Trying to fill 2 spots

[daycaremom9]

I am getting very frustrated with trying to fill 2 spots. I'm in an area with a lower demand for daycare but am close to other areas that are in need. Sort of between two city centers with lots of families. I've had an empty spot for 5 months now. I've been noticing a trend of parents wanting group daycare. I'm just wondering how to compete with these daycare centers. Any ideas?

[5 Little Monkeys]

For myself, I let parents know that I am a smaller group setting. They get the family home like environment and relationships but they also get a centre feel to it because my dc is in the basement with it's own kitchen, washroom, play room, naproom and a backyard for outside time. I also run my program like a mix of both....it's relaxed and nothing other than lunch and naptime is scheduled but we do have a fairly normal routine. Things like circle time, baking, art, story time, sensory play etc is all offered but it's not at set times every day.

Another thing I recently did to set myself apart was start a fb page for my dc. I was leery and hesitant to do so but so far it's working great.

I've had a spot open for about a month and a half and the not knowing when it's going to fill can be hard. Luckily I am okay financially for a bit. If it's still open in Jan/Feb I know it will fill then because I have an infant turning 2.

Ask your current families to spread the word as well as your friends and partner (if your married etc). Good luck!!

[daycaremom9]

For myself, I let parents know that I am a smaller group setting. They get the family home like environment and relationships but they also get a centre feel to it because my dc is in the basement with it's own kitchen, washroom, play room, naproom and a backyard for outside time. I also run my program like a mix of both....it's relaxed and nothing other than lunch and naptime is scheduled but we do have a fairly normal routine. Things like circle time, baking, art, story time, sensory play etc is all offered but it's not at set times every day.

Another thing I recently did to set myself apart was start a fb page for my dc. I was leery and hesitant to do so but so far it's working great.

I've had a spot open for about a month and a half and the not knowing when it's going to fill can be hard. Luckily I am okay financially for a bit. If it's still open in Jan/Feb I know it will fill then because I have an infant turning 2.

Ask your current families to spread the word as well as your friends and partner (if your married etc). Good luck!!

Unfortunately my home doesn't have a second floor. We also have a pretty routine day with circle, arts & crafts, book club, sensory experiences. Right now I have all 4 year olds with the exception of two children that will be turning 4 soon. My clients like the fact that they're all about the same age since I have a preschool program. I've found that parents will often pull their kids around the 3 year old mark as they would prefer their kids to be in more of a preschool environment and around kids more of their age rather than the babies and toddlers. We also have a pretty large outside play area. I had asked a few of my clients to use them as references. One of the moms only wanted to give me a reference if it was for an older child.
I haven't had a slow period like this for a while so I guess it's just one of those times I have to ride out. I'm also concerned that I'll be loosing most of my clients in September when they all go to Kindergarten.
I don't know, maybe I should accept out of schoolers again.

[Rachael]

It's hard when you have more than one opening. I went through that last year for the first time in 8 years and I don't ever want to repeat it.

I had two I knew would be going to school in Sept so against my better judgement, I permitted one of my FT'ers to drop to PT (which I never normally do) because the plan was they would return with the baby.

So 6 FT places fill but dropped to 5.5 in February but thought even though I'd lose two more in Sept, with the PT'er returning to FT and his sibling taking one place too, I'd only have one opening come September.

Then one of mine took a year off to be with her son before he started school - so down to 4.5 and another was posted to Ontario so I lost two siblings - down to 2.5 children and this is the sole income! It sucked and no one was even coming for interview let alone filling the places. Then PT'er dad got laid off and they didn't come back to FT until the Nov. It took until January for it to pick up and thank goodness by Feb I was back up to 5 and then this August finally filled the 6th place.

The market is saturated here and lots of people working for cash or really cheap which does affect the rest of us.

I try and avoid having more than 2 born the same year so to avoid the mass vacancies come September but with my current clients, in a couple of years, I will lose 4 at the same time for Primary school.

[Other Mummy]

I've been doing this for 4 years. I have 2.5 spots to fill. One family left for mat. leave, my part timer is moving and the last spot was just vacated due to a family needing longer hours (11.5 hrs in the day...with the same fees...I wasn't going to do that). So I've always run a great program. Excellent references, etc. BUT....I cannot fill the spots as fast as I could in the past.

It is definitely a slow period for myself and the other daycare providers in my area. I'm upgrading my graphic skills in January. Then if I am still unable to fill spots, I'm going back to my graphic design career.

Thank goodness we have some savings. However, I hate to keep dipping into it. I love this job, but I hate the uncertainty of the finance side.

[Van]

I hope you fill the spots soon dcmom9, and Other Mommy
it is hard as we have all been there at one time or another
I have being doing home d/c for over 10 years and lots of ups and down
if we can wait it out it works out fine it is just hard to wait
Hang in there everyone

[daycaremom9]

I'll never forget when I lost 4 of my clients early on but can't remember why aside from one that was sending her son to the preschool at school. She worked from home and didn't really need daycare anymore. Anyway I was quite upset that I lost pretty well all my clients. I didn't realize that it wasn't that rare for that to happen. It's comforting to know I'm not the only one that this happens to.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'll never forget when I lost 4 of my clients early on but can't remember why aside from one that was sending her son to the preschool at school. She worked from home and didn't really need daycare anymore. Anyway I was quite upset that I lost pretty well all my clients. I didn't realize that it wasn't that rare for that to happen. It's comforting to know I'm not the only one that this happens to.

I felt the same in the past but now realize it's common. I'm already dreading next Fall as I could have 3 potentially leaving!! 2 to preschool and 1 to cheaper care as both parents are going back to school. I luckily have 1 for sure wanting a spot at that time, possibly 2 more but it's the unknown that stresses me out!

[Other Mummy]

That's how I feel 5LM, that 75% of this job stress is actively looking for clients, interviewing and transitioning. I hate that part of the business. The financial ups and downs are nerve racking. I cannot imagine how I would do this if I was a single income earner.

Now that all 3 of my children are in school I am seriously considering hanging up my paint brushes and going back into my original field Very sad that I have to consider this but my area has dried up for pretty much all of us local providers.

[Fun&care]

I hate the uncertainty too. I am just waiting for my youngest dd to start school next September and once she is settled in, if I happen to go through a dry spell again I will probably quit. I am doing this to be with my kids in their early years, but once they are in school all bets are off and who knows what could happen. If other career opportunities show themselves I will take them in a heartbeat.