3.5k
Daycare and childcare providers in Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario etc. in CanadaGarderies à Montréal ou au QuébecFind daycare or childcare providers in the USA
Forum control
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23
  1. #1
    Euphoric ! kidlove's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    1,400
    Thanked
    347 Times in 258 Posts

    Why do I find it so hard to "crack down" on parents?

    Why do I find it so hard to really "crack down"? I feel like most of you guys have such an easy time being Tough when you have to. Are you all "blowing smoke" or do you REALLY "give it" to parents when it comes to...not following your rules, payment, drop-off, pick-up, behaviors and such. I just feel like if I tried to tackle every rule that was broken with a "term letter" or "verbal warning" I'd be like the angry teacher that nobody likes, always getting after the children. Honestly, all of your responses are so "straight forward and to the point", is that the God's honest truth? Do I have to take a class to be a real "nasty" when I need to be? I even send out reminders and they "mock" the few times I have tried to issue "late fees" they have gotten mad and left my care. What the heck!

  2. #2
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    2,419
    Thanked
    599 Times in 439 Posts
    I have actually often wondered the same thing...everyone on here talks the talk, but do they actually walk the walk? I am pretty good at keeping things running smoothly and haven't had many problems with parents breaking my rules, but I do struggle with confrontation. I have often wondered if everyone who always says "terminate" on this forum actually terminates as often as they advocate others to...cause talk is easy

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to sunnydays For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    Expansive...
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    775
    Thanked
    244 Times in 166 Posts
    I jump right on an issue, but via email first. I will not take being walked all over and disrespected. Email messages gives parents the time to read it over and if they are upset, gives them time to cool off and think it through. IF they choose to not respond, I will ask them first thing in the morning if they received my email last night, and ask them if they had any questions.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Lou For This Useful Post:


  6. #4
    Euphoric ! kidlove's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    1,400
    Thanked
    347 Times in 258 Posts
    Thanks for verifying my "confusion" Sunnydays. It is just sooooo much easier to say..."I would terminate immediately" or "not at my house", how many of you REALLY follow through on your talk?

    How many families have you terminated in how many years? Answer if you dare.

    I'll go first. I can remember 3 in ten years. I have had almost 50 families through my door. NEXT!...

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to kidlove For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    AB
    Posts
    425
    Thanked
    103 Times in 59 Posts
    I'd have to say that about 95% of the time I walk the walk. I don't stand for BS in my dayhome and I don't take crap from parents. How many kids have I terminated? none! How many kids have I given a notice of behaviour issues to...a few. Those few parents chose to leave my care and go elsewhere instead of trying to correct the problem and work WITH me as a team. Do I care that they left? NOPE! My contract/package is pretty long, in depth and to the point with no sugar coating. The families I get into my care are all on the same page as me and abide by the contract/package I give them to sign. I charge late fees and parents willing pay them, I voice my optinions, etc. and for the most part have had VERY good families in care.
    The Daycare Room ~ A forum for providers ~
    http://thedaycareroom.forumotion.ca/

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to fruitloop For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Newmarket
    Posts
    1,130
    Thanked
    550 Times in 347 Posts
    I'm a total sucker with parents and admit it freely. However, after 11 years, I've had to become more forceful, though I find it difficult. I've always run a very relaxed daycare (from the business end) and for the most part, it went well. Of course, there are always some people who will take advantage. I just always dealt with those situations as they came along and modified when I needed to. However, in the past couple of years, now that my business has moved into more people that I don't know, I've had problems. For the first time, I'm drawing up contracts and putting rules in place that I'm not comfortable with and will, undoubtedly, have to enforce them. I'm so glad to hear that someone else has a hard time with this end of things as well.

    Thanks!

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to cfred For This Useful Post:


  12. #7
    Expansive... Play and Learn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    828
    Thanked
    140 Times in 116 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by fruitloop View Post
    I'd have to say that about 95% of the time I walk the walk. I don't stand for BS in my dayhome and I don't take crap from parents. How many kids have I terminated? none! How many kids have I given a notice of behaviour issues to...a few. Those few parents chose to leave my care and go elsewhere instead of trying to correct the problem and work WITH me as a team. Do I care that they left? NOPE! My contract/package is pretty long, in depth and to the point with no sugar coating. The families I get into my care are all on the same page as me and abide by the contract/package I give them to sign. I charge late fees and parents willing pay them, I voice my optinions, etc. and for the most part have had VERY good families in care.
    Yup, same here. I've termed 3 families in 2 years. And let me tell you, it felt like so much weight lifted from my shoulders!

    I run two businesses, so why should I feel out and stressed at the end of each day? You don't like my rules, then there's the door, and try not to let it hit you on the way out!

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to Play and Learn For This Useful Post:


  14. #8
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    394
    Thanked
    37 Times in 30 Posts
    To be honest, I don't let it to come at that point. If they disrespect me I tell them on the spot. If they don't correct themselves and do it again then I tell them when they do it second time and prepare the letter that afternoon to give them next morning. They are not kids they are adults and they should know what is expectable what is not. Im not going to warn them again and again.

    The thing is, if I'm upset and not happy about things then i wont make anyone happy and obviously it will effect my mood and I don't feel like doing this job anymore. So why should I let other people bother me and ruin my mood? I can take a lot of nonsense from kids cause they don't know what they are doing and they are being kids but if a parent doing this I'm sorry i wont take it. I'm not your mother to correct you.

    I didn't have to term. Anyone as I said I tell them on the spot and they correct themselves immediately as they know what will happen next if they don't follow my rules.

    I know our finances making us take these craps from parents but for me there is no amount of money worth for my sanity. I can perfectly go and find a cleaning job with no stress. Beside, my house my rules. So yes, I walk the walk

  15. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Cocoon For This Useful Post:


  16. #9
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    95
    Thanked
    91 Times in 46 Posts
    I think that it is a gradual process. When I first started daycare, I made sure my interview package was awesome, and yes, many of my policies are still the same. But I didn't take myself seriously. I didn't think I would ever need to use my late fee policy, because I thought all parents would rush to pick up their kids after they were in care from 7:00-5:30. Not always the case. I didn't think people would send their kids sick. They did! Surely, people would not knock and wake up my kid and try to come earlier than their scheduled drop off. Sure did. It was infuriating, and most of the times I let these kids in care, I was mad at myself for not standing up for myself and the kid. Now that I have been at this a little longer, I can see those experiences for what they were: learning experiences. It is never easy to "walk the walk". When I re-opened after a move and my mat leave, I ended up terminating two families that did not work. One was an immediate termination. And yes, both times I stressed and stressed before making the final decision and having a very difficult conversation, but ultimately I just kept telling myself that these families do what is best for them all the time - I need to do what is best for MY family. And what is best for my family is a Mom that is not stressed because people are taking advantage of her good nature. I still hate confrontation. I try to get most of it over with in the interview. Now I have a two interview process. I have the 1st interview and that lasts about an hour. If I like them, I give them the parent handbook and my list of references. And then we both take 24 hours to think about things. I don't sign people right away anymore. If I have a bad feeling, I don't sign them. The second interview, they must have read the handbook and then we go over the contract together so there are no surprises and they can ask questions so there is no confusion on any policies. If they are at all difficult during this interview, I just say it will not work out after all. I find doing it this way reduces the amount of difficult conversations I have to have once care has started. Once you give in once, it sort of sets a precedent and it is a slippery slope. I make sure to charge my late fee now even if they are a few minutes late without phone call. I don't unlock my door until opening time. I have turned sick kids away and phoned to pick them up right away. Once I started enforcing my contract, and had compatible parents in care, it gets easier. I know how it feels though. The first time you stand up for yourself is always the hardest. I wish you so much luck, because you DO deserve fair treatment and you will feel miles better once the people treating you badly are treating you better or out of your life altogether.

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to ladyjbug For This Useful Post:


  18. #10
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    3,629
    Thanked
    949 Times in 781 Posts
    Haha, nope, I don't let a problem fester and drive me crazy, I tell the parents about the issues with the children daily. That way if it's an ongoing problem and they have heard it come out of my mouth a hundred times they know why I'm reaching the end of my rope. I've had parents really start to help me with a problem with their child after I have said the same thing over and over and they see my exhaustion and frustration. I'm one of those people who says exactly what I mean and what I'm thinking shows on my face. So when the parents say something so upsetting to me they can see that I'm upset. I'm honest, straightforward and my clients respect me for that. There is no hidden agenda or sarcasm or subtle hints. My words verbally and written are my thoughts.

    To tell you the truth, I had horrible problems in my first year, but I implemented my contract and learned to be tough about it and now any time I have an issue arise I simply say 'according to our contract that you signed and read ............' I just had a Mom who had to be told to reread the toilet training part, but otherwise I haven't had problems in years with payment or anything to do with breaking my rules. I did get mad at a Dad who announced he was going to use 1/2 an hour extra a day for a while without ASKING me, but he stopped, because as I said, my face shows what I think and my face said 'WHAT?'.

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to Momof4 For This Useful Post:


Similar Threads

  1. Daycare Whisperer's new book "This job would be great if it wasn't for the parents"
    By daycarewhisperer in forum Daycare providers' experiences with parents
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-02-2014, 02:53 PM
  2. Replies: 4
    Last Post: 01-17-2014, 06:58 AM
  3. Love the "variety" Parents!!
    By Mamma_Mia in forum Daycare meals
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 10-08-2012, 02:52 PM
  4. 38 years love the children "is there help for parents"
    By 2nd mom in forum Daycare providers' experiences with parents
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 06-30-2012, 06:53 AM
  5. Not a "Flopper" but "Angry Spice"
    By Mamma_Mia in forum Daycare providers' experiences with parents
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 03-04-2012, 12:38 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

A few tips...

Do not hesitate to refer to this article to help you choose a daycare provider, know which questions to ask, have an idea of what to look for...
Updates
We expect providers to keep their listing and available openings up-to-date. However, to prevent oversights, openings expire after 45 days.
Partner in your
search for a daycare provider