Client changing schedule-Advice pls

[Crayola kiddies]

My minimum is 3 days

[cfred]

I used to accept a minimum of 3 days for PT. Now I only accept FT as I got so, so sick of dealing with that nonsense!

[bright sparks]

It sucks so bad though when your area is saturated with providers and not enough clients to go around. It's all good and well saying you wont take part time but some of us don't have that luxury. I have that policy now and have had for quite some time but that just leaves me with constant spots open. I have a boy leaving in August when mum goes on mat leave. He started a year ago 3 days a week...my last part timer...and she asked to drop to 2 days while on mat leave and I said no, 3 days was my minimum. So now because of that I have lost 3 days not 1 which would have been better. You do what works best for you personally and act based on your area and whether you think you have a good chance of filling spots. I am at the point where I may drop my daily rate substantially and require parents to supply their own food just to get people to enroll. Damm you undercutting stay at home moms/daycare providers...lol...yo u are screwing with my business!!...Okay I totally diverted but don't judge me haha

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree bright, it's much easier said than done to just stop taking part time. As of July, I will have 5 kids enrolled with it being 2 full time and 3 part time. I'm limited to 4/day and thankfully right now I am full everyday. However, unless all 3 pt's leave at the same time, I'm stuck filling pt spots or taking a decrease in pay for who knows how long until all 3 are gone. I would love to only accept ft or at least charge ft whether they are here or not but until I have space I can't charge for a spot that's not open.

One of my only regrets with opening my business is that I started with pt. If I could do it again, I'd have only accepted ft. Live and learn though and hopefully one day I can get to that but right now it's not possible unless I take a cut in pay.

OP, if you don't want them to decrease their schedule than you need to tell them that it's not an option. I give a $10 decrease for any day I know they won't be here ahead of time, could that be an option?

[FunnyFarm]

You do what works best for you personally and act based on your area and whether you think you have a good chance of filling spots.

I agree, we need to do what is best, and you are correct that my area is saturated with care providers. I just finished filling a pt spot that I advertised for several months! (I am also picky who I chose. clearly made a wrong choice with this fam though!) And I also will be losing another in a few months due to mommy going on mat leave. *sigh* I love being home with my daughter and caring for other kids, but it can be so frustrating with how this job fluctuates so quickly. I truly can't wait for my DH to finish his apprenticeship and I won't need to rely on this income, but instead just roll with it and enjoy it! But right now it sucks! I'm one stressed out Momma here.

[Secondtimearound]

I agree with mickyc , two days a week is just enough not to be able to establish a routine with the child . It seems like the family is calling the shots , and do not care or understand the difficulty trying to fill the remaining days with another family . I charge a set rate for part timers , regardless of days .
I only work Monday to Wednesday and have most of my dcks all 3 days , I have one family 2 days a week I charge her the same as if it was 3 days . I know it's a high rate but I have no way of finding a family or want to have a family one day a week !

[FunnyFarm]

I charge a set rate for part timers , regardless of days .
I only work Monday to Wednesday and have most of my dcks all 3 days

I am seriously reconsidering the way my contract is set up now! I like the idea of a set part time rate regardless of days. Thankfully most of my dcks are easy going and my part timers are all easy at two days a week.

[ttremble88]

I am one of the ones, due to area, that have ONLY part-timers. Where I am, most of the mothers either are strictly stay home mothers, self employed or work part time. I have only ever had 2 full timers, both of which are no longer with me, but I always have a full daycare group.

I have been lucky enough to be able to puzzle piece my daycare children schedule into one another, allowing them to share a spot. For example, I have a mother whom is a nurse, so one week she needs 2 days and the next week 4 days. I have another mother who is on mat leave, so she allows me to schedule her into my none full days, so part time nurse and mat mom, become a full timer.

It is nice because every week is different and every day, I have a different mix of children. Yes, it is a lot of work on my part, but on the plus side, when you have that 'handful child' at least you know that they will only be there 2-3 days per week!