Any of You Close for The Whole Summer?

[LovetheSun]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if any of you close for the whole summer? It seems very unusual for Daycare (but ok for preschools).

[childcaremom]

Yes, I do. But I have all teachers as clients. I set that intentionally so I would have the summer with my kids and a built in break for me.

[lovemydaycare0912]

Yes, I do. But I have all teachers as clients. I set that intentionally so I would have the summer with my kids and a built in break for me.

Nice. Do you charge more throughout the year? Ever worried that certain families won't come back after summer?

[childcaremom]

I charge a lot more. Like a lot more. I have learned to market creatively and the fact that I will work around a teacher's schedule is a big selling feature here.

I don't make as much as if I was open year round but the difference is not huge and it's well worth it to me and my children to have school holidays off.

I just made the switch to teachers last year so can only speak to one summer off so far. I charge a non-refundable deposit at the end of June to hold their spot for September. If one had decided last minute to leave, it would probably leave me struggling to try and fill it. I have one opening so am having a hard time, now that school has started, to fill it. I could have filled it with a year round client but honestly, I couldn't handle being open for just one.

And to be completely honest, I am only in this business for a few more years (max) so hope to keep these same families for the duration. Unless they were to switch schools or go on mat leave (which is a huge possibility) I can't see them leaving.

I will say that September was tricky, getting everyone back into routine, but by October it was smooth sailing. I also had an amazing summer with my kids. It was awesome. lovethis My kids are getting older and it will probably be one of the last summers that they were happy to spend a lot of time hanging out together. I treasure the memories we made. lovethis

[Unregistered]

I normally don't have the summers off but this summer I had the whole summer off.i didn't like it was a big loss of income/getting the kids back in routine after being home so long.
I thought i would enjoy being off but i found it boring all summer without working,summer is usually really busy with lots of kids and summer activitys.i had some parents switch to teaching so they got summer off.

[Gemma]

I can only imagine what it would be like to have the whole Summer off

[MissAnn]

Teacher's pay for 2 days/week during summer at part time (higher) rate to reserve spot. I had one teacher's kid every single day!

[LovetheSun]

The change of routine and the lost of clients definitely worries me, so is nice to read your experience with that.

It wouldn't be something I can do this year but i would love to do that one summer.

[Play Care]

I take Fridays off in July and August as well as close earlier M-Th.

It's nice because I still have some income, and keep a routine, but it also feels like SUMMER!!happyfacehappyface

Those years where I had 10+ kids all summer exhausted me, and September would come and I'd be beat.
I feel like I've gotten the best of both worlds the last few years.

[LovetheSun]

I take Fridays off in July and August as well as close earlier M-Th.

It's nice because I still have some income, and keep a routine, but it also feels like SUMMER!!happyfacehappyface

Those years where I had 10+ kids all summer exhausted me, and September would come and I'd be beat.
I feel like I've gotten the best of both worlds the last few years.

I didn't think of that option at all! What a great idea, it would be so ideal for us since just like you we tend to be full year round and when the weekend come I am too tired to enjoy the beach or to go out.

I am definitely going to consider this options.

[momofsix]

I take about 9 weeks off for summer. I started a couple of years ago when all of my families were teachers. I've had a couple of new families come in, but I let them know right off the bat that I close for the summer and they've been able to make arrangements for the summer. It's given me time to do some remodeling that would have been hard to do with the kids here. I LOVE having the time off and don't see myself going back to working summers again.
The start up in the fall hasn't been a problem with my kids. Nine weeks isn't so long that they forget what happens at my house, and they're super excited to start again after being gone!
I feel so refreshed and ready for the new year too

[Josiegirl]

Omg i wish

[spinnymarie]

We do a school-year schedule too, taking all summer off. (late may to mid-august)
We market specifically to teachers and have a long wait list.
We charge more per day than others nearby, but it is still slightly cheaper than paying for a full-year daycare, and the loss of income is worth it to us.
We make parents pay August tuition in May to hold their spot.

[SunflowerMama]

I take Fridays off in July and August as well as close earlier M-Th.

It's nice because I still have some income, and keep a routine, but it also feels like SUMMER!!happyfacehappyface

Those years where I had 10+ kids all summer exhausted me, and September would come and I'd be beat.
I feel like I've gotten the best of both worlds the last few years.

I think I may try and implement this this summer! It would be so refreshing and really feel like a summer. What time do you close M - Th? How reduced is your weekly rate from the school year? Currently I'm open 7:30a - 5pm and charge $185 a week. I'd love to do 7:30a - 4pm M - TH, close on Friday and maybe charge $165 a week. I have 10 year old twins and it would really feel like summer if I could have that extra hour during the week and Fridays off.

[CityGarden]

I take Fridays off in July and August as well as close earlier M-Th.

It's nice because I still have some income, and keep a routine, but it also feels like SUMMER!!happyfacehappyface

Those years where I had 10+ kids all summer exhausted me, and September would come and I'd be beat.
I feel like I've gotten the best of both worlds the last few years.

I really like this approach.

I take about 9 weeks off for summer. I started a couple of years ago when all of my families were teachers. I've had a couple of new families come in, but I let them know right off the bat that I close for the summer and they've been able to make arrangements for the summer. It's given me time to do some remodeling that would have been hard to do with the kids here. I LOVE having the time off and don't see myself going back to working summers again.
The start up in the fall hasn't been a problem with my kids. Nine weeks isn't so long that they forget what happens at my house, and they're super excited to start again after being gone!
I feel so refreshed and ready for the new year too

Oh how I wish I could close all summer! Sadly I cannot afford that at this point. Maybe someday in the future but not yet.

Another approach I recently came across is a home based program that is year round but they take "summer break" it is not the entire summer but a week at the start and two weeks at the end of summer. They do not discount the annual tuition at all. It is more time than I would take but I like the general idea.