First Year Open. Do You Close for Christmas Eve, New Years Eve and New Years Day?

[Blackcat31]

You know, BC, daycare is becoming more of a mind game.....I think I use things I learned in psychology classes more than the things I learned in early childhood! ::::::

I know! I think you are definitely on to something because I have used a lot of what I learned in Psych classes too.

Not to brown nose but that is smart!

I may have to borrow that...it would be much easier and parents haven't fussed about me taking unpaid holidays or personal days...

Ugh and I just sent out new contracts....

I would do it the way you are now and change it next year depending on what your clients do/say over the course of the next year.

I didn't have issues before with paid time off but this new crop of entitled parents view things from a funny angle so...

You could also do a revised contract/handbook and offer the new clients the option of not paying for closed days but paying a higher rate and see what works best for your area.

!! I don't think I would say this but, it has crossed my mind. If someone balks at the 52 week paid, say well I could raise my rates instead if that's easier for you...

That's exactly what happened to me. I said that (about raising rates instead) and the parents replied "I think I might prefer that as it's hard to pay when I am not getting to use the space"

Which made me do a bunch of :confused: :confused:'s and a couple 's and said "Okay, if that's how you see it."

And I promptly raised rates and implemented the "If I am closed, you don't pay" policies.

Whatever helps them understand I guess... ::

[Unregistered]

Closed from Monday December 22 through Friday Jan 2. Paid.

Here are some other threads about holidays and closures:
https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...holidays+-+off

Same here!

[Crazy8]

My paid holidays are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day. Depending on the days they fall on I may close without pay other days in addition to them - this year would have been Friday 12/26 but I don't have kids on Fridays so I didn't need to.

[DaveA]

I close Christmas Day, December 26th, and New Year's Day. All paid days.

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve I'm open, but always have only 1 or 2 kids and they leave early.

[Kabob]

I don't take paid weeks off any more. I now only charge when I am open.

I still make the same amount (I raised my rates) as I did over the course of a regular year but for some reason the mere thought that they (parents) don't have to pay for my closed time makes them view the whole topic differently.

A full time family is paying me the same amount as they did before but apparently none of my families have done the math to actually "see" that.

How about sick days (yours and theirs)? Do you charge for those? That is the toughest pill for parents to swallow around here.

Also, what about part time families?

Just curious what you guys do for the 52 week pay deal.

Oh boy I kinda got off topic sorry!

[Kimskiddos]

I am closed w/pay 24 & 25 and the 1st. With the way these holidays are right in the middle of the week, I have used my paid personal days so I will be closed 24-26 and the 31-2. I only have one kiddos scheduled for the 29-30 (M&T), I am hoping I can talk them into keeping kiddo home those days, but we'll see.

I am also paid 52 weeks out of the year. My tuition is paid monthly and yes my dcf's technically get 2 free weeks. But I set my weekly rate at a place where I am happy with the monthly tuition. Just divide weekly tuition by 50 weeks and divide by 12.

[CraftyMom]

I am close Dec. 24-Jan 2 this year. Last year I didn't do this and regretted it! Since my kids are home from school I want time off with them.

I am paid 52 weeks/year. I've never had any current dcp's complain (out loud). I've had people at interviews not like the idea...they never enroll

[Second Home]

I will take whatever number of days that my kids are out for winter break . It is usually from Christmas eve until Jan 2nd . I do take this time as unpaid .

[Blackcat31]

How about sick days (yours and theirs)? Do you charge for those? That is the toughest pill for parents to swallow around here.

Also, what about part time families?

Just curious what you guys do for the 52 week pay deal.

Oh boy I kinda got off topic sorry!

They pay for the days their child is sick. That part is BEYOND my control so I refuse to take the fall out (financial hit) for it.

I make a point of mentioning that parents DO have control over their child's wellness much more than I do. They an guarantee a good healthy diet at home, a good sound sleep routine and lots of exercise. Since parents have a HUGE input in that area, I won't even discuss it.

Absent days are not discounted.

As for sick days for myself? I don't take any. I am one of those odd ducks that never gets sick so it hasn't come up.

[FullHouse]

Smart Ladies!

Just want to pop in and say I learn so much from you all. The raising rates/unpaid holidays is such a good suggestion. Its so hard to look at our business like a business, you know? Thanks for the tip! Kathy

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Closed Dec. 24-Jan. 2 paid. No one has ever said anything negative about it. The daycare center out here is only closed Dec. 24/25 and Jan. 1. Otherwise, they are open. So, it isn't like they couldn't do a comparison.

I take 16 paid days off during the year (this includes holidays in that #).

[_Dana_]

I'm off Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day with pay.

I take off 10 paid holidays and unpaid sick/personal days as needed. I have a clause in my contract if a holiday happens to fall on a weekend, "If any of these holidays fall on a Saturday, the daycare will be closed on the Friday before the holiday. If any of these holidays fall on a Sunday, the child care will be closed on the following Monday."


I do foresee including some paid sick/personal days in the future tho. Who doesn't need a day now and then for a mental/emotional break from work?

[CraftyMom]

I want to add, not only has no one ever complained, but I also offer two unpaid days per year to each family. It is in my handbook, but not something I point out. No one has ever used them! So either they don't mind paying or they didn't read the handbook!

I use minute menu epay for all parents. Most of them have set up automatic payment so they don't even have to think about it, it just gets paid.

[SignMeUp]

I want to add, not only has no one ever complained, but I also offer two unpaid days per year to each family. It is in my handbook, but not something I point out. No one has ever used them! So either they don't mind paying or they didn't read the handbook!

I use minute menu epay for all parents. Most of them have set up automatic payment so they don't even have to think about it, it just gets paid.

I'm going to start a new thread to ask about this

[renodeb]

I'm closed Christmas eve, Christmas day, and the day after, New years eve/day.