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

[daycare]

So this year my business has been slow. I have lost several kids due to parents losing jobs, one going to school and one that I could no longer meet the needs of. Currently, I am down to two part time kids that together make up a full time spot, and two full timers. Which one of them will leave in the fall for kinder.

So my only full time kid that is staying after the fall, the DCP comes to me to tell me that they are having a really hard time with thier work schedules and will need to do one of two things:1. find a daycare closer to their jobs or 2. ask me to extend my hours an hour later than I am open now..(7:00pm) They would also start bringing their other child here as well, so I would have two full time kids. In panic mode thinking about the income loss, I agree to do it. I think to myself, well if it does not work out I can always let them know and term......

So now I am sitting here thinking wow did I just do that for one family? I know I shouldn't have but I did. My next thing is how much do I charge this family? BOth kids would be here for 10.5 hour days. My current contract says no more than 9.5 hour days. I would also need to feed these kids dinner, as we eat at 6:30 every night. This would mean that these kids would be here for 5 meals a day....

Right now my hours of operation are all messed up, but will go back to normal in the fall...I will be open from 7:45 to 6:00 pm daily.... All but for this family.

What would you charge and please don't tell me I'm nuts, I alreay know I am....

But thanks in advance for your help!!!

[cheerfuldom]

so its 10 extra hours total and 5 meals (for both kids)?

[daycare]

so its 10 extra hours total and 5 meals (for both kids)?

Yes. That's correct.
Omg my husband is Gonna kill me.... Lol

[safechner]

Daycare, What were you thinking? You shouldn't feed your daycare kids for dinner. The parents need to feed their kids for dinner. I wouldn't feed my daycare kids for dinner at all.

I would charge extra for 10.5 hours if you really need income to support your family.

[daycare]

safechner, I don't think I was thinking...
Seeing that the kids would be here until 7pm nightly and my family eats dinner at 6:30, I would not eat infront of these kids and without giving them food. Plus, they would be starving. My PM snack is at 3:30.

I just need to sit down and figure out the extra cost......

[PeanutsGalore]

safechner, I don't think I was thinking...
Seeing that the kids would be here until 7pm nightly and my family eats dinner at 6:30, I would not eat infront of these kids and without giving them food. Plus, they would be starving. My PM snack is at 3:30.

I just need to sit down and figure out the extra cost......

I certainly understand needing the money. I just finished watering our new lawn, and because all of the outside work we did came in way over budget (but will fortunately benefit the daycare as much as it will us), I was thinking about how to pay the bill before the interest catches up with us. I'm going to have to stop being so picky about clients and maybe start going after the part time business that's so prevalent out there. My first horrible client helped me grow a much thicker skin, so I know I can always replace them if they don't work out!

But as for you, if the kids will be there an extra 10 or so hours per week per child, why don't you just figure out what your daily rate is and up the overall rate by one day per week per child? And on top of that, I would add another $80 - $100 for meals charges per month. Dinner is an important meal; the parents shouldn't be missing that one. Would that work?

[PitterPatter]

safechner, I don't think I was thinking...
Seeing that the kids would be here until 7pm nightly and my family eats dinner at 6:30, I would not eat infront of these kids and without giving them food. Plus, they would be starving. My PM snack is at 3:30.

I just need to sit down and figure out the extra cost......

I had that same problem with the dinner. 1 kid I fed EVERY meal because I had to, he was here. He didn't arrive until 8:00 but he was pulled from sleep thrown in the car then I was told by DCM he needs fed breakfast and of course the snacks and lunch and dinner because he was here until 6:30- 7:00 pm and our dinner time is 5:00.

I think the food program should make adjustments to help more if the children are in care for 10 hrs or more. What are we supposed to do, not feed them? I even asked the food prog and she said something like "Sadly we cannot allow any more meals but u cant let a child go hungry or eat in front of him so u will have to feed him dinner as well or terminate the contract." So I fed him every meal and DCM was happy and proud to say she saves on groceries because she only had to feed him on weekends!

[daycare]

So I charge $5.00 an hour which becomes Thierry daily rate x5.
so that would be an xtra $50.00 a week per child???
Plus an additional $100 monthly for food for both?
That would be an additional $250 per child right?
I'm so bad at math!!

[daycare]

Lord gotta love it!! Yeah I'm aware the food program won't help past 2 meals and 1 snack.
I have to figure out the cost to see if it's even worth it..
If the cost is too high I'm sure they will go else where for care

[PitterPatter]

Lord gotta love it!! Yeah I'm aware the food program won't help past 2 meals and 1 snack.
I have to figure out the cost to see if it's even worth it..
If the cost is too high I'm sure they will go else where for care

Well I too was in need of money so I accepted it and just dealt with it. I didn't mind too much as far as the money. I wasn't allowed to charge anything extra. I am paid $20 for the day and the food prog was $5 per day. It was the loss of our only family meal together. After I took him on there were no more private family meals except for weekends. We had to deal with the food throwing, food spitting, spilling etc just like lunch time. It wasn't everyday but it did happen. I would just run over everything again and be sure it's what u want to do. I actually termed that child last month and now have our family meals back!! What a difference a couple hours made! If nothing else u can take them on for a trial basis and see how it works for u. Good luck!

[daycare]

Well I too was in need of money so I accepted it and just dealt with it. I didn't mind too much as far as the money. I wasn't allowed to charge anything extra. I am paid $20 for the day and the food prog was $5 per day. It was the loss of our only family meal together. After I took him on there were no more private family meals except for weekends. We had to deal with the food throwing, food spitting, spilling etc just like lunch time. It wasn't everyday but it did happen. I would just run over everything again and be sure it's what u want to do. I actually termed that child last month and now have our family meals back!! What a difference a couple hours made! If nothing else u can take them on for a trial basis and see how it works for u. Good luck!

So we can't charge for the fact that we will have to serve 5 meals but only get compensated for 3 of those 5? Ugh

Yeah I think I should have asked my husband first, but he does not get off work until 10pm 2-3 days a week so I didn't think to ask him.

I know I won't do it with out increasing the price.

[PitterPatter]

So we can't charge for the fact that we will have to serve 5 meals but only get compensated for 3 of those 5? Ugh

Yeah I think I should have asked my husband first, but he does not get off work until 10pm 2-3 days a week so I didn't think to ask him.

I know I won't do it with out increasing the price.

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!

[PeanutsGalore]

So I charge $5.00 an hour which becomes Thierry daily rate x5.
so that would be an xtra $50.00 a week per child???
Plus an additional $100 monthly for food for both?
That would be an additional $250 per child right?
I'm so bad at math!!

If I follow, you charge $5/hour? That's $52.50 for 10.5 additional hours per week. Multiply by 2 for 2 kids, and that's $105/week for extra hours, and make it easy and say $25/week for meals for both kids. That's $130 additional per week. That should be enough to cover your additional costs and the cost of cutting into family time. Plus the stress of working extra long days.

Hopefully, you'll find more clients that can work within your open hours. I'm routing for ya daycare!

eta: and if the cost is too high, you can use that $130/week figure and discount it however you want. I think it's more than fair though, since they're asking for what amounts to two extra days of work per week (one day per kid), and 10 additional meals per week.

[daycare]

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!

I don't do any state pay, only private. I chose not take it years ago and am super happy I did because California is always behind on their payments.... Ugh

I'll call and ask about the food program tomorrow. Thanks for all of your help.

[daycare]

If I follow, you charge $5/hour? That's $52.50 for 10.5 additional hours per week. Multiply by 2 for 2 kids, and that's $105/week for extra hours, and make it easy and say $25/week for meals for both kids. That's $130 additional per week. That should be enough to cover your additional costs and the cost of cutting into family time. Plus the stress of working extra long days.

Hopefully, you'll find more clients that can work within your open hours. I'm routing for ya daycare!

eta: and if the cost is too high, you can use that $130/week figure and discount it however you want. I think it's more than fair though, since they're asking for what amounts to two extra days of work per week (one day per kid), and 10 additional meals per week.

So you think $130 extra a week is fair per child??