Hey all!
What are your hours? Have you shortened them over time?
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Hey all!
What are your hours? Have you shortened them over time?
I think it depends on if families need to commute or not. I'm open 7:30-5 but I get lots of requests for 6:00-6:15 drop offs. I usually tell them that I'll consider for an extra fee. Sometimes early isn't an option.
I am opened from 7:30-5:00, all my kids arrive between 7:55-8:15 which is perfect since my kids get on the school bus at 7:48.
7:30-5. All but one child is collected by 4:30 but I've cared for him and his older sibling before him for close to 4 years and I really don't mind. All the kids are here by 8:15 in the morning but I have two families who are here within two minutes either side of 7:30.
I started off 730-530 than went 730-515 and am now officially 745-5. This summer (and for any new ones before than) I will be 745-445. I open at 730 3x a week for a family that has been with me the longest. Normally I only have kids 815-4ish OR 730-415ish though. It is different almost every day lol.
I'm open from 7:30-4:45 right now but if I get a new client who needs me till 5 I will stay open till 5 no later.
Thanks everyone!
I am so excited to work a 9 hour day!!!
7:15-5:15 Mine arrive between 7:15-7:45 and leave between 3:45-5:05. I am newly opened so my hours are a bit longer, if I get any turn over I will adjust my hours slowly to shorten my day. My families use the time for commute though, they don't seem to use it just because I am open.
I am open from 7:30-5. When I started I was open until 5:15 but as soon as the one family was gone that required it I changed it. I pretty much have kids start showing up at 7:30 and the last to be picked up is usually at 4:50.
Lee-Bee, that is exactly what I did! If a family needs till 5 and I had no others interested, I would consider staying open till than. So far, the emails for people wanting on my waiting list have said that 445 would work or they can find someone to pick up before than. In the summers, my other half is off so it will be nice to head up to the cabin almost an hour earlier than past summers.
All my waiting list families all need 8-5 as well :)
I'm 730 - 430, but I don't start worrying about late pickups until 445. My kids all leave around 4:15 to 4:20.
6am - 6pm. I live in a HUGE commuting area, and most people have at least an hour commute one way.
I work a nine hour day. 7:30am to 4:30pm. When I first started it was a 10 hour day but I shortened it in my second year when I realized all my dckids COULD have been picked up by 4:30pm but were still here at 5:30pm. So I shortened my day by an hour and never lost a client. I have never looked back and stayed at my 9 hour day.
Like ttremble88, I live in a commuting area. I'm actually a stone's throw from the main route into Toronto, so I'm open 6am-6pm. Have been for 13 years. However, my first client drops at 7am and the last to leave is usually around 5 (once my part timer who leaves at 6 finishes up here in April). I've never found it a problem having them till 6pm. The parents are fine with the fact that I'm well into cooking dinner for my family when the come to pick up....usually with an entourage of wee ones looking to sample :)
my hours are 7 to 5pm i have one family that comes 5 minutes to 7 or sometimes 10 min. which isn't a big deal because i'm up and my odd has to go to highschool. And I have one family who comes lates and usually picks up 5:10 which really isn't a big deal. Also, I have on occasion have had a child later than that, like this week, my after school kid (she's my ydd bff) her dad had to work till 6pm (rare) so it wasnt a big deal she came at 415pm and was here till 6pm, I didn't see the girls the whole time, they are so funny at the age of 9.
I commend you ladies who are open 12 hours! There is for sure a need for some parents and especially if you live in an area where parents have to commute. I don't know if I could do 12 hours but I guess it would be easier to do it at home than in a workplace out of the home. I'm sure your parents appreciate the hours you put in to look after their children!!
I'm not even open 8 hours some days and I still sometimes am cooking supper or baking with the last child here lol.
I charge per day but I do ask that they don't wait until closing time if they don't need too. I have never had anyone abuse this unless they were working. Every time a late child has left, I have shortened my hours and thankfully have found parents who don't need long days.
I started off advertising for 7 am - 5:30 but I got lucky because everyone seemed to need 7:30 - 5. Working 9.5 hours was manageable and just right.
I soon changed my "advertised" hours from 7:15- 5:15
I was desperate to sign someone this fall and agreed to take a family from 7:15 - 5:30. :no: I never thought that 15 minutes could make so much difference but I regret it most days.
Those extra 15 minutes for just 1 child feel like a lifetime and make my evenings feel so much shorter.
I wish I could do shorter hours but I live in an area where most people are commuting.
I am opened from 7:30 to 5:30, but my dck's get picked up between 430-5. I usually give the extra half an hour to parents who commute in the winter.
Judy- it is true families will generally take whatever extra hours are available, so I decided to shorten mine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Judy Trickett