Teacher Friendly?

[MelissaP]

How do you market to your clientele if you only want teacher's children? I'm not sure on where to begin. The idea is to get the teachers kids during the school year and only have school aged children in the summer and school breaks. Any ideas?

Thank you,
Melissa

[Blackcat31]

How do you market to your clientele if you only want teacher's children? I'm not sure on where to begin. The idea is to get the teachers kids during the school year and only have school aged children in the summer and school breaks. Any ideas?

Thank you,
Melissa

So the kids under school age that attend during the school year won't attend during the summer months?

You would take only the school aged kids during the summer months?

Almost like two different daycares?

Just trying to grasp exactly what you mean so it's easier suggest how or what to advertise....

[Cat Herder]

Two things worked best for me.

1. Make sure your schedule works with the school system hours.

2. Offer a curriculum that is well researched, proven, respected and that they can follow along with at home.

[MelissaP]

So the kids under school age that attend during the school year won't attend during the summer months?

You would take only the school aged kids during the summer months?

Almost like two different daycares?

Just trying to grasp exactly what you mean so it's easier suggest how or what to advertise....

Exactly.

[Blackcat31]

Exactly.

I would have a separate name for each program and advertise as such.

Business A
Teacher friendly child care. Only open during the school year! (No services available June 1- August 30)

Business B
Summer Camp/Care for school aged kids. K- Grade 5
Service only available from June 1-August 30)

Is that kind of what you mean?^^^ Not for advertising in regards to operating?

I think it's kind of a neat idea but I can see where you'd run into some issues during the first part of summer and then again at the end of summer when BOTH groups of children/families are needing care. Which age groups gets priority?

[LittleScholars]

I would have a separate name for each program and advertise as such.

Business A
Teacher friendly child care. Only open during the school year! (No services available June 1- August 30)

Business B
Summer Camp/Care for school aged kids. K- Grade 5
Service only available from June 1-August 30)

Is that kind of what you mean?^^^ Not for advertising in regards to operating?

I think it's kind of a neat idea but I can see where you'd run into some issues during the first part of summer and then again at the end of summer when BOTH groups of children/families are needing care. Which age groups gets priority?

I'm rolling out this model beginning summer 2019, so I'll share in case this is helpful or you have feedback.

I was an elementary school teacher for many years, so I already tend to attract teachers. When parents inquire about spaces, I make sure to tell them I offer care that follows the school calendar, as well as a first-come-first-serve summer camp that requires advanced enrollment. I'm offering a mix of half and full days with specific themes/focuses, which I'll be officially sharing in a few months. In your case, I'd just say you offer care following the school calendar and, when it applies, share that you offer full-time summer camp for school-agers.

Although I'm not making the switch until next year, I want to get the word out ASAP because this will be great for some families, and terrible for others. I want families with schedules that work with mine to keep me at the top of their list.

Blackcat has a good point regarding the overlap of need. For example, here my school agers would need care beginning June 20 and my little ones need to stay with me until June 22. Similarly, although our school year doesn't start until after labor day, teachers often need to head back for professional development early. It is a small, but inconvenient window here, but something worth thinking about. If taking on extra kiddos isn't an option, perhaps offering names of back up providers or drop in programs is an option?

[Ariana]

I would advertise that I am teacher friendly and post the months available and then advertise for summer care and post the months available.

[daycarediva]

This would be a nightmare for me. Teacher clients AND sa? ::

Teachers (and support staff!) would love not paying for breaks, or flat monthly tuition, plus no (or low) deposit holds for summer spaces. What about those that teach summer school?

[Play Care]

This would be a nightmare for me. Teacher clients AND sa? ::

Teachers (and support staff!) would love not paying for breaks, or flat monthly tuition, plus no (or low) deposit holds for summer spaces. What about those that teach summer school?

This. I rarely have teachers now who don't use some part of the summer. Most have other jobs, teach summer school, or have curriculum planning days and need day care.
But one of the best things I did was to say NO to SA summer care. What a PITB!!

[MelissaP]

I had a teacher ask me about that today, that what happens if they need summer care also (for summer school purposes) and I said that they would get 1st dibs on those summer spots (she has 7 weeks of summer school to work). So those summer spots would be guaranteed for the teachers first. Does that make sense? I would just fill in the blanks with summer kids.

Thank you everyone for your input. I appreciate it.

Melissa

[MelissaP]

I will probably not take on any school agers and be just a teacher friendly place. Not sure yet.

Melissa

[Blackcat31]

I will probably not take on any school agers and be just a teacher friendly place. Not sure yet.

Melissa

Personally, I think you should try it out!
SA kids aren't for everyone but those that do take them seem to enjoy them.

The first 10 years I was open, I allowed school teachers to take off the summer and not pay. I just held their spaces for free. I didn't even charge a deposit. I only charged them if they attended. No charge if they didn't attend all summer (not one day). Made up for the loss of income by taking in SA kids. Worked well.

Now, you couldn't pay me enough to do that. But only because I know my personal limits and know what my personal formula for happiness is and it doesn't include SA'ers.

BUUUUUUT it worked great when it did. I had my own SA kids so that helped alot. I was in the groove of knowing what SA kids needed and basically liked/disliked. Once my kids grew and left home, my tolerance and patience for that age simply dwindled and SA kids played no role in job happiness so I eliminated them from my roster and that was that.

So, I think you should atleast give it a whirl.... see what happens. See how much interest there is/isn't in your area. See if you really enjoy that age group or if they drive you to whimpering in the corner by pick up time. It's different for everyone. Depending on the kids/families....it can be a good or bad experience but either way, you'll know.

Better to know for sure than to just wonder.
Know what I mean?

[MelissaP]

Thank you BC! I would at least like to give it a try. I'm just not sure how to do it. LOL. Where do I start?

Melissa

[LittleScholars]

I also think it is worth a try. I think it is a bit trickier totally switching from little ones to SA, but doable. Could you begin sign ups now so that both you and parents can feel secure knowing spots are filled? If it goes terribly wrong that will also give you some time to back pedal and re-think who you can take? Worst case scenario seems to be that you get closer to your goal this summer and perfect the formula next summer.

[Second Home]

I currently have 4 families out of 6 who work for the school system .
I offer credit for snow days ( easier for me if I don't have to worry about cleaning the walk/driveway) and summer vacations . I also offer part time ( min 2 days per week ) for the summer , but no Fridays . It gives me a break with fewer kids and more time to spend with my family .

I have 3 interviews in the next 2 weeks , 2 are teachers families .