I am happy that I found this site

[Lee-Bee]

I made my price very clear. To me that is something most families have little wiggle room on and it is a waste of everyone's time to interview when they can't afford you. My fee was $15 more than the daycares around me (education and experience and facilities allowed this to work) so hiding that was not worthwhile.

When you get a family to interview use what you have to sell yourself. No other children...make that a positive. It will allow you to give one-on-one attention to the child as they settle into care. You can adapt to their current nap schedule. Sell yourself and sell the idea of being the only child. Do NOT mention any negatives, do NOT mention the struggles of filling that first spot.

You need a clear vision of what you will offer. I found parents were very split and very firm on what they wanted in regards to staying onsite or going for outings with the caregiver. I did not leave the house/yard and all my families preferred this. I did not use any tv/screen time and all my families wanted this. Know what you will offer and advertise that as your selling features.

Word everything in the present tense, word everything as if you are running already. "We play outside morning and afternoon every day" not "We will play outside morning and afternoon every day"

Have the daycare fully set up. It is one thing to have no children but there is a big difference between having no children and a house with zero toys and no daycare space versus having no children and a clearly visible, appealing fully stocked daycare space. Simple phrases like "I have been focused on having the daycare space fully set up before my first child starts" allows parents to move past "there are no children".

You also need to advertise in alignment with other providers in your area. If they advertise the daily fee DO NOT advertise a monthly fee. It is drastically higher to look at and you don't want parents to have do the math. If they list monthly fees then do the same.

Know how you are in interviews. If you excel then you are set, if like many you are nervous and forget to sell yourself find ways to help. I had a portfolio (with my diploma's, transcripts and experience in it) and I had taken a parent's list of questions to ask daycare providers (from online, I believe it was one from the Ontario Early Year's Centres) and I answered every question in writing.

When parents arrived I gave a tour, then sat in the daycare space, handed them the portfolio and fill out questions and I sat and interacted with their child (with them right beside us) and had them read. By the time they read it they were sold on me and they had watched me with their child. There wasn't much left to say. I didn't have to verbally answer manage questions on the spot (which leaves room for error and fumbles).

I always do the main interview (as noted above) then I send them home telling them I will need X amount of time to reflect and see if they are a good fit. This allows them to go home and think as well and makes it clear I am not taking anyone willing to pay and that I am in charge. I then invite them back if both parties are interested. The next meeting is to go over the contract, sign the contract, give the deposit and set everything up.

I ONLY sign children on when I have met BOTH parents. I do not want to sign on a sweet mom and child to find out the dad is rude, arrogant or abusive.