School-aged kids who come for lunch

[MommaL]

Does anyone have school-aged daycare kids who besides coming before and after school, also come for lunch each day? If so, how much do you charge for the day?

Or, if you don't currently have any kids that do this, how much would you charge if you did?

Thanks!

Edited to add: I would not be picking up or taking the children back to school during this time. They would be walking on their own.

[Lee-Bee]

Full day rate, possibly more depending on their food intake...and for the hassle of all the drop offs and pick ups.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Agree. School lunch break normally very short time to get child, feed, get back school. Affect all other children too because delay nap time. Lots of fast walking, rushing against clock. I would charge full day.

[MommaL]

Thanks ladies. But I should add that the children are either old enough to walk back to school on their own or will be walking with another older child, so I wouldn't be taking them myself. I'll edit my original post as well.

[Busy ECE mommy]

Never in a million years! The time it takes to do morning drop off and afternoon pickup, and then add an extra trip back and forth, and lunch, I couldn't charge enough to make that worth the hassle. I guess it might vary if the child is bussed, but too much inconvenience to me. Also, in poor weather, that's a messy trip. Just my opinion.

[Busy ECE mommy]

Sorry, just read that they will transport themselves. Who takes responsibility if something happens to the kids going to/from school?
I'd be charging full day rate.

[MommaL]

Sorry, just read that they will transport themselves. Who takes responsibility if something happens to the kids going to/from school?
I'd be charging full day rate.

LOL. How soon we forget that most of us (at least where I am from) walked to school when we were growing up. There was no such thing as busses and parents and daycare providers didn't walk with us. If we were still too young to walk on our own, we walked with an older sibling or neighbourhood kid. For me, the school is just down the way and the children are older, so are ok to do the 2 minute on their own.

[Lee-Bee]

LOL. How soon we forget that most of us (at least where I am from) walked to school when we were growing up. There was no such thing as busses and parents and daycare providers didn't walk with us. If we were still too young to walk on our own, we walked with an older sibling or neighbourhood kid. For me, the school is just down the way and the children are older, so are ok to do the 2 minute on their own.

While this is true that was THEN. I've supply taught in many schools and can count on one hand the number of kids from all those classes I've worked in that have ever left school at lunch time. It just doesn't happen anymore. While that doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't still happen it does mean that the dynamics of the environment have changed. In the past many kids some with or without adults or older kids were walking home at the same time. There were people out and about while those children were walking home. Now...it'll be the tiny few kids walking home, with everyone else at work, or zoned out in front of a screen. That whole sense of community has changed. Making that walk home very different for those kids. It's sad...but the reality is things are just different.

That all said...if the kids are older and the school is close enough that they can walk to your place on their own that does make this situation much more manageable. I would still caution to factor in the amount of food a school age child can eat. You need to charge for the before and after care. You need to charge for the lunch meal AND you need to factor in that if you are in Ontario and the child is under age 13 they count in numbers and take up a full day space. I'd still be charging a full day fee.

[mickyc]

Depending on where you are if the child takes place of a full time child/spot then definitely charge full time. If thT isn't an issue I would charge $10 for lunch care and get them to bring their own lunch. $20 if they don't. Also get parents to sign a waiver saying that you are not responsible for children until they walk in your door. I would also charge daily regardless of attendance.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

LOL. How soon we forget that most of us (at least where I am from) walked to school when we were growing up. There was no such thing as busses and parents and daycare providers didn't walk with us. If we were still too young to walk on our own, we walked with an older sibling or neighbourhood kid. For me, the school is just down the way and the children are older, so are ok to do the 2 minute on their own.

But when we walking with sibling, other older child or even alone, our parent were not paying for adult supervision. You can bet if my parent were paying adult to provide care before and after school, then that adult would be responsible for me. Totally different than walking home and being watched by neighbor.