A rates question...

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'm just curious as to why they had both snacks and lunch at your place in a time span of 4 hours? I give meals and snacks at pretty much the same time every day and it's over a 6 hour period. That is too much food in 4 hours IMO.

I charge a flat daily rate (except for one family...they are grandfathered in to some new rules but they very rarely send her a half day so it doesn't matter) but if you want to charge a half day rate that is up to you but I wouldn't be giving half day children all 3 meals/snacks.

I would also set up some boundaries....dad can't just drop off whenever he feels like it. I don't know about you but I am a daycare with a program not just a drop off centre.

[playandlearnhere]

I'm just curious as to why they had both snacks and lunch at your place in a time span of 4 hours? I give meals and snacks at pretty much the same time every day and it's over a 6 hour period. That is too much food in 4 hours IMO.

I charge a flat daily rate (except for one family...they are grandfathered in to some new rules but they very rarely send her a half day so it doesn't matter) but if you want to charge a half day rate that is up to you but I wouldn't be giving half day children all 3 meals/snacks.

I would also set up some boundaries....dad can't just drop off whenever he feels like it. I don't know about you but I am a daycare with a program not just a drop off centre.

Agreed. We always do snack at 10:30 am, lunch around 12:30 and afternoon snack at 2:30. Their kids were starving right after lunch. I mean they ate everything I put out for snack and then again at lunch, I put out more food and they ate all of it. By 1:45 they were 'starving' again, so I put out a plate of apple slices. It was ridiculous today. I wonder if they didn't eat breakfast?

I really do need to work on setting boundaries. Right now they are walking all over me and have no idea that it really matters. I tell them what I need, but I'm not good at being firm.

I think I need to adjust my contract/agreement with them this weekend, and sit down with them. In light of the changes to his employment, there need to be changes to our agreement.

Since I don't have any other clients (just this families 3 children and my own), they tried to tell me that I have to take their kids 5 days a week, since I had agreed to watch the kids until the end of the summer. But I had to put my foot down and say that I will not do more than 3 days a week, as per our original agreement.

I don't want to be a full-time day care right now. My own kids are still very young and I am not ready to dedicate myself solely to this job.

I really appreciate all the advice from you seasoned veterans! I think that next time I need to set up a contract, I will meet with someone who has more experience and see if they can help me close some of the loop-holes!