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I already have two interviews for my opening, yay! So one was a parent that whose name was really familiar. I told her that I believed we had talked before (by email) but went ahead and answered all her questions. She said we had talked before but she ended up going with another provider. I don't think we ever actually interviewed though. Okay so she wrote in her email that there are issues with the current provider and she now needs care for her 8 month old. How nosey should I get about issues with the other provider? I did ask if she was needing care immediately or would need to allow for notice to the provider or what. I don't want to get myself in a situation with a demanding parent but it is always possible that the other provider was the problem. What should I ask and what red flags would be good to look for. I have only ever had one child come from another provider. In that case, the parents had issues with the provider moving a boyfriend and a couple extra kids into the house that they were never told would be living there or even around. I understand feeling uncomfortable with that one because the parents showed up early one day and the provider's number of kids had basically doubled.
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this is a good question..
If it were me I would poke lightly. During the interview maybe she will open up with you and tell you.
I had a parent open up to me and unload.............It sounded like a lot on the providers part, but then once I got to know the family boy could i understand why. I ended up terming as well.
I am interested to see what others have to say.
However, I would straight out ask what her main reason for the change in DCP is. -
I would definitely ask about her problems with the other provider. What if she doesn't like it that the other provider won't allow toys or food from home, etc., and those are things you don't allow as well? Plus it will give you some idea of what type of family you are dealing with.
I've never had a problem asking about things like that, though I don't ask for any identifying information about the other provider.Comment
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I always ask...
I've had quite a few daycare kids come from other daycare providers in my area. It always seems to be a 50/50 chance that they are good families OR awful families that the other provider is SO happy to get rid of.
If they come from somewhere else, I always ask "Were you not happy with the other daycare or provider? Why could I ask?". They always tell me the reasons... some more in depth than others.
I've had them tell me that the other provider was horrible in all different types of ways and some stories seem true. But when they say that they didnt like the other provider's "rules"... thats kind of a red flag. That means usually that they didnt like following the rules for basic things like when payment is due, picking their kids up when sick or on time... I had a family tell me that their little boy wasnt getting enough attention at the other daycare (she only had a few kids so seemed weird). I took him in and QUICKLY found out that this 14 month old boy wanted to be held ALL the time! And he never would nap... just cry. So just look for the red flags in EVERYthing the parent says.
I am friends with a couple of providers near me and we give eachother a heads up when a horrible family might be coming eachother's way!
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I always asked "What is the reason for leaving your prior care" so we can establish what I will and will not do up front.Comment
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I always ask if their child has been in a daycare setting.
I ask how long he/she attended the last daycare.
I then ask if they are currently in another daycare and how much notice they must provide before starting.
Then I get an idea of when they'd like to start if they were to come.
I also ask why they are searching for a new provider. (It seems like by asking this rather than "Why are you leaving your current provider?" you're more likely to get a truthful answer and if they are serious about switching.)
Sometimes you will find out that people are just testing the waters and aren't serious which is a waste of our time. I usually ask this in advance so I don't find myself interviewing and having them tour my home for no reason. And if they don't have a job already, I won't interview! They want to line up care in the event they get a job but if they don't, you are out the valuable time you took to meet with and talk to them.
I met with one family 3 different times and all 3 times they went with someone cheaper. It's probably a good idea of what they are expecting to pay too. If your rate is $150 and they aren't planning to pay more than $100 a week, probably not worth your time to pursue it any farther.
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I always ask. It's 50/50 as someone else said whether they have good reasons for searching for a new provider or whiny ones. Several that have contacted me lately were disapointed in the lack of outside time their kids were getting. That's a good reason to switch for me. Not liking someone else's rules...not so much.Comment
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I think that the other pp brought up some good points.
I just think that you really wont know unless you try them out..
Example: one of the families that I had told me that they were switching becuase the DCP closed too much and demanded full payment... Ok that stinks for the DCP
they told me that she was not allwoing for the parents to come inside the house anymore at pick up? strange
told me that the provider claimed she was teaching thier child but that their child was not bringing home any proof or seemed to be learning... I can understand both sides....
told me that she was always charging fees left and right for silly things. Red Flag
anyways....there was a lot more that they told me. They really made the provider sound horrible..
I ended up taking the family on and now I know why the provider would not let them in, why all the silly charges and so on.....They were right that the child was not being taught anything....at age 4 the kid could not sign the ABC's...... where I am getting at is that you won't know unless you try. Yes ask your questions, but you won't really know the truth unless you experience it first hand.
If you have some kind of connection with them, that is positive I say go for it..Comment
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Always ask. But do it in person so you can see thier body language.
If you allow a child to come to your program without giving adequate notice, they will leave your program the same way.
Get to know the other providers in your area. As someone else mentioned, it's good to know the other story.Comment
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