Hello, I'm new to this forum.

[Crwk85]

I run a home based daycare in Ontario. I've had this same family for the past 5 years. One of the girls now attends the school in my area, not their neighborhood school. Her sibling stays with me ( who is 3). We all really like each other very much! Now for my concern...I charge $35 for the 3 year old and $9 a day for before and after school care. I don't raise my fees for PA days or march break even the summer holidays! I know this was my choice to work this way, but recently I found out that the mum has a day off during her work week but she still brings her kids for the full days mon to fri. Sometimes they show up 1 hour late in the a.m. But they NEVER think to pick up the kids a little earlier. This has ruffled my feathers a little bit. I'm giving the best rates,but yet while the parent is home 1-2 days a week they are not picking up their kids earlier. I would be happy with just an hour early pick up. I have asked on 2 occasions (when I know the parent is at home) if I can have an early pick up, and I've been denied...wheres the yin/yang here? How can I make them understand that I'm giving to them and get nothing back....ugh...

[Discoveries]

Oh wow, there is a great deal of giving on your part there, but only taking on theirs. Is the $9 a day even covering the costs of keeping the older child in care on full days? If not then it is costing you to care for their child, rather than earning an income for your family.

Another way to look at it is

$9/day = $45/week = $2250/year (if 50 weeks)
$35/day = $175/week = $8750/year (if 50 weeks)

With a new full time client replacing the B&A slot you would be making
$6500 more a year.

I know it is not always about money, but at this point it seems you feel the kindness is not being reciprocated. When the younger starts school are you going to be willing to have two full time slots taken up for $18 a day?

Maybe it's time to revamp your rates for September and issue a new contract. Or if you are content with the rates and value time more, work that into their contract.

Good luck!

[Momof4]

Welcome to the forum Crwk and I hope we can help you. I've been in business about the same amount of time as you, but I'm afraid I got a lot tougher a lot faster. These people are taking advantage of you in a very bad way.

Do you have a contract? I hope so. It's time for you to make it stricter, raise your rates for b/a school especially and enforce all of your rules. I have a maximum 9 hour day, late/early fees, and my unwritten rule is that if parents are not working with me, then I must say goodbye. I don't care if the parents are at home or at work as long as they drop off and arrive when expected, treat me with respect and follow all my rules. With some people mutual respect comes easily but with selfish people you have to DEMAND RESPECT. Please start doing that!

[Crayola kiddies]

My b and a rates are $15 for either or and $25 for both ....and they have to pay the full days fees $40 for pa days, school holidays, snow days, summer.....ect...... you are being taken advantage of. if it were me I would send out a notice saying in two weeks(whatever notice you have stated in your contract for changes) the rates are being raised to xxxx for b and a and xxxx for full days. cause really it wouldn't be worth it to me to look after someone elses kid for $45 a week. Hopefully they aren't your only kids and you can afford to let them go if needed

[buzygirl]

I agree with Crayola Kiddies. I charge $15 a day for before and after school and $25.00 for full day school age. I charge $35 for children ages 1-4 for a day.

[sandylynn]

Hi there, I've been running my own home daycare for many years and believe me...I've seen EVERYTHING. I actually have a parent that sits in her car in my driveway and waits until the very last minute of my operating times...to come and get her child. She told me "I pay you for 10 hours a day..and I'm going to use 10 hour a day"....how SAD IS THAT....I looked her in the face and said "fine....just DON'T USE A MINUTE MORE"....we have to suck it up and accept the fact that not everyone's child comes first....MONEY DOES!

[playfelt]

I would be inclined to speak with the parent and let them know that given that expenses have gone up since you started caring for the children that you can no longer give the subsidized rates. Even if you allow it for the Christmas break use that as their final time. Let them know that you will be raising the rates as of January for the afterschool child to the full day rate for non school days as a starter. That will cover March break and summer. Expect them to find a teen for the summer but that is ok too since by then you will be ready to replace them with two full paying clients.

[mickyc]

They are certainly taking advantage of you. On the day the school aged child is in your care for a full day you need to charge the same fee as the sibling.

I too had a family take advantage of me in the same way. When I first started my daycare I started with 1 boy. I charged $25 a day. When I started taking other children I increased my fee to $27 a day. The family ended up suffering a terrible tragedy. At that time I agreed to take the older boy before and after school. Feeling bad for them I only charged $2 a day (for 2 hours) for that child. I ended up increasing that rate to $3 eight months later and eventually to $5 a day ten months after that. I also had increased my full day fee to $28 during that time. I gave the family a break and for the most part took the oldest son during days off school and during the summer. The one day after 3 years of care they totally out of the blue gave their notice and in 2 weeks were gone. No gift, no card, no thanks. I was hurt. We ended up running into them a month later at the campground and all that they did was say Hi and keep walking. I was crushed.

Sad to say but we have to keep our heart out of it when it comes to the parents. Don't do them any favours because they obviously don't do you any.

[Other Mummy]

Hi there, I've been running my own home daycare for many years and believe me...I've seen EVERYTHING. I actually have a parent that sits in her car in my driveway and waits until the very last minute of my operating times...to come and get her child. She told me "I pay you for 10 hours a day..and I'm going to use 10 hour a day"....how SAD IS THAT....I looked her in the face and said "fine....just DON'T USE A MINUTE MORE"....we have to suck it up and accept the fact that not everyone's child comes first....MONEY DOES!

That is one of the saddest things I have read on this forum. She actually sits in her car waiting for the clock to tick to get her money's worth?? Her poor child. What an idiot. Ask a parent who has lost a child how much they would pay to have 1 more minute of time with them. I feel so sorry for her little one.

[mickyc]

That is one of the saddest things I have read on this forum. She actually sits in her car waiting for the clock to tick to get her money's worth?? Her poor child. What an idiot. Ask a parent who has lost a child how much they would pay to have 1 more minute of time with them. I feel so sorry for her little one.

Yes it is sad isn't it!! I have had parents who won't take any holidays because I am open and how terrible it would be if they actually paid me for a day their child wasn't here. The mom actually asked me why I don't take more holidays in a year because she has 5 weeks to use up. How could you not want to take paid time off if you had it!!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Mickyc.....I bet she is taking her 5 weeks off, she is just still sending her child to daycare. I have had paid holidays and they don't just allow you to not take them as most places don't allow you to carry them over from year to year. So if you don't use them you loose them. (some places are different but I have never heard of paid holidays being carried over...that would be a great job if they did though!)

I have some great families that if they are home, their child is home and other families who send their child even though they were on holidays so they could get a break. Thankfully I have never had any who sit in the driveway to get every last minute out of me!! I actually have it in my contract that they have a half hour to come get their child after their shift and not to wait until my closing time if they don't need too. A daycare centre I worked at was 15 minutes but I don't think that gives enough time in some cases. I don't care if they go to the store every now and then but for the most part they all let me know if they are doing this and are going to be late. I have one mom who is a nurse so she likes to go home and shower first and I'm fine with that as I would prefer to not have those germs in my home lol.

I offer a $10 decrease for any days they pull their child out if they let me know before payment is due. I find this helps for long periods of time as that is $50 less a week. It helps at Christmas time because almost all of them take holidays than so I still get paid but am actually closed because I have no children coming.

[sandylynn]

I understand the whole thing that "daycare is expensive"....but what about the parents that literally nickel and dime their daycare provider because they want to go to Mexico or put a new bathroom in???? I have toughened up doing this business to the point that I don't even believe that I am me! STRICTLY BUSINESS...NO MORE FAVORS....IF LATE ONE MINUTE...$1.00 a minute....(funny.... no one is ever late anymore...go figure!) I took my friend's advice. 'TREAT IT STRICTLY AS A BUSINESS AND NOTHING ELSE" I do not associate with any parents outside of the business either.

[smiley face]

I am also new to this forum, and from Ontario. sounds like your rate for the three year old is fine but might want to revisit the rate for the other child. I have one set of siblings who I care for just after school and charge 15 each.

I am also asking for opinions for rates for 3 children, one family.
1st child is 1 years old, full day.
and two boys for just after school hours.
currently the rate is $40.00, school year.

what about two siblings between ages of 7-11. 8am to 3pm, summer care
sometime I feel like I am charging to little just to make it affordable for the parents.
thanks