Advice needed about pricing, simple or complex

[sunnydays]

I only have full-time and part-time rates as well (though I don't generally take part-time anymore). Part-time rates are usually a bit higher daily rate than full-time rates. Also, I have not heard of home daycares charging different rates for different ages. If they are full-time it is one rate if they are before and after school it is another. I don't think there is actually that much difference in the care needs of a 12 month old and a 2 year old for example. The 12 month old has more physical needs like diaper changing, being fed, being held, etc. But the 2 year old has more behavioural, educational needs. A 3 year old will need more educational activities, school-readiness prep etc. I don't find one age more work than the other. And by the time they get a bit easier, they head off to school...LOL.

[Mike]

I have not heard of home daycares charging different rates for different ages. If they are full-time it is one rate if they are before and after school it is another.

Interesting. When I was first thinking about the idea, I searched for daycare websites, especially local ones, and most of them do have age group rates.

Here are some examples from local daycares:

Infant $38.50
Toddler $32.50
Preschool $29.50
Kindergarten $28.00
School-Aged $25.50

Infant (6 weeks to 18 months) $49
Toddler (18 to 30 months) $35
Preschool $34
School Age (full day) $32
School Age (before and after) $17

Full time (6 hrs or more)
Infant (Birth-18 months) $50.00
Toddler (15 months - 2.5 years) $44.00
Preschool (2 years-School Age) $38.00
Part Time (less than 6 hrs)
Infant (Birth-18 months) Not Available
Toddler (15 months - 2.5 years) $27.30
Preschool (2 years-School Age) $24.30

Ontario's average child care costs goes down as age goes up.

Most of the rates I could find on websites were for daycare centers though. Not all private daycares have websites and some don't have rates on the site. Maybe it's different for private home daycare.

I don't think there is actually that much difference in the care needs of a 12 month old and a 2 year old for example. The 12 month old has more physical needs like diaper changing, being fed, being held, etc. But the 2 year old has more behavioural, educational needs. A 3 year old will need more educational activities, school-readiness prep etc. I don't find one age more work than the other.

You've got a point there.

And by the time they get a bit easier, they head off to school...LOL.

Yup


Do any of you home daycare providers have different rates for different age groups?

[AmandaKDT]

I charge different rates based on age, but the reason for doing so is because I'm licensed and accept subsidy so I am required by the Manitoba government to charge the rate they set. I also get grant money per spot, on top of the parent fees (which are much less than other private home daycares here). This appears to be the only reason I've seen for anyone with home daycare to charge different rates based on age, otherwise they charge the same rate for all ages (other than school age). I won't bother listing my rates, as you are in Ontario and they would be much different than what you would charge.

Being licensed means I can take on more daycare kids, though there are rules on how many of each age I can accept. So I guess it balances out somewhat that I don't get the same amount of money for all the 8 spots I'm allowed to fill.

This would likely be similar reasons for the rates on the daycare center website you were looking at.

But if I were a private daycare I would charge the same rate for infant/preschool age and for school age.