Daycares and Time Off With Pay

[Babybear911]

Of course you should pay your daycare providers vacation, stat. Holidays,sick day!

Think about it this way...lets say your monthly daycare fees are 800.00 a month. Your child attends a 10 hour day for 5 days a week (approx.22 days in a month). In a month that makes your hourly rate $3.63. Daycare providers don't have a minute to themselves to eat, rest, or take a "break" for 10 hours each day. They do this so each child gets the love, attention and care they deserve each day.

If you want to pay a nannies rate of $15.00 hour. Your monthly fees would be $3300.00 for the same level of care and minimal interaction with other children. So ask yourself...before you complain about paying your daycare provider vacation days...do you have $3300.00 a month for a nanny? If not, appreciate the $3.63 an hour you pay your daycare provider and allow them some R&R they need to provide loving, carrying, and stimulating environment for your child.

Also, would YOU be able to work 10 hours each day with no break and then also get no payment for the vacation you need to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit to do your job effectively? Isn't your child worth more than that?

When your daycare provider tells you of their vacation you should smile and embrace them for taking that time to themselves so they can come back and love, nurture and teach your child new things. If not, go get a Nanny and pay the money they ask for...by the way...some Nannies expect paid vacation days as well!

If you still don't see the value of paying for your daycare providers vacation then quit your job and raise your own child.

[littlemissmuffet]

Of course you should pay your daycare providers vacation, stat. Holidays,sick day!

Think about it this way...lets say your monthly daycare fees are 800.00 a month. Your child attends a 10 hour day for 5 days a week (approx.22 days in a month). In a month that makes your hourly rate $3.63. Daycare providers don't have a minute to themselves to eat, rest, or take a "break" for 10 hours each day. They do this so each child gets the love, attention and care they deserve each day.

If you want to pay a nannies rate of $15.00 hour. Your monthly fees would be $3300.00 for the same level of care and minimal interaction with other children. So ask yourself...before you complain about paying your daycare provider vacation days...do you have $3300.00 a month for a nanny? If not, appreciate the $3.63 an hour you pay your daycare provider and allow them some R&R they need to provide loving, carrying, and stimulating environment for your child.

Also, would YOU be able to work 10 hours each day with no break and then also get no payment for the vacation you need to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit to do your job effectively? Isn't your child worth more than that?

When your daycare provider tells you of their vacation you should smile and embrace them for taking that time to themselves so they can come back and love, nurture and teach your child new things. If not, go get a Nanny and pay the money they ask for...by the way...some Nannies expect paid vacation days as well!

If you still don't see the value of paying for your daycare providers vacation then quit your job and raise your own child.

[Bella99]

Woo! happyfacehappyface

[SunshineMama]

YES!!! Exactly!

[DaisyMamma]

Geeze, I want to blow up your post and post it on my bulletin board and staple it to my policies!

[Christian Mother]

lovethis!!

[frugalmama4]

Dang!!!! I'm totally putting this in my handbook

[Unregistered]

While I can appreciate your sentiment, this post seemed a bit condescending to parents, belittling THEIR work, and putting you up on a pedestal.

"Daycare providers don't have a minute to themselves to eat, rest, or take a "break" for 10 hours each day"

I know this to be false for my provider. The kids nap/rest for 2.5 hours a day. Her kids don't get there til 8 a.m. and all are gone by 5:30. I get a 1 hour lunch, at the most. I only wish I got a 2.5 hour break every day.

"Also, would YOU be able to work 10 hours each day with no break and then also get no payment for the vacation you need to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit to do your job effectively? Isn't your child worth more than that?"

A lot of people DO work full time with NO benefits--and they don't grumble about it. They do what they need to do to get bills paid and food on the table. Don't bring my kid into it.

"If you still don't see the value of paying for your daycare providers vacation then quit your job and raise your own child."

Way to make parents feel like crap for having to work and send their kids to daycare. I love my child and would LOVE to stay home with him and raise him and even (gasp!) homeschool. But you know what? Where I live, with the cost of living, it's just not possible.

My provider gets 10 paid days a year--I love her, and I think she genuinely cares about my son--so I'm not griping about paid vs unpaid days off--your choice of words just struck a cord with me--I found it condescending and insulting to me as a parent (telling me to go "raise my own").

[wdmmom]

EEaning

While I can appreciate your sentiment, this post seemed a bit condescending to parents, belittling THEIR work, and putting you up on a pedestal.

"Daycare providers don't have a minute to themselves to eat, rest, or take a "break" for 10 hours each day"

I know this to be false for my provider. The kids nap/rest for 2.5 hours a day. Her kids don't get there til 8 a.m. and all are gone by 5:30. I get a 1 hour lunch, at the most. I only wish I got a 2.5 hour break every day.

"Also, would YOU be able to work 10 hours each day with no break and then also get no payment for the vacation you need to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit to do your job effectively? Isn't your child worth more than that?"

A lot of people DO work full time with NO benefits--and they don't grumble about it. They do what they need to do to get bills paid and food on the table. Don't bring my kid into it.

"If you still don't see the value of paying for your daycare providers vacation then quit your job and raise your own child."

Way to make parents feel like crap for having to work and send their kids to daycare. I love my child and would LOVE to stay home with him and raise him and even (gasp!) homeschool. But you know what? Where I live, with the cost of living, it's just not possible.

My provider gets 10 paid days a year--I love her, and I think she genuinely cares about my son--so I'm not griping about paid vs unpaid days off--your choice of words just struck a cord with me--I found it condescending and insulting to me as a parent (telling me to go "raise my own").

It's not a break when we are performing other aspects of the job. Just because the kids nap does not mean we aren't working. It means the children aren't needing direct care. We are cleaning up the breakfast and lunch dishes, preparing snack, making invoices/receipts, running the vacuum, returning calls, emails and texts, planning the afternoon activity, planning next weeks breakfast and lunch menu, making a grocery list, paying bills, cleaning the bathroom, mopping the floor, the list goes on and on.

I'd gladly take an hour unpaid lunch break but I want the option to leave to! Since I can't, my 'breaks' (or lack thereof) are PAID!!

Minimum wage in my state is $7.25 per hour. You pay me that rate and I won't charge you for vacation...how's that?!

[CheekyChick]

While I can appreciate your sentiment, this post seemed a bit condescending to parents, belittling THEIR work, and putting you up on a pedestal.

"Daycare providers don't have a minute to themselves to eat, rest, or take a "break" for 10 hours each day"

I know this to be false for my provider. The kids nap/rest for 2.5 hours a day. Her kids don't get there til 8 a.m. and all are gone by 5:30. I get a 1 hour lunch, at the most. I only wish I got a 2.5 hour break every day.

"Also, would YOU be able to work 10 hours each day with no break and then also get no payment for the vacation you need to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit to do your job effectively? Isn't your child worth more than that?"

A lot of people DO work full time with NO benefits--and they don't grumble about it. They do what they need to do to get bills paid and food on the table. Don't bring my kid into it.

"If you still don't see the value of paying for your daycare providers vacation then quit your job and raise your own child."

Way to make parents feel like crap for having to work and send their kids to daycare. I love my child and would LOVE to stay home with him and raise him and even (gasp!) homeschool. But you know what? Where I live, with the cost of living, it's just not possible.

My provider gets 10 paid days a year--I love her, and I think she genuinely cares about my son--so I'm not griping about paid vs unpaid days off--your choice of words just struck a cord with me--I found it condescending and insulting to me as a parent (telling me to go "raise my own").

The truth is, a QUALITY daycare provide rarely gets a minute to him/herself. I'm sure you know how your son wants your attention when he's home? Well, mutliply that by 16 children. It is a HUGE job to make sure every child feels special, loved, and well cared for.

During nap time is when most of us catch up on paperwork, write daily letters, return phone calls or e-mails (from parents), clean, and prepare snack.
We are LUCKY if we can squeeze in a minute or two to shove down a sandwich. We also don't have the luxury of working parents who can run to Target, meet a friend for lunch, run errands, etc. I miss that.

I agree. I didn't like the quote about quitting your job and raising your own child. YOU are raising your son and I'm sure you would love to be able to stay home with him. I can only imagine the pain it causes you that you can't. I'm sorry.

[nannyde]

The truth is, a QUALITY daycare provide rarely gets a minute to him/herself.

Operating with 16 kids would definitely be some wall to wall work. I've known many providers who operate with less children and have full breaks in the afternoon while the kids nap minus the supervision that comes with sleeping children.

I've never heard "rarely gets a minute to him/herself" as an indicator of QUALITY care. With a reasonable adult to child ratio, careful planning, user friendly set up, well behaved kids, good food, good exercise, and a consistent schedule a quality program can net a good solid mid day break and the pace to offer some minutes to the provider during the day.

To have a full day with only a bit of spare time to swallow down a sandwhich I would have to be paid a TON of money. I would do it but I'd have to double my fee and my staff assistants salary. It would be tough to find the parent who could afford that.

[Country Kids]

Nan,

I had to walk away for a bit and really think about your post. I'm going to be pretty honest in the fact it upset me quite a bit. Its like your saying you can't provide good quality childcare unless you have a break in the day.

You must have the best set up in the country and seriously can't relate to what most people are talking about when they post some of these threads.

Even when its naptime if I get lucky and everyone is sleeping, I'm cleaning, finishing up things from the morning, writing up reports, etc. If I do eat I do it in about a 10 min session and still eat at my desk while working. Are you saying since I don't take the whole 2 hours for lunchtime and watching tv that I don't provide quality care?

I don't have the luxury of an assistance but serve good food,when we can get outside the kids run and get all their energies out, consistent schedules are a must I agree. Still trying to figure out why having all that should give you a solid mid day break. I guess if I did have the assistant I could give them all that I do during my break and take it for myself.

You seem to attach money to alot of the threads. Like this one you said you would have to be paid a TON of money if your break only allowed you to swallow down a sandwich. Why? Parents aren't going to pay you more so that you can take a break. Maybe I'm missunderstanding it but I'm not understanding why money has to be an attachment to getting a break. I have parents who have meetings during lunchtime and instead of getting more money for working through lunch they have to back out the time at the end of the week. No extra for them for working through lunch.

Anyway, I just feel your post was saying since we don't sit during our break time that we don't offer quality care. In a way this post could have gone in "How much break do you get through the day".

[nannyde]

Nan,

I had to walk away for a bit and really think about your post. I'm going to be pretty honest in the fact it upset me quite a bit. Its like your saying you can't provide good quality childcare unless you have a break in the day.

You must have the best set up in the country and seriously can't relate to what most people are talking about when they post some of these threads.

Even when its naptime if I get lucky and everyone is sleeping, I'm cleaning, finishing up things from the morning, writing up reports, etc. If I do eat I do it in about a 10 min session and still eat at my desk while working. Are you saying since I don't take the whole 2 hours for lunchtime and watching tv that I don't provide quality care?

I don't have the luxury of an assistance but serve good food,when we can get outside the kids run and get all their energies out, consistent schedules are a must I agree. Still trying to figure out why having all that should give you a solid mid day break. I guess if I did have the assistant I could give them all that I do during my break and take it for myself.

You seem to attach money to alot of the threads. Like this one you said you would have to be paid a TON of money if your break only allowed you to swallow down a sandwich. Why? Parents aren't going to pay you more so that you can take a break. Maybe I'm missunderstanding it but I'm not understanding why money has to be an attachment to getting a break. I have parents who have meetings during lunchtime and instead of getting more money for working through lunch they have to back out the time at the end of the week. No extra for them for working through lunch.

Anyway, I just feel your post was saying since we don't sit during our break time that we don't offer quality care. In a way this post could have gone in "How much break do you get through the day".

No way am I saying that if you don't have a two hour break you are not providing quality care. I'm saying that I don't think that HAVING a two hour break in the afternoon means you AREN'T giving quality care.

I do attach money to a lot of threads. I want providers to THINK about the money they receive as a fair compensation for the LABOR of the business in addition to the hard costs of operating. If I have to do ten/eleven hours of straight wall to wall work I'm sure gonna charge more for it then I am if I do nine hours with a two hour break. What business wouldn't?

I said that I WOULD do a fast paced day with only a few minutes to hork down a sandwhich as long as I got paid a princely sum for doing it. Having 16 kids would sure net that here. The most I've had is elevenish and it was a ton of work. It was also a ton of money.

Seriously tho I really DO think that longevity in the business is a higher liklihood when the provider makes sure she has a really good substantial break every day. Child care done well is a hard job emotionally and physically so building your business around a good solid afternoon break WILL net happiness for both providers and the kids they care for.

[CheekyChick]

Nan,

I've never heard "rarely gets a minute to him/herself" as an indicator of QUALITY care.

Yes you have. I said it.

With a reasonable adult to child ratio, careful planning, user friendly set up, well behaved kids, good food, good exercise, and a consistent schedule a quality program can net a good solid mid day break and the pace to offer some minutes to the provider during the day.

I disagree. With 16 children per day, there is ALWAYS tons to do. More parent e-mails, more parent phone calls, more daily logs, more parent letters, more cleaning, and more planning. I could NOT give the quality of care I do if I watched TV during nap time. I choose to stuff down my sandwich and use that 2 hour period to make my DC the best in town. That is why I am full with a looooooong wait list - while others providers in the area are not doing so well.

To have a full day with only a bit of spare time to swallow down a sandwhich I would have to be paid a TON of money. I would do it but I'd have to double my fee and my staff assistants salary. It would be tough to find the parent who could afford that.

From what I've heard, I am the hightest paid in-home daycare in my town.

[Country Kids]

Nan,

I've never heard "rarely gets a minute to him/herself" as an indicator of QUALITY care.

Yes you have. I said it.

With a reasonable adult to child ratio, careful planning, user friendly set up, well behaved kids, good food, good exercise, and a consistent schedule a quality program can net a good solid mid day break and the pace to offer some minutes to the provider during the day.

I disagree. With 16 children per day, there is ALWAYS tons to do. More parent e-mails, more parent phone calls, more daily logs, more parent letters, more cleaning, and more planning. I could NOT give the quality of care I do if I watched TV during nap time. I choose to stuff down my sandwich and use that 2 hour period to make my DC the best in town. That is why I am full with a looooooong wait list - while others providers in the area are not doing so well.

To have a full day with only a bit of spare time to swallow down a sandwhich I would have to be paid a TON of money. I would do it but I'd have to double my fee and my staff assistants salary. It would be tough to find the parent who could afford that.

From what I've heard, I am the hightest paid in-home daycare in my town.

Yes, her waiting list is long. I actually inquired about childcare there for a friend of mine. It would have been part of her baby shower gift to help her find childcare. CheekyChick is in the same area as my friend so I thought perfect. Then I received the dissapointing news from CheekyChick that she has a very long waiting list and I figured the child would be grown before having a spot for them-::.