I think I want to only fill full time spots! and no school agers!

[playfelt]

School age care can be hard to find in some areas so I would consider that in your timing since parents will feel they had the school year covered when they signed on with you. For sure it is ok to tell parents now that you will not be taking school age as of the end of June and encouraging them to check out summer camps etc. (which they will need to start doing now).

Many of us only do care for those not in school mostly because of the lost income from school age kids plus the transportation.

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

You tell your clients the news in exactly the same way that you told us here. You've decided to focus your program on children between the ages of one and three years of age. Point out that it allows you to run a better program for the little ones - it's always easier to stock the toybox with toys that interest everyone, as well as plan activities/crafts that everyone can participate in, when all of the children are at (roughly) the same developmental stage.

I also do not provide care for school aged children. I just can't make an economic "go" of it. My income is already capped by provincial regulations that dictate I can only care for 5 children. If the laws were changed allowing caregivers to care for a couple of before and after school kids in addition to their five full time charges, I think more caregivers would consider caring for school aged children. IMO I think a lot of us find it too difficult to take the financial hit that comes with having a school aged child occupy a space, but only generate 20 dollars a day in income. (as opposed to 40-50 dollars a day for a regular full time child) It's the same reasoning that prevents caregivers from taking on part time charges. While I do love children, this is my job - I do have to earn a living. If it isn't economically viable, then I can't do it.

Another thing to consider (that I've heard from numerous caregivers) is that school aged children are frequently more expensive to provide care for - despite the reduced rate they pay. They eat more, they require more craft materials to entertain them, and you wind up purchasing different toys/books that are better suited for their age group. Like I said, I just can't make the books work for this age group.

When you break the news to parents be sure to point out the benefits of your program to them. Your schedule/day is completely your own - free to customize any way that the little ones need you to. i.e. if you have a little one who needs two naps a day it's easy to arrange, if the children are late to go down for their naps - they can still get the sleep they need, you don't have to wake everyone up to run to a bus stop, or pick up the older children. It truly allows you to create a infant/toddler friendly environment instead of trying to work infants/toddlers needs around a school bus run.