CL-add Response, Need Your Help

[daniellesweety1]

Good Morning Daycare Family,
Yesterday I posted a CL ad to start enrolling, I received a response this morning. It has a male name but could be female. However, my question is, do I meet the person in a public place before inviting them to my home or do I just invite them to my home and have someone here with me. It makes me nervous doing a CL things being as though I use to work in a prison and I've known people that were detained were known as the CL killers. So my nerves are on HIGH ALERT. I don't want to invite just anyone to my home and I have a daughter here as well.

Please give me your suggestions as well as how do you usually conduct your interviews for such.

Thank You

[NightOwl]

I would invite them to your home with your husband present but after dcks are gone. I would also use words such as "WE are excited to meet you and your little one. WE'LL see you at such and such time!".

[AmyKidsCo]

I don't understand the difference between an interview from a CL ad or from another ad. I'm not a big CL person - are CL people usually not trustworthy?

[CedarCreek]

I agree with having them come for an interview WITH your husband present.

Call them first if you feel uncomfortable for a short "pre-interview" ask some basic questions regarding their children and their work schedule and take down their first and last name and a good phone number for them.

Sometimes, I would google people before they came for interviews.

[Shell]

I ask tons of questions via email first to make sure they are really interested, and actually parents looking for care, and not creeps. Questions like: what days, times, what are they looking for their chins to gain from the experience, curriculum, etc. I always ask for a first and last name, and then I google/ Facebook to find out everything I can. I give my address after a series of exchanges- I first give a general idea of my location near to a shopping plaza. I have had great success with craigslist, but advise you to do as much research on the family as you can, before giving out your address.

[Blackcat31]

Good Morning Daycare Family,
Yesterday I posted a CL ad to start enrolling, I received a response this morning. It has a male name but could be female. However, my question is, do I meet the person in a public place before inviting them to my home or do I just invite them to my home and have someone here with me. It makes me nervous doing a CL things being as though I use to work in a prison and I've known people that were detained were known as the CL killers. So my nerves are on HIGH ALERT. I don't want to invite just anyone to my home and I have a daughter here as well.

Please give me your suggestions as well as how do you usually conduct your interviews for such.

Thank You

I would do as others have suggested...and contact them with a few more questions and if you do set up an interview, mention that your husband will be present.

I understand about the male vs female name thing as it can be confusing. My daughter's name is Ryan. ALL her teachers thought she was either making it up or using someone else's identity. Now days I am sure it's more common but my DD had some odd encounters because of her masculine name so I can see how that would throw a person off.

[PolkaTots]

I wouldn't be too worried. Most of my families came from my CL ad. If I can't verify them on facebook, I call and speak to them in person first.

[daniellesweety1]

I did speak or the guy and he didn't seem too bad via telephone, he basically explained his son already have a home daycare, however the provider is always sick and such so care is just randomly closed at times etc.... He did mention he and his wife are currently looking for a new provider. I did do a lot of we mentioning etc. but he was very concerned as to if I would have a backup if I'm sick all the time etc.

[MsLisa]

I agree with the others! The more info the better.

I personally did my 1st meet up at a Barnes & Nobles (and probably will keep doing so). Its a nice safe neutral ground, the kids played and we obviously knew right off the bat that we weren't creepers or anything. That Monday she dropped him off, took the tour and was happy ever since.

[Second Home]

I also think that if tell a potential client that you do interviews after normal hours , with others present or in a neutral location for the first meeting for safety reasons for the children in care the parents will understand . After all they would not want strangers coming into the home day care while their child was present .

[spinnymarie]

I ask tons of questions via email first to make sure they are really interested, and actually parents looking for care, and not creeps. Questions like: what days, times, what are they looking for their chins to gain from the experience, curriculum, etc. I always ask for a first and last name, and then I google/ Facebook to find out everything I can. I give my address after a series of exchanges- I first give a general idea of my location near to a shopping plaza. I have had great success with craigslist, but advise you to do as much research on the family as you can, before giving out your address.

Same here. If your circuit clerk for the county is online you can search for people with criminal arrests, small claims, even traffic offenses, I find this SUPER helpful.

[daniellesweety1]

You ladies have been very helpful. All of these were things I planned to do. Thank you all.