Do You Give Discount When Kid Goes To Preschool?

[littlemommy]

I have 2 full-time two year olds right now. They may be going to preschool this coming school year, and I'm not sure what to do about their rates. If I stick to my hourly rate, my income will be decreased A LOT. It would be too hard to fill the morning hours that they would be gone.

Ideally, I would like to keep the rates the same, since technically I am still holding that spot. Since I do an hourly rate, I could do a discount of 5 or 10 dollars a week, but at least I wouldn't lose ALL of that time they are in school.

What do you do?

[Blackcat31]

I would like to keep the rates the same, since technically I am still holding that spot.

You just answered your own question. You shouldn't be the one to take the financial loss because of someone else's decision.

[sharlan]

Nope. I charge a flat rate for the week, regardless of the hours they are there. Since I normally took my dcks to preschool and picked them up, I charged a bit extra for my gas.

[Michelle]

2 year old "real school?"
jeez, where will it end?
let toddlers be toddlers, Yes, we teach them their colors, shapes, letters etc. but at this age they should be in a nice comfy home getting lots of love and care and not in a building type preschool. I have 2 year olds that are just barely talking sentences.
They will have 13 years of "real school" I'm sorry I just can't believe parents do this and they actually think they are doing these kids good.

O.k. enough of my soap box, yes charge them the full rate for holding their spot. Oh, and when they get back from "school" they will sleep really long because their little bodies and minds won't be able to handle this kind of "structure". o.k., I will stop::::::

[nannyde]

2 year old "real school?"
jeez, where will it end?

Birth

As soon as we get the average citizen believing two year olds need school then it will be progressive to have one year olds in school. Then in will be the norm to have one year olds in school.

Once that becomes the norm then it will be infants.... all the way to newborn.

The idea that earlier is better doesn't stop until you can't get earlier.

My fave potential client question I have ever had in 17 years: What curriculum do you have for my newborn?

Answer: What curriculum do you use at home?

The only thing we have going for us here is that the Centers can't have anymore babies per adult whether they call it school or not. It's a one to four ratio whether you call it a "class" and the minimum wage employees "teachers". There's no money to be made in baby school in Iowa.

[Unregistered]

I'm kind of facing the same thing, only a 3 year old. Parent is questioning whether or not to send her child to a school based preschool and asked my thoughts.

I'm torn on whether or not to offer a discount. Part of me says nope, no discount. Then another part of me is saying give a discount to assure the family keeps the child enrolled here versus utilizing the care provided by the pre-school for non preschool hours.

Normally I wouldn't be waivering on this, but with the economy so sh*tty and enrollment low everywhere... I hate to lose a client.

Ugh.

[Michelle]

Mom laying in hospital be after having a baby...
in walks the lady from the name records department...
in walks the lady from the school district with enrollment forms

[JenNJ]

No. I can't offer a discounted rate bc I cannot possibly fill the short hours the children are gone.

[Ariana]

I was wondering this recently as well because my DCM mentioned preschool for September. I decided that I would not reduce my rate because like you said there is no way I could find a replacement for a few hours per day and I can easily replace the child if I needed to. When I mentioned this to mom she decided not to send her kid to preschool. I'm an Early Childhood Educator so I didn't see the point anyway!

[daycare]

I charge a flat weekly rate, you use the DC as you need it.
we dont do drop in, half days or care for ill children.

I would change to a daily flat rate or weekly rate so that you are not being put in this situation.

Perhaps you should look at how Nannyde does her payment schedule. That might work for you.

[harperluu]

I have a half day rate for those who need 4 hours or less per day. If a child attends preschool and will be in attendance less than 4 hours, then they can pay the half day rate. This rarely is the case.

[PeanutsGalore]

I have 2 full-time two year olds right now. They may be going to preschool this coming school year, and I'm not sure what to do about their rates. If I stick to my hourly rate, my income will be decreased A LOT. It would be too hard to fill the morning hours that they would be gone.

Ideally, I would like to keep the rates the same, since technically I am still holding that spot. Since I do an hourly rate, I could do a discount of 5 or 10 dollars a week, but at least I wouldn't lose ALL of that time they are in school.

What do you do?

I offer a flat rate and plan on continuing to do so no matter what age. They get HARDER as they get older, not easier, especially since they can talk back!

I'm still researching prices in my market, and for the clients I want to work with, I'm way underpriced. I just saw a preschool that charges 50% MORE than I do for infant care.

Don't undersell yourself, especially if you have a quality program.

[jojosmommy]

I charge the same regardless. There is no way you can fill that space while the child is gone AND never have the two schedules conflict on snow days, days off etc. Plus if you do charge a reduced rate then when there are days off, scheduled and emergency (snow), parents will make a big stink about having to pay more again.

I have a number of kids who leave to go to special ed programs and there is no way I could afford to give them a break b/c they are gone for part of the day. They take up a space regardless.

[Blackcat31]

Don't undersell yourself, especially if you have a quality program.

This ^^^^^ LIKE!!

If you ever take a client because of money, it seems they are the PITA parent's/children that get vented about here. Yes, ONLY take clients you can have a good working relationship with. I once spent an entire summer wonder why on God's green earth I agreed to take a dcb. He was soooo NOT worth one single penny I was paid to care for him. Now, I would rather sit with an empty space than take a newbie because I need the money.

I know for some it is not an option and I fully understand. You work waaaay harder for your money then. Personally, I just cannot do that.

[mac60]

Absolutely not. In fact, I have thought about charging more for those who choose to leave, come back, etc. for preschool or whatever other stupid reason they come up with. It is a big inconvenience to me, my business and my program to have kids leave and go to "Real preschool". I am always jugling my own program, lunches, activities, to try to accomodate those who go elsewhere for it. Very frustrating.