Tweet
I only have a few days left of work until I am officially "open" for daycare. I only have one part time kid lined up so far! I am freeeeaking out about not making an income and on top of it my husband broke some bad news to me last night. We had money set aside to fix up our backyard. We had to completely dig the whole thing out to build a garage, move power lines, etc. and so right now it it just bare dirt. We had money set aside to lay down sod and finish our fence and whatever else needes to be done to make it playable. But last night he informed me that the money we had saved for it had to go towards fixing his truck. So NOW I have no backyard! I'm afraid that because of this I'll get no KIDS! And then I'll have no INCOME! I have to make an income to finish the backyard! I am freaking out and not certain if we have made the right decision here...
-
-
Go get a couple bags of grass seed and start throwing seed down. It is a good time of year to do it! If you can afford gunny sack material to lay over it it will help the grass seed stay put! Good luck! It will be ok! -
We had to put a hault on our yard project too. I just explained to people that the reason why my yard was all dirt was that we were working on fixing it up, but there would be sod soon.
In the mean time, we had a deck with plenty of toys to play with for outside time. It's not like your yard will forever be like this. I totally get the whole "image" thing. People will understand and appreciate your efforts to make a nice play area for their children, even if they have to wait a little while for it.
Just be honest and you'll be okay.Comment
-
When I started out, our yard was pitiful and it took about a year for us to get it up to par. In the meantime, I took the kids on lots of walks, trips to the playground, library, etc. to make up for it.
The parents all understood and most of my long-term families registered during that time. They tended to be more interested in how their child would be eating, where they would be sleeping, how much tv time they would get, etc -- all the things that take place indoors anyway.
So just keep at it, and play up the strengths of what you've got in place already
.
Comment
-
I agree you should be ok just let them know what you are doing and be honest. In the mean time make up some flyers that you can hang up at stores, churches, banks any where they will let you and place an add in your local paper. Tell everyone that you know you are opening up a new daycare and you have openings. Put a small sign in your front yard to so that when people are out for walks they will see it. Good luck it should all work out if you are willing to put a little work into it.Comment
-
I don't even use my backyard we play out front or in the common areas around the house or we go the playground parents don't care where you play outside as long as they get out and play good luckComment
-
Find out if there is a local child care association in your area and see if they will help get the word out to other providers that you will take drop-in children through the summer while providers are on vacation. Market it as a service to providers. This should bring in a little income while you fill up those spots.
Use your social networking sites to let friends, family and contacts know you are doing child care. Send out a brief mass email to those in your address book. Offer a finders fee to the family you do have in care if they refer someone that stays for a few months.
Offer something that other providers don't offer, like organic food, alternative hours, drop-in care, infant/toddler only. Find a need and fill it. It's a tough economy to start in, but it is do-able.Comment
-
well you could look at it this way.. at least you guys could have a blast making mud pies. My backyard is all rocks, concrete and grass. I had to bring in mud for us to make mud pies....
I know how you feel. I have a very small backyard and parents always ask about it at tours. Lucky i do have a park around the corner from my house, so we do get to go to the park almost daily in the summer time.
Is there a park that you could go to near by?
what bout buying some fake grass, I don't knwo what you call it, but the kind that rolls out? maybe make a homemade sandbox to put ontop of the other area that is not covered? fill it with lots of mud!
Comment
-
When it is not wet outside the dirt dries pretty hard so kids could still run around I guess...my daughter does. And we have a large patio we can play toys on and use side walk chalk, etc. I do have a grassy front yard but didn't know how parents felt about kids playing in the front yard. We have a park but all the equipment is for older children. I wouldn't even let young ones play on it.Comment
Comment