3.5k
Daycare and childcare providers in Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario etc. in CanadaGarderies à Montréal ou au QuébecFind daycare or childcare providers in the USA
Forum control
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Expansive... Other Mummy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    532
    Thanked
    180 Times in 130 Posts

    Anyone else experiencing a famine in filling spots?

    This industry seems to be feast or famine.

    I've been trying to fill 2 spots for the last 3 months. Filled them and both times they fell through. One client was trying to renegotiate my hours for earlier and later pick up times so I dropped them before they even started. The second spot was ready to go only to have the dcm suddenly have to leave the country when her own mother got sick and took dcg with her. So I've been advertising like mad. I've had two inquiries. Two stinkin' inquiries. That's it!

    It's times like this I'm very tempted to put my own 2 girls in daycare at their school for before and after program, update my graphic skills and go back into the marketing world.

    Ugh. someone please give me some positive vibes and encouraging words

  2. #2
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    3,161
    Thanked
    1,085 Times in 810 Posts
    June can go either way for me.....either lots of parents scrambling to find last minute care for summer or their dc has closed ( I find a lot of dc's close at school year end to make it a bit easier) or all the parents have already lined care up.

    I hope you fill your spots soon!!! I think we have all been in your shoes and understand the stress and anxiety that comes with "when will my spots fill??" Good luck!!

  3. #3
    Shy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    25
    Thanked
    7 Times in 6 Posts
    I've been trying to fill a PT and FT spot since April. I've had some interviews but same thing people expecting later pick ups and I'm not willing to be open later than 5:30pm. It's going to be a quiet summer!

  4. #4
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Newmarket
    Posts
    1,130
    Thanked
    550 Times in 347 Posts
    Other Mummy, do you have a website? Newmarket is very busy right now and I'm turning people away almost daily - 3 yesterday! Most have found me in a google search, so maybe that's it? I've always found that frustrating too....when you really, really need to fill a spot, everyone seems to just vaporize. I know that if one of my clients left, it's highly likely that no-one would be calling. Hope you fill them soon. Good luck!

  5. #5
    Expansive...
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    629
    Thanked
    267 Times in 182 Posts
    I'm experiencing a major dry spell too after having non stop inquiries all winter. Emailed all the ppl on my wait list for my September opening and no one responded...I don't think I have had a call/email in about 3 months but was getting 2-3 inquiries per week in the winter and early spring...luckily I have until September to fill this spot so fingers crossed that ppl start calling soon! It's definitely pretty frustrating, you just never know what's around the corner in this business! Hoping everyone fills their spots ASAP!

  6. #6
    Expansive...
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    775
    Thanked
    244 Times in 166 Posts
    Opposite for me! I hope you fill your spots soon, advertising and interviewing is horrid

  7. #7
    Expansive...
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    709
    Thanked
    153 Times in 132 Posts
    I've had interviews but most clients not worth taking as they want to negotiate with me on my policies. I'm waiting for the "right" family, not "any" family. I don't mind waiting it out.

  8. #8
    Euphoric ! bright sparks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    2,074
    Thanked
    807 Times in 564 Posts
    Sounds like your dry spell is not so bad compared to mine, so I for sure feel your pain. I haven't been full for nearly a year. I currently have 3, 3x a week and 4 1x a week but my 3 day a week kid is leaving in August as his mum is going on mat leave and cant afford to continue sending him. So frustrating even when it is just a few months but close to a year is killing me. Good Luck filling those spots. I think it is all relative to a providers area and how saturated your area is with providers in comparison to your areas demand.

  9. #9
    Expansive... Artsand crafts's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    561
    Thanked
    145 Times in 116 Posts
    It was kind of like that for me for a few months ago. I went around 8 months without a single call, but I'm also close to where the girl died recently in the warehouse daycare (which is the cause of bill 143) and also here parents prefer daycare centers and live in nannies. So home daycares are a the bottom of the food chain.

    Judy Trickett helped me a lot and reviewed my business and marketing strategy at that time. She made several recommendations which I followed to the T and now I'm receiving 1 to 3 calls per week. I was trying to fill up a spot for a dcb that was supposed to leave, but at the end parents decided to stay longer.

    I'm also pregnant and signed a new dcb, who started Today and parents weren't put off by my pregnancy (I'm due at the end of August). I just got a call for September care (most calls I receive are for care right away which I'm not interested because I don't have the spot right now) and I'll interview and analyze deeply that family before making a decision in case the dcb that is potentially leaving has to go around that time. I already told that mom that I'm pregnant and closing for 2 weeks and she's ok with that and even volunteered to move the starting date closer to the end of September so it does not interfere with my 2 weeks mat leave. She sounded like a good one to consider.

    Here is Judy's webpage if you're interested: http://www.daycarecoaching.com/

  10. #10
    Expansive...
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    629
    Thanked
    208 Times in 173 Posts
    That sucks !! I go through spurts it seems ! I'm trying to fill a 3 day a week spot , no luck for this month ugh !
    I hope you find the families you need !!!
    Good luck !!!

Similar Threads

  1. Filling Spots
    By Fireyesblue in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 04-05-2020, 09:41 PM
  2. Filling my spots-dilemma
    By bright sparks in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-17-2017, 08:26 AM
  3. Filling in after\before school spots
    By omnishock in forum Opening a daycare
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-21-2015, 02:45 PM
  4. Filling those older spots
    By Lighthouse1 in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 08-29-2013, 10:51 AM
  5. So Frustrating RE: Filling spots
    By MonkeyPrincess in forum Daycare providers' experiences with parents
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 06-20-2013, 04:00 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

A few tips...

Always ensure that your child receives quality care by taking the time to investigate the provider and by asking for references! We simply cannot verify the claims of every daycare provider.
Updates
We expect providers to keep their listing and available openings up-to-date. However, to prevent oversights, openings expire after 45 days.
Partner in your
search for a daycare provider