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Do you all have a limit on the number of hours, per day, that you allow the child to be in care? (Example: I'm open 12hrs, but only allow 10hrs per day) Parents are asking why only 10 if you're open 12?
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I do. I cap the daily hours at 10, although I prefer shorter.
Personally, I found most of my kids with behaviour problems were the kids who were here over 10 hours.
I just tell parents that's my policy. I don't offer reasons. If pressed, I would say that I feel that in my experience, it's too long a day for a child. -
In my new round of contracts I limit it. And to answer the parents questions, I explain that :
No child should be in daycare, away from those they love the most, for more than 10 hours a day.
However if you need 12 hours per day the overtime charges are as follows:
For each additional hour or portion of hour I charge $10. So if you need care 12 per day there is an additional $20 per day fee. At 12 hours
and one minute there is an additional $20 fee.
(That 13th hour is my triple time)
It amazes me how easy it is for parents who just "needed" care so much, to change their way of thinking when it costs them. The reason I do this is because I was finding that the reason they wanted 12 (or 12 plus 20 minutes for drive time) is because two hours of overtime. Well, if they are getting overtime, so should I. When I just accepted it as part of the regular price they needed it 5 days a week but now, they find a grandma or aunt to pick up. Or pay me.... Very well.Comment
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No I do not limit the number of hours a parent can use.
I am a business that sells a service. I am not in the business of dictating how much or in what manner a parent can purchase and use those services.
As long as a parent can be reached I don't even care if they are at work or school....they can be at home watching TV all day... I don't care.
With that being said however, those parents pay for the extra services. Families contract to pick up at x time. The later you contract for the more your weekly fees are.
So even though I am open 10 hours a day, not all parents contract to use the whole 10 hours. Some do and some don't. I don't care either way because I am being paid for whatever option they choose.
Another area I choose not to "stress" over. I just figured out what I needed for it not to bother me and put it out there (tiered rate scale) and now it's not an issue.at.all.
I know EXACTLY when I will be done working every single day (to the minute) and make the same, if not more money than I did when I just had parents being here from open to close.Comment
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I don't limit the amount of hours, because hubby has had several jobs that require 12 hours, so I understand. I do however do contracted hours, and you pay more if you want more hours. However, most people that work 12 hour shifts, don't work 5 days a week, so care is likely less days per week, at least with contracted hours. I know some parents would bring them every day if it wasn't contracted hours.Comment
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I am open 10 hours a day , that is what they can use . And most of my dck are here open to close .Comment
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I don't have set hours. In my ads etc I just state "hours can be flexible to your work schedule. Rates are individualized and based upon how many hours/days of care are needed." This eliminated parents wanting care from 6am to 6pm as they know they will pay more for that, gets way more people in because daycares here are almost all 8-5. That doesn't work for a lot of families, most need care earlier. Plus it allows me to decide "do I really want a family until 6pm when I have another saying they'll pick up at 3"? My rates don't vary a whole lot, give or take 10$ depending on times they drop off/pick up but I will offer a better rate to families who have an earlier pick up time because that's what I like. It's worked well for me at least
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For PT kiddos they pay their hourly rate up to 9.5 hours a day. FT get their weekly rate for up to 9.5 hrs/day and 47.5 per week. Anything beyond 9.5 or 47.5/week for either is $7.00 per hour. I do contracted hours and no one contracts for more than the 9.5, but they do end up paying late fees when late.lovethis daymommy to 7 kiddos - 5 girls and 2 boysComment
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My DC is open 7am-7pm. If parents need 12 hrs service they get it.Comment
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I don't limit, but I do wonder about behavior being a factor for those who are here for extended periods on a regular basis. It always seems like the worst behaved kids are here from open to close.Comment
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I have the opposite here... The 2 kids here the longest are by far the best behaved and easiest to deal with.
I am sure the time in care plays a role in their behavior but I wonder about the quality of time away from care... Kwim?
Say I have kid A for 40 hours a week and kid B for 20
If Kid A's mom spends good quality face time with him the hours he isnt in care but Kid B's mom spends very little time WITH her child even though he is home more, I bet Kid B is the one with worse behaviors.
Im sure thats not everyones experience but thats the way its been for me.
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I have the opposite here... The 2 kids here the longest are by far the best behaved and easiest to deal with.
I am sure the time in care plays a role in their behavior but I wonder about the quality of time away from care... Kwim?
Say I have kid A for 40 hours a week and kid B for 20
If Kid A's mom spends good quality face time with him the hours he isnt in care but Kid B's mom spends very little time WITH her child even though he is home more, I bet Kid B is the one with worse behaviors.
Im sure thats not everyones experience but thats the way its been for me.
My dad always said there was a difference in quantity and quality but many parents do not get it. He says amounts of time mean nothing...also that being in the same room means nothing....quality means making the moments count when parent/child are together I think the kids you mentioned reflect these ideas. 
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That is true, but I'm wondering if younger kids "get" that. For toddlers, everything is more, more, more, now, now, now. My dcb with the worst behavior is here the longest, but he also has a predisposition for behavior issues because it's in the genes. I'm thinking of adopting the whole tier rate plan. I'm going to search it and see how it works. Dcm is extremely frugal and would probably take advantage of a chance to save money. My dad always said there was a difference in quantity and quality but many parents do not get it. He says amounts of time mean nothing...also that being in the same room means nothing....quality means making the moments count when parent/child are together I think the kids you mentioned reflect these ideas. 
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