Interview questions for infants?

[hua052011]

Hi

I found that a member asked same question in this forum some months ago.

Pls use search box to find this questions with comments
If you want to get more materials that related to this topic, you can visit: Child care teacher interview questions


Best regards.

[Momof4]

Fruitloop, I'll hold spaces that I know are coming up too with a deposit and a signed contract. If the space stays empty because they aren't starting for a month I also charge a holding fee of the equivalent of one week pay. I don't think it's fair to have them pay any more than that but that's just me. Different daycare providers charge different fees for this.

For the advice about infant questions I love all the advice already given on this thread, but my main goals for the parents are to have them make sure they nudge the baby toward our schedule regarding food and naps as much as possible before starting. I want them to give me full info so I can keep the baby healthy and happy by making sure their home and daycare schedules are really similar. I insist on open communication with the parent and my newest families usually email back and forth with me during the day, especially at naptimes for questions and answers and the mother's peace of mind.

[fruitloop]

[QUOTE=Momof4;10978]Fruitloop, I'll hold spaces that I know are coming up too with a deposit and a signed contract. If the space stays empty because they aren't starting for a month I also charge a holding fee of the equivalent of one week pay. I don't think it's fair to have them pay any more than that but that's just me. Different daycare providers charge different fees for this.

QUOTE]

But it's fair for the parent to expect me to be out an income/short anywhere from $700 and up depending on how long they want me to hold the spot for? Asking a parent to pay a $200/month holding fee is not unreasonable I don't think considering our loss for doing so.

[Momof4]

I'm really thinking about this subject right now so fruitloop, spur me on! I have a little boy going to JK in Sep. and his little sister is taking his space, but not until next Jan!!!!!!!! So I'm keeping his space empty for 4 months.

I have mentioned to the Mom that I want to charge her 1 week pay per month to hold the space. However, my contracts renew Nov. 1st every year and I'm considering adding something to the contract about this since I have never run into this situation before and currently there isn't even anything about this in there.

I like to give my clients lots of notice when I'm going to make any changes to the contract so I will have to make this decision soon.

[fruitloop]

Momof4, you were only charging a deposit and only 1 week pay to hold the fees? Is this right (just want to make sure I'm reading that correct )? So if you held a space for 4 months, that's over $2000 of income you would be out until they start. See, charging a piddley $200/month is nothing in the big picture but at least it's something...you would still make $800 and not be out as much. You're still out a lot considering but at least it's something right? It also makes parents stay put. If you hold a space for say 4 months and then they call you 3.5 months in and say "ya, we decided to stay home with our children or we found a place closer to us/cheaper"...or whatever their reason, then you really are out a crap load of money AND now have to interview again to try and fill the space that you had been holding for the last 3.5 months and you could potentially be out more money if you don't find anyone right away, kwim? Making the parents invest a little more money makes them generally want to stay so the money isn't "wasted".

[Crayola kiddies]

I totally agree .... When I first started I had two different families sign a contract and I asked for a two week holding fee ....one spot was being held for 3 1/2 months and the other spit for 5 1/2 months .... Stupid me!!!! I integrated both of the kids but the parents cancelled prior to starting ... One mom couldn't handle being away from the child and spent the whole time he was here integrating crying so she stayed home and the other one was new to the area and found a caregiver across the street so after holding the spots for all those months neither child started so I lost a lot if income (3000$ for one and 4000$ for the other) never again ....and the worst part was I had to turn away other families because I didn't have open spots as these ones were being held.... I got a bit smarter and now I charge a monthly fee so far that has worked for me as i haven't had anybody not start after dropping over $1000 to hold a spot. A couple hundred bucks is way to easy to walk away from ... It has to be substantial enough to keep them.