For Parents Of Children In Home Daycares

[GretasLittleFriends]

I can understand your concern. I operate 24/7. I'm rather new, and don't have a very high enrollment. I've got 6 kids and there not all here at the same time. 5 out of the 6 kids don't show up until after 1 or 2 pm.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;12119]my question here is where r all the kids while you guys are on here bickering?? i look at the times each person has responded and that would really worry me as a parent![/QUOTE

It's naptime here!

[mac60]

my question here is where r all the kids while you guys are on here bickering?? i look at the times each person has responded and that would really worry me as a parent!

Nothing better to do eh? Don't know that it is any of your business what I do during the day. And who says that the times are right anyways, it depends on what time frame you have them sent on. Also, who is bickering.

[tymaboy]

Keep in mind that the times you see is for your time zone - we are all scattered about the country/world with different time zones. Plus it all depends on the amount of kids we each have, time of day it is for us (like now I only have 1 & she is napping) There are other factors as to when we post.

[mac60]

The time shown depends on what is checked in your UserCP, which may or may not be correct.

[byoshimura]

All the talk of charging for sick days, vacation, holidays, etc. Just what do you---Parents---think is "fair" and why?

Do you think home providers should get sick days? Paid vacations? Paid personal days? Should the parent have to pay if the child doesn't attend due to vacation, holidays, illness, etc. Just wondering what the parents point of view on this is.

On the providers note, parents need to remember that out of our weekly income, we have to pay taxes, insurance, buy food, supplies, maintain our home from the daycare use, pay higher utilities, etc.

As previous parents, and now operator of a home day care, we feel parents should not pay for a providers vacation time. The reasoning behind this is that for those two weeks the parents have to find alternate care or arrangements, and still pay? We feel bad enough that you have to find alternate arrangements, that charging for our vacation is not fair.

However if the parents want to take a vacation, or their child is sick, I think it is fair to ask for payment. Because capacity is key for providers and having one slot occupied and not getting paid is unfair to the provider.

Now maybe I would agree to a reduced fee while the child takes a family vacation, but only for two weeks.

[Chickenhauler]

All the talk of charging for sick days, vacation, holidays, etc. Just what do you---Parents---think is "fair" and why?

Do you think home providers should get sick days? Paid vacations? Paid personal days? Should the parent have to pay if the child doesn't attend due to vacation, holidays, illness, etc. Just wondering what the parents point of view on this is.

On the providers note, parents need to remember that out of our weekly income, we have to pay taxes, insurance, buy food, supplies, maintain our home from the daycare use, pay higher utilities, etc.

Having been on both sides of the fence in my life, I don't feel that it is the parents place to "pay" for the contractors (that's what this is, a contracted service provider) vacation, sick days, holidays, etc.

Daycare is a business just like any other, and just because the provider isn't there, doesn't mean that the child doesn't need to be taken care/watched by someone else at an additional expense to the parent. Think what it would feel like if you had to pay DOUBLE rate for child care because your provider took the week off?

If you can get parents to agree to pay you without having to provide the service, kudos-you're doing well.

I know of no other business where a service provider under contract (independant contractor) gets paid for holidays, paid vacations, etc.

Now, if the child is not in attendance for a reason outside the providers control (care was open, kid didn't come) on a day when the parent contracted that child would be there, they should be charged.

Life couldn't be better now. I'm no longer in the military, I did 10 yrs and said that was enough. I've gotten remarried to a long time friend. (Our parents live 1 mile apart and we've known eachother basically forever.) I'm now self-employed (daycare provider) and so is my husband, so very little if any of our money goes to selfish people who won't help themselves.

I've heard rumor he can come off as a pretty gruff guy, but is actually really nice in person.

[mac60]

I don't consider us to be the "typical" service providers, like a plumber, home maintenance man, repair man, etc. For starters, we get NO WHERE near their incomes. When my plumber/furnace man comes to my home to fix something, I am charged minimum $75, and that is the service call. If he is there more than 1 hour, the hourly fees start adding up. 20 years ago we hired a contractor to come in and do some handyman work. Their rate was $25 per hour back then. I just don't feel it is a fair comparison of a home daycare provider to a independent contractor like mentioned.

It is like a parent rents the spot from the provider. And since most of us are limited to how many "spots" we can have, each spot is worth a certain $$ amount. Just because a family goes on vacation and doesn't stay in their home for 7 days, the bank does not deduct those 7 days from their housepayment, or the cable tv doesn't deduct those 7 days from their bill, same for electric and phone.

When parents take vacation from their jobs, their employers have to find someone to cover their spot while they are gone, they pay the employee on vacation a vacation pay, and they pay another person to cover for them. So I guess it is ok for the parents employer to do it for them, but not for the provider.

I guess I look at it that 1) We are not the typical contracted worker. We have low wages, expenses, and the biggie absolutely no benefits. 2) We have to look out for ourselves, our business, and our families. 3) We have rules and regs to follow that limit us in how much income we can bring in. At $17 per day, my wage is $1.78 per hour, a far cry from the $75 service call or the $25 per hour fee of 20 years ago contractor.

I am sure it depends on which side of the fence you are on: parent or provider as to how a person feels on this. Having been on Both sides---a parent with kids in dc for 8 years, I would be happy to pay a provider for a weeks vacation. If they are good, dependable, and a loving caring provider....they certainly deserve it.

[RGrift]

Unlicensed Day Care Provider

I am curious about your thoughts on day cares that are not licensed. Now this happens to be a friend of a friend who has been watching my kids for over 5 years. My girls are 10 years old and quite self-sufficient but of course must have an adult present. Since she is unlicensed I cannot reap the benefits of a tax write-off for the expenses. However, she probably does not cost as much as a licensed day care. My concerns are that I DO pay her at Christmas when my work place is closed for a week and the children do not go to day care. That is fine. However, during the summer when my children take vacation she expects to be paid for the time they are not there. In addition, there are many times when I have already paid her at the beginning of the week only to have her want a day off by the end of the week. Over the course of a year she is definitely paid many times for the days she is closed. This can add up to as much as 4 - 5 weeks that she is paid each year and is not watching my children. Should I be addressing this issue or should I consider myself lucky? Unlicensed day cares do not have restrictions on the amount of children and ages they can have so it is not as if I am paying her to "hold my 2 spots" at her home. I want to be fair but I am a single mother with one income so I want to be true to myself as well as my daughters' well being.

[tymaboy]

Since she is unlicensed I cannot reap the benefits of a tax write-off for the expenses.

Not all states need to be licenesed but you should still claim the money you paid at tax time. Some people agree to pay a much lower rate so the provider does not claim the money as income at end of yr (which is illegal)

My concerns are that I DO pay her at Christmas when my work place is closed for a week and the children do not go to day care. That is fine. However, during the summer when my children take vacation she expects to be paid for the time they are not there. In addition, there are many times when I have already paid her at the beginning of the week only to have her want a day off by the end of the week. Over the course of a year she is definitely paid many times for the days she is closed. This can add up to as much as 4 - 5 weeks that she is paid each year and is not watching my children. Should I be addressing this issue or should I consider myself lucky?

Did you sign any type of a contract with her? If so read the contract to see what it say about paid days off if any. If it says nothing about paid days off then mention it to her. If you have no contract then you need to get one. Each provider is different when it comes to paid days off, some have so many sick days, some have paid holidays, some do not charge at all for time when the child is not in care. Maybe you should call around to see what the going rate for child care is in you area & find out if the charge for days the child is not in care. Bottom line is you need a contract with all of this outlined in it.

Unlicensed day cares do not have restrictions on the amount of children and ages they can have so it is not as if I am paying her to "hold my 2 spots" at her home.

In my state it does not matter if I am licensed or not, all providers have a restriction on the amount of children they can have.

[SimpleMom]

IN regard to the comments about independent business owners and relating child care services/pay to that of a construction worker...first of all the pay comparison is inequal to begin with. Child care providers have many costs that come out of their pockets that if they charged and included that in their weekly pay parents wouldn't be able to afford the care to begin with. Providers are lucky if they get even half the amount per week they make just to pay their own bills let alone the cost of running a daycare.

Second of all Providers do have a heart. They really want the best care possible for your child and a rate that's affordable for you, the parent. Adding some paid time off is crucial to the mental health of a provider and the children they care for. As providers, we need that time. With below minimum wage, which many of us make), it's hard to take time off without that pay.

Thirdly many parents get friends, family, or take their paid vacation time to care for their children when providers go on vacation and they try to do that WHEN the provider is on vacation. So, paying double usually doesn't apply in most circumstances.

Remember, childcare is a very taxing job with a very high turnover rate from low pay and burnout. I know it's tough to understand it from a parent's perspective ( I had my child in daycare for 7 years before I opened up my own and believe me, I used to have some of the same complaints...and NOW I get it).

[SimpleMom]

in regard to Leah's message;
As a parent putting my child into daycare it was heart-wrenching. I missed her, felt guilty, sad at times esp. if she was crying when I left or the provider called me at work with her crying in the background for being in a time-out.

I got used to it after awhile, but it was always hard to do. I had no luck with the home daycares and switched to a center. Even though I loved the care she recieved there (and I worked there), it was still hard to do.

I know there are good home daycare providers out there. I believe I am one of them, my mom was wonderful as a daycare parent as well, I know at least three personally in town here that are great, but I do understand the fear involved with putting your child in daycare...home or center based.

[SimpleMom]

my question here is where r all the kids while you guys are on here bickering?? i look at the times each person has responded and that would really worry me as a parent!

That is a fair question. I am off today as my little one was sick. Last week I was on vacation, but couldn't afford to leave the house...

I think sometimes...hopefully all of the time providers are off that day or the kids are all resting when they post.

Other times, I check in for resources while the kids are resting, playing quietly and safely near me. I often do my paperwork (meal counts and records for the food program, my own daycare records of payments and contracts, etc., meal prep/planning, phone back parents if needed, daycare laundry, setting up for the afternoon theme/projects). After all of that is done and sometimes in between those times I try to just sit still and breath so I am refreshed and ready to roll after rest time is over.

Sometimes, I just need a little grown up talking time as well

I find this site is really useful in understanding where the parents are coming from as well as the provider site in support and questions as well.

[MissAnn]

Meals

I wasn't aware that so many in-home daycares provide meals since mine doesn't, what a bonus!!

I do provide meals.....and very nutritious ones at that! No white bread, chicken nuggets or hot dogs. I am under a food program that reimburses for SOME of the food, but maybe only 50%. It is an added cost, but it's a draw for parents. Kids will eat things at childcare that they won't eat at home. My kids ate hominy the other day! Thanks for you encouraging post. It is very difficult to be in the provider's position, having to explain why we charge for days we have off.

[dEHmom]

I've stated this before, if you considered how much you pay your daycare provider an hour, verses what you are willing to pay someone to do your nails, hair, fix your toilet, et cetera, you might look at it differently.

As a daycare provider we don't get cheap health benefits through an employee plan like most can. If we choose to do so, we are purchasing it at a might higher rate than those who work for a big company.
We also don't get to bank away time, don't get paid time and a half or double time of those special holidays.
Our business is in our home, we opened it to you, but there are still the costs of everyday wear and tear, damages, etc.

Me personally, I look at it this way, you are paying 500/mth if you want a full time spot. I don't go into any details regarding holidays, sick days etc. If I am sick (which I have never been knock on wood), then I would not charge you for that day. If you are sick, sorry, you booked a spot. Vacations you got 1 week off with a full 4 weeks notice so I can adjust my expenses if needed, 1 additional week int he year at 1/2 the rate, and anything over 2 is full rate you're paying. At 25/day at an average of 10 hrs/day with your child in my care, that's 2.50/hr. Anything over 8 hrs is technically overtime anywhere else you work, but not in daycare. So should we start charging anything over 8 hrs at time and a half? What about when your child leaves and we have to clean up, prepare for tomorrow and go grocery shopping for tomorrow fruits/veggies? We can't deduct time outside of the home, and no one delivers groceries to me. For a plumber there is a minimum 75 charge as mentioned previously, regardless if he's here 5 minutes or an hour. Then you pay additional charges based on whatever the problem is. Last time I called a plumber he was here for an hour, I had to hand over 200 dollars. That's not even 1 weeks pay for me! If you have a gym membership, would you get refund/credit for days you are not there because you didn't have time, weren't feeling well, or were on vacation? or do you pay a flat out fee every month/year regardless? But I also have to say a lot of it comes down to common sense, common courtesy, and just being a nice person. You can't always be nice when running a business or you wouldn't have a business to run. Unfortunately a lot of people are just looking for handouts. I have a contract stating that you pay for your spot regardless. But if you phone me on Saturday or even Sunday and say so and so is running a fever, I'm not sure if she'll be coming on Monday, OK! If you've already paid me, then I'll cut you a break next week, if you haven't then I'll adjust the owing balance for you. But that's me being nice. Also, for the ones who think that unlicensed daycare aren't worthy of providing services.....the parents who work for minimum hourly pay and don't get sick pay etc, I'm not saying any daycare provider has to, but I understand single moms with children who work at McDonalds aren't going to be able to afford 500/mth for daycare for 1 child, let alone 1000 for 2 children. She's not going to have any money left to put food on her table. Being an unlicensed provider I can choose to offer her a cheaper rate, out of the kindness of my heart. Certainly do not have to, but I would and I have. So really I'm watching your first child at a discounted rate, and then watching a 2nd or 3rd for free. I know that was off topic but I feel that a lot of people don't see the fact that daycare providers, licensed or unlicensed, are providing a service to you, and are often unappreciated, and unrecognized as an important factor in your child's life.

Sorry, but I think it's not fair when a parent is complaining about the hour they picked up early, or having to pay for the extra hour because they were late and stopped to pick up supper on the way home. I don't think it's fair that they think we are ripping them off when they have to pay for days that they are not here. If it was ME inconveniencing them with illness or vacation I would never charge them for it, but I don't think it's fair to ask me to take a cut in my already low wages because you are not bringing your child.

I understand both sides, as I know I cannot afford daycare for my 3 children, hence me staying home. I understand how much it costs, and how every penny counts.