Playfelt I agree ~ that is a risk of asking for notice if they are going to change their mind for sure that you risk clients just not informing you ... this is a risk with many of the policies people have like child cannot attend for 48 hours after being newly vaccinated and child can not attend if they have had any over counter medications at home in the last 12 hours or whatever ~ policies like that you risk a client just choosing to lie by omission to do whatever is best for 'them' however I think most providers with those policies choose to hope that MAJORITY will be respectful of the policy?

I personally have never had an issue with asking for notice of vacation backfiring on me like that because the value behind WHY knowing my numbers is vital is clear to parents and my policy is worded that '48 hours notice to change planned vacation time is requested' so it is more of 'in an ideal world I would like 48 hours notice for the following reasons' type thing ~ not a if you fail to provide the proper notice I will terminate your contract type policy.

I have had clients who have had to give me less notice due to an actual 'emergency' aka grandparents were to have the kids for a week and grandpa had a heart attack obviously I am not going to say 'well sorry you cannot come because you told me you were on vacation and I planned on taking the crew to the Children's Museum cause our numbers were low' cause well that would be really BAD business .... for me the policy is a explanation for how I would like to be treated in regards to vacation in addition to my own that clients might take and why I ask for the notice ~ because sadly if I did not let them know what I wanted/needed than I am pretty sure most clients would not think to tell me at all if their kid was going to be away and assume I will figure it out when they just do not 'show'