Home Daycare Providers: Would You "Work With" A Center?

[Sugar Magnolia]

The family that is starting in August is 4 elementary school aged kiddos that go to the same school as my elementary school kids. I know the family, and they're good parents. They won't be here before school, because their mom goes in later after they're in school, and dad gets off earlier, so they'll only be here 1.5 hours a day unless there's an inservice day.

I wish I could send you some air and you could send me some sun. It rained all day and my hens' feet are wet! They're madder than...well....a bunch of old wet hens!

Oh no! Mad wet hens! Lol! We are on the Gulf of Mexico, and it rains nearly every single day, around 4pm, and its over in 20 mins. Then its a steam bath! Ugh! Double up, ugh ugh.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Thank you Victoria! That is a good idea, I like it! Yeah I am so willing to pay for refferals, $ well spent, more productive than advertising sometimes! Thanks for the feedback!

[CheekyChick]

I run a certified (in home) center. We have an infant and preschool room. We teach a preschool program which rivals anything in our city. I would be very offended (or sad) if my DP's asked for my input/suggestion for a preschool.

With that said, there are many HDC's that don't offer a preschool program and I'm sure they would love to earn $100.00 per referral. If I didn't teach preschool and someone offered me a finder's fee, I'd jump on it.

[laundrymom]

Lo old wet hens! Lol. Ok. It's 1130 at night, I'm catching up on DVR'ed josh gates ( destination truth) and waiting on towels in the washer and sneaking my fav treat, maple sugar oatmeal,.... Relaxing by myself,.... And now! I have oatmeal all over the couch!!!!! I laughed and coughed, choked and made a mess!!!!!! Lol, someone needs to volunteer to help clean! Lo

[Sugar Magnolia]

LOL Laundrymom!!! Head over to "weirdos and red flags" thread for some more oatmeal-spewing wit! (Handing you paper towels)

[daycare]

I have not read every response however, I would be interested in something like this. I also teach a preschool/kinder ready program!
But I have had several kids in the past that I feel would have been way better off in a center or a place with more supervision/Helpers.
Somd children that didnt do well here i had to term. I have always wanted a place to send these type of kids to. I believe that there is a place for everyone and it's not always my house.

[Sugar Magnolia]

With that said, there are many HDC's that don't offer a preschool program and I'm sure they would love to earn $100.00 per referral. If I didn't teach preschool and someone offered me a finder's fee, I'd jump on it.

Yes, Cheeky this! That's who I'd like to reach....but how?

I like all the suggestions folks, and appreciate the honesty.

[Cat Herder]

I only have newborn to 4 years. I send all of my clients to a local center here when they turn 4. Only one out of the last 14 went somewhere else. None have pulled out from there before going to kindergarten.

I checked her out myself after meeting her in a local training class. Her personality and ideas from class won me over. It cracks me up that we have the same last name. Half the town thinks we are related, I just leave it that way...::::

She has an amazing free (govt sponsored) pre-school/pre-k program until noon. She also is set up better for that age than I ever could be with the funds from that grant. I LIKE for my kids to go to her because I know they will love it. The commercial playground, the performance stage, the cafeteria, the gym.... In my dreams!!!

We start with transitioning a couple days a week and gradually add another day each week until they don't come back (3-4 weeks total).

The only "perk" I get is that she guarantees my clients my rate for 12 months after they leave and she grants me access to the "parents" area of her website so I can see their happy photos.

Now, all the calls I have LOOKING for care that I have not accepted I refer to the other family/group homes if they are under 3. Over 3 gets referred to the above center. It is just my personal preference, everyone has one.

[Pammie]

Personally, I think that if you approach home daycare providers that only care for infants/toddlers, they would be very happy to work with you. I know several providers around here that only do infant care - and they are always happy to hand out referrals to their clients that age-out of their program.

Perhaps if you started by contacting your local licensing for a list of "infant only" caregivers, you could just put some feelers out to them. I know that I would be happy to receive a referral bonus by simply giving out info.

I gave up the battle long ago of trying to convince parents of 3s and 4s that it was beneficial to stay in a home daycare rather than move their child to a traditional prek. Many parents are worried that their child will be behind their peers if they don't have a year or two of preK before starting kindergarten. I have had clients that ask for my opinion about area preschools when their children reach 3-4yo - and I'm happy to tell them what I know about each of the programs that they ask about.

Bottom line I guess is that you may meet with some resistance from SOME home providers about giving referrals out for you - but there are probably some that would gladly accept the referral bonus to move a child out of their care to make room for an infant. It's certainly worth a try! All they can say is "no".

JMO - Good Luck!!!!!!!!!

[Sugar Magnolia]

I only have newborn to 4 years. I send all of my clients to a local center here when they turn 4. Only one out of the last 14 went somewhere else. None have pulled out from there before going to kindergarten.

I checked her out myself after meeting her in a local training class. Her personality and ideas from class won me over. It cracks me up that we have the same last name. Half the town thinks we are related, I just leave it that way...::::

She has an amazing free (govt sponsored) pre-school/pre-k program until noon. She also is set up better for that age than I ever could be with the funds from that grant. I LIKE for my kids to go to her because I know they will love it. The commercial playground, the performance stage, the cafeteria, the gym.... In my dreams!!!

We start with transitioning a couple days a week and gradually add another day each week until they don't come back (3-4 weeks total).

The only "perk" I get is that she guarantees my clients my rate for 12 months after they leave and she grants me access to the "parents" area of her website so I can see their happy photos.

Now, all the calls I have LOOKING for care that I have not accepted I refer to the other family/group homes if they are under 3. Over 3 gets referred to the above center. It is just my personal preference, everyone has one.

Oh Cat, that's a good idea! Yes, invite them to come see for themselves, like an "open house". Thanks Cat!!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Thanks Pammie!! I appreciate your support and feedback!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Update

Wow, scratch THAT idea! I called a lady in the neighborhood, she was listed as doing "infants only". Omg, she was sooooo rude! Before I even completed my inroduction she says "get to the point, what do you want?" I mentioned I was "giving out referal bonuses to anyone who...." "Keep your money and mind your own d##n business." Click. I am not mad, just hurt. Why so much negativity in the world?!? I get calls from sales reps, etc, all the time and I always let them speak and am always polite when I say no, even if I'm busy. Hurt.

[Christian Mother]

I think I might be interested in doing something like that. I have been in daycare for 17 yrs now but have only been a Inhome daycare provider for 2 1/2. I started out w/just infant and now they are all 2 1/2. I will get another infant who is a sibling in Dec. One of my dcp's would like to place there child in a preschool next yr. I am not worried or feel bad about it as he's a very gifted child and could benefit from a preschool setting. My house isn't set up for a preschool setting although I'd like to say I give them a head start when entering into a preschool setting as they will have already learned there numbers to 10, all there primary colors, ABC's, and a lot of nursery rhymes and songs. They will have learned there please and thank you's and how to be nice by sharing and cleaning up there toys. That is what we focus mainly on here. There are quite a few daycare centers and Montessori schools to choose from so if one approached me would like to be recommending I would def. consider if I was able to view, get inform. directly, and a finders fee would be welcomed of course. I am sure though that these parents though will have a pretty good ideal already as to where they would like there "Little's" to go.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Thanks Christian! It sounds like such a good idea, on paper! When it came down to making some calls, I was so disappointed with the response I got Maybe it was just bad luck that I picked that particular "infants only" lovely lady.
Sure, I understand home providers that do newborns, infants, toddlers, AND 3-5 years (Nanny and Cat for example) that have no use for center referals. But gosh, this lady was so rude, like "how DARE you" attitude. Yikes, so discouraged now

[familyschoolcare]

to sugar,

Would you be willing to work with a family day care provider that specialized in school aged children?