Infant fee verses toddler fee

[Sandbox Sally]

People are paying for a spot in my daycare. I don't care how old their kids are, they pay my full fee.

[jec]

People are paying for a spot in my daycare. I don't care how old their kids are, they pay my full fee.

Do you charge different rates for infant verses toddler?

[Sandbox Sally]

Do you charge different rates for infant verses toddler?

No. That's what I meant. Everyone pays the same fee regardless of age.

[michellesmunchkins]

My fees are the same regardless of age. I generally don't take kids over the age of 3 unless they have been with me since the beginning.

I do however, think I am going to change my fees according to hours. Right now its the same whether your child is here for 9 hours or 12 hours...I find that now I have families leaving their kids for 11-12 hours just because they can and not because they need it. They are going shopping after work, out for an early dinner, visiting friends etc and then coming to get the kids. not fair to their little ones so for that to stop generally you need to hit the pocketbook!

[Inspired by Reggio]

...I do however, think I am going to change my fees according to hours. ...

Yes - my fees are based on a nine hour day cause that is the 'average' work day for society and only Monday - Friday... I set those nine hours as 7:30 - 4:30 because that is my preferred hours of work and work best for my family ... so if you need me to work OVERTIME before or after that either because you cannot arrange drop off and pick up between you and your spouse or a family member within those nine hours than yes just like any other industry where someone is ask to work more than 45 hours a week or to work evenings or weekends and so forth - you unfortunately compensate those extra hours with an extend hour fee!

And even than I only work a 10 hour day max .... I could not work 12 hours a day and kudos to you who do - by 5pm I am running on fumes!

[jec]

I had to change my contract that anything after 9.5 hrs is considered over time. I had a family do just that, take advantage and leave their little one from 7am until 6pm. I was exhausted!
Yikes - are you working that long every day Michelle?

[Sandbox Sally]

Heck no, I couldn't work a 12 hour day every day, especially without any monetary compensation! My hours are 7-5, and families can pick the 9 hour block that they'd like to attend. Ten hours a day is an extra ten dollars per day.

[michellesmunchkins]

I do physically have kids here from 6am-6pm...some days I have one who doesn't get picked up until 6:20! Its exhausting, both physically and mentally. I'm ok with parents who legit need those hours because they may work 10 hour days plus travel...but...

The ones who are taking advantage are starting to drive me NUTS!!! They tell me that they are just working around the house, doing some cleaning, running some errands as they have the day off yet their child is here at 6:30am (normal drop off time) and picked up at 6:00pm on the nose (normal pick up time). To me, this is taking advantage. Especially on days when they are the last child here and I'm stuck not being able to do what I need to do until he leaves...very frustrating!

I REALLY think its time for some contract changes...sad that I've never had to consider this as I've always had great families who drop off with enough time to get a coffee and get to work and come to pick up right after work...now out of 5 I have 2 that pull this 'extended stay BS'

[jec]

I do physically have kids here from 6am-6pm...some days I have one who doesn't get picked up until 6:20! Its exhausting, both physically and mentally. I'm ok with parents who legit need those hours because they may work 10 hour days plus travel...but...

The ones who are taking advantage are starting to drive me NUTS!!! They tell me that they are just working around the house, doing some cleaning, running some errands as they have the day off yet their child is here at 6:30am (normal drop off time) and picked up at 6:00pm on the nose (normal pick up time). To me, this is taking advantage. Especially on days when they are the last child here and I'm stuck not being able to do what I need to do until he leaves...very frustrating!

I REALLY think its time for some contract changes...sad that I've never had to consider this as I've always had great families who drop off with enough time to get a coffee and get to work and come to pick up right after work...now out of 5 I have 2 that pull this 'extended stay BS'

OMG you are going to burn out with that schedule. Your daycare parents are lucky to have you. I am open from 7am until 5:30 and can take 9.5 hrs when they need them. I`m flex for days we get snow storms etc.
I can`t believe that your daycare families are taking advantage of you by using your open to close hrs to get their personal things done. I feel that my daycare parents pay me and if they want to do work or personal things during daycare hrs, that is their choice but to leave their little one from open to close is so taking advantage!! Nothing you can really say is there as they are now used to doing it. You should look at changing your contract and soon so you don`t burn out and or start getting more bitter towards these families

[Momof4]

I do physically have kids here from 6am-6pm...some days I have one who doesn't get picked up until 6:20! Its exhausting, both physically and mentally. I'm ok with parents who legit need those hours because they may work 10 hour days plus travel...but...

The ones who are taking advantage are starting to drive me NUTS!!! They tell me that they are just working around the house, doing some cleaning, running some errands as they have the day off yet their child is here at 6:30am (normal drop off time) and picked up at 6:00pm on the nose (normal pick up time). To me, this is taking advantage. Especially on days when they are the last child here and I'm stuck not being able to do what I need to do until he leaves...very frustrating!

I REALLY think its time for some contract changes...sad that I've never had to consider this as I've always had great families who drop off with enough time to get a coffee and get to work and come to pick up right after work...now out of 5 I have 2 that pull this 'extended stay BS'

Ouch! This makes me so very sad for you! I'm open from 7:30-5 and usually have the children between 7:45-4:15ish, so I'm super lucky right now. Next week I have a family who has to be here at 7:30 all week and I'm going to have to get up 15 minutes earlier and that's going to hurt me! I don't know how you do it! Hopefully you have a 9 hour maximum for each family though.