What to Charge?

[Blackcat31]

Hooray! I'm glad someone gets me

It's not that I don't "get you", I was just looking for more explanation as to what you meant so I could "get you"

I didn't understand what you meant by saying "center type manipulative and toys".... I was looking for specific examples of what those types of toys were.

I also commented on what you meant by "best of centers" and "best of home day cares"... again, looking for specific examples or further clarification on what that meant. (I was thinking, maybe parents were also not understanding)

You posted in return, but didn't really answer what that means but it's all good because you also mentioned your parents tell you they understand and that's really all that matters. I don't use your services so it's okay that I don't understand.

In no way, did I mean to "flame you" or nitpick you.... I apologize if it came across that way, I just read your initial post as needing a way to figure out what to charge because of the extra's you offer but I must have misunderstood.

[Annalee]

So nice
When my child was in school, I volunteered there a half day each week. Once as I walked through the hallway, two teachers that I didn't know came up to me and asked if a particular child had attended my child care. She had
Apparently some of them had a game going, of guessing which kids came from my house ::

[originalkat]

I get it One of the things parents commonly tell me is that my setting provides the best parts of home and preschool Quite similar

I get it too. I also tell this to parents when they tour. They all "get it". Parents these days feel like they are doing their child a disservice if they do not put them in "preschool". We all know a home-like play based program is exactly what kids need to be prepared for KG. But I use this "Best of Preschool, Best of Home Based" too when selling parents on my program.

My list of Best Of's are:

Preschool
Curriculum
Classroom Grade materials, furniture etc... rather than hand me downs
Newsletters
Events like Christmas Programs, Halloween Carnival, Graduation Ceremony etc...

Home-Based
Better Communication
Continuity of Care
Smaller Group/Ind. Attention
Warm and Loving Environment

**This is not to say that there aren't homes that offer a curriculum/newsletters and centers that provide a warm/loving environment. But I just choose to draw attention to what the "Best Of's" are in my experience of working in center-based care for 10 years and home-based for 7 yrs. I think this is what the OP was getting at.

[midaycare]

I get it too. I also tell this to parents when they tour. They all "get it". Parents these days feel like they are doing their child a disservice if they do not put them in "preschool". We all know a home-like play based program is exactly what kids need to be prepared for KG. But I use this "Best of Preschool, Best of Home Based" too when selling parents on my program.

My list of Best Of's are:

Preschool
Curriculum
Classroom Grade materials, furniture etc... rather than hand me downs
Newsletters
Events like Christmas Programs, Halloween Carnival, Graduation Ceremony etc...

Home-Based
Better Communication
Continuity of Care
Smaller Group/Ind. Attention
Warm and Loving Environment

**This is not to say that there aren't homes that offer a curriculum/newsletters and centers that provide a warm/loving environment. But I just choose to draw attention to what the "Best Of's" are in my experience of working in center-based care for 10 years and home-based for 7 yrs. I think this is what the OP was getting at.

This is exactly what I meant. I'm terrible with words sometimes!!!

[Annalee]

This is exactly what I meant. I'm terrible with words sometimes!!!

But I have classroom grade materials, too....my furniture is NOT hand-me-downs and I have centers set up with child-sized furniture all around...so I think what you are saying is what you have perceived and does happen in your area.....but I have many materials that even a Kindergarten classroom has. My file folder games, manipulatives, learning materials are set up for easy access to my children....so I see what you are saying for your area, but home daycares here are set up in the ways I am explaining my home daycare is....we get report cards and they literally count our science, math, literacy, soft, etc. materials and at least 75% of our seating has to be geared toward the size of the children...if we don't comply with this it affects our report card. We have to have at least 2 dramatic play areas so on and so on and so on for my state or your report card takes a hit! We also have to provider monthly newsletters, have a parent resource center with board, and that goes on and on as well

[midaycare]

But I have classroom grade materials, too....my furniture is NOT hand-me-downs and I have centers set up with child-sized furniture all around...so I think what you are saying is what you have perceived and does happen in your area.....but I have many materials that even a Kindergarten classroom has. My file folder games, manipulatives, learning materials are set up for easy access to my children....so I see what you are saying for your area, but home daycares here are set up in the ways I am explaining my home daycare is....we get report cards and they literally count our science, math, literacy, soft, etc. materials and at least 75% of our seating has to be geared toward the size of the children...if we don't comply with this it affects our report card. We have to have at least 2 dramatic play areas so on and so on and so on for my state or your report card takes a hit! We also have to provider monthly newsletters, have a parent resource center with board, and that goes on and on as well

I'm not saying I'm better or worse than any other home daycare. If it comes off that way, I apologize.

There are a lot of unlicensed dc's here, and this is a license-only state. Most of the providers around me do not offer what I do, because if parents want that ... they go to centers.

So in this area I'm kind of unique. In other areas I would probably be a dime a dozen. And I'm not the right fit for everyone, either.

[Annalee]

I'm not saying I'm better or worse than any other home daycare. If it comes off that way, I apologize.

There are a lot of unlicensed dc's here, and this is a license-only state. Most of the providers around me do not offer what I do, because if parents want that ... they go to centers.

So in this area I'm kind of unique. In other areas I would probably be a dime a dozen. And I'm not the right fit for everyone, either.

I don't feel like you are saying you are better at all I just wanted to say that what you are saying is only valid in your area because on top of licensing guidelines here center gets a report card on ECERS and homes are governed by FCCERS-R...you do not have to participate and you can choose to be a "no star" but I choose to be the best I can

[midaycare]

I don't feel like you are saying you are better at all I just wanted to say that what you are saying is only valid in your area because on top of licensing guidelines here center gets a report card on ECERS and homes are governed by FCCERS-R...you do not have to participate and you can choose to be a "no star" but I choose to be the best I can

Is that similar to QRIS? I'm going through that myself.

[Annalee]

Is that similar to QRIS? I'm going through that myself.

Yep and the annual mandated assessment is written in law so that every FCC daycare be assessed with FCCERS-R..You can choose not to participate but you still have to go through the process????? Crazy!!!! I have had a report card since 2002. :confused:

[midaycare]

Yep and the annual mandated assessment is written in law so that every FCC daycare be assessed with FCCERS-R..You can choose not to participate but you still have to go through the process????? Crazy!!!! I have had a report card since 2002. :confused:

It's voluntary here. I think I read a stat that out of almost 9,000 home daycares, less than 2,000 have chosen to do QRIS. It's a major pain but I'm doing it now in case it becomes mandatory.

[Annalee]

It's voluntary here. I think I read a stat that out of almost 9,000 home daycares, less than 2,000 have chosen to do QRIS. It's a major pain but I'm doing it now in case it becomes mandatory.

If you choose not to participate here they put N/P on your report card but the funny thing is your report card is still listed online when you click on the N/P???? so if the world can see what you scored why N/P....the whole system is crazy...I do believe in accountability for providers but I do not agree with how our state has set it up...whoever started this knew what they were doing by putting it into law....it is hard battling legislation because all they hear is "quality child care"....Well, I was providing quality child care before the report card.....I do NOT need QRIS to validate what I do! I have been NAFCC Accredited twice, have a CDA, and an AS in earlychildhood but on a given day can FAIL my states annual assessment which automatically gives you a zero....something is wrong with that...I have never failed it, but I know of providers with my same credentials who have failed......something is not set up right???