What are your important issues? Where will you compromise?

[Isawitfirst]

I have had to change my operating hours over the years. I don't mind if hours extend to 6:00 as many of the families here use the Go train to Toronto (I do charge an extended day fee however). I find later easier than earlier. Payment issues I do not change. It becomes important to review policies when you enter a dry period. Not to go on a rant again but the all-day Kindergarten might force some changes.

[Cadillac]

I set up my daycare to be completely flexible for parents. But that being said, they are know that there are limits and the flexibility will lessen should I feel I'm being taken advantage of.

For me it's all about the situation.

One child will stay hours after closing time about once a week. I wouldn't do that for any other family but mom does shift work, dad works long hours far away. If I didn't then they would have to hire a nanny and pay a substantial amount of money for only a couple hours of care. on top of that, this child is my kids best friend. they are inseparable. when he stays late I get a huge break after work to make dinner in piece

For another family I am giving a sibling discount. This family moved not too long ago but goes out of their way to come to me for care and are working on getting their older child into the school up the street so they can continue to stay with me throughout the children's school years. This sort of loyalty deserves something on my end (besides amazing care LOL)

I have close bonds with my families and I think thats important in the job that we do.

When I had an emergency with my fiance. One parent offered to watch the kids for me until my assistant could come and another insisted on driving me all the way to the hospital to be with him. On some other occasions parents have come to pick up their children in the middle of the day so I could take care of other issues. No one ever complains or even looks slightly inconvenienced.

How can I not bend for them when they so willingly bend for me?

So to answer the question: I'd probably bend the rules on anything (but safety) as long as it's a logical and reasonable request.

[Tot-Time]

Have you ever found that your contracts are too rigid?

I once had a potential family where the father was a lawyer and after seeing my contract he cancelled our interview. I eventually discovered through the wife it was that my contract was too strict.

Since then I have tried to make my contract have a more parent friendly feel too it. But for me that has been a challenge

[Emilys4Guppies]

Have you ever found that your contracts are too rigid?

I once had a potential family where the father was a lawyer and after seeing my contract he cancelled our interview. I eventually discovered through the wife it was that my contract was too strict.

Since then I have tried to make my contract have a more parent friendly feel too it. But for me that has been a challenge

What portions of your contract did he find too rigid? For the most part, I think that parents are relieved when they see that I have a contract. It holds me accountable just as much as them.

[Tot-Time]

What portions of your contract did he find too rigid?

For this particular family it was that I had 3 clauses: 1) that if a family doesn't pay their childcare fees I will take the account to collections and charge and add an administration fee due to me having to file with collection 2) *if* a family's account goes into arrears and collections doesn't work, I can take the family to court for non-payment and if this was necessary that I will charge the family an administration fee 3) that if a family has an nsf cheque I can charge the family $35 for the nsf, plus the charges I incur throught my bank due to the bounced cheque.

I think there might have been issues with the late payment fee too, because I back date it to when the payment was due and not when I discovered the cheque bounced.

The mom told me straight up that the dad (lawyer) wouldn't agree to those terms and therefore she wasn't able to even interview me to see if my daycare was right for them. I think for me that was the turning point on when I stopped providing my contract before an interview so that the families could meet me and know that although contracts can sound scary, the basics are based on respect and mutual understanding and there to protect both the parents and myself.

[giraffe]

If a parent finds your contract to ridgid for them, then they are not the parent for you.

[playfelt]

I like to give parents the benefit of the doubt at least occasionally and that is where flexibility comes in. I am a 40-60 minute drive for my parents that work in the west end and there are accidents and slow downs on the Queensway pretty much daily and no it isn't like they can take another route. I have a late fee but the parent that races here after work and so has 4:30 on her contract but occasionally takes till 4:40 to get here is not charged overtime compared to the parent that works at about the same distance away and put 5 down on her contract so she didnt' need to rush so if she is late then it is her own fault. If the first parent is late it is because the traffic was an issue or the boss asked a question as she headed out the door. Those that have pickup times scheduled before my 5 pm close as in are not using their full alloted 10 hours are not charged in the same as someone who goes 10 mintues over their 10 hours. Otherwise I would have all parents putting the full 10 hours on their forms and going home and starting supper and changing clothes before coming at the last minute to pick up. They figure they are paying for it anyways. It just seems if I work with each family I get more respect back than if I stood my ground and treated them like a number than a human being. No matter what you do there will always be a family that abuses the rules no matter what they are.

[Tot-Time]

I do the same thing I have a 4:30 closure. BUT due to inclimate weather or traffic conditions I would rather have a family slow down and drive safely than get into an accident trying to arrive here on time. I allow parents a 15 min grace period before charging a late fee, if it isn't a 'normal' occurance. However, if a family is late because they ran an errand before coming to daycare, there is always a late fee starting at 4:30. I can usually tell if a family is late due to traffic or weather because the other families will be late too.

I think the most important part of my contract is the respect. If a parent shows me respect and common courtesy then I am more willing to show a parent respect. Just because I have a $35 nsf fee doesn't mean I have to charge it. If a family comes to me and tells me their cheque is going to bounce I will only charge the bank fees that I incurred due to the bounced cheque. The late fee is reserved for those who don't tell me their cheque is going to bounce and I get a nasty surprise when checking my account.

[Amateur Owner]

I had a parent who was changing work hours and wanted to come earlier/open daycare earlier for them...it was just 1/2 hr and my other parent alternates shifts each month which meant I was opening for them earlier on those months (in turn the kids leave earlier too). However with the parent that was changing hours...the week it was starting the first day the DCK was sick, got a call 1/2 hour before arrival time. the next 3 days they showed up pretty close to regular time, out of that whole week they came in 15 mins earlier ONE. I was waking up earlier and getting my day started earlier for them and they had no consideration whatsoever!!! So by the end of the week I asked if they were really gonna start coming earlier or not? They said maybe, not sure if it'll be everyday etc. I was livid! It is my time too...you're not paying me extra for this, so I told them they needed to send me a msg if they needed to come earlier, if not I would assume it was regular hours...Was I harsh?
How do you work out hours; 10 hours maximum & then they pay late fees? Are you flexible with some families and maybe not so much with others?

[Tot-Time]

Amateur Owner I do not believe you were harsh by asking to be notified when the family needed the additonal 1/2 an hour. I would ask the same thing.

I am only open 7:30 - 4:30, so anything beyond those hours are late fees. I haven't charged a late fee in a long time a year or more, mainly because I have good families and they do a lot for me. A Timmy's hot chocolate does butter me up, lol. But, with that being said the few times in the year where my youngest has dance competitions and I have no idea whether it will affect daycare or if I will have to take a day off, my parents NEVER complain, even if I only give a weeks notice. So I figure some of the relationship is give and take.

Now if my dc families were being consistently late or early, then I would have some issues with it, But right now, I have a family picking up late maybe once every other month by about 5 to 10 minutes.

I love my sleep, so I have to be notified in advance if a family wishes to come early and because I am not fully awake in the mornings, if a family starts sneaking in earlier and earlier then I have been known to get a little cranky. If no notice is given, my door gets unlocked at 7:25.