Filling empty spots

[Unregistered]

I have one empty spot and I have an interview tonight. I also have one on Monday and Wednesday. How do you handle that? Do you tell the parents as they interview that you have another person coming and they need to decide quick? I don't want to pressure anyone into choosing but I can't not interview until they decide either.

[wdmmom]

I always tell families that I only have ___ spots and they are on a first come, first serve basis and that the first person to provide the deposit gets the spot.

Only once have I had a family say they wanted to come put down the deposit and I told them that someone else beat them to it. (Really the spot was still open, I just didn't want to take their kid!) ::::::

[laundrymom]

I tell them I'm meeting 3 new friends and will choose the best fitting family and offer them the position. I will call and let them know either way. Then I call my first choice, if they sign fine. If not I go to the next. I just never reveal they were second choice. Wink wink.

[Cat Herder]

I would tell them I would let them know as soon as I finished interviews next week.

Interview them all and choose the ones who best suit your program.

Trying to "make them fit" later tends to backfire.

[lpperry]

I always tell families that I am meeting with prospective families for the next 2 weeks. I will meet with everyone and take the child who fits the best with our program. I tell the family to let me know as soon as possible if they would like the spot and I will put them into my considerations.

I can afford to be picky because I never have any trouble filling spots. I don't take anyone who I don't think would be a good fit--it's not worth it to me.