Ugh I Want to Tour During DC Hours, Not Again..lol

[daycare]

Ok this lady and I have been emailing for weeks and she wants a tour..Of course she wants it in the morning during DC hours...UMMM NOPEs!

So I am starting to write a general rejection letter for those that always ask me to do tours during DC hours...

How does this sound, what should I add, take out or change?






Dear ***

I am so happy to hear that you would like to attend a tour of our daycare. Unfortunately, I cannot conduct tours of the daycare during daycare hours. I must have 100% of my attention on the children in my care and conducting a tour would not allow for me to do that.

However, I would love for you and your child to tour our Daycare any day of the week after 6:00PM or at any time on Saturday or Sunday, as the Daycare is closed.

I will be around this weekend if you would like to come during the day and will be available every day next week after 6:00 to conduct tours. Please let me know when I can schedule an appointment for you.

Kindest regards,

[WImom]

Sounds good. I always like to mention stranger saftey for the kids too. Hoping they realize they wouldn't want a stranger here if there kids were enrolled.

[daycare]

Sounds good. I always like to mention stranger saftey for the kids too. Hoping they realize they wouldn't want a stranger here if there kids were enrolled.

I did say that once and the lady got offended... I was like well sorry My DCP don't knw you and I don't think they want a stanger around their kids just as you wouldn't.

You know, I have never done straight from email to my house. I have always had a phone interview. Kind of weird me out that the lady wont call me....hmmmmm strange

[cheerfuldom]

don't forget to clearly state that all tours are by appointment only otherwise you will have some wacko show up at any old random time expecting a full tour.

[daycare]

don't forget to clearly state that all tours are by appointment only otherwise you will have some wacko show up at any old random time expecting a full tour.

perfect!! thanks ladies I will make sure that I add that stuff in there.

I really would like to talk to the person on the phone first as you can some times get a little bit of a feel of how the person is.......this is going to be different..

[lpperry]

What if you did the initial interview during non-daycare hours, but then offered a parent who was truly interested, the option to stop by during daycare hours to observe for a short period of time? I don't think it is unreasonable for a parent to want to see a daycare center "in action." I would want to see how the daycare provider interacts with the children.

[daycare]

Never a tour, but I will allow a family to see my program for about min, but ONLY if my husband is home to help me. Otherwise, I can't.
Inviting a stranger into my home is a very risky move. I have no idea what this persons real intentions are and anything about them.

I have heard horror stories about providers who have let prospective clients in during business hours. NO thanks...

I don't ever want to be in a situation where I have to go to the bathroom or leave my DC room even for a second with a complete stranger in my home with my DCK. I would be mad if someone did that to my kid, so I would never do it to theirs....

[Unregistered]

Your letter sounds good

I also tell them the first interview is always after hours so I can focus on them, getting to know their child and making sure I can answer their questions. I make sure they know that the parents of the children I care for are welcome anytime their child is there as well.

Most parents I want to work with understand that I need to focus on the children while I am working and welcome the fact I don't entertain during the day.

Good luck stick to your guns!

[countrymom]

I do it during nap time. This way they have to be quiet and leave quickly. I found that doing it in the evening was way too hard having my kids around and when they are a no show I felt like I wasted a whole evening waiting for them. Now its nap time, if they come they come if they don't, not a big deal, I continue with what I'm doing.

[grandmom]

As for your statement that you've never gone from email to a tour.... Just say in your email: please give me a call so we can schedule a time for you to tour my program. Then if she is serious, she will call.

I agree, I won't tour or interview unless I've talked to them on the phone. Tried that once, it was too weird.

[daycare]

I do it during nap time. This way they have to be quiet and leave quickly. I found that doing it in the evening was way too hard having my kids around and when they are a no show I felt like I wasted a whole evening waiting for them. Now its nap time, if they come they come if they don't, not a big deal, I continue with what I'm doing.

I wish I could do that, except my own child refuses to nap so this is when I spend alone time with him and we read and play together. If someone came in the house during naps, i could see my own child running amuchk and wakingn everyone up.

[SilverSabre25]

The only change I would make is to take out the phrase, "as the daycare is closed" from the second paragraph. It doesn't fit very well, doesn't flow very well, and isn't necessary to say, IMO.

[daycare]

I just wanted to make sure that the parent knows that I am not open on the weekends. I am workng on the letter again now.

[countrymom]

I too don't do any touring on weekends, I don't sign contracts, or collect money on weekends.

[daycare]

I don't collect money, BTDT never again, but if I am home and really don't have any plans I don't mind it. I know my life is sad....hahah