Trouble finding clients

[Montessori-Mom]

Oh one family was unimpressed that the daycare children nap in the livingroom (I like to keep an eye on the children at all times) my yard is not fully fenced though we have a gated park right across the street (not even a busy street either) some think I am to expensive ($35/day and you only pay for days your child attends) others do not like that I hve guinea pigs and that the children are allowed to feed them (I clean their cage every 2-3 days so they are not dirty, smelly animals) others dont like that I dont have all my stuff in one space. We have a main playroom for the toys and Montessori materials however we so messy play in my kitchen. All of these things are really small nit picky stuff that I as a parent looking for care wouldnt even consider a big deal.

[AmandaKDT]

Oh one family was unimpressed that the daycare children nap in the livingroom (I like to keep an eye on the children at all times) my yard is not fully fenced though we have a gated park right across the street (not even a busy street either) some think I am to expensive ($35/day and you only pay for days your child attends) others do not like that I hve guinea pigs and that the children are allowed to feed them (I clean their cage every 2-3 days so they are not dirty, smelly animals) others dont like that I dont have all my stuff in one space. We have a main playroom for the toys and Montessori materials however we so messy play in my kitchen. All of these things are really small nit picky stuff that I as a parent looking for care wouldnt even consider a big deal.

So if you are having trouble filling spots, why not take what you have learned from parents as constructive criticism. One of the first things I did when preparing for opening my daycare was to finish enclosing our yard so that it was fully fenced (it was only partially fenced) - you can claim the expense on your income taxes. I have a large park across the street from my house as well, but I still needed a fenced yard. I might also change your pet policy, if parents are turned off by the guinea pigs then maybe they shouldn't be accessible to the daycare kids. I know lots of people who would prefer a pet free daycare environment (you need to tell the parents you have them, but that they are kept separate from the daycare area). I like animals, but would prefer a pet free environment if I were sending my girls to a daycare - no concerns about being scratched/bitten/cleanliness of the daycare space due to animal excrement or shedding hair. Just cuz you love them doesn't mean everyone else does.

As for not having all your stuff in one place, not much you can do about that. It is one of the differences between a daycare centre and a home daycare environment. Maybe just look at your space and make sure it is organized in the most appealing way you can. Look up pictures on the internet for inspiration.