Doing everything wrong?!?

[Fun&care]

Momof4 we were typing at the same time!

[Poppy]

Thank you all for your great ideas! Wow...you have been very helpful. I totally agree that I have overlooked the whole reason why parents choose a home daycare. I am definitely not selling the fact that it is a home daycare. I have an interview this evening and will use that approach. Great idea!

My gut also says that it does have to do with not having any children yet. I know that I would want to send my daughter to a place with other children her age....not to sit around with the daycare provider and one other older child. That makes sense.

Thank you again for all your help. Definitely very useful!!

[Lee-Bee]

[QUOTE=Momof4;64773]I had a few thoughts while reading your original post. You mentioned that you have modeled your home daycare after a centre but have you considered that people choose home daycares for the intimate setting and atmosphere? If they want a centre, they will go to a centre. Are you stressing the reasons you want to take care of fewer children and what you want to offer the families that set you apart from others in your area? Pointing out that you will run the daycare somewhat like a centre but also pointing out the benefits of what you will offer in your home might be the ticket.

My daycare is completely separate from the rest of my house (aside from nap rooms) and the daycare is set up exactly like a daycare centre. My families all made note of really liking this. Many families won't like it sure...but from what I found in my interviews is that the families that are able and willing to pay more are looking for home daycare that is a small group but still centre like.

So this could very well work for you...BUT it may limit the amount of families that want to sign on...meaning it takes more time!

I do believe the website is key. All my families read mine thoroughly, all commented on it and knew that this was a good contender before they came. My website was done by myself but with a paid domain name and took a TON of time. I wrote it very detailed yet slightly vague so it sounded like I was up and running when I wasn't. When they came the first thing I told them was that I was coming off mat leave with my daughter (who was in my arms) this helped ease the 'shock' of arriving at a daycare that wasn't yet opened. When they asked if I did daycare before having my daughter I simply said that we just moved a year ago, our last place was a condo that was too small to have 5 children in all day but that I did x,x,x,x which directly related to childcare. It again was enough to ease their minds.

[Momof4]

I also believe that a website is the best selling tool you will have. In the past I helped a few other new providers by advising them to put action shots on their website, children playing, creating, and having lots of fun. One person didn't have anyone signed up yet but she used shots of her own daughter playing (shots from the side and behind so her face didn't show). I think it makes a world of difference from just putting up shots of your empty rooms. Parents tell me they fall in love with my daycare as soon as they see my website because I have so many pictures on there, but it really shows them that I keep the children busy learning and playing daily.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree with you Lee Bee. I have a lot of parents comment on my home daycare set up because it is in the basement and it is essentially a mini dc centre. I have a full kitchen, bathroom, play room, nap room and a fairly consistent structured routine but with the extra cuddles, lesser kids and more intimate relationships that they are looking for in a home set up.

I would emphasize that you are hdc that can offer more one on one time with their child but that they will also benefit from a structured dc centre-like atmosphere. It's what works for me