Only 1 DCK in Over Xmas - What Should I Do?

[Jamie]

I would tell dcm that "Dck will be the only kid here, so he will just have to be part of my family, participate in the Family outings, eat the family food etc., as I cannot and will not do my entire program for one kid."
Then just have him around. Do your projects around the house; he can help or play by himself. You can bake sugarfree cookies. Read books that he chooses from the library.

My current group has me alone with 1 kid for two hours three mornings a week. When I found out, I dreaded those hours. Now I enjoy them. It seems that kid enjoys them too.
I started to really enjoy those hours when I stopped trying to engage him and do "daycare activities", and started just having him hang around, help if he wants to, and basically act as if he was my own kid.

[amberrose3dg]

I wouldn't be open for one kid. I would just tell her since he is the only kid you are going to close. Do not charge HER for that time but the rest since they all agreed to not using you.
I couldn't imagine it getting back to them but you never know.
Next year plan to close and have a policy that states you are PAID for that time.
:hug:

[midaycare]

I guess I'm the odd one out who thinks that since the other dcps have already planned their time off, if OP decides to take extra time at this point, why should the other dcfs be excused now from paying? OP would not even be having this conversation if any of the other dcfs hadn't scheduled vacation off? It's hard to be in this situation, I'm sure.

Yes to this! Please try not to stay open for one child, especially a difficult one. You need time, too!

[Indoorvoice]

This happened to me last year. I told dcm dck could come but that I was not doing daycare activities. Dcm of course didn't care at all. She was just part of the family for those 2 weeks. I also opened later and closed earlier. Worked out great!

[lovemykidstoo]

It stinks to have to watch just one child for that whole two weeks but I personally wouldn't ask DCM to find alternate care for that time. She's already said she needed you and you opted to be open. I also wouldn't tell her that he is your only child. I do think it's fine to say due to the holiday, any dck attending may be joining in family fun that you have planned. Just try to make the best of it. Maybe DCD will want him some of the days anyway since it's a holiday time.

I agree. I mean if she's working, she's working. Like I wrote above, if she was sitting at home doing nothing, then I would be upset, but what is she supposed to do. This is like any other week to her. Think of it this way, you're getting paid for 5 kids and only having to watch 1! Get some paperwork done or something. Put it in your contract for next year that you're off for that time.

[Sweet pea]

I’m gonna work through, I will let her know he is the only kid though, it’s not the kid I really want the break from it’s the the mum 😂😂😂

[Gemma]

Long story..... I have 5 kiddies that I look after. When my services are closed I get no payment, but when a family takes a holiday I get paid in full. Now this Xmas 4 of families are taking off fir 2 weeks BUT 1 kid ( the most pain in the arse parents and he is here 7-5 every day) isn’t his Mum said she’s used all her work holiday so is needing care right through the holidays. Now this kids mum n dad are separated so I was thinking of suggesting to mum that maybe dad could have him on one of those weeks? I’m really not looking forward to having just 1 dcb all through the holidays, and I can’t tell dcm that I’m closing as that means that I lose payments off the 4 other fsmilies😢
What would you do? Oh and I’m in New Zealand where most people take vacation over the two weeks of Xmas. I’ve never had a family asking for care over that period

I personally would not discuss child's accommodations with a parent. I'm either open and I take the child in, or I'm closed and I leave it to the parents to figure out what to do with their kid.

In your case I would let parents know their kid will be the only one and just take the kid in if they still choose to bring him/her

[daycarediva]

Change your policies for the future, great time with the new year coming and everything anyway.

X daycare is closed for X days over Christmas break, paid.

X daycare will remain open on X days with a minimum of 3 children in attendance.

I DO NOT stay open for under 3 kids. The days go by WAYYYY too slow. Because of my set up, I can only 'get things done' in my classroom anyway, and my family does NOT want a dck in tow on family things.

[Play Care]

Change your policies for the future, great time with the new year coming and everything anyway.

X daycare is closed for X days over Christmas break, paid.

X daycare will remain open on X days with a minimum of 3 children in attendance.

I DO NOT stay open for under 3 kids. The days go by WAYYYY too slow. Because of my set up, I can only 'get things done' in my classroom anyway, and my family does NOT want a dck in tow on family things.

Yes! My kids are pre-teens, no way do they want a toddler hanging out.
Depending on my client situation I either said 3 child minimum or 3 family minimum (the latter was when one family had three kids) I don't mind a one off day where I wind up with one kid, but a week of one kid is too much. They get bored no matter what you plan.

[Country Kids]

I just had this happen last Friday (Veterans Day Observed) and it was so long! Child was here at 6:45 and left 4:30ish? Didn't want to play by their self, color, anything I suggested it was no. They wanted me to pick everything for them and if I suggested something it was usually no. Finally I said this is what you are doing. We had played games, did crafts but if they had to do something by themselves it was a no.

[Sweet pea]

Yay..... dcm just text to say that her work has told her they are closing for two weeks over Xmas so she will keep dcb with her.

[NeedaVaca]

Wow, how awesome for you! You get a nice paid break I bet you are so excited!

[Sweet pea]

Wow, how awesome for you! You get a nice paid break I bet you are so excited!

I so am 🎄🍵

[Blackcat31]

Yay..... dcm just text to say that her work has told her they are closing for two weeks over Xmas so she will keep dcb with her.

Yay! Things have a funny way of working themselves out! happyface