Opening in a new Province

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Where in PEI are you?

Island life even Atlantic life very different that other provinces. PEI has lot seasonal worker and lot shift worker.

I not hold place unless deposit and contract and I not hold for more than couple week but they get deposit back on last week of care. If you charge non-returnable fee, I can see that not working - small communities all about trust, but even so, they forget that when they change mind. For the parent wanting 2017 care, I would not asked for deposit because you not going to hold empty spot until 2017! You going to fill spots and maybe if one empty when she need it, then you call her. I would just take information and add to wait list. I can see she not want pay deposit in 2015 for 2017 place. At moment, you are outsider and so, they will want know all about you. This why they want add you on FB personal and see you account.

I say always be wary of child with older sibling in centre. Parent want children together. I make no logic to drop off in two place before going to work. Normally, if they have child in centre but come to dayhome their centre not take children until 18 month so they seeing if you can be stop gap. They really looking for cheap babysitter because they see centre as real daycare and dayhome as pretend so they not want pay same money while waiting for baby to be right age.

For many service worker in PEI, it about word of mouth. Not always word about your service, but word about you personally and being trustworthy and it take time to prove your worth.

I not do ice-cream either or package food. People do want healthy food for their child but they not prepared to pay extra for it.

We have group providers in my area and it work well. Check your area for buy and sell group if no local dayhome group. Lot provider use these for ads. You could set up FB group locally and then watch Kijiji for other provider ads and message them, explain you trying to set up group of providers for local support each other and see if they respond. Some will, some won't, others will ask their friend if they know who you are, where from before adding you. It take time.

Allow full year to fill places. Nothing happen fast here.

Best approach here is friendly, drop by and see daycare space, chat about what you do. If you approach interview as formal process, they will be wary. Time to get formal, is when they say they want come and you send contract for signing. Until then, overly formal, will scare lot of people away.

I not saying not to have process and contract - I do - but I saying relaxed approach is best otherwise they feel you might be too stuffy.

I live on PEI for 30 year now, I still considered outsider.