Define your Full time and Part time for me please?

[MsBell]

Hello everyone!
Just looking for other polices on this. I have been doing day care for almost 8 years now. When I started I had different day rates, one for 5 or more hours and one for less then 5. I also had in my contarct that the full day rate is expected if the child was expected to stay the full day (ie go home sick) Anyway, I found that a few parents really took advantage of this and I decided a few years ago to just have one rate, regardless of the number of hours needed. It has been fine, but now I have a spot to fill, and a lot of parents have commented on this. I find myself getting really annoyed with this, my rate is 35/day, which is still the lower end of my area (35-40 for home care, 45-55 for centres) If your child come just 5 hours, that is still only $6/ hour, is that really too much to ask?
Thanks for your input!
Cheers

[5 Little Monkeys]

I charge full rate regardless of hours. I do charge for half days in the first 2 weeks of transitioning IF the parent asks. This is 4 hours or less.

In my dc, you are paying for the spot, not the hours.

[Judy Trickett]

I have one rate. I have a daily rate. If your child attends ANY part of the daycare day they pay the same rate. Period.

Daycare is about spaces. We are legally limited as to how many clients we can have at one time. Therefore clients need to understand that the fee is the fee is the fee. Pay it or go elsewhere. Period.

[Wonderwiper]

I'm the same....I have one rate for everyone, regardless of age or hours used.

[Crayola kiddies]

Me too one rate .... Full time is 5 days and part time is min 3 days at a higher daily rate .

[Samantha33]

Full time rate is 4 or 5 days per week. Part time rate is $2 more per day and it's no less than three days per week. I try and take only full time children.

[Busy ECE mommy]

My rates are all full day regardless if you use 1 hr. or 9 hrs. Full-time is 4 or 5 days a week, or part time is a minimum of 3 days at $5 more a day(and I don't offer it for the under 2 yrs age group)

[bright sparks]

My work week is M-Th and I only offer this. Come for 2 days and only half days, you still pay for the 4 full days. Don't like it?, then feel free to go else where. You are paying for the spot not per hour. Now if you want to pay me hourly, then feel free to call me "Babysitter". I have a number of kids channels on cable and love the idea of what I could do with $10 an hour :laugh:

[FunnyFarm]

Yup, sounds like I'm similar to most. full time is 4 -5 days a week (I'm actually looking at cutting down to a four day week anyway) and part time is $4 more per day. I also don't take kids less than two days a week (with one exception due to a family situation with one of my clients who was full time and ran into some difficulties). However, I agree with Judy, I may just start charging one flat rate at my year renewal. I mean really- why should we have two different rates? a spot is a spot is a spot.... ;) also considering the new bill that may pass- it will affect a lot of us with how many kiddies we can have. :)

[nschildcare]

For me, full time is 4 or 5 days.
Part time is 2-3 days, +$5/daily rate
Drop in +$10/daily rate

I don't do half days. So if you only need a few hours, you still pay the daily rate, whatever that is for you (ft, pt or drop in).

As to your question: I don't think that's too much. Don't break it down hourly. Break it down by spot. $35 for a guaranteed spot each day where a child is loved and cared for by a reliable person is a DEAL :)

[mickyc]

I charge a flat rate of $30 a day. The only time I give a reduced rate is if I close early. On a day that I have to close at 1 or before I only charge $15. If I have to close early but it is after nap then it is full rate.

Parents are paying for the spot.

[Sassygirl]

I do not offer drop in care - PERIOD!

3 days a week $45 per day - Part Time
4 or 5 days a week $35 per day - Full Time

I will on the rare occasion do a half day rate for my families should they have an appt ect which is $20 4 hours or less. Over 4 hours is full days rate.

[mom-in-alberta]

I charge full rate regardless of hours. I do charge for half days in the first 2 weeks of transitioning IF the parent asks. This is 4 hours or less.

In my dc, you are paying for the spot, not the hours.

This, exactly. :P

[MsBell]

Thanks for the resonses!!! I to consider fulltime to be 4 or 5 days a week, and part time to be 1 to 3. I have had a spot open for some time now, and have interviewed at least a half dozen families, but it seem that most want part time, as in just a few hours a day (parents working different shifts, and just want something cover the over lap) I was beginning to lose my mind over this. I do agree with everyone here, that parents are paying for a spot, and that at $35 for up to 10 hours...that is a fantastic deal. just this past few months, I am starting to feel discouraged by this business. With the last few interviews I have had, the minimum wage went up to $11/h and yet parents try to nickle and dime caregivers?, and this the new "bill" talk regarding home daycares....I just find myself thinking "why am I still doing this? Don't get me wrong, I love the kids and I love my job, but Im starting to think...

[Secondtimearound]

I will do an hourish free for first day But I believe it's easier in the child and my dayhome just to start , if the parent wants to start with half days I still charge full time . The spot is theirs however the hours they use !
I love part timers as I charge more and get a different group of kids !!! I have no fulltimers now and have all my part timers scheduled on Monday , Tuesday and Wednesday starting in March !!
Can not wait !!

[Lee-Bee]

Sounds like very few caregivers on here offer half days. I had numerous families call to ask if I take half days (usually 8-1 or something like that). When I responded I can take your child for that time but the fee is the full-day fee they all said they would go elsewhere. I'm curious where they all go!

I'm not losing out on money everyday to accommodate your shortened day. Why would I choose that child over a full paying child? I do love the families that just use up 8.5 hrs each day as they rush here to get their child after work to spend more time with them.

[Sassygirl]

If these people only want someone for a few hour then they need to call a "babysitter" not someone who is offering "daycare".

I am pretty certain that daycare centres would not tolerate a few hours they would make them pay full time.





Thanks for the resonses!!! I to consider fulltime to be 4 or 5 days a week, and part time to be 1 to 3. I have had a spot open for some time now, and have interviewed at least a half dozen families, but it seem that most want part time, as in just a few hours a day (parents working different shifts, and just want something cover the over lap) I was beginning to lose my mind over this. I do agree with everyone here, that parents are paying for a spot, and that at $35 for up to 10 hours...that is a fantastic deal. just this past few months, I am starting to feel discouraged by this business. With the last few interviews I have had, the minimum wage went up to $11/h and yet parents try to nickle and dime caregivers?, and this the new "bill" talk regarding home daycares....I just find myself thinking "why am I still doing this? Don't get me wrong, I love the kids and I love my job, but Im starting to think...

[playfelt]

One daily rate because of the spaces used issue but also unless the child is coming just after lunch and having a nap they have used the most expensive part of the day if they came in the morning and had snack, craft, activities, lunch.

I have also offered a part time family the chance to go to part time if they could find a person to share the space with them and it only lasted as long as the other person stayed - ie if their friend left care they had to pay the full amount again.

[Polkaroo]

I also charge per day and not per hour. I do offer drop-in rates that are more expensive than my full-time rate. I also offer half day for $25 up to 4hr or $8/hr for anything less. But again I 'm only offering this service until my 5 th full-time little one starts in August. This give me extra money in the meantime.

[Hazel]

Between about 8am and 230pm depending on the address. I have children to collect from school downtown by 330pm. I am fairly flexible. What is realy important for me is to find the right fit.