Even now after many many years of interviewing I find I am nervous for interviews and the more I am anxioius to get a space filled the worse I feel just before. When they arrive I take them on a tour of the main floor and talk about each area so I am doing the leading, talking, and in control and I find that helps settle me down somewhat. I ask them a few questions as we go along. My house is basically in a circle so we move from front door through livingroom to diningroom which is our upstairs playroom. We pause briefly and if it is an older child they start to play. I explain when we use this room and show them the back yard from the window and talk a bit about outside. We then move into the kitchen where I have a childsize table for 6 and up to 3 highchairs as needed (our table is in the end of the family room). I use this opportunity to talk a little about food and ask parents questions like what kind of a cup their child uses, basically where are they at in the eating spectrum, puree, fingerfoods, uses utensils, likes/dislikes etc. We then move from kitchen to basement door area and they can see the family room from here where my hubby and daughter are so introduce them, then we continue on to where I change diapers just outside our 2 piece bath ( I have an old computer desk I use as a change table). This gives me a chance to talk about diapering and them bringing a bag and leaving here, that I provide the wipes but they bring the cream etc. From here we move to the basement playroom. I send them down first since I lock the door behind us because of my daughter. By the time I get down they are looking around and an older child has gone off to play. I let them look around a bit more and then start pointing out centres or features or whatever as a way of telling about our day.

The idea here is that by the time we get to sitting down and talking I have managed to get all my info in there and now it is their turn to talk. "Tell me about the kind of childcare you are looking for" is my opening question. Their answer often helps me make up my mind right then and there if this is a family for me. I learn how realistic their expectations are, how much they have thought about it for themselves and how much sounds like they are reading a paragraph from the how to find childcare booklet and it gives me an insight into how they do things at home.

Best piece of advice is don't be afraid to take the upperhand and run the interview. You are interviewing a prospective client. It isn't just about them accepting you. I used to worry about the interviews but have learned when I take my earnestness to fill a space out of the equation that I can be more relaxed and rational. Not every family that comes through your home will choose you and it isn't necessarily because you did anything wrong.

I have had parents stay 15 minutes and then call me in a few days to ask for the space. They had found what they thought was the right space but just had to be sure so set up several visits just to get a feel for what else was out there and I guess they liked the feel.

I don't give them anything in advance but do send them away with my info and forms and ask them to please email if there is anything they would like more clarification on.