Providing Daycare For Neighbors

[SandeeAR]

No neighbors
No friends
NO family
No family, neighbors, or friends of dcp's

"six degrees of separation" is best

Funny, everyone seems to have a problem with this grouping. Me Nope.

1st family: Our church youth pastor
2nd family: A girl my daughter went to school with
3rd family: Co-worker of my DD
4th family: Friend of co-worker above
5th family: Friend of family 3 and 4


No problems. They have all been great families!

[CheekyChick]

Funny, everyone seems to have a problem with this grouping. Me Nope.

1st family: Our church youth pastor
2nd family: A girl my daughter went to school with
3rd family: Co-worker of my DD
4th family: Friend of co-worker above
5th family: Friend of family 3 and 4


No problems. They have all been great families!

Me too!!!

I have cousins, co-workers, friends, and a fantastic neighbor. They are all wonderful families and there hasn't been a single problem. As a matter of fact, I think it gives my DC a "warmer" feel because so many of the parents/children know one another.

[nannyde]

Out of curiosity, why do many providers (here) shy away from enrolling a friend/family member of a child they currently care for? I am full with 16 and
have a rather long wait list. I doubt I would stay full if it weren't for referrals.

Full with a rather long wait list: Time to raise some rates

It's about the percentage each family has of the total income. The more children you have the less one family affects the bottom line. You have a lot of wiggle room when you have 16 and a long wait list. You don't have that when you have four/six/eight kids.

[momma2girls]

Would you provide daycare for a close neighbor?

My policy is if I can see your house from my sidewalk, the answer is no.

It would irritate me to walk out to get the mail and see your car in the driveway. If the kids see that Mommy/Daddy is home, they want to be there, too.

I have a friend that babysat for their neighbor, and she was out tanning the entire day. That was the end of it for her!

[CheekyChick]

Full with a rather long wait list: Time to raise some rates

It's about the percentage each family has of the total income. The more children you have the less one family affects the bottom line. You have a lot of wiggle room when you have 16 and a long wait list. You don't have that when you have four/six/eight kids.

If I went much higher, I wouldn't stay full. I actually don't have a lot of "wiggle room" because my overhead is so high. I NEED to stay full to keep things running. That is why I gladly welcome referrals.

[nannyde]

I charge X for infants and X for 2+ (full time). That is pretty much the top range for in-home care in my area. If I went much higher, I wouldn't stay full. I actually don't have a lot of "wiggle room" because my overhead is so high. I NEED to stay full to keep things running. That is why I gladly welcome referrals.

Just five dollars a week per child would net your business 4160 a year. That's a lot of money.

[CheekyChick]

Just five dollars a week per child would net your business 4160 a year. That's a lot of money.

I love the idea of an additonal $4,160.00 per year. Cruise? Shoes? Botox? :: I'd probably just put it right back into my business. I'm too practical.

[bice99]

I loved watching my neighbor's son. I was always paid on time. Daddy always picked up as soon as he got home (Mom was sleeping b/c of night shift) and he got picked up instantly if he got sick. And yes, we're friends with our neighbors. But this year they wanted me at 6 AM and I won't do that, so off to a center they go

[Country Kids]

Full with a rather long wait list: Time to raise some rates

It's about the percentage each family has of the total income. The more children you have the less one family affects the bottom line. You have a lot of wiggle room when you have 16 and a long wait list. You don't have that when you have four/six/eight kids.

I'm totally confused on this one? Easily done-remember birthday is coming up which means brain is getting older, not computing as well anymore:: If you are full, have a great relationship with your families why raise your rates and possibly lose a great thing.

CheekyChick and I were actually talking and for my area I charge several hundred dollars less than her and I'm on the high end of my area. Remember I charge hourly so in the end my fulltimers sometimes hours will make their rates about 50-100 dollars more than the flatrates around this area.

[CheekyChick]

I'm totally confused on this one? Easily done-remember birthday is coming up which means brain is getting older, not computing as well anymore:: If you are full, have a great relationship with your families why raise your rates and possibly lose a great thing.

CheekyChick and I were actually talking and for my area I charge several hundred dollars less than her and I'm on the high end of my area. Remember I charge hourly so in the end my fulltimers sometimes hours will make their rates about 50-100 dollars more than the flatrates around this area.

That's my dilemma... Although I LOVE the idea of making more money, I feel my rates are exactly where they should be and I don't want to ruin a good thing. Just $20.00 more per month could make a potential new family choose another provider. Plus, I would feel horrible raising my rates on my long-term families.

I still think it's a shame you live in an area that rates are so much lower. You work so hard and deserve to make exactly the same. That really stinks.

[Kaddidle Care]

The first child I ever watched besides my own was a next door neighbor's SA. She didn't quite work out so I termed her.

I watched another neighbor's child for a good 2 years and it was a blast. She was the daughter I never had. Her Mom became a SAHM after the 2nd child was born. We are still friends and our kids still play together.

[cheerfuldom]

Neighbors and such can work but the reality is that it doesn't for a lot of providers. I have watched one close neighbors but we didnt know each other before working together. I still have this little girl almost 2 years later but besides that, I don't do family, friends, anyone from my church or anyone close with any of the above. The problem I have is that most of these people want discounts and exceptions because they already know me. I did drop in care for a year for one neighbor and the FIRST time I couldn't take her son, she got all huffy and never asked again and never talked to me after that. So I guess the full year of saying yes meant absolutely nothing after just that one no.

[Unregistered]

This post interests me. My current clients include:

1: Brother and Sister in Laws kids
2: Neighbor 2 houses down- across street (can see house from here)
3. Unknown (before providing care) childcare assistance family.

Who do you think gives me the most trouble?

Actually Family 3 is leaving very soon and I couldn't be happier. Family 1 and 2 are now friends from having similar pick up times and they like knowing each other. I like the comfortable feeling of knowing these people outside of business. And I have NO problem with either sleeping, mowing, doing whatever they want while their kids are in daycare. I clean my house and do my own personal things during daycare so what is the difference? I'm not going to change their parenting style and their choices about what is important so why bother. I get paid- who cares what they do?

[Ariana]

I take care of my neighbours kids and although it's working out fairly well she's a big PITA!! It's funny how you *think* you know a family but you really have no idea until you start dealing with them and their kids. I would have told you that she was a wonderful mother before I started taking care of her kids and now I think she's pathetic!! It definately has put a damper on us ever being friends!!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Out of curiosity, why do many providers (here) shy away from enrolling a friend/family member of a child they currently care for? I am full with 16 and
have a rather long wait list. I doubt I would stay full if it weren't for referrals.

I don't have a problem with neighbors, 4 of my clients live within 2 blocks, but none within sight of the center. I can see how immediate neighbors and the child being able to SEE mom or dad is home might be an issue. Friends-nope-want a discount. Had a friend who outright said "don't I get a discount? C'mon its ME" Family-nope-dont want to pay period or feel like they can break any and all rules. Luckily, I have no family with pre-k kids locally. And my friends.... wait....what's a friend again? Oh yeah, they were those people who all went "poof" when I opened my business. Jealous, catty women. Blech. Who needs 'em? Tell you what I do need, A PEN PAL! Any takers?