Parent and Illness Clause

[aemcclane]

Do any of you put in your contracts that you will notify parents by a certain time (hours before opening) if you will be opened or closed due to illnesses? I have been closed 10 days already this year due to my children being sick (so ready for summer!). I had a set of parents request that I add to the contract that I will notify them by 11 pm if I will be closed so they can find backup care. I informed them that my children all got sick between midnight and 6 am and I notified them as soon as it happened. So I'm not sure how adding a clause would even help in this situation. I can't predict when my child is going to be sick!!

Suggestions?

[jenboo]

Do any of you put in your contracts that you will notify parents by a certain time (hours before opening) if you will be opened or closed due to illnesses? I have been closed 10 days already this year due to my children being sick (so ready for summer!). I had a set of parents request that I add to the contract that I will notify them by 11 pm if I will be closed so they can find backup care. I informed them that my children all got sick between midnight and 6 am and I notified them as soon as it happened. So I'm not sure how adding a clause would even help in this situation. I can't predict when my child is going to be sick!!

Suggestions?

You will notify them ASAP of any unexpected closures.
I'll send a text out as soon as I know I'm closing. I have texted patents at 2am before. It was funny even two responded right away... They were up with their sick children too

[AmyKidsCo]

I've got ASAP also. The two times I had to close because I was sick I didn't know I was sick until 6:30am, and 1:00pm (I closed early that day). I understand the inconvenience, but it's not like we can schedule sickness... I also have in my policies that parents need back-up care in case of unexpected closings.

[lblanke]

ASAP is all you can really do. You don't plan to be sick. But, when you say 10 days...is that 10 days over 12 months, of just 10 days since January? It seems like a lot if it just over 4 months, so I can see how the parents would be tired of scrambling to get alternate care on short notice and be considering more stable care.

[childcaremom]

I've got ASAP also. The two times I had to close because I was sick I didn't know I was sick until 6:30am, and 1:00pm (I closed early that day). I understand the inconvenience, but it's not like we can schedule sickness... I also have in my policies that parents need back-up care in case of unexpected closings.

I won't accept families that don't have back up care or a plan. I ask what they plan to do if their child is sick. Then I ask what they plan to do if I am sick and have to close. They need to be prepared because we are only human.