Speaking Of Wierdos And Red Flags

[PitterPatter]

I don't discriminate against single moms. I understand that stuff happens. But I will admit that when I do the background check on the parent and a bunch of Domestic Violence and a string of custody issues pop up under their name, I tend to shy away. It's not that I think the kids don't deserve care, but I notice that drama tends to follow some people, and I absolutely cannot tolerate it.

Most of my clients are single Moms. I have only had 2 Fathers involved in 5 yrs time!

How do u do a background check??? I didnt know we could do that? I admitt I have typed the name into facebook to see if they have a "dramatic wall" but other than that how do u go about gaining info? TIA!

[PeanutsGalore]

Most of my clients are single Moms. I have only had 2 Fathers involved in 5 yrs time!

How do u do a background check??? I didnt know we could do that? I admitt I have typed the name into facebook to see if they have a "dramatic wall" but other than that how do u go about gaining info? TIA!

That's what I was wondering! I think if I was a bigger center, I'd do a background check, but I don't know if I should or not for 2 or 3 families.

[PolarCare]

Background check

Most of my clients are single Moms. I have only had 2 Fathers involved in 5 yrs time!

How do u do a background check??? I didnt know we could do that? I admitt I have typed the name into facebook to see if they have a "dramatic wall" but other than that how do u go about gaining info? TIA!

I do several things. First, there is a sheet that they fill out with name of both parents (or in cases or a blended family, all parents of children who will be in my care) and birthdates. The sheet also asks where they work, what their schedule is, home addresses for all parents.

Go to your state's court database and look up their name. Find out what they've been to court for. My last family had only been to court for divorces, that was it. A family that filled out paperwork prior to that had been sued in small claims court for non payment by a local daycare provider. The end result was that the provider got a judgement against them and had to file to garnish it from their PFDs. They did not even get an interview here. No pay=no way.

If you get through that step of the process and they look clean, they probably are. However if they are new to the state, you may want to have them bring you an "interested person's report". I require one for every adult that will be picking up from my house. The person goes to the State Trooper's office and gets fingerprinted, presents ID, and the trooper runs their background right then. It'll tell you if they've ever been arrested for anything and if so what for. I know it sounds like a lot but they at least know that I've also required the same of other adults who will have access to my home to pick up kids. I also provide a current interested person's report for every adult living in my home.

You can also look up the person's facebook, myspace, and twitter, and learn a lot about them.

It also never hurts to ask who their previous provider was and why they are no longer with them. There's no way to make them tell you the truth, but you can tell a lot about them from their answer.

I am just super leery about who I let in my home. It may sound like an invasion of privacy, but I don't ask anyone for any info I'm not willing to provide about myself. My life is an open book and I have nothing to hide.

[Unregistered]

Second thing I ask (as a parent) are rates - first is if they have room for a child my DD's age. I figure if they charge way more than I can afford it's not worth my time or theirs to go through an interview or anything else. It may be the best daycare ever, but that isn't going to make my paycheck any higher so I can afford it. I'm also put off by really really low rates, makes me think it's not as professional or something...

[Meeko]

I do several things. First, there is a sheet that they fill out with name of both parents (or in cases or a blended family, all parents of children who will be in my care) and birthdates. The sheet also asks where they work, what their schedule is, home addresses for all parents.

Go to your state's court database and look up their name. Find out what they've been to court for. My last family had only been to court for divorces, that was it. A family that filled out paperwork prior to that had been sued in small claims court for non payment by a local daycare provider. The end result was that the provider got a judgement against them and had to file to garnish it from their PFDs. They did not even get an interview here. No pay=no way.

If you get through that step of the process and they look clean, they probably are. However if they are new to the state, you may want to have them bring you an "interested person's report". I require one for every adult that will be picking up from my house. The person goes to the State Trooper's office and gets fingerprinted, presents ID, and the trooper runs their background right then. It'll tell you if they've ever been arrested for anything and if so what for. I know it sounds like a lot but they at least know that I've also required the same of other adults who will have access to my home to pick up kids. I also provide a current interested person's report for every adult living in my home.

You can also look up the person's facebook, myspace, and twitter, and learn a lot about them.

It also never hurts to ask who their previous provider was and why they are no longer with them. There's no way to make them tell you the truth, but you can tell a lot about them from their answer.

I am just super leery about who I let in my home. It may sound like an invasion of privacy, but I don't ask anyone for any info I'm not willing to provide about myself. My life is an open book and I have nothing to hide.

Also run their names through the state and national sex offenders registry....no matter how nice they appear....

[SilverSabre25]

Second thing I ask (as a parent) are rates - first is if they have room for a child my DD's age. I figure if they charge way more than I can afford it's not worth my time or theirs to go through an interview or anything else. It may be the best daycare ever, but that isn't going to make my paycheck any higher so I can afford it. I'm also put off by really really low rates, makes me think it's not as professional or something...

I figure though that you at least preface those questions with an introduction, "Hi, my name is ______ and I'm looking for childcare for my daughter. I might be interested in yours, but was hoping you could at least answer a couple questions first. Do you have room for an _____ old? You do? Great! Second, would you be willing to tell me how much you charge for (full-time, part-time, 45 hours a week)?"

I get a lot of calls and emails that are just, "Hi, how much do you charge?" and it's very off-putting. Those are probably the types that many of the other ladies on here are saying are red flags.

[nannyde]

I get a lot of calls and emails that are just, "Hi, how much do you charge?" and it's very off-putting. Those are probably the types that many of the other ladies on here are saying are red flags.

It doesn't bother me when people say that. I just answer it with a quesiton.

When they say "what do you charge?" I say " it depends on what hours you need: what hours do you need and what age child do you have?". Then I ask them where they live and work.

I don't want to waste my time talking to someone who can't afford child care. I don't want to talk to someone who lives a half hour away and works a half hour away the other direction.

[SilverSabre25]

It doesn't bother me when people say that. I just answer it with a quesiton.

When they say "what do you charge?" I say " it depends on what hours you need: what hours do you need and what age child do you have?". Then I ask them where they live and work.

I don't want to waste my time talking to someone who can't afford child care. I don't want to talk to someone who lives a half hour away and works a half hour away the other direction.

The ones I get that don't even open with a brief introduction tend to be very short, very rude, and very likely to no-show if we set up an interview. That's my problem with it. Just my experience, and possibly my area. There have been a few that open with that and just repeat the question when I try to get more information.