Limit On Ours Of Care Per Day?

[Thriftylady]

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.

I am trying to work one of those in myself. Just still trying to figure out how it will work best for me.

[nanglgrl]

None of my dcks are here more than 8 hours. I open at 7:30 and most children are dropped off closer to 8:15. My parents contract their pick up time. My rate for pick up at 3:30 is much cheaper than my rates for pick up from 3:31-5. My absolute latest closing time is 5 but no one is here that late. I do get a lot of calls for people saying they need open to close and when I explain my rates 99% of the time they can suddenly make an earlier pick up work. I wish I could take credit for this idea but it was all BLackcat and nanny dee.

[childcaremom]

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.

I agree with this.

My 2 long hour kids were here for almost 11 hours.

One had lots of quality time with mom and dad but it involved late nights and inconsistent sleep so they could fit in all the activities.

The other was here for a long day, picked up by mom and then dropped off at grandmas. Little to no face time with mom.

[Unregistered]

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.

I disagree a little. I think it is hard to have quality time without "quantity" time. Many parents who spend very little time with their kid miss out on those quality moments because they just are not around. Of course, there are many parents who spend a lot time with their kid, but don't actually "spend time with their kid." I am sure it goes both ways, but I find that parents who around their kid a lot have more "quality time". Their children act better and are better behaved around them, so there is a lot more opportunity for quality time.

[Crazy8]

No, but I am only open 9.5 hours (7:30-5) anyway.

[Snowmom]

In a way I do.
I'm open 7:30-5:30. I don't do contracted hours.
In the past, all 6 of my families would drop off at 7:30 and pick up as close to 5:30 as they could. I found myself getting burnt out because having a full house open to close meant I spent more time AFTER closing cleaning up and getting my house back in order (not to mention grocery shopping and record keeping).
So before I redid contracts for 2014, I changed my approach a little.
I told everyone that my rates were staying the same, but I was changing how my time was available. Their weekly rate now included 9 hours of care. If they required more (even 5 minutes more), they would be charged an overtime rate of $5 per day for that extra time.
$5...yes...$5 was enough for every single set of parents to pick up an hour earlier. It's now been over a year and I think I've charged the $5 fee about 6 times. Now, I have more time (with only 2 kids here between 5-5:30) to start cleaning up and I spend less time working after closing.