful day - I worked outside of the home and I know how hard it was to get to daycare on time and to pick up my child for every little sniffle, while of course I complied and understood completely it was very hard to do at times. NONE of my families take advantage of me, they respect me to the fullest as I do them as working parents. So I let a lot of "little" things slide...the things I let slide do not impact me, their children or my business whatsoever..if it did..then I wouldnt let them slide.

Oh I see what you meant now. I am sorry! I know of some daycares who consider the parents as their boss, and I just can't imagine that. And one provider has even told me that I need to "give in" to the parents because they are my boss. This was over something like payment, I think, which was already clearly outlined in the signed contract.
So...never mind my previous post!

[Lilbutterflie]

Yes, in fact I let one policy slide this morning. DCM called 30 min prior to drop off and asked if she could bring dcb since he had just thrown up. No temp, maybe a fluke? Well, he was my only dck today so I told her I would watch him and send him home if he developed a fever or threw up again. She brought him, he was pale and looked terrible. The moment she started to pull out of the driveway he began throwing up in the toilet! I stopped her before she left the driveway to tell her he had to go home. Should've saved her the trip and told her not to bring him! But I felt okay in trying it just in case it was a fluke; and he was my only dck, and she has never questioned my sick policy or tried to be dishonest about her children being sick. That deserves a bend in the rules for certain instances I think.

[DanceMom]

Oh I see what you meant now. I am sorry! I know of some daycares who consider the parents as their boss, and I just can't imagine that. And one provider has even told me that I need to "give in" to the parents because they are my boss. This was over something like payment, I think, which was already clearly outlined in the signed contract.
So...never mind my previous post!

No problem - I can see how anyone could have misunderstood my post. I agree with you completely...there is NO way in He** that I would allow them to think they are my boss.