What Would You Do?

[DaycareLady1]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the forum and also just started my own home daycare. I have a client who has a child come on 3 set days per week. I just started last week, and they are already asking me to switch days for one week. What would you do? I'm thinking I should just be firm with the fact that I've committed to certain days of the week. I just don't want to get into the habit of switching days constantly. It does state in my contract that if a child can't come on a daycare day due to illness or another reason, that the parent is responsible to still pay for that day. I am holding the space for their child on those days. What do you guys think? I can't help but wonder if I agree to switch days this time, if they will keep asking me, and my schedule will become a mess! Any advice? What should I say back to the parents?

[kidlove]

Welcome to the forum, first off! and welcome to the daycare field!
You are totally right, very wise for just starting, takes a lot of people many mistakes before they know what to do and not to do! what you need to do, is not allow them to change their days, They WILL continue to do it IF you let them. and if you are willing to take the child a dif day, let them know there will be a days extra charge, due to the fact that that is not a regular schedules day for their child....this way they either pay you extra, which helps make it worth it to change the schedule IF you have the room or desire to do so....or they wont ask to change the schedule around due to the fact they dont want to pay extra. I have learned the more you let parents push, the more they feel entitled to!

[mimi]

Hello DaycareLady1 and welcome. What a wise woman you are to stand up for your policies so early on. Kidlove is right and I agree, most of us, myself included, have learned through our mistakes what not to do. Kudos to you for nipping this in the bud from the start.

[BlueRose]

last week I had a parent ask if she could only bring her child 3 days instead of 5, so she could spend more time with her. The days would be different each week depending on the mothers hours. As a mother I understand 100% with the mom wanting to spend more time with the kid. I just told the mom that I would be marking the child as here every day (Mon to Fri), so I get paid for all 5 days. Her child has to be here 3 days a week, unless sick. She also has to let me know the week before hand which days she is going to be here.

we will see how this goes.

but i would never had agreed with this if i was only getting paid for only the days she was here.
so i would tell the parents if they want the schedule to be changeable then they have to pay for all 5 days.

[kidlove]

thanks exactly how I do it! I have had parents with flex schedules, always needing dif days through each week but never more than three days a week, I inform them that although I will only have their child for three days a week, because it is an always changing sched even if I was lucky enough to find someone to take the other two, it wouldn't be possible due to the fact they are never the same days, so they are required to pay for full time. They always do. (I also offer to any parent that is making the required payment, with enough notice i am more than happy to provide care for the ammount of days they pay) therefor if paying for full time but using 3 days, they find on a day off they want to get to a dr appt or work out or just stay home and catch up on house work? I am here for their child, given I have a little notice! I always want they to feel they get their moneys worth, but in return they need to understand I need a steady income. win win

[Momof4]

Does this family share a space with another family or are the empty days not being used by anyone? If you have a plan to fill the empty days with another family then you will have to insist that this family stick to their scheduled days. If you allow them to switch a day once in a while then charge them for that day on top of their scheduled 3 days.

I know this is why some people insist on charging full fees for part-time families but I don't do that. When I have a part-time family I don't have them sharing with anybody else so I'm ok with them switching a day now and then. I enjoy having a few easy days every week with one less child in care.

Definitely weigh all your options and do what is exactly what works best for you.

[DaycareLady1]

Thanks for the advice! I stuck to my guns and said no. I feel annoyed because I have already been very flexible with this family. I have already opened the daycare early each morning for them. I have already agreed to feed their child an extra meal each day since he's here so early, and I gave them 3 hours of free integration time. I just feel enough is enough. They are just starting and already asking for so much. I feel I have already been very good to them.

[Momof4]

DaycareLady1 this family does sound like they are really pushing their luck. I'm very glad you stuck up for yourself and put your foot down and all that. Pat yourself on the back! These are some of the reasons I stick to my contractto the letter and make sure the families know that I'm fair but strict because it's a legal agreement between us. I want to make sure they understand that from day one so they respect the policies they are signing and promising to follow.