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I have a DCM that wanted to go from full time to part time Asap. I emailed her my rate and still have not heard back from her. Dcg is supposed to be here this Monday part time. I'd say she's not happy with the rate. I hate talking about money when it comes to people's children as they are precious to them, but it is one of those necessary things I guess.
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I am the same way. And I may be in the minority, but I started posting all of my rate and fee information on my website and enclosing a rate sheet in my enrollment packet. I direct parents to review the information in the packet or online and it has eliminated all of the money conversations. Having my fees on the website has also completely eliminated the "what are your rates" calls. My rates are what they are. It's hard to fill the other half of a part time space and many here don't even offer it. It's a valuable service to offer so its good to present it that way to parents. -
I wholeheartedly agree but, the cost of high quality care has gone up exponentially. In many states, a year of high quality child care exceeds the cost of the year at a university.
I think it's normal that parents freak out a little at the cost of high quality care. It's expensive. But like bc said, high quality care in the formative years is priceless and that is what you tell parents.
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While we probably all agree with this statement, we also know parents shop for best prices more often than not. It's sad really because you cannot compare it to shopping for material goods.
I can't tell you how many calls I've had when a potential family calls and the only question out of their mouth is "How much do you charge?"
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This is a PERFECT example of media persuasion....and false.I wholeheartedly agree but, the cost of high quality care has gone up exponentially. In many states, a year of high quality child care exceeds the cost of the year at a university. I think it's normal that parents freak out a little at the cost of high quality care. It's expensive. But like bc said, high quality care in the formative years is priceless and that is what you tell parents.
I have yet to see someone take their area rates for both their area college and child care rates and break it down to PROVE it.
Unless a child is going to Harvard....the statements made lately about a full year of child care costing the same or more than a year in college is so mis-leading.
I also disagree that the cost of child care having gone up. Where?
Most the providers on this site, especially those that have been here awhile post about having to lower their rates or adopt discounts they wouldn't have dreamed of doing a year or two ago just to stay in business.
I'd like to know where this rise in rates is happening....
I have restructured my rates in the last few years but am basically operating at the same hourly rate I was 5-6 years ago. My state hasn't raised the reimbursement rates for child care assistance since 2006. (unless the provider is participating in QRIS) http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data...304,2305/12882
Nan and I have talked a lot about that statement (college costs = child care) and from the breakdowns we've done and from what we see posted here and on other child care boards, it simply isn't true.
(this wasn't directed specifically at you Spedmommy...I'm just ranting in general
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~@Josiegirl..... I know. IME parents have shopped via price since the day I opened. It's sad and frightening to think that cost for care of your child is done much the same way we shop for groceries.
It's even sadder that many families are more educated in the areas of healthy eating than they are in healthy child-rearing.....Although, the # of families that do adopt healthy eating habits falls short too but that's a whole 'nother thread for discussion.
Last edited by Blackcat31; 05-03-2015, 08:20 AM.Comment
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I will agree there's a certain media hype to it but, politifact did use childcare aware data to back up the claim for 31 states. (And of course, they were comparing to public university tuition)
Especially on the west cost, childcare has gotten outrageous. Family childcare can run around $300 per week for high quality infant care. (Particularly in the Bay area, LA, etc) Average in my area is $200 for infant care.
I also agree it's sad that parents bargain shop for childcare and I have recently gotten several clients who came from poor quality childcare facilities. All say they would never use price as the determining factor again but unfortunately, for some I think it takes a negative experience to change their mind.
This is a PERFECT example of media persuasion....and false.
I have yet to see someone take their area rates for both their area college and child care rates and break it down to PROVE it.
Unless a child is going to Harvard....the statements made lately about a full year of child care costing the same or more than a year in college is so mis-leading.
I also disagree that the cost of child care having gone up. Where?
Most the providers on this site, especially those that have been here awhile post about having to lower their rates or adopt discounts they wouldn't have dreamed of doing a year or two ago just to stay in business.
I'd like to know where this rise in rates is happening....
I have restructured my rates in the last few years but am basically operating at the same hourly rate I was 5-6 years ago. My state hasn't raised the reimbursement rates for child care assistance since 2006. (unless the provider is participating in QRIS) http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data...304,2305/12882
Nan and I have talked a lot about that statement (college costs = child care) and from the breakdowns we've done and from what we see posted here and on other child care boards, it simply isn't true.
(this wasn't directed specifically at you Spedmommy...I'm just ranting in general )
~@Josiegirl..... I know. IME parents have shopped via price since the day I opened. It's sad and frightening to think that cost for care of your child is done much the same way we shop for groceries.
It's even sadder that many families are more educated in the areas of healthy eating than they are in healthy child-rearing.....Although, the # of families that do adopt healthy eating habits falls short too but that's a whole 'nother thread for discussion. Comment
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I believe Politifacts as much as I believe mainstream media in most cases but....I will agree there's a certain media hype to it but, politifact did use childcare aware data to back up the claim for 31 states. (And of course, they were comparing to public university tuition)
Especially on the west cost, childcare has gotten outrageous. Family childcare can run around $300 per week for high quality infant care. (Particularly in the Bay area, LA, etc) Average in my area is $200 for infant care.
I also agree it's sad that parents bargain shop for childcare and I have recently gotten several clients who came from poor quality childcare facilities. All say they would never use price as the determining factor again but unfortunately, for some I think it takes a negative experience to change their mind.
The link you posted just proved my point. At the bottom of the article it says
"He’s chosen a statistic that originated in a wide-ranging survey of child care costs (albeit one published by an advocacy group). However, Obama has cherry-picked the most dramatic statistic of four presented in the report, allowing him to say 31 states, rather than as few as 10. He also ignores uncertainty about how federal aid and tax credits would affect the comparison."
I agree it's "mostly" true that INFANTS (which infancy lasts a mere 12 months) in a HIGH end CENTER can cost more than a year in public college but again there is NO proof that the blanket statement that a year of child care costs on average costs more than a year in public college has any merit.
The Child Care Aware site that they gleened this partial info from lists child care rate average for my state (by area) and none of those fees/costs are higher than public college tuition for the college in the same areas yet my state is ranked as one where college costs about $3,000-4,000 less per year than child care.
So applying their (CCA) theory to my state and they directly contradict themselves and their own report.
*sigh* I just wish the media would stop trying to make people think paying for the care and nurturing (and now the education) of your child is something that should be so low paying and something that should be negotiable when purchasing.
Most people wouldn't dream of trying to strike a deal with their Doctor or their car mechanic but they have no issue when it comes to their kids. There is something fundamentally wrong with that and in my honest opinion THAT is the problem. :confused:Comment
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I'm sorry.
I don't mean to hijack this thread or come off as argumentative.
This is just a really hot button top for me.
Every provider I've ever met (virtually or in real life) has something awesome to offer the kids they have in care and most those kids take that "something" with them their whole lives so if what we do is so important, why is pay even a topic of discussion?
We are one of THE lowest paid professions in this country and yet what we do (or don't do) impacts every generation and each one afterwards. No matter how much education you have or don't have this job ranks low on the pay scale hands down.
We pay people to throw a ball to someone else 1000X's what we make/earn and odds are I bet I know WHO taught that person to even throw a ball.
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I agree with your statements wholeheartedly, particularly the ones below. And I cringe when I see $75 a week for infant care ads on Craigslist.
I definitely don't think it's good, right, or best practice. Its just a factor. When my husband and I needed childcare years ago, we made just a little too much to qualify for anything. I depended a lot on the charity of family members to get through school so I know how money, or an inherent lack thereof, can influence your choices.
As a country, the US just needs to do better in the area of supporting and funding ece. Something a lititle more like our neighbors overseas would be amazing.
I have been in education a long time and it just seems like politicians rarely put kiddos at the top of the priority spending list.
Last edited by Blackcat31; 05-04-2015, 07:35 AM.Comment
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This is a PERFECT example of media persuasion....and false.
I have yet to see someone take their area rates for both their area college and child care rates and break it down to PROVE it.
Unless a child is going to Harvard....the statements made lately about a full year of child care costing the same or more than a year in college is so mis-leading.
I also disagree that the cost of child care having gone up. Where?
Most the providers on this site, especially those that have been here awhile post about having to lower their rates or adopt discounts they wouldn't have dreamed of doing a year or two ago just to stay in business.
I'd like to know where this rise in rates is happening....
I have restructured my rates in the last few years but am basically operating at the same hourly rate I was 5-6 years ago. My state hasn't raised the reimbursement rates for child care assistance since 2006. (unless the provider is participating in QRIS) http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data...304,2305/12882
Nan and I have talked a lot about that statement (college costs = child care) and from the breakdowns we've done and from what we see posted here and on other child care boards, it simply isn't true.
(this wasn't directed specifically at you Spedmommy...I'm just ranting in general )
~@Josiegirl..... I know. IME parents have shopped via price since the day I opened. It's sad and frightening to think that cost for care of your child is done much the same way we shop for groceries.
It's even sadder that many families are more educated in the areas of healthy eating than they are in healthy child-rearing.....Although, the # of families that do adopt healthy eating habits falls short too but that's a whole 'nother thread for discussion.
I have not raised my rates in over 5 years. The state has not raised rates in that time that I am aware of. (I haven't had a state funded kidlet in almost a year)
I wish I got paid per kid what college tuition is! Then I would just have to have one to keep my ds in school!
I also feel like kidlets are much harder to find. I have very few phone calls. I think because the unemployment rate is high a lot of people now have friends that aren't working that say oh I will keep little Susie Snowflake for you and only charge you minimal amount. More grandparents, aunts etc are watching little ones because their "poor parents with their brand new cars and vacations to beaches" can't afford child care!
<sigh> I have some big decisions to make in the next year. I love my job. I love being home. I just need to be actually able to pay my bills too. Ds goes off to college in the fall. I have been offered several jobs. After last week- I don't know. But, I really just want to stay at home with 6 little ones. I just need to get 6 little ones that fit well... Pray for kidlets for me Good news, the local community college's childcare is closing down (they are spending way too much to keep it open) but my elementary school across the street is offering preschool this next year (only 16 kids 8 special needs/ 8 "normal" kids) I need 2 babies..
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And I just got an email for someone looking for childcare for a 4.5 yo, starting preschool in the fall. One question...what are your rates for a school age child?While we probably all agree with this statement, we also know parents shop for best prices more often than not. It's sad really because you cannot compare it to shopping for material goods. I can't tell you how many calls I've had when a potential family calls and the only question out of their mouth is "How much do you charge?"
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Wouldn't it be nice if you could reply like this:
"Choose your rate:
"kind of" keeping an eye on: $10.00 per day
Constant supervision + : $20.00 per day
Which of those do you prefer? "
Of course the + means all the other things we provide....like healthy food and educational and/or developmentally appropriate toys and activities.
I would be afraid though of how many parents would just choose the "kind of" supervise option though.....
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The issue I see in my area is people just don't want to pay for care period. I mean my one DCM just left me because she found a SAHM with a toddler and was "babysitting" another toddler and is going to take 13 month DCG and full time hours for $30 a week. But mom has no handbook or contract with her. I told mom I wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole and gave her all my reasons why including the fact there is NO contract about anything. But people here want to do that. I think hubby thought I was thinking of stooping that low because he said to me "well you can't lower your rate that much, at that point you might as well just do it for free". Um no dear I wasn't going there
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