Some Random Questions...

[Pandaluver21]

I thought about making a post for each, but figured this would be easier for everyone! Just some things I've been wondering and thought I would ask you lovely people!

1) How do you do a deposit/last two weeks payment

2) Do you/would you consider a dress code?

3) Do you offer overnight/out of hour care, what do you charge if yes?


1- In the last 9 years of doing this job, I have never required one. But I'm starting to think I need to and am not sure how to go about it. Do I ask for it all up front, or over the first month? Do I ask for 1 week or 2? Is it refundable?

2- We run a Christian preschool/kindergarten program. I am not saying I want to do uniforms or anything, but I am so tired of little girls with super short skirt and/or skirts with no shorts under them. Or kids with pants/shorts that don't fit properly and constantly show the "plumbers crack" Even the little ones that wear shirts that are super short. I don't want to be nitpicky, but I was thinking of adding something to my handbook about needing to wear shorts under skirts/dresses and that skirts/dresses/shorts need to be to the knees. Does it seem reasonable, and do any of you ask this?

3- Many of my daycare families become part of my family, and I usually don't mind taking kids for an evening or overnight. Parents know that if kids are here past regular hours they become "one of us" and go with us on errands, to church, etc. What usually comes up is how much? Do you charge by the hour if its out of regular care? What about when they are sleeping?

[AmyKidsCo]

1) How do you do a deposit/last two weeks payment.
I set up a separate invoice for the enrollment fee and last two weeks payment. It's dated for the day of enrollment.

2) Do you/would you consider a dress code?
No. All of my children have extra clothes here so I change them as needed. (Pants that don't stay up, are too hard to change, etc) Usually I put the original clothes back on before pick-up.

3) Do you offer overnight/out of hour care, what do you charge if yes?
No way! I work enough as it is, I'm not adding extra hours. IF I ever did it would be at a premium rate - maybe 150% of my regular fee.

[Ariana]

1). I tell them upfront that when they sign the contract a deposit equivalent to 2 weeks payment is due right away. This deposit is applied to the last two weeks of care when the contract is terminated. The only time I will refund it is if it is the first 6 weeks of my trial period and I decide to terminate care immediately. Otherwise it is not refundable and they choose to use the two weeks of care or not.

2). I have never considered a dress code and I am not sure what the benefit would be. I require the kids to come in "play clothes" and warn the parents that clothes can get ruined but ultimately its up to them what the kids wear. I also have requirements for clothes for outdoor play. We get 4 seasons here so kids need to dress accordingly.

3) No I do not offer this service.

Hope that helps

[Jupadia]

1. I charge last week deposit. It is pit towards the last week of care only if I'm given proper notice. (2 weeks if 1 child is in care or 1 month if 2 kids are in care). If no notice is given or parent backs out of contract the money is not refunded.

2. No. But I have asked parents to bring certain items such as rain pants. Or asked them not to bring lace up shoes unless child can do own laces. There have been times as well if say a kids pair of pants are allways falling that I'll ask them not to have DK kid wear them again.

3. I will do occasional oUT of hours care and charge a rate of 10 per hour.

[Leigh]

I thought about making a post for each, but figured this would be easier for everyone! Just some things I've been wondering and thought I would ask you lovely people!

1) How do you do a deposit/last two weeks payment

I don't do a deposit. I collect the first week on the first day of care, and each Friday for the following week. I also collect the last 2 weeks' payment and do NOT call it a deposit and give parents the option of paying upfront or paying over 8 weeks. I give parents a form to fill out with how they intend to pay it (there is a line for each week) and hold them to that. This way, they don't have to provide all 3 weeks' at once. I don't call it a deposit because it is NOT refundable. It is to be applied to the last 2 weeks of care or in lieu of 2 week notice.

2) Do you/would you consider a dress code? I kind of have one. I require seasonally appropriate clothing that fits properly and shoes that velcro closed for all kids who can't tie their own shoes (I started this after having a 16 month old show up with laced shoes and having a kid who intentionally untied them and told me that I HAD to tie them again repeatedly).

3) Do you offer overnight/out of hour care, what do you charge if yes? Occasionally. Overnights are 4 times my full day daily rate per 12 hour block and I bill ONLY in 12 hour blocks (if a child is here for 12 hours and one minute, they would pay for 2 segments of care instead of one). After hours care is billed at 3 times what my hourly rate would be if I billed hourly (my weekly rate divided by 40 hours and then multiplied by 3).




1- In the last 9 years of doing this job, I have never required one. But I'm starting to think I need to and am not sure how to go about it. Do I ask for it all up front, or over the first month? Do I ask for 1 week or 2? Is it refundable?

2- We run a Christian preschool/kindergarten program. I am not saying I want to do uniforms or anything, but I am so tired of little girls with super short skirt and/or skirts with no shorts under them. Or kids with pants/shorts that don't fit properly and constantly show the "plumbers crack" Even the little ones that wear shirts that are super short. I don't want to be nitpicky, but I was thinking of adding something to my handbook about needing to wear shorts under skirts/dresses and that skirts/dresses/shorts need to be to the knees. Does it seem reasonable, and do any of you ask this?

3- Many of my daycare families become part of my family, and I usually don't mind taking kids for an evening or overnight. Parents know that if kids are here past regular hours they become "one of us" and go with us on errands, to church, etc. What usually comes up is how much? Do you charge by the hour if its out of regular care? What about when they are sleeping?

I replied in red above.

[Mike]

Not going yet, but have everything planned and ready, so here are my answers:

1) Last 2 weeks deposit before spot is reserved. 1 month trial period where they get it back if they cancel, otherwise, they give 2 weeks notice and the deposit covers that. No 2 weeks notice and they lose the deposit. If I cancel without 2 weeks notice, I will give it back.

2) I'm a Christian and thinking about doing Christian daycare as well, but either way, my only dress code will be to be dressed modestly, remembering that kids do play, dressed in clothes they are allowed to be kids in, but I will have extras and various protection for the real messy play, and dressed for the season, especially considering that outside play will be done every day, unless the weather is real bad.

3) I'm actually thinking about that, especially now. It will be a slow start for me, so I may just do renovations, woodworking, or something else during the day, and offer before/after school care, or evening or night care.

My rates:
before or after school - $16/day or $60/week (3 hrs max per day)
before and after school - $25/day or $95/week (5 hrs max total per day)
After 6pm will be about $6/hr for day time hours and $25 to $40 overnight.

[Laurie]

1) How do you do a deposit/last two weeks payment.
payment is paid the day the contract is signed. I have them pay first week of care and a two weeks non refundable payment. This is written out in my contract.

2) Do you/would you consider a dress code?
Nope! I've never had a dress code. My contract states all children should wear comfortable play clothes. If a child wears something I feel they shouldn't, then I let them know the clothes aren't suitable for play and not to dress them in it again.

3) Do you offer overnight/out of hour care, what do you charge if yes?
No! I enjoy family time after work and wouldn't consider doing overnight or more than an hour after closing. I rarely have anyone after hours.[/QUOTE]

[ColorfulSunburst]

2. I hate to see short under girl's dress. It looks so ugly. I just teach girls how to seat and pick up toys without showing underpants.
Take a look at modern teen-girls and young women ... how they sit, how they walk, how they move, what they wear

Dresses do not need any shorts under it. Even more: 2-3-4 year old kids do not care and do not give any negative attention to underwear of other kids.

[Mike]

2. I hate to see short under girl's dress. It looks so ugly. I just teach girls how to seat and pick up toys without showing underpants.
Take a look at modern teen-girls and young women ... how they sit, how they walk, how they move, what they wear

Dresses do not need any shorts under it. Even more: 2-3-4 year old kids do not care and do not give any negative attention to underwear of other kids.

I agree

What isn't correct though is if a girl wears a short dress with no underwear.

[Leigh]

Not going yet, but have everything planned and ready, so here are my answers:

1) Last 2 weeks deposit before spot is reserved. 1 month trial period where they get it back if they cancel, otherwise, they give 2 weeks notice and the deposit covers that. No 2 weeks notice and they lose the deposit. If I cancel without 2 weeks notice, I will give it back.

2) I'm a Christian and thinking about doing Christian daycare as well, but either way, my only dress code will be to be dressed modestly, remembering that kids do play, dressed in clothes they are allowed to be kids in, but I will have extras and various protection for the real messy play, and dressed for the season, especially considering that outside play will be done every day, unless the weather is real bad.

3) I'm actually thinking about that, especially now. It will be a slow start for me, so I may just do renovations, woodworking, or something else during the day, and offer before/after school care, or evening or night care.

My rates:
before or after school - $16/day or $60/week (3 hrs max per day)
before and after school - $25/day or $95/week (5 hrs max total per day)
After 6pm will be about $6/hr for day time hours and $25 to $40 overnight.

$6 an hour? That's half what a teenager gets! I would charge at least what the going rate that a 16 year old would charge. Make it worth your time!

[Mike]

$6 an hour? That's half what a teenager gets! I would charge at least what the going rate that a 16 year old would charge. Make it worth your time!

That would be a teen going to their house. I might charge higher though. That part I'm still thinking about. What I'm thinking is, if I offer only off hour care while doing other work during the day, I could watch 3 or 4 kids in the evening, and it would be the same as doing day care, but evenings instead. Slightly higher rate because of the time, but parents still get "daycare rates" rather than "private babysitter" rates.

I'm keeping an eye on this thread to see what others say about evening rates. Obviously, those who do daytime, would charge much higher for a parent wanting evenings, but I am curious what evening only providers charge. Might not be a high demand because as mentioned in another thread, parents tend to have family or friends who will watch kids then, but if I do other daytime work, the evening care will be for extra money and build a reputation, preferably good of course. ::

[CityGarden]

1) How do you do a deposit/last two weeks payment.
Per my contract I require first month, last month and a registration fee to secure their child's spot - this is due with the signed contract.

I realize this is a large chunk of money so if asked I will hold the spot with the registration and last months tuition and the parent can pay the first months tuition prior to the child's first day - this is okay with me because many children are enrolling now for June or September spots. (This option is not in my contract - it is me being gracious.)

I suggest your deposit should be equal to the notice period you require. I charge monthly and require one month notice, many providers charge every two weeks and require two weeks notice so they require a two week deposit. Things can get awkward when people give notice or are leaving your program so it best to ensure your money is not impacted by the departure.

2) Do you/would you consider a dress code?
In my handbook I have clothing suggestions:

CLOTHING SUGGESTIONS
In an active play-based preschool program, learning can be messy. Because your child’s clothes can get dirty, please dress your child in comfortable, casual clothes. Help your child toward independence by selecting clothing that is MANAGEABLE - for instance, elastic-waist trousers. Buttons, snaps, zippers or buckles may pose a problem. For your child's safety, please, no open toe shoes, crocs, or slip on shoes. For playground safety, tennis shoes are best.

I recently sent a note home that onies are not allowed as they are not MANAGEABLE for the children and are counter to building independence.

3) Do you offer overnight/out of hour care, what do you charge if yes?
No, and I never would! I have my own family and it is important to have boundaries.

I am making an exception for my first enrolled family 2 days of Spring Break during my normal business hours.... at $20 per hour. It is so expensive for an extra work day at $20 per hour they will never ask again, LOL! But I will never do it again I was just a ****er to get that first family enrolled I made some accommodations I will not do again.

[Mom2Two]

1) How do you do a deposit/last two weeks payment.
Tell parents about it during the interview, then if they decide to enrol, tell them the exact amount, which is due with all enrolment forms BEFORE the first day of care.

2) Do you/would you consider a dress code?
Clothing needs to be basically decent and clean, suitable/comfortable/safe for play, and I require shorts or leggings under skirts and I require covers for diapers. Elastic waists for self-sufficiency for potty training/trained children.

3) Do you offer overnight/out of hour care, what do you charge if yes?
I don't offer it, but my contract covers the possibility of children being left for outside hours, just in case, and I give a rate of about $20 per hour or any part of an hour after my usual closing hours. I've only had to charge it a couple of times.

[Mom2Two]

2. I hate to see short under girl's dress. It looks so ugly. I just teach girls how to seat and pick up toys without showing underpants.
Take a look at modern teen-girls and young women ... how they sit, how they walk, how they move, what they wear

Dresses do not need any shorts under it. Even more: 2-3-4 year old kids do not care and do not give any negative attention to underwear of other kids.

I disagree...interferes with normal play. I feel that this subtley discourages active, healthy play. Girls can be dressed feminine (if desired) and still covered appropriately and conveniently for active play.

I remember reading that in the original Star Trek, the female actors had to learn how to fall and still have their mini skirts not ride up. Ridiculous.

[ColorfulSunburst]

I make a search in the Internet by using Russian words "girls in daycare". Take a look how girls look. https://www.google.com/search?q=%D0%...w=1280&bih=670