What Do You Do?

[JenNJ]

For current families, I don't charge a holding fee. By that time I have built a relationship with the family so I know they won't skip out on me. If I needed the money and had an empty spot to fill, I would probably look for a temp care child.

[jen2651]

I am in a similar bind, except I dont have a spot for the new baby that is coming. the family already has 2 kids here.

I am at my max on the days that they want and they only want PT care. I don't even offer care to infants and still am not sure what i am going to do about telling the DCP that one I dont have a spot and two I dont offer infant care due to my preschool program.

I think that if it were me and i really trusted the family, I would hold it for them, but then again anything can happen and you will the one left out with a LOT of pay that has been lost.

Maybe you can do the math and see how much money you would be losing if you held the spot and then decide if its worth it..

I loved my sons provider and I actually took them to two different places as his provider didn't have room for my infant. So yes, in the time I was with my sons provider (1.5 years), she raised her rates, changed her hours (so I had to leave work IMMEDIATELY), I drove 29 miles out of the way total each day, had more holidays and sick days than anyone I know, and I still love her. I STILL wish she was providing for other children what she did for my son...that is my goal. To have people love me so much they would do anything to have their children here. Oooh, someday hopefully!

[Abigail]

I have him he is 4months, two 2 year olds. three 3 year olds, two 4 year olds and then once school gets out I will have a 6 year old a 7 year old and possibly a 9 year old! I can have 12 kiddos total! But when the baby will start I will DEFINATELY have room! : )

Techinically you only have ONE spot available for next summer since you'll be at 11 with the school age. I would draft up a holding fee contract and set the fee accordingly. If you're actively trying to fill one more spot right now, let her know you are still interviewing for your last spot you have for this summer and that children who are enrolled are usually long-term so if you do enroll you wouldn't have an opening during the summer with school age...

Have her sign a low-weekly payment for holding a spot. I say low because it's so far out. You should give her the option to chance it and not pay to hold a spot, but if you ask too much for holding a spot she may look elsewhere if you're not willing to take her word and hold a spot. Let her know she can decide at any time to begin to hold a spot to promise the availbility. You should also give her a "ball park" rate for the two children so she is aware of the general weekly cost for care for two. You can't ask her to pay to hold a spot if she hasn't signed a contract. At the time she decides to sign a holding fee contract, you should also give her your regular contract with the rates. This is so far out though, I would hate to hold a spot for more than 3 months.

Do you have a maternity leave section in your current contracts? That is where it should be since it's about time and money. Here is what I have so far....I titled it "extended leave" to cover more than one option. I still need to figure out wording for maternity for me when I get pregnant, please share if you have anything on that!

Extended leave due to illness (therefore no notice given), client pays the full weekly rate for the first two weeks. Additional time missed after the initial two weeks of absence will be half the weekly rate to hold the spot for up to six weeks. The first week returning to care will be pro-rated.

Extended leave for maternity leave, summer vacations, or any other form of extended leave for full time enrollment will require a two-week written notice and will pay half the weekly rate to hold the spot for up to twelve weeks. A full time child may attend care during this time on an agreed upon consistent two days a week schedule. Extended leave for part time enrollment is not available.

[dEHmom]

i did not read all the replies but what i would do, if i had an open spot, would be to fill it temporarily. advise whoever is filling it that by such a date the spot will be filled.