Dcks Dropping Like Flies.....What Did I Just Do?

[PeanutsGalore]

You minght be able to. Here we are not allowed to charge anything extra. Just recentky we are allowed to charge for late pick ups! That wasn't permitted last year! Everything varies from state to state so I would just ask and be sure and if u can then go for it if it works for u. I know none of my clients would pay extra. I fight to get the darn co-pay half the time! I know if it was MY kid I would gladly pay for quality care! Daycare is NOT the place to save money! I hope it works out for u!

You can't charge for anything extra? Why? Isn't it your business, or does this have something to do with state clients?

And I have to totally agree with the bolded sentence. One of my major issues with this field of work is that people devalue the service so much. Who in their right mind thinks it's ok to pay someone $1-$2/hour to take care of their child all day? It's not the place to pinch pennies. It's the place to put all of your additional money. If all you can afford is $1/hour, that's one thing, but you should be ashamed of yourself if you think that's all it's worth.

/soapbox. And sorry for derailing.

[PitterPatter]

You can't charge for anything extra? Why? Isn't it your business, or does this have something to do with state clients?

And I have to totally agree with the bolded sentence. One of my major issues with this field of work is that people devalue the service so much. Who in their right mind thinks it's ok to pay someone $1-$2/hour to take care of their child all day? It's not the place to pinch pennies. It's the place to put all of your additional money. If all you can afford is $1/hour, that's one thing, but you should be ashamed of yourself if you think that's all it's worth.

/soapbox. And sorry for derailing.

Yes that's it exactly. U can't charge them for any extras. We didn't even have the late pick up fees until recently. We have an option to take them and so if we agree we abide by their policies. They are "here to help people" but they tend to forget the providers need help too at times. We don't get paid for days off, sick days, or any vacation. If they aren't in care we don't get paid. AND if they are here under 4 hrs we only get 1/2 days pay. Like 3 hrs and 59 mins they would take it down to $10 for the day. It's rare that happens to me tho. I usually have the opposite, long hours. I usually only get state paid in here because they set the income guidline so high almost anyone can get assistance. I had a parent in here that made $1,800 every month ans she still only paid $2.00 per day for her co-pay!

[countrymom]

I charge 55 for 2 kids up to 9 hours, and then 7 dollars for every hour after that. So for your 10.5 hours that would be 65.50 every day for both children. What do the parents do that they need to work wierd hours. Do both parents work those hours. I always ask because most parents don't work at the same place or same job does one finish earlier than the other. I had kids who were here for dinner everyday for 5 days a week, I hated it, my dh liked to eat dinner with his kids not someone elses kids. Call around and see what others would charge too.

[daycare]

I charge 55 for 2 kids up to 9 hours, and then 7 dollars for every hour after that. So for your 10.5 hours that would be 65.50 every day for both children. What do the parents do that they need to work wierd hours. Do both parents work those hours. I always ask because most parents don't work at the same place or same job does one finish earlier than the other. I had kids who were here for dinner everyday for 5 days a week, I hated it, my dh liked to eat dinner with his kids not someone elses kids. Call around and see what others would charge too.

So my current rate is $50 potty trained $55 not PT.
I was thinking that an additional $75 a week more would be fair ?

What do you think?

[Crazy8]

I honestly think I'd close down my daycare before I went to keeping kids till 7pm. I feel bad for those kids, they will practically live at your house, just going home to sleep.

Are any daycare centers in your area even open till 7pm? I think the latest I've seen around here is 6:30. If there aren't any till 7pm and you are willing to do this I think you should charge a good $5-7/hr. for the "extra" time and then tack on more for dinner.
Now, if you really need this family and the centers in your area go till 7pm then you may lose them if your rate is too high so you may have to take the "loss" if you want to keep them. Personally for me no amount of money is worth cutting into my family time to that extent.

[Auntie]

Daycare: I would have felt pressure to say yes then as well. Now make them a new contract, tell them to think it over and to get back to you regarding all this new information you will be giving them.

NEXT TIME as a bit of advice anytime a parent throws in your direction a change in hours to meet their needs and goes against your contracted hours always say, "I WILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS and WILL GET BACK TO YOU." This will help you to not give those quick YES answers that leave you second quessing yourself. And will allow time for you to maybe say yes with some conditions to allow yourself an out. ALWAYS leave yourself an OUT when you are really going against your contracted hours and needing the money. You never know the second you agree to go out of your contracted hours is the time when things could start to turn around and you get families in that go with what WORKS for you and your family.

[daycare]

I honestly think I'd close down my daycare before I went to keeping kids till 7pm. I feel bad for those kids, they will practically live at your house, just going home to sleep.

Are any daycare centers in your area even open till 7pm? I think the latest I've seen around here is 6:30. If there aren't any till 7pm and you are willing to do this I think you should charge a good $5-7/hr. for the "extra" time and then tack on more for dinner.
Now, if you really need this family and the centers in your area go till 7pm then you may lose them if your rate is too high so you may have to take the "loss" if you want to keep them. Personally for me no amount of money is worth cutting into my family time to that extent.

I have not been able to sleep over this. I think I made the wrong decision saying yes. I dont really see too many positives. I'm just worried because business has been slow and I am having a hard time filling spots. My husband will be quitting his job next month to finish his last two years of medical school, so timing could not be worse.

All centers here close at 6:30, but the other option they would have is to use a DC that is closer to their work.

I'm so lost over this.. My family does need the money, but I don't want my family to suffer over it...

[daycare]

Daycare: I would have felt pressure to say yes then as well. Now make them a new contract, tell them to think it over and to get back to you regarding all this new information you will be giving them.

NEXT TIME as a bit of advice anytime a parent throws in your direction a change in hours to meet their needs and goes against your contracted hours always say, "I WILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS and WILL GET BACK TO YOU." This will help you to not give those quick YES answers that leave you second quessing yourself. And will allow time for you to maybe say yes with some conditions to allow yourself an out. ALWAYS leave yourself an OUT when you are really going against your contracted hours and needing the money. You never know the second you agree to go out of your contracted hours is the time when things could start to turn around and you get families in that go with what WORKS for you and your family.

Lol I told myself I would say that but then didn't!!

I think I still have an out, as my husband did not really agree with me on extending my hours. I'm already doing it for a family now except at 6am. He sees the effect it has on me and our son. So after a sleepless night I think I am going to think about it for one more day before signing a new contract with them.

[wdmmom]

I would tell DCF to supply breakfast everyday so you can claim lunch and dinner. Give them a list of acceptable breakfast foods or have them feed the DCK's before they come each morning.

As for the rate, I would increase $100 a week. If they want you to itemize it for them, $10 an hour for the 1st child, $5 for the 2nd plus $5 for dinner each night. It's going to cost them an additional $20 per day for that extra hour.

If they ask you why so much, explain to them that you are still closing at 6pm and that by continuing to work for them, they aren't eligible for they daycare rate but a babysitters rate.

(It really surprises me that they have absolutely NO one that could come pick up the kids each day for an hour! I bet it they don't like that rate, someone will be showing up by 6pm every night!) ::

It's always easier to ask the provider than ask family...I just don't understand that!

[Country Kids]

Daycare,

I know it won't help right at this moment but remember that any extra meals you make and feed the child you can keep write off on your taxes. Keep track of all the extra meals and let you your tax person know ***xx snack, ***xx dinner. You would be surprised how it might help you at tax time.

[DBug]

What about them having a babysitter come and pick up the kids at your closing time, and take the kids back to their house to watch them til the parents get home? Is that an option at all?

[MarinaVanessa]

If you are on the food program I would suggest you presenting these options to the DCP:

a) You figure out how much you think they would eat (will one extra snack and dinner be enough to keep them from being hungry etc) and how much it would cost you. Then figure out how much you want to charge for the extra time that they will be there and combine the two and give the parents THAT price. Don't say that it's $X for extra hours plus $X for food equals $XX ... just say that it will be $XX to stay open later for them.

b) If they would like to provide the extra meals (be specific as to how many snacks and meals) you could offer to give them a discount of $X so they would need to pay $X etc. to stay open.

This is key especially if you are on the food program. We can't charge DCP's extra for meals, it has to be included in our price and so you need to present it like this. I had an issue like this once before and my food program rep told me to do it like this. If you're not on the food program ... well then none of what I just said matters ::::::

[daycare]

I would tell DCF to supply breakfast everyday so you can claim lunch and dinner. Give them a list of acceptable breakfast foods or have them feed the DCK's before they come each morning.

As for the rate, I would increase $100 a week. If they want you to itemize it for them, $10 an hour for the 1st child, $5 for the 2nd plus $5 for dinner each night. It's going to cost them an additional $20 per day for that extra hour.

If they ask you why so much, explain to them that you are still closing at 6pm and that by continuing to work for them, they aren't eligible for they daycare rate but a babysitters rate.

(It really surprises me that they have absolutely NO one that could come pick up the kids each day for an hour! I bet it they don't like that rate, someone will be showing up by 6pm every night!) ::

It's always easier to ask the provider than ask family...I just don't understand that!

Being that I am on the food program I cant have any outside food unless I ask that they not be apart of the program and bring all of thier food for all of their meals. HOwever, I prefer to not offer this to families, because then you get into the argumnets of why one kid has something another does not.

Yes, they have no family to help out...and i can relate because I don't either....my parents live 5000+ miles away and my in-laws wont help us and they only live 35 minutes away. My parents see my children more than my In-laws do its sad.

So their options are staying later with me or finding another provider near thier jobs.... Mom owns chain stores, just bought another one and is way over worked. Dad is also self employeed, but has an office about 30-45 min away depending on traffic. So the dad is the one who will have to pick up the kids and he cant leave his office until 6:00-6:15 at the latest.....

As for the fees, I think that it would be cheaper for them to just move DCs. I love this family and I know that they really love their children being here. I just don't think that I can work until the time they need me.

I thought about it all night and I feel like I am ripping off my own kids. If the DCKs stay until 7, then it will be 8-8:30 by the time I get done cleaning up from the dinner mess and all of the DC mess. Which means that I get very little face time with my own kids and won't be able to help them with their home work, attend their sports events and etc.
No one could pay me enough to miss out on all of that....

I think letting them go is going to be my only option......

[Country Kids]

Is this by any chance the same family that asked you to watch their children on the weekend of your sons birthday party?

[daycare]

Is this by any chance the same family that asked you to watch their children on the weekend of your sons birthday party?

country you are soooo good!! why yes it is..
You know we just came back from a field trip and I got to thinking on the drive home.
Its really sad how much this family works... I know its none of my business, and we have all debated about having kids in care for hours on end......
but this family is sooo disconnected from thier kids, I already know that I don't want to have to work for a family like this....

Normally if I sent an email to the family, I would get a same day response or at least the next day. I have sent 4 of them and it has been over a week and still no response to any of them. I asked the mom yesterday did you get my emails and she said yes, but I don't have time right now to reply to them....

This just went to show me that she does not have time for her childs matters and that she just wants me to deal with them. Even though some of the emails were just information. Like your kids must wear closed toe shoes for our field trip this week. Her child showed up in Flip Flops, which is a BIG NO NO NO!!.

I am still really thinking about this. I think that what I may do is just try it out and see what happens and how I like it. I guess the best part is that I can always term. Plus I have not even written anything up yet, so there is nothing in writing that says I will be changing my hours for them.

What do you think?? Would you even start it? Part of me is doing it to keep income, and the other part of me is just trying to be nice....