Interview tonight! What are some things you do/don't do?

[Lee-Bee]

For me the first interview is mostly about my deciding if I like the parents and if the child will mesh with my daycare. I found a copy of a parent checklist from the Ontario Early Years Centre and I pre-answered it, I give it to the families to read while I interact with their child. This keeps them busy, allows me to spend time with the child and the parents can see how I am with their child. It answers all the key things parents want to know, without me having to think on the spot and it also allows them to think up more questions. It discusses routines, discipline, sleep etc.

We briefly discuss my policies (hours, fees, paying up front, holidays etc) but I leave that to the second meeting. If I like them after the first meeting (which lasts about 45-60min) then I email my contract for them to read over and decide if they wish to pursue the spot.

I then have them back and discuss policies in detail before signing contract, taking my deposit cheque and post-dated cheques.

Typically there are numerous emails between the 2 meetings. I have not had any parents question or try to negotiate anything in my contract.

I do make sure that they know that I am the one deciding if their child gets the space. I tell them they are coming for me to see if their child will be a good fit. I don't do first come, first serve. So far it has worked well for me as my families are amazing. We are able to go without the income while waiting to find a good fit, which saves the headaches of filling with just anyone.

I also make sure I have met both parents. This is huge for me, I had one mom come with her son (when needed I allow the mom and child to come alone for the first meeting) and they both seemed perfect then the dad happened to call the mom's cell and he was screaming at her, scary mad. I ended it then and could not sign them on...as I did not want that man ever to step foot in my daycare not to mention his son would quite possibly grow up thinking it is okay to behave that way.