Paying Full Tuition When the Daycare Closes for a Snow Day...Is This Fair?

[Unregistered]

The fact is... each daycare has their own policies. Wether they are a center or in home does not matter. If they want to charge for snow days that's up to them. They do need to put it in their policies wether or not they will charge for any closed days be it vacation, holiday, sick time, snow days ect. The parents need to read the policies before they sign the contract. If it's not in the policies then you shouldn't be charged, however if it is in the policies then you are responsible for paying the fees. Personally it makes me sick to my stomach when parents are more worried about fees they're paying for childcare rather than the safety of their children. If a school is closed because the roads are bad then why shouldn't a daycare be closed??? Oh that's right...because school is free but you pay for daycare, so since you're paying for daycare they should be open even if the roads are dangerous, right? Give me a break!!! If you don't want to pay for snow days find a daycare that doesn't charge for them, plain and simple.

[Unregistered]

Just following the logic here left by those who feel they shouldn’t have to pay if their daycare is closed for inclement weather....did you go to college? If your college closed due to inclement weather would you expect/demand a refund in tuition? What about private elementary or high schools? Should they refund tuition for snow days? If so, public schools should refund tax payers for snow days? If they do this, they won’t be able to cover operating expenses. All parents of young children need to create a plan to find alternative care for their children in the case of illness or inclement weather. Once your child is school age, they will need care during school vacations, summer, and snow days - regardless of whether they attend private or public school. Child care programs that never close set a bad president for new parents who often have quite a shock factor once their child reaches school age.
Create a plan and spend time with your children whenever you can. Precious memories can be made on snow days with your child!

[BrynleeJean]

Its legal, if thats what you mean.
IDK about fair. check their policy handbook that you signed and you'll find out if its fair. but idk a single daycare in my town that refunds tuition for a weather day.
the idea is that they charge for the spot not the attendance.

[Unregistered]

First I want to say that I know it's tough for parents to find last minute childcare on days that their providers close and I completely feel your pain. BUT, I think you are being a little unreasonable about this and should realize that you aren't the only person these closures effect.

I live in the northeast too and these are not little snow squalls, but huge storms. This month has seen the most snowfall totals ever recorded for the month of January... historic amounts.... one requiring a state of emergency to be issued. Maybe your commute was clear, but it doesn't mean that the other parents & daycare workers had it that easy. I work in a large preschool and this January, we closed once (blizzard conditions) and have had 4 delayed openings. Out of all those delayed openings, the public schools closed completely. We employees did not receive pay for any time we didn't work (but our dc parents were still obligated to pay per their contracts). I cannot use up "vacation days" because I don't get them w/pay. Vacation & sick days are days we don't earn money. That's pretty common around these parts and we accept this when we take the job.

Some of us have school age children at home. When the public schools close, we either have to stay home (and lose pay) or scramble to find child care ourselves. Because if our employer decides to stay open, we still have to hit those snowcovered roads, risk getting into wrecks and all to get to work to watch YOUR children. We do it if we can and most of us do it for minimum wages. So please don't take it so personally. It isn't just about your losses - these storms have effected everyone. And I will now take the time to give a shout out of thanks to the dc parents that I work for - I'm so grateful that not one of them complained when we closed for the day or had a few delayed openings. Not one.

I don’t understand why every other professional seems to be able to work and get there in bad weather but teachers and daycare providers...not many jobs do I know get paid for doing nothing

[Unregistered]

Just following the logic here left by those who feel they shouldn’t have to pay if their daycare is closed for inclement weather....did you go to college? If your college closed due to inclement weather would you expect/demand a refund in tuition? What about private elementary or high schools? Should they refund tuition for snow days? If so, public schools should refund tax payers for snow days? If they do this, they won’t be able to cover operating expenses. All parents of young children need to create a plan to find alternative care for their children in the case of illness or inclement weather. Once your child is school age, they will need care during school vacations, summer, and snow days - regardless of whether they attend private or public school. Child care programs that never close set a bad president for new parents who often have quite a shock factor once their child reaches school age.
Create a plan and spend time with your children whenever you can. Precious memories can be made on snow days with your child!

You are going to college for an education and a degree to get a job, high/middle school makes up the days they take off... you are paying daycare more than most in state colleges to watch your child so yes yes I do expect that I get my money’s worth like the above mentioned items you idiot

[Josiegirl]

You are going to college for an education and a degree to get a job, high/middle school makes up the days they take off... you are paying daycare more than most in state colleges to watch your child so yes yes I do expect that I get my money’s worth like the above mentioned items you idiot

You're rude. Having a problem making snow day memories with your child? Or just feeling guilty making life all about you or work instead?
Getting your money's worth. Gotta love that mindset. I can see how that would be the most important thing in a person's life. To he!! with the children, huh? Lemme guess, you also take off every vacation day for just you, right? Get your nails done, go to the beach, go shopping, leave child in dc. So you can be a better parent?? A better parent to do what? Send them to dc? These children are CRYING and SCREAMING for attention!! And we wonder why children seem to have more issues in present day than years ago. This is why I chose childcare, to be home with my own kids. It's such a short time in their lives, like a drop in the bucket, but means so much towards their emotional growth, feelings of security, being loved and part of a strong family unit. Like they matter to someone most of all. That's all most children need. Someone's undivided attention, acceptance, someone who truly wants to be with them just to play blocks, get down on the floor and BE with them, read stories. All of this shines through to your child/ren. Makes them feel wanted and loved OR unwanted and merely tolerated.
Quality time does NOT mean throwing them in front of the tv when you're home, or keeping them in dc longer than absolutely needed, or smacking a video in front of their face while driving anywhere, or making FB more important than listening to what you child is saying.
Unreg., maybe you're not one of those parents...I have no clue. BUT there are so many(TOO MANY) who are like that that it's terribly sad and leaves many children with no place they really feel secure and loved.
SMH at parents who have this mindset of getting their last dollars worth.

[amberrose3dg]

You are going to college for an education and a degree to get a job, high/middle school makes up the days they take off... you are paying daycare more than most in state colleges to watch your child so yes yes I do expect that I get my money’s worth like the above mentioned items you idiot

Let me tell you something! We have more important things to worry about like the safety of the children in our care. You may not care if you wreck and hurt your child on your way to daycare but we sure do. I have had parents that would bring their children to me in a 2 foot snow storm if it meant them actually spending time with their children. This is why I will close if it is not safe. I also have to worry about an emergency situation like fires, no power an ambulance making it to our location etc...Getting your money's worth says to me you care more about the money spent than actually spending time with your kids. Days off work should be saved for when the children are ill or their is a snow/ice/bad weather day. I see parents take off what equals to weeks for themselves and their kids are still here!
I have been on both sides of this and kept me son home when it snowed even just a little and still had no problems paying daycare. If you do not like it I suggest you stay home and raise your own kids!!!
I bet you be that same parent that would bitch if you were late picking up cause the weather was bad too. You have no problems making it there to drop off. That is another reason providers close. We really feel like having your child overnight cause you paid for it right.

[Unregistered]

Example you pay for cell phone service every month, whether you have service in every area or not. Before you sign up you find out the coverage area. You still pay for the month....same thing. Fair? Absolutely not, but, I like having a cell phone and those are the rules.

[Unregistered]

Let me tell you something! We have more important things to worry about like the safety of the children in our care. You may not care if you wreck and hurt your child on your way to daycare but we sure do. I have had parents that would bring their children to me in a 2 foot snow storm if it meant them actually spending time with their children. This is why I will close if it is not safe. I also have to worry about an emergency situation like fires, no power an ambulance making it to our location etc...Getting your money's worth says to me you care more about the money spent than actually spending time with your kids. Days off work should be saved for when the children are ill or their is a snow/ice/bad weather day. I see parents take off what equals to weeks for themselves and their kids are still here!
I have been on both sides of this and kept me son home when it snowed even just a little and still had no problems paying daycare. If you do not like it I suggest you stay home and raise your own kids!!!
I bet you be that same parent that would bitch if you were late picking up cause the weather was bad too. You have no problems making it there to drop off. That is another reason providers close. We really feel like having your child overnight cause you paid for it right.

Except you are charging for a service you provide. It is not your role to judge when and why people use your service. If you don't want to provide it for whatever reason then you shouldn't charge for it. All of those parents still have to get to work so people are going to work. You and your staff can too. If Walmart closes because of weather they don't call me and ask me to pay for what I was going to buy anyway.

[MarinaVanessa]

The bottom line here is read your contract. Not everyone charges for emergency closures. Meet with many providers, ask questions that relate to your values and beliefs, read the contract and policies and then make a decision that you are comfortable with and believe in.

Don't sign a contract that states that closures are paid.

Except for a few holidays, I don't charge if I have to close, emergency or not. But because it works both ways my clients pay when their children are sick, on vacation, mom is on maternity leave etc. If I'm open and they don't bring their kids they pay, if I'm closed then they don't pay.
You just have to find a daycare provider that suits your needs.

I don't charge for days I close and even I agree that if a parent signed a contract that says they will pay then the need to pay. If the daycare tries to charge for closed days not mentioned in the contract, move the child to another daycare. Why in the world would anyone put their child in a daycare that doesn't meet their needs?

[Cat Herder]

The bottom line is daycare is too expensive.



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The decision to have children is expensive. We earn less than most careers yet are expected to provide much more for longer hours.

With your mindset I would search for miles to find another business for my outdoor playground equipment. Obviously, you have no respect for your clients. And yes, I am in your region and will be forwarding this to our providers' association.

[Unregistered]

I did not mean to offend anybody.

I am associated with myself only.

I understand the hard work and sacrifices that goes into being a top quality daycare provider.

I again apologize if I offended anyone.

[Blackcat31]

The decision to have children is expensive. We earn less than most careers yet are expected to provide much more for longer hours.

With your mindset I would search for miles to find another business for my outdoor playground equipment. Obviously, you have no respect for your clients. And yes, I am in your region and will be forwarding this to our providers' association.

They worked with New Horizons in my area as well.
I too will be sharing with my state's Early Childhood Association and with DHS.

I did not mean to offend anybody.

I am associated with myself only.

I understand the hard work and sacrifices that goes into being a top quality daycare provider.

I again apologize if I offended anyone.

Not according to your member profile.
It shows the association between you and the playground company as well as their contact info.

Posting on a daycare forum in regards to how horrible daycare homes are in comparison to centers is offensive.

I would buy that you didn't mean to offend anyone had you not said the same thing in 6 different posts.

[Cat Herder]

I agree completely, BC. All of her posts today were over the top vile, accusatory and broad brush.

I do hope that if she is simply angry and venting about a specific bad daycare experience that she will post about that and let us help her resolve it. We can point her in the right direction to file a complaint that can actually be a concrete solution.

We do understand how one bad apple can ruin the bunch for some. Trashing us all, though, is really unnecessary. Especially if you are going to post business links seeking the loyalty of the very people you are degrading. Maybe she did not know that this is the biggest online collection of home, small and large daycare center owners anywhere?

[Unregistered]

They worked with New Horizons in my area as well.
I too will be sharing with my state's Early Childhood Association and with DHS.



Not according to your member profile.
It shows the association between you and the playground company as well as their contact info.

Posting on a daycare forum in regards to how horrible daycare homes are in comparison to centers is offensive.

I would buy that you didn't mean to offend anyone had you not said the same thing in 6 different posts.

I apologize sincerely, it is solely a mistake on my part.

Centers and home day cares are absolutely essential to working families.

I'm not sure what 6 posts you're talking about, also what contact info?

I actually wanted to come on here and preach parenting success as someone whose gone through the process.

Again I am sorry if I offended anyone. Please just let it go, you won't see me again. Having a bad week, sorry if what I wrote comes off as ranting.

Best of luck, and again continue the empowerment!