Interview Frustrations! What do you all do?

[Daycare123]

Thanks Cfred! I think maybe I will stick to after-hours interviews!

[playfelt]

Schedule after hours around 6 pm - time to clean up the daycare and father to get home from work. Then they only stay 45 min to an hour because by 7 child is ready for bed. We get to cover what we need to do in very short time when there are no distractions from other kids running around. I take infants so they don't interact with the current group anyways.

[Crayola kiddies]

I don't do interviews during daycare hours because like cfred said "kids act up" , but more importantly because I don't know these people and I don't bring strangers around my daycare kids. its just for security reasons. you can get some really freaky people in your house and the last thing you want is a problem when the daycare kids are there. my families also know that I don't bring strangers around their children and they appreciate that.

[Daycare123]

Crayola kiddies-That is a really valid point! I don't like the idea of strangers here while the kids are here. I definitely don't think I will be doing my interviews during daycare hours.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'm the oddball I guess lol I have done interviews outside of daycare hours (when I was first opening) and I MUCH prefer to do them inside daycare hours now.

I do have a girl who can be a handful now so I would probably schedule an interview in the afternoons she is gone to preschool though.

My SO works evenings so I would actually prefer for him to be home in case a "weird family" came by. I've been lucky so far and have had great families and quite a few of them know each other outside of daycare. Some didn't even realize that their children come to the same daycare lol. Small world....small town lol

[sunnydays]

Fun & Care, I think we interviewed the same person...LOL. And I always tell them to bring spouse and child as I do not want to have to do two interviews!
Intervieiwing is tiring for sure, but I look at it as advertising. I know the families that come for interviews will tell their friends about my daycare and I have had people referred to me in that way. I am fortunate to be able to have 2-3 families interviewed for one spot and than I choose...but those I turn away always spread the word in future I even had a little "open-house" type thing a month or two ago for those families looking for care in the future when I don't know if I will have spots...I figure they will spread the word and when I do have a spot, I will let them know and if they don't need it, maybe they will know someone who will Good luck!

[daycaremom9]

I've been doing interviews for the last couple of years during daycare hours. Before that I did them after daycare hours. I find that the parents prefer to see the daycare "in action". As a matter of fact the preschool teacher that recommended me to a parent was told by that parent that she feels uncomfortable because I scheduled the interview after hours.

[Daisy123]

I always schedule after hours. I explain to the prospective clients that this is largely because no one I don't know comes into my home during daycare hours unless it's a scheduled maintenance/repair person who can show me a company id. In my experience parents really appreciate and respect that I'm taking that step to protect the children. Honestly, anyone can answer an internet ad... I also agree that it's too hard to focus on answering questions while my attention is divided. I also let potentials know though that after that initial interview (re I've screened them ) they are welcome to come for a second short visit to see us in action. Then they know that I've got nothing to hide!!!

[playfelt]

Having moved around a lot I liken the interview process to what we do on a house hunting trip. The first while you simply visit as many houses as you can find that look like they may fit your needs and do a visit to each - long enough to get a feel for the place but not looking in every nook and cranny just basic layout, location, condition. Then you narrow it down to the top 3-5 and go back for a second visit where you look at details. Then you pick one and negotiate from there.

With childcare most parents attempt to visit as many places as they can that they think meet their needs and a quick evening get the basic details ironed out, show off the space, allow me to get a feel for them as well is all we do. Then they may or may not decide to come back and often that is just mom and baby during the day when the other kids are here - sometimes dad takes off and comes but not always able to do that. I like it better when it is just mom because we get to talk about things mom to mom and they are more likely to get right in with the other daycare kids and really see how their child would fit in. The nice thing at this point is that we are so close to signing that I really don't have to do much except keep everyone in line and keep it fun and we focus on the new visitor and babies are always a highlight. I usually am able to find out where they are in the process at that point.

[mom-in-alberta]

I have never done interviews during the daycare day. Mostly due to the fact that I don't know them from Adam, and I don't feel comfortable with strangers around the daycare kids. As a parent, that is how I would/do feel, anyway. I have had one person come back for a playdate-visit during daycare hours. I think that it makes sense to do so. But I only do it on request.
So far I have been pretty lucky for not being strung along by anyone. But I do make it clear that I am not waiting around on them. I ask for a response in a timely manner, and if I have not heard within a few days (even a "we still have a few more to check out, haven't decided yet"), I cross them off.