For Those That do PT

[SimpleMom]

Does the issue of days pose a problem to fill in a full slot? I mean is it hard to find someone to fill in say mwf,, and then finding a person to use t/th? Do you have a schedule of days avail and is it contingent on the openings for pt?

I have had a couple people ask for less than 5 days. I don't mind if I can fill in the whole 5 days between two or three kids. I'm not doing 1/2 days cause it too hard to fill in a half a day. I never had set pt schedules per day--just hours and it did NOT work that way. I barely made it off that income and I mean barely

Not trying to be money-hungry. I just want to make what I need to run my childcare how I like to run it with the quality I want and to pay my bills. Yes, I wouldn't mind a little extra to have some fun here and there and to help my own kiddos get the things that they need/want. (not ness. in that order

So, any ideas on how to make this work for pt? I get a LOT of calls for just two and three days per week. Sometimes, even varied days--that's certainly tough unless they pay for the full spot. I just can't fill the rest of the spot that way.

Oh yeah, do any that take pt only take a few pt or is it ft/pt where ever it fits?

Thank you so much! I have this really, really nice family that only needs m,t, and Th. I have another really nice family that needs m-th. My other nice family only really needs 2-3 days per week. All are paying for 5 days, though cause I can't afford a spot less than 115/wk.

What would you charge for pt? Currently, my "pt" rate is 115/wk and over 40 hours it is 2.88/hr. I don't want to use the hourly thing though. Thought maybe I would write up a fee list with days/week fees on it instead. Do you let them know it's a different rate per different amount of hours?

I'm so nervous to do pt again, but I'm afraid I'll lose three clients if I don't offer something. They are all great, so I don't mind at all working with them. A lot of people out here will charge by the hour--like $2.50 per hour no matter what. I can't/won't do that.

[wdmmom]

The 2nd client I ever took on only needed care Monday, Tuesday, Friday. It went on that way for 6 month. After that she needed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. That lasted for about a year and the last 6 months she was with me, it turned Monday - Friday.

I have a few part timers now...one that comes 4 hours in the morning and 1 that comes in 6 hours in the afternoon. The only way I'll ever take part time again is if it's 2-3 days per week. No more half days.

[JaydensMommy]

I have a part timer that come from 2-6pm, mon-fri. I was able to fill the morning slot 6-2pm with another child so that worked out great. I also have a new one start that is 3 days a week. I let the mom know that I would try to fill the other two days, if I'm not able to and have someone interested in a full time spot then she would be given the choice to pay for full time. If she chooses not to she will lose her spot.

[bice99]

I only have PT kids right now. In fact, I get to be closed on Wednesdays I have 3 and 4 day per week rates. You want 1 or 2 days? You pay for 3. And yes, both of these rates break down to higher than my FT rate. Basically my 3 day rate is 3/5 of my weekly rate + $15. I tell the parents they pay a higher rate b/c it's harder to have PT kids (harder adjustments) and b/c I cannot always fill the opposite days. I have had FT kids in the past but just don't have any right now, so that's why I get my Wednesdays off. If parents want PT, I tell them that I feel like a better provider and mommy when I have a day off each week. Wednesdays work for everyone so far. And my girls get out of school early on Wednesdays so we get more time together. Their pediatrician is PT and works Wednesdays so parents know I will take my girls in on those days rather than other days.

[jojosmommy]

I charge more (per day) for PT families b/c you can not fill the spot with someone else. I charge $120 to a family who wants 4 days a week on a rotation b/c there is now way I can get someone else to fill that one day they are off when it changes all the time. I charge my 5 day per week family $130. I am willing to lose the $10 per day on the 4 day per week family b/c it is nice to have 1 day with less kids however I can't cut them such a great deal that I cant pay my own bills.

[Blackcat31]

I have a part timer that come from 2-6pm, mon-fri. I was able to fill the morning slot 6-2pm with another child so that worked out great. I also have a new one start that is 3 days a week. I let the mom know that I would try to fill the other two days, if I'm not able to and have someone interested in a full time spot then she would be given the choice to pay for full time. If she chooses not to she will lose her spot.

I don't know if this would ever be an issue to you but I had a similar situation to yours (one kid a.m. 6-2 and p.m. kid from 2-6) and one day my a.m. mom got a flat tire and was 30 minutes late for pick up. Meanwhile, my p.m. mom shows up at 2 like she was suppose to and dropped her child off. Well, wouldn't ya know, my licensor made a drop in vist and who got a correction order for being over capacity? ME!! It didn't matter what the excuse or situation was, we are NEVER EVER suppose to have more children than we are allowed. So now I only do full days. It was over 10 years ago but it impacted me so I had to do away with spots being shared during one day. Lesson learned the hard way.

[MommyMuffin]

I would recommend not taking a half day dc kid only because then I cant take the kids anywhere because we have to be home by 12 for arrival of the dck. Not even walks. Also, it isnt fun to have a dcp come during the day, the kids get antsy then.

I have a dcb that comes every other week. One good things about PT is somedays are harder than others but then when they arent there it is an easier day!

I would like to have all FT kids right now but cant fill the spots. So I have to compensate with PT.

[Crazy8]

I take part timers with no problems. I find most people in my area DON'T need full time. Its usually a cost thing, they have grandma do one day, or they work one weekend day when dad is home, etc.

Now I am not all about the money and I have posted this before... I can make more money off part time than full timers. I don't do short days, just less days per week and I have a set rate for 3, 4 or 5 days a week. I don't get into hours at all.

Its easy to see on a "chart" what days I have open for part timers - harder to type it out here, but lets say I have 3 part time kids all at 3 days per week each but the way their days work it basically fills up 2 full time spots (and can even end up with only 1 kid one day). I make $55/week more than I would with 2 full timers and I have one day with only 1 kid and I like that I'm dealing with 3 families so if one leaves it doesn't impact my income as much as if a full timer leaves.

For my above example, make a little table and put the 5 days a week across the top. Child A comes M, W, F. Child B comes M, T, Th. Child C comes T, Th, F. As long as you don't have a day all 3 come it works the way I described above.

I rarely have all 5 of my allotted spots filled every day so I take part timers if the "day" has the opening. I don't do flex days though, you can add or change a day on an as needed basis only if I have the space.

Does that make any sense?? You really have to chart it out to get it. ::

[SimpleMom]

That does make sense. Thanks for all of the replies. I will make sure to not take 1/2 days. I don't like to do that at all. I may take pt again, but I really have to figure it all out.

**and if you read all of my post () thanks