Potential Client Asking For References?

[AmyKidsCo]

I always give out the names/numbers of 2-3 parents that I know will say good things. I've got lots of testimonials on my website but I think parents like to talk to "real people" too, especially if they have questions they want a parent's perspective on.

[bklsmum]

References have always baffled me too because I am only going to give you people who adore me so...::

[kendallina]

Of course we give references of clients that love us, but if they have particular questions or concerns I can understand. About 95% of my clients are word of mouth and I can tell they already know they're going to enroll before they come to the tour. It helps so much to talk to someone who had experience with you. I recently a family refer client who specifically asked her whether aclose a lot of days. Of course, she could ask me at the tour too, but getting reassurance from someone who's been with me helps.

[hwichlaz]

I absolutely give references. They are going to trust me with their most precious child. <3

The consumer awareness info that licensing gives out suggests that they ask for references and check our license status and past inspection notes.

[ColorfulSunburst]

...I feel a little strange asking current clients to talk to potential clients. ..

Why?
I offer it to potential clients by myself.

[Pestle]

I'm very pro-references and I think being prepared for the question shows that you know what you're doing. Getting thrown for a loop when asked for references is a bad sign in a care provider. If your references are non-traditional, that's fine; just make sure your potential client has access to them.

I got into this business after a bad experience with a family day care provider, and I wish I'd called her references. I don't know if it would have turned me off, but I still should have done it.

Before we signed on with that provider, I interviewed a string of weirdos. I had a phone interview with a woman who casually mentioned—not even in response to a question—that her own son acts up and she hit him once “because he made me so mad. But I felt real bad right away and I’d never hit your kid.” Um, no need for any further discussion. But then I interviewed another potential provider who was startled when I asked for references, then said she couldn’t think of any, then said there was one but she couldn’t remember his name or the organization he worked for.

Danger, Will Robinson!

[Josiegirl]

I don't have a business FB page, website or binder. I've only had a couple potential families ask about references, and I always make sure I ask my dcfs beforehand.
Only 1 dcm, that I know of, actually called someone and when she called me back, she told me I don't do a very good job of selling myself. Lol Sometimes, a dcf can answer questions better than I can or more comfortably. Lots of times, a potential family has already gotten lots of info because most of my current dcfs always give my name out to people they know.

[bklsmum]

I actually had one DCF who was referred to me by another DCM who is one of her best friends and they STILL wanted other references as well. ::

[sahm1225]

I keep a binder with thank you cards and letters of recommendation from past clients, co-teachers and my past director for interviewees to browse through. I also have copies of anonymous parent surveys that were sent out while working at preschool. Yet I had a client today ask if I was okay giving out references. How would you have handled this? I always thought the binder combined with my FB page was more than enough.

If you google questions to ask daycares, it usually tells them to ask for past families as references. Then to ask why they left. It's silly actually, because we would obviously give a reference of someone who left on a happy note ::

I give out references, but that's the norm here. A few families have called but most just like to know that I offer Them. I have one previous family that will go on and on about wow, she has an opening? You need to go take a deposit to her while you're even thinking about it, she never has openings, or wow, you should be so honored she's offering you a spot

[Snowmom]

I have a feeling they read an outdated parents guide on selecting a provider.

Provided personal references are quickly becoming a thing of the past even for employers. Most go to social media and background check sites.

I would have referred her to my facebook page and State website, same as you. That way clients are free to answer or ignore messages and not have dinner interrupted by strangers calling.

That's my thoughts too. Someone told them that's what they're suppose to do.

I never got the reasoning for references.
Why would you ask a perfect stranger about another perfect stranger, whose name was given to you by the stranger.
Makes no sense to me.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

Yea, I don't get the point of references either. I don't want them to take a stranger's word for it. I want them to talk to me, be active in our childcare relationship, and to judge their opinion and level of trust with me on ME. Not on what a perfect stranger says. My relationship with each family is individual and private to a certain extent and I don't want to make them in charge of getting me new clients or even having anything to do with potential new clients, so I would not give out numbers of current clients. When it comes to my business and my money, that ball is in my court and no one else should have a role in it. I do have reference letters form my days as a nanny and I have two families that specifically said they want to be called if needed, but a lot of the "fear factor" gets ruled out when they meet me and we talk. After that, the references don't seem to be a big deal anymore. Honestly, if you meet someone, see their space, consider their enrollment and the length of their career and all those other variables, a reference is not going to make up your mind for you. It is that good old "illusion of safety" factor, but you need to trust your instincts and stay involved in the daycare process long after the interview is over.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have only had a couple ask. I tell them to go onto the business Facebook page and send a message to one of the families that wrote a review OR to one of the parents commenting or tagged in a photo.

[Baby Beluga]

There is something not right with this situation and I can't pinpoint it. Maybe I'm overreacting?

Dad was stuck in traffic and wasn't able to attend the interview. He asked mom about the references (didn't contact me himself). Then today I get a text from mom saying Dad wanted to know if he could meet with me for a second interview. The second interview didn't bother me (I would also like to see dad prior to enrollment, although remember I already know them from dance class so I am not a stranger). The odd part is Dad never contacts me and asks me these things himself. The mom always sends me a text message and says "Dad wants to know xyz..."

So I got the text about the second interview. I don't like playing telephone so I made a group text between mom, dad and myself and said I would be happy to schedule a second interview but I wanted both mom and dad present and gave my available dates/times. Dad STILL didn't respond. Just mom.

What gives?

[bklsmum]

There is something not right with this situation and I can't pinpoint it. Maybe I'm overreacting?

Dad was stuck in traffic and wasn't able to attend the interview. He asked mom about the references (didn't contact me himself). Then today I get a text from mom saying Dad wanted to know if he could meet with me for a second interview. The second interview didn't bother me (I would also like to see dad prior to enrollment, although remember I already know them from dance class so I am not a stranger). The odd part is Dad never contacts me and asks me these things himself. The mom always sends me a text message and says "Dad wants to know xyz..."

So I got the text about the second interview. I don't like playing telephone so I made a group text between mom, dad and myself and said I would be happy to schedule a second interview but I wanted both mom and dad present and gave my available dates/times. Dad STILL didn't respond. Just mom.

What gives?

Almost every family I have only one parent takes point and does all communicating, either Mom or Dad, usually Mom. I don't find this weird because it just depends on the family dynamic.

[sahm1225]

Almost every family I have only one parent takes point and does all communicating, either Mom or Dad, usually Mom. I don't find this weird because it just depends on the family dynamic.

This. But if you're feeling that's a red flag just keep your eyes open. My DH doesn't like to text or call anyone, it's not personal. BUT that being said, he souldbtbgo out of his way to make someone work more because he's lazy, in this case asking for a second interview. He would just go with what I decided.