Parents not reading contract

[littlemommy]

One day I had a mom not have enough cash to pay her week's bill. She asked if there was a late fee. I said not this time, but I am revising my contract, so there will be next time. She giggles and said "oh, I didn't read through that anyways, so I didn't know."

I kindly said, "Well hopefully you can read the revised one."


I just started a new infant on Monday, and his mom brought back his signed contract. Not all of it was signed. There is a signature line for giving me permission to take children off of my property (to a park, on a walk..) that was not signed. I also have lines for the regular times which were not filled in.

[SandeeAR]

I rewrote my contract and issued it in March of this year. I have a now 10 mo and had his 3 y/o sister. I only gave them the contract on the baby, as the 3y/o sister was leaving in a few weeks for preschool.

I handed him the contract at pick up and said, a few things have changed, from the orginal contract, however your rate is still the same. Just read it and return it signed please. He flipped to the back, signed it and handed it back to me. Never read it.

[daycare]

I briefly go over my Phb and contract at sign up.
Parents don't read that stuff. unless they want to challenge you on something.
I once heard that a provider wrote a secret word in the PHB and it said :
If you read this the secret word is discount!
Lol

I would just take a min or two at pick up and let them know that she needs to sign the other forms.

I don't allow parents to start their children until I have everything signed.
This way I'm not chasing them down.

[Blackcat31]

Part of my interview process is reading and going through my entire contract with the parents. If they want to read it again at home, they sure can but by going over the whole thing wiht them, it allows them to ask questions and for me to immediately address them and it guarantees that they knew what was in it.

[wdmmom]

Hand it back to her at pick-up and tell her that you highlighted all the spots that weren't filled in. Tell her to have them filled in and bring back at drop off tomorrow morning or have her fill it out right then and there.

If she refuses, tell her you don't provide services without a signed agreement.

[SandeeAR]

Part of my interview process is reading and going through my entire contract with the parents. If they want to read it again at home, they sure can but by going over the whole thing wiht them, it allows them to ask questions and for me to immediately address them and it guarantees that they knew what was in it.

I do this too with new parents.

[littlemissmuffet]

I go over over my handbook in detail during interviews - it opens up some great dialogue between myself and the parents.

This way I am also able to stress the importance of our daycare rules, and I won't have mom/dad coming to me saying "Oh, I didn't know that". It also gives the parents a chance to ask any questions or get clarification on any particular policy they are unsure of.

[meganlavonnesmommy]

I have places in my contract, after each section, where parents have to initial next to a statment saying they have read and understood that section. Then a signature at the end of the contract.

Each "section" covers something specific. For example rates, vacation, health policies, late fees, supplies, etc.

That way if they say they didnt read that section, I have their initial stating that they read and understood each section.

[boysx5]

I have places in my contract, after each section, where parents have to initial next to a statment saying they have read and understood that section. Then a signature at the end of the contract.

Each "section" covers something specific. For example rates, vacation, health policies, late fees, supplies, etc.

That way if they say they didnt read that section, I have their initial stating that they read and understood each section.

I do the same and just pull it out if I need to