My own two children have been ill all week with a bad cold, for my little one, it did turn into croup. Thankfully they have been on the mend since Wednesday but still have a cough and are a bit tired.
In my policy I don't charge for days where I am closed due to my own or my children's illness. I was closed Monday - Wednesday, but was willing to open on Thursday and today as my children are returning to normal energy with minor symptoms. My policy states that children can return to care once they have normal energy and are able to participate in the program even if cold symptoms are still present. As sometimes these minor symptoms can take weeks to go away.
The parents of my one dck decided to keep him home for the whole week as they did not want him exposed to any germs from my kids, even though I was willing to take him back on Thursday.
This has meant a considerable loss of income for me. I was wondering how other dc providers handle this situation. I can't force the parents to bring him back since they are concerned about him catching the virus but at what point to you say that you are open and that you expect to be paid even though your children are still showing minor cold symptoms? I have made it clear to the parents that I except to be 'open for business' on Monday.
Normally I have the opposite problem, parents bringing their child back too early but this family has other childcare available at the moment (free).
Just wondering how others handle this.
TIA!