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Do many of you take pt dcks? If so, do you let them know that if ft comes along they get notice? I really need all ft dcks this year but they're hard to find. I can only have 6 ft and 4 pt afterschoolers.
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I may be in this position this fall . My plan would be to replace a B/A school kid . But if I had to I would replace a pt with a full time and plan to add this to all my new clients policy/ handbook. -
I do take pt kids. In fact, most of my kids are pt. Over the years, I've been very lucky to get kids whose schedules tend to mesh. (One come T, W and Th and another comes just Mondays. Another comes M, W and another needs T,Th...)
I do have a paragraph in my parent handbook that states ft takes priority over pt but in 18 years, I've only had to use that policy twice - once because I really did need it for a family who wanted ft and the other, as an excuse to get one family to leave because they were driving me a little crazy.
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I have mostly part time, only 1 true full timer. I only take part time clients if they are 1) willing to pay more and 2) their schedules work with someone else's to make a full week.
I charge $125 a week full time (average to low for here) but $80 for 2 days, $100 for 3 days, and $130 for 4 days. And people can not schedule full time and only come part time.Comment
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I have mostly part time as it allows me to make the most money while staying legally unlicensed. I have also been lucky to find families with schedules that mesh well. I don't take any less than 3 days a week or I find them too hard to keep trained, unless they are 3 or older and have been with me a while.Comment
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I take PT and let them know that if FT opportunity comes around for me to take, FT gets priority. It actually seems to keep them in check in a way.i have found I have the least problems with my PT families bc they are grateful for their spot and don't want me looking to fill it. Lol!Comment
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I fill 8 of my spaces with full time kids. I usually save 2 spaces for part timers.
If I have 2 part timers sharing one space, I can make a bit more $ off those two kids/1 space.
Doing that though means TWO families to deal with for once space.
However, IF a full time client came along that fit well, I would offer both part time families the opportunity to move up to full time and if neither wanted to take the full time space, I would offer it to the interested family.
There have been times a full time family became interested and I opted not to offer the space to the currently enrolled part time family as they weren't really a good fit and I had on-going issues with them so I certainly didn't want them full time as part time attendance was stressful as it so I just termed them to make space for the FT's.
I have it written into my policies, website and handbook that full time will ALWAYS trump part time as this business has nothing to do with loyalty and everything to do with income for me.
I don't ALWAYS prefer a full timer verses two part timers but there are definitely times in which it makes more sense to take the FT family over PT.Comment
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I'm just not even sure if I want pt kids. My brain cannot handle the extra confusion of everyone's schedules. I really liked it when I had 6 ft dcks, it was dependable and consistent. No questions of who came when, what day, etc. My brain gets befuddled easily.
Plus I'm not even sure what's going on with some of the non-summer dcks. I have 2 dcfs who have a teacher parent and I have heard from neither. I guess I better ruffle feathers and find out.
Right now I do have a pt dcg who I'd hate to let go, she's as sweet as they come, the dad is still looking for ft work, and I'd hate to say goodbye to a known great family. She only comes 2 days a week.Comment
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I love part time families, and cater almost exclusively to this "market". I enjoy how different kids add a different dynamic to the group, and how things are never the same. All my pt kids are great- no behavior problems, and I find the parents are really invested in their children. Most have grandparents one day, me two or three days, and mom or dad the other day- so everyone in the family is actively involved. Sometimes I make more money, since two part timers can share a week, but other times, I lose a little if they don't share a slot, but I thoroughly enjoy different kids, talking to different parents, and not seeing the same people everyday.Comment
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Shell, I can see that side of it too. How do you deal with parties(if you do them) or activities that need a continuum to them(If I'm saying that right), since not everybody is there the same days? At the moment, with any pt dcks I have I always try to schedule special activities on a day when most of them are present. Does it kinda work the same way with you? And do the kids stay on enough of a schedule during their off-time that it's not a problem during dc?
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I have the same problem with my brain. My part timer's come the same day/days each week so their schedules aren't any less dependable or consistent than my full timers. Since they fill the same time slot each week, you do get used to the schedule pretty quickly so confusion is minimal.
Just to make sure I don't get confused, especially when a drop-in wants to schedule a day, I make a chart for myself and hang it on the fridge in my kitchen next to my calendar. I have columns for each day and rows (slots) for each space I have available. In each slot, I write a child's name. That way, if I have a brain cramp and can't remember who's coming that day, I can take quick look at the chart to remind me whose day it is. I also know at a quick glance if I have any open slots available for a drop-in.
I know you asked Shell about how she handles parties....hopefully it's okay if I chime in. For birthdays, we celebrate once - either on the day the birthday falls or the day before when the birthday child is in attendence. Anyone who happens to be there gets to celebrate.
For holidays, I plan 2 days to celebrate in order to include as many kids as possible. So if Christmas is on a Thursday, for example, we celebrate on Tuesday and Wednesday. That may leave the kid out who only comes on Monday but I figure it can't always be helped. If I have an opening, I may offer to switch days for the parent so the child can attend a party but otherwise, I just don't mention the parties to them. I give the child his or her gift at pick up time and wish them a Merry Christmas. Most of my kids are young enough that they don't know they're missing a party and they're thrilled to be getting a present.
For crafts that can't be finished in one day, I either hold what they've done and help them finish it the next time they come or I give the materials to the parent to finish the craft with the child at home. It all depends on what it is and whether I know we'll have moved onto another theme by the time they return. If the child is old enough, I might also have them finish it while the other kids are napping or while they're waiting to be pick up. HTHComment
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I do my best to plan things like show and tell, and parties for when the most children are present. If it just doesn't work out for one of the kids, I invite them to the party/event but make it clear that the parent must stay, and it's for the activity only. I am always within ratio, even with the pt child dropping in for some event, but if I wasn't, I would either schedule 2 days, but it wouldn't be perfect.Shell, I can see that side of it too. How do you deal with parties(if you do them) or activities that need a continuum to them(If I'm saying that right), since not everybody is there the same days? At the moment, with any pt dcks I have I always try to schedule special activities on a day when most of them are present. Does it kinda work the same way with you? And do the kids stay on enough of a schedule during their off-time that it's not a problem during dc?Comment
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I have the same problem with my brain. My part timer's come the same day/days each week so their schedules aren't any less dependable or consistent than my full timers. Since they fill the same time slot each week, you do get used to the schedule pretty quickly so confusion is minimal.
Just to make sure I don't get confused, especially when a drop-in wants to schedule a day, I make a chart for myself and hang it on the fridge in my kitchen next to my calendar. I have columns for each day and rows (slots) for each space I have available. In each slot, I write a child's name. That way, if I have a brain cramp and can't remember who's coming that day, I can take quick look at the chart to remind me whose day it is. I also know at a quick glance if I have any open slots available for a drop-in.
I know you asked Shell about how she handles parties....hopefully it's okay if I chime in. For birthdays, we celebrate once - either on the day the birthday falls or the day before when the birthday child is in attendence. Anyone who happens to be there gets to celebrate.
For holidays, I plan 2 days to celebrate in order to include as many kids as possible. So if Christmas is on a Thursday, for example, we celebrate on Tuesday and Wednesday. That may leave the kid out who only comes on Monday but I figure it can't always be helped. If I have an opening, I may offer to switch days for the parent so the child can attend a party but otherwise, I just don't mention the parties to them. I give the child his or her gift at pick up time and wish them a Merry Christmas. Most of my kids are young enough that they don't know they're missing a party and they're thrilled to be getting a present.
For crafts that can't be finished in one day, I either hold what they've done and help them finish it the next time they come or I give the materials to the parent to finish the craft with the child at home. It all depends on what it is and whether I know we'll have moved onto another theme by the time they return. If the child is old enough, I might also have them finish it while the other kids are napping or while they're waiting to be pick up. HTH
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