Reported Them

[Alwaysgreener]

I have to say I am super jealous of some of you! In Alabama, we don't have the option of being legally unlicensed. It's all or nothing and our regulations are strict. No more than 6, only 2 can be under 12 months. I could definitely handle more, and would love to have more, but it's illegal. You guys who can have 6 or more and avoid being licensed are lucky ducks!

I know the standards are, well, standards, but wouldn't it be nice if the number of children allowed is decided based on training and experience? Like, 4 for the first year, 6 for the second year if a certain amount of training had been completed, 8 for the 3rd if even more training was completed, etc. And there would be a ceiling, of course, but this just seems more logical to me than saying a first year provider can have the same amount as a 10th year provider, kwim? I'm rambling, sorry. Just a random thought inspired by this thread.

Oh, I so much would like our ratio to be 2 under 12 instead of 2 under 18. I have a mom of twins contact me, she is unable to find a DC with 2 infants spots open.

I agree 100% because this is how illegal providers are in my part of the state but the state doesn't have time to deal with the issue. I did an interview last week since one of the illegals closed....The client told me there were 11 every day to one provider...then told me this provider took care of the client's kids while she and hubby went on trips which I said I would not do....But when I brought out my handbook and contract separated and what was needed at daycare and what was to be followed...I was asked several times "do I have to pay for that day" and I always said yes, 52 weeks a year...she then said "Well, we didn't have to do this much paperwork at xxxx",..I said."BUT I am licensed".....this went on an hour and I finally just cut it off....I offer a 3-step interview...she did not make it to step 2

I love this, 2 types of parents during the interviews. One type wants to know how well you are going to take care of your little ones. The other type wants to know when they DON'T have to pay.
I just interviewed with a set of parents. All of their question was based on payment. They were part time and I only quoted for the 4 days they needed not all 5, like they currently pay at the other dc. When asked if they needed to could they add the 5 day, I said yes at additional cost. Dad was shocked that I would want to get paid for that.

[Blackcat31]

I guess I see where you are coming from, but really I would feel better if they did more to shut down those who were not providing quality care. And more to educate the parents that they need to look for quality care, not always cheap care.

This would be impossible.

What is quality?

What is YOUR definition of quality?

What is MY definition of quality?

What is a parents definition of quality?


I am willing to bet that none of the above answers are the same

........defining quality....

There is NO one size fits all definition of quality.

[Unregistered]

Oh, I so much would like our ratio to be 2 under 12 instead of 2 under 18. I have a mom of twins contact me, she is unable to find a DC with 2 infants spots open.



I love this, 2 types of parents during the interviews. One type wants to know how well you are going to take care of your little ones. The other type wants to know when they DON'T have to pay.
I just interviewed with a set of parents. All of their question was based on payment. They were part time and I only quoted for the 4 days they needed not all 5, like they currently pay at the other dc. When asked if they needed to could they add the 5 day, I said yes at additional cost. Dad was shocked that I would want to get paid for that.

Hahah! Yep been there, and it's been across the board. Some of the professionals I've had are the worst parents.

We talk about quality and daycare, but my question is where can we report all the horrible parents? More horrible parents are out there then poor quality daycare imo


I'm so sick of parents picking up their kids, and then putting them in a pnp at 6:00 p.m. because they want their night free. Those are the same ones that are there when you open to close, and most of mine have been teachers, or other professionals for some reason. The list goes on, and it doesn't classify as abuse, but imo it's certainly neglect though they would disagree I'm sure.

[momofboys]

I believe this assumption is being made based upon the rate that the "provider" is charging.

I am cheap for my area at $135/week and there are TONS of women offering care in my area for $75-$100/week. The maximum amount of children we are allowed without a license is 3. That's $300/week. $1200 a month.

Can you pay rent/mortgage, all of your utilities, plus the additional utilities used because of the extra bodies, and all of your other bills, and still afford to provide an excellent curriculum and healthy, well balanced meals, for not only your family but your daycare kids too on $1200 a month?

I can BARELY do it at $135 a week and I've only been able to make it work because my DH makes enough to mostly cover our monthly bills. There's just no way.

No, I definitely couldn't live on that but I don't have to because my DH has a good job. I mostly work to supplement his income so I don't need to watch many children. Typically I just have one or two families. Kudos to those who can do more but my home is on the small side. I couldn't imagine more than 2-3 kids at a time (I have three school-agers of my own). $135/week would be high for in-home daycares in my area so it does depend on your location. I charge about $115-120/week.

[Blackcat31]

Hahah! Yep been there, and it's been across the board. Some of the professionals I've had are the worst parents.

We talk about quality and daycare, but my question is where can we report all the horrible parents? More horrible parents are out there then poor quality daycare imo


I'm so sick of parents picking up their kids, and then putting them in a pnp at 6:00 p.m. because they want their night free. Those are the same ones that are there when you open to close, and most of mine have been teachers, or other professionals for some reason. The list goes on, and it doesn't classify as abuse, but imo it's certainly neglect though they would disagree I'm sure.

I don't allow parents to drop off their kids from open to close without charging a rate that reflects their needs.

I charge a rate based on the hours they need. If a teacher wanted to leave their child beyond 3:00, they would pay ALOT more than the teacher who picked up their child at 3:00.

I don't have a rate for "all day".

[NightOwl]

I guess I see where you are coming from, but really I would feel better if they did more to shut down those who were not providing quality care. And more to educate the parents that they need to look for quality care, not always cheap care.

Agreed. Idk about you, but in my area, we have ONE SINGLE CASE WORKER for our entire county. Centers have several to divide the load, but homes have only one. I initially licensed two years ago and I NEVER saw her again until this month when it was time to re license. Not even a phone call.

So a license doesn't guarantee quality, not here at least. We have a strict set of standards, but no one is enforcing them. So BC is right about that. Who defines quality when, literally, there's no one there to enforce it?

I have no problem reporting illegal providers. But the inspiration to report usually comes when I see they are advertising dirt cheap prices, have unsafe environments or are over the allowed ratio, license or not. If I have to follow those rules, dang it, so does everyone else!

But even when I report, I don't hold my breath. Like I said, ONE worker.

[Thriftylady]

Even though I am legally licensed exempt, I do the same; I would say over 75% of the people who read my website don't contact me because I do act like a full licensed childcare... I do a phone interview first, I don't allow hassling on fees, I have set vacations & I am only one of 2 eco healthy childcares in the state. If you make it to my home, you still have to pass the 3rd step ; like you, I have tons of paperwork... I look at it this way, my website weeds out the people that want to cut corners or just want cheap

I act the same way, since I have been licensed fully. I operate the same way as I did then. And I have also found that people are turned off by the fact I have the paperwork and such. I had one mom ask me "do I have to have a contract?". I tried to explain to her that it protects her as well. Needless to say she didn't sign up. Oh well probably didn't want her anyway.

[LysesKids]

I act the same way, since I have been licensed fully. I operate the same way as I did then. And I have also found that people are turned off by the fact I have the paperwork and such. I had one mom ask me "do I have to have a contract?". I tried to explain to her that it protects her as well. Needless to say she didn't sign up. Oh well probably didn't want her anyway.

I hear that, I have been fully licensed in 3 states... parents know ahead of time if they make it to my 2nd interview that they don't get the rest of paperwork without a signed contract & first weeks fee

I also have a few policies that some parents can't get their head around, including the no fragrances; I do that because I have to as a certified Eco Healthy childcare, PLUS I am deathly allergic to certain chemicals & fragrances... I will not budge on it, and I have booted a family because they never understood they were the reason I had daily asthma attacks (refused to change laundry soap and didn't want to give up fragranced dryer sheets). Sorry, my health comes first, plus some of my special needs babies had issues.

[Josiegirl]

-Meals are poorly cooked and poorly served (as in, chicken nuggets on a paper plate in front of the TV).

Hey now...I sometimes use paper plates And shop garage sales! ::

I believe illegally operated daycares have a reputation and give the ones who jump through all the state regulated hoops a bad name. Sure, you've got good and bad in both. Before I was forced to do it 'right', I wasn't registered, had up to 10 kids myself, but I didn't do things much differently than I do now. The only big different is the quality of food I serve. I'm glad to be licensed because of all the extra opportunities I receive, grants, food program, all the great trainings etc., etc.
But to be honest, it gets to be a hassle at times always having the state breathing right outside your door. I'd love to just take 4-6 kids and stay unlicensed. In this state we can't have more than 2 unrelated dcfs.
I would do the same as OP did and report them. If *I* have to put in the effort to make a living so should they.

[childcaremom]

Even though I am legally licensed exempt, I do the same; I would say over 75% of the people who read my website don't contact me because I do act like a full licensed childcare... I do a phone interview first, I don't allow hassling on fees, I have set vacations & I am only one of 2 eco healthy childcares in the state. If you make it to my home, you still have to pass the 3rd step ; like you, I have tons of paperwork... I look at it this way, my website weeds out the people that want to cut corners or just want cheap

This is me, too. I am legally unlicensed but operate much the same as a licensed daycare. I think it turns some people off. These are obviously people that I don't want as clients.

[Unregistered]

So..what you're really saying is you got jealous because the parents saw something they liked better, and you reported them because you have trouble getting clients. And you're pulling out the LAW card to cover the real motive.

Now, watch everyone think you're the person the OP reported or running an illegal daycare. It's just sourgrapes and imo the same as calling cops for stupid things. You're wasting resources that could help kids that are really being abused. Before, I'm accused I no longer do LEGAL daycare. I'm retired.

[Unregistered]

That's scary 12 is a lot, so much for the law. Ten, twelve for one person is too much imo licensed or not.

As for licensed and unlicensed, both can be good or bad, and that horse has been beaten on this forum.

I do agree it seems like it would be easier to just get licensed, but then again most don't care if someone watches a few kids.

I'd like to point how everyone complains about regulations, but when it comes to closing down the competition everyone here is moral oral...

[Thriftylady]

I'd like to point how everyone complains about regulations, but when it comes to closing down the competition everyone here is moral oral...

We follow the regulations we complain about. Why shouldn't everyone have to play by the same rules? Sure there are some those of us who follow them don't like, some are downright stupid. But those of us who operate legally follow even the stupid ones.

[MarinaVanessa]

We follow the regulations we complain about. Why shouldn't everyone have to play by the same rules? Sure there are some those of us who follow them don't like, some are downright stupid. But those of us who operate legally follow even the stupid ones.

I was going to say exactly this. I might complain about some of the regulations and about the process but I still follow the rules.

[Unregistered]

Regular poster - signed out.
I understand reporting illegal providers for safety reasons.

But I do want to put out there - I THOUGHT I was running legally unlicensed when I was unlicensed for 3 years because I didn't understand the rules. I read the licensing rules and I followed them. I didn't have a yard, so I couldn't get licensed (I moved so I could get licensed last year). I didn't realize that the ratios for unlicensed were different than unlicensed. So I never had more than 8 kids, because that was the amount a licensed provider could care for. Now, I know its 4 kids who aren't related in addition to your own for someone legally not licensed in my state. I was mortified when I found out I had been breaking the law for 2 years. If I would have been reported, I would have been so confused and embarrassed. Once I realized I had misinterpreted the rules, I scaled back to the legal unlicensed ratio until I was able to get licensed. The children in my care were fed organic healthy meals, went to the park everyday (less than a block away) and learned to write their name etc. It was a quality program though unintentionally illegal. I know breaking the law on accident doesn't make it OK, but when I see ads on Craigslist or FB for casual childcare provider, I assume they have no idea about the licensing laws. I will sometimes email them the link to the health departments childcare website as a friendly FYI. What they do with the info is up to them.

I just wanted to put out there my experience.