Need Opinions Quick

The others are right and I too would give this Mom the spot for her kids she is expected to pay for, however, I would also make a comment to her regarding the fact that she took her kids off the schedule so you rightfully offered it to someone else in need of care, and now that she has last minute taken the spot back this puts the other family in a bind and at your expense of possibly losing that family. perhaps you can add to your policies that any family removing their child/ren from care need to give a certain amount of notice to reclaim that space otherwise its up for grabs by other families in need, with full pay required irregardless! :)

As everyone else has said, she is within her rights to use the spaces she is paying for. Personally, I would NOT tell her that you had offered someone else the space she is paying for. As a parent, I would be ticked if I knew that the caregiver was charging me and also someone else for the same space. If this ever arises for me, I would just give the parent the option of not paying for the space on that day because you have someone else who wants it. It seems fair.

kidlove, I think that's a good idea. Or I can just keep the spot open. Thing is, sometimes I watch my friend's daughter too. I am not looking to make double income or be shady in any way. It's just that if someone repeatedly tells me that their kids aren't coming, so I say, book a play date with my son's friend or take my friend's daughter for a few hours, I would be put in a position to have to cancel MY plans last minute because the mom is being thoughtless.

Again, this is NOT about me getting paid twice for the same spot -this is about her pretending like she didn't know she had to pay when her kids aren't here, and that she is sending them merely because she might as well because she has to pay anyway, thereby inconveniencing me, who made plans otherwise.

What if, say, she was my only client that day? What if I made doctor's appointments for my kids because on two separate occasions, she confirmed that her kids were not coming? I'm not mad, I'm just trying to see where the line is. If I am canceled for the day, should I then sit in my house on the chance that the parents might show up anyway?

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Originally Posted by Alphaghetti

kidlove, I think that's a good idea. Or I can just keep the spot open. Thing is, sometimes I watch my friend's daughter too. I am not looking to make double income or be shady in any way. It's just that if someone repeatedly tells me that their kids aren't coming, so I say, book a play date with my son's friend or take my friend's daughter for a few hours, I would be put in a position to have to cancel MY plans last minute because the mom is being thoughtless.

Again, this is NOT about me getting paid twice for the same spot -this is about her pretending like she didn't know she had to pay when her kids aren't here, and that she is sending them merely because she might as well because she has to pay anyway, thereby inconveniencing me, who made plans otherwise.

What if, say, she was my only client that day? What if I made doctor's appointments for my kids because on two separate occasions, she confirmed that her kids were not coming? I'm not mad, I'm just trying to see where the line is. If I am canceled for the day, should I then sit in my house on the chance that the parents might show up anyway?

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These are all valid points ~ I think there is nothing wrong with having a clear policy that states that if they have given notice of intent to take vacation X amount of notice is required to alter that plan again because you make use of low ratios to plan special field trips, have play dates for your own children and so forth ... my absenteeism policy is worded similarly that I require notice if they are going to be absent for any length of time so I can plan meals, program, field trips and so forth ~ the request has nothing to do with having booked someone else into the day but more about being able to as you said 'plan' for the day.

Reggio,

I am wondering what the wording is like in your policy? Something like, "if you schedule an absence from daycare but then require care after all, I require 48 hours notice. I plan meals, outings, etc around the number of children that I am caring for, and it is imperative that I have an accurate count before XX" Something like that?

The only problem you are going to run into if you make a policy like that is that the family isn't goign to cancel in advance so you will make all the preparations and then will cancel that morning using the excuse they didnt' want to get caught without care if their needs changed - note they do what is in their best interest. So while you would be getting paid regardless you would also be preparing for them and then not using.

I will be in a similar situation come March where mom is paying full time but doesn't work on Friday. She will keep child home "most" Fridays but likes the idea of having the option to use the space. We have agreed that she needs to let me know on Monday if she will be using Friday or not.

You could put in something that changes are at your discretion with full payment due regardless if less than XXXX amount of notice is given. And explain it with the idea that you are then allowed to plan for less children or to allow one of your own children to invite a friend over and remind her how doing that while all are there violates regulations. Mention things that don't require payment such as a friend, integration on a day with less children, etc. so she doesn't feel like she is being bilked but also explain your position. Then who you give the day to or if they pay is non of anyone else's business.

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Originally Posted by Alphaghetti

Reggio,

I am wondering what the wording is like in your policy? Something like, "if you schedule an absence from daycare but then require care after all, I require 48 hours notice. I plan meals, outings, etc around the number of children that I am caring for, and it is imperative that I have an accurate count before XX" Something like that?

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Yup that is pretty close mine is just flipped with the I plan portion first and than after the notice required I explain that WHY I need notice "to help prepare the children for any disappointments that might arise from having to cancel a field trip or outing as a result of unexpected changes in attendance" cause I find it helps educate them away from that thinking of 'it is no big deal if they send them after all' cause well it really can be a 'big deal' from a child's perspective ;)

Playfelt I agree ~ that is a risk of asking for notice if they are going to change their mind for sure that you risk clients just not informing you ... this is a risk with many of the policies people have like child cannot attend for 48 hours after being newly vaccinated and child can not attend if they have had any over counter medications at home in the last 12 hours or whatever ~ policies like that you risk a client just choosing to lie by omission to do whatever is best for 'them' however I think most providers with those policies choose to hope that MAJORITY will be respectful of the policy?

I personally have never had an issue with asking for notice of vacation backfiring on me like that because the value behind WHY knowing my numbers is vital is clear to parents and my policy is worded that '48 hours notice to change planned vacation time is requested' so it is more of 'in an ideal world I would like 48 hours notice for the following reasons' type thing ~ not a if you fail to provide the proper notice I will terminate your contract type policy.

I have had clients who have had to give me less notice due to an actual 'emergency' aka grandparents were to have the kids for a week and grandpa had a heart attack obviously I am not going to say 'well sorry you cannot come because you told me you were on vacation and I planned on taking the crew to the Children's Museum cause our numbers were low' cause well that would be really BAD business .... for me the policy is a explanation for how I would like to be treated in regards to vacation in addition to my own that clients might take and why I ask for the notice ~ because sadly if I did not let them know what I wanted/needed than I am pretty sure most clients would not think to tell me at all if their kid was going to be away and assume I will figure it out when they just do not 'show' :(

I had a client on vacation over the holidays and they returned from Florida and decided that they wanted dcg to come to me one day. I said no, i had plans for the day. they paid a vacation rate for the spot for that particular day BUT they booked it off.

I have a you booked it, you bought it policy regardless of any changes. Same goes for vacation days, if you cancel days at daycare, you may not get them back. It does all depend on the relationship that you have with people i think. In a situation where there are no problems, you will be more willing to accept change.

I agree gramma. There is sometimes something to be said for not having everything as a hard and fast written policy so that I can use my discretion as needed. Depending on my relationship with the family, how obnoxious the child is - a day of peace is earned, or what kind of a mood I am in, what I have planned for the week will all determine if I say yes or no or what conditions I put on it.