Familys following the rules

[BlueRose]

My new family, hasn't even started yet, but are following my rules beautifully. I told then at the interview that they have to keep my informed ever step of the way. They emailed me to let me know when their meeting with my adviser was. The called after the meeting to let me know how the meeting went and that their girl will be starting on Dec 10th and they will call me back to let me know when they can come to fill out my paper work. I just hope they keep following my rules.

My adviser on the other hand, hasn't even called to say when the girl will start.

My other daycare family is a little slow on following my rules. I takes them a few reminders before they do what is being asked. Having a problem getting them to follow my no outside food rule. Most mornings she shows up with a waffle in her hand. I am letting it slide until closer to when the new girl starts ONLY because they have been great about picking up early (between 3 and 4:30) they are my family that is here until 6pm. So far this month they she has only been her until 6 one day. I just make sure my son gets his breakfast when she arrives so he isn't left out, but as soon as my new girl starts sorry, can't come in with the food.

[Dreamalittledream]

You can always just bag the food immediately & return it? Or, if you feel more comfortable, throw it out?

[bright sparks]

I'd be inclined to let the parents know right now that as of such a date there is no outside food. Put it in writing and hand it to them while explaining it to them. The longer you allow them to break the rule, the more fuel you are giving to their possible arguement in the future when they say "You always used to let her come in with breakfast"

[BlueRose]

so I just wrote a memo for the family:

Memo

• Just a reminder that I will be closed tomorrow (November 23).

• I am happy to announce that as of Monday December 10th we will have a new little girl joining the daycare.

• As of Monday December 3rd the following policy will be in affect:

Outside food is NOT permitted in the daycare, due to allergies and to prevent fights with the other children.

This includes at drop off and pick up.
• If your child is eating something on the way to daycare, he/she must finish it before entering the daycare.
• If you have brought a treat for your child at pick up, please same it until you have left.
Exception to this rule is if your child has a special diet.

I will allow food up until Monday December 3rd. With a new child starting, I do have to be more careful due to allergies.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend. See you all on Monday.


I think this is a friendly way of reminding them of the policy, it kind of sounds like the new kid has allergies.

what do you think?
should I change anything?
I can not afford to loose this family. Despite the few problems we had at the start, they are turning into a very nice family.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I agree ~ best to get on top of behaviors immediately ~ it is easiest to create new habits from the start than it is to CHANGE a bad habit that was allowed to grow!

Your memo sounds great ~ caught a typo at the bottom bullet point ~ you have 'same it' instead of 'save it' ;)

[Momof4]

Valerie, your memo is great but I think this is the time of the year for a reminder about sickness too. I'm about to include that in a letter to parents. Maybe something like this:

- Please remember that if you or your child falls ill that we have a 24 hour policy to refrain from coming to daycare so that it does not spread through the daycare. Also, it is extremely inconvenient for many people if I become ill with the flu and have to close the daycare for all of the families.

[BlueRose]

Momof4- this family is very good at keeping their daughter home if she is sick. She had a cough last Wednesday (started during the day) so they kept her home on Thursday and Friday.

[Momof4]

Momof4- this family is very good at keeping their daughter home if she is sick. She had a cough last Wednesday (started during the day) so they kept her home on Thursday and Friday.

That's awesome and this sounds like a great family. Kudos to you for being strict with your policies even before they begin care so that they know you are not one to be walked over and abused at their whim!

[BlueRose]

Almost all my policies are on my website, so people can see them before contacting me. I have had some people tell me that they found my website to be scary, because of my policies, but they are all common policies. I feel that if someone is scared or uncomfortable with my policies then I don't even want to waste my time interviewing them. I make it very clear several times through out my interview that I follow my policies, no and's ifs or buts about it. After saying that I do hold the right to let a policy slide if I so choose, but I never let a client know this.

I am every good at letting people walk all over me, but for once in my life I am my own boss and I WILL NOT take any shit from anyone. That's why I make sure I am very clear about my policies (having them on my site) before I even meet people.

[Momof4]

I have a family and the Mom works for a friggin lawyer so you would think she would respect a contract right? But I'm consantly reminding her of our contactual agreements. Stand tough Valerie!

[Inspired by Reggio]

....I am every good at letting people walk all over me, but for once in my life I am my own boss and I WILL NOT take any shit from anyone. That's why I make sure I am very clear about my policies (having them on my site) before I even meet people.

I hear ya Valerie this was me too once upon a time and years of having to work with people who did not share my values and deal with it with a 'smile' was so very stressful ... so now everything is spelled out clearly on my website, during the interview and contract signing and in my handbook too as a reference should they want to look up something. For me it is important to not just have the policy but a little educational component of 'the intent or why' with it and explanation around my values behind policies where I think clients might have a hard time 'getting it' so to speak.

Yes it is little more wordy, like me, and that likely turns some people off from contacting me but it works well for me ... I am always full unless I do not want to be so there are enough people who are attracted to that thoroughness and I tend to attract the anal organized types who LIKE clear rules and so forth with no ambiguity so do not have deal with hand holding clients and 'enforcing' my rules ~ thankfully have had no conflict with clients since I have opened, well with the exception of a princess parent I enrolled when I started and was not thinking about the benefits of being self employed being I do not have to accept 'anyone' but only ones who were the best match :(

Even with her there was never conflict or disrespect of the contract or policies on their part ... never late, paid on time, everything the kids needed were here once I got her organized to just keep it here, they listened and accepted advice anything I told them although did not always apply it consistently as suggested and the kids were basically well behaved here so just frustration on my part of having to deal with mom cause her parenting style was so VERY different than mine and as a result her children were a little 'rude/bossy/manipulative' types specially at drop off and pick up so not ideal due to that ... she was a wonderful learning tool for me on remembering I want the BEST match possible and better to leave a space open for a little bit than accept someone who is not ideal into my program and have to deal with that for 5 or more years!