References

[smileyface]

Hi Ladies,

I have a question about asking a parent to be a reference. I opened my daycare in September 2012, and have had one family. I recently added another dck to the daycare. I am now interviewing for another daycare spot and wondering how soon can I ask a family to be a reference? Since I am still new, I am in need of references. The family that just started has been only coming for 2 weeks (and it has been going great), but I have an interview coming up this week. Is it too soon to ask them to be a reference? I already have the other family as a reference, but I would really like to be able to give 2 references. How long should I wait before I ask?

[Big Hearts]

Do you have friend you have watched kids for? That is what I did in the beginning. Because I didn't have previous clients, I have two really close friend write up mine. they put their number on the bottom of a letter they wrote, and people could call them if need be. I still use the letters to this day. I have been open a few years now.

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

If it were me I would use the family who has been with you for longer as your reference. I fully appreciate that you want to provide prospective families with multiple references, but I don't think it's fair to ask a family that you've only worked with for a couple of weeks to vouch for you. I usually like for families to have been with me for three months before I hit them up for the "reference" favor. (Just my opinion - sorry !) I also don't think it's necessary. I think as long as you have one "Mum" for people to talk to that should be enough. I used to drive myself crazy trying to arrange multiple references from all of my daycare parents when I was interviewing families. Half the time, prospective families don't bother calling my references (even when they choose me) and I found it awkward professionally, because if the family didn't choose me I had to explain to my current families that "they didn't pick me and I'm still looking" Never something you want to do ! If any prospective families ask "why" you don't have more references, I would just explain that you are only currently caring for two children, and that you feel it would be unfair to ask someone to vouch for you who is still a very new client.

[playfelt]

On the other side of the coin since you only have two clients you could speak to the new client and ask them if they would mind if you included their name as a reference but also tell them that you understand they won't haven't been with you long and therefore what they would be able to speak to prospective parents is what it was about you and your home that drew them to you instead of somewhere else - just the idea that we felt this was the best place of everything we interviewed which may encourage the family to stop looking.

[mimi]

I was just thinking the same as playfelt. Ask your newest client if they would be willing to express their reasons for chosing you and how their experience with your daycare has been so far.

[Momof4]

Ditto what Playfelt said also. I give out my resume at every interview and the references at the bottom of the page are my current client's names and phone numbers. Good luck.

[playfelt]

Parents like to have current names as they are also wanting to find out more about who their child will be hanging out with all day too so even if the family is new they want to know about them.