Quote Originally Posted by Peacefulbird View Post
First my doors are open to anyone that wants and need my services (even for short term, I got the best recommendations from them especially and got good long term families through them too).....

I have never made felt any family like signing here is a trap (I'm sure that's what also would lead to non being honest and sign anything in desesperation) I'm honest open and families also are. They all have rights to think and change their minds as I would too.

So, it comes to this "my doors are open to anyone that needs my spots".
While it's nice that this works for you, I can see for a lot of provider's it wouldn't - me included.

One of the key aspects of having a successful business, is the determination of our boundaries - i.e. what's acceptable to us and what isn't. Some of that will be personal, some of that will be based on our provincial regulations and some of that will be based on our client's needs.

For me personally, one of the strongest elements which brings client's to me, is stability. I intentionally don't accept part time children or short term children because initial phase-in's affect not only myself and the new child but the entire client base. It takes time for a new child to settle, and it's not unusual that during that time, the new child has a little more attention to ensure they are settling well into the group. Taking short term client's might well help personal finances but it's a constant state of change for loyal long term clients. I know for me, if I had an endless door of short term placements, and constant change in the day home, I feel that's unfair to those who have been with me long term.

I have only once taken a short term client intentionally. An existing client who was on mat leave with their second child, and who had kept their older child in care in order to keep her space, decided they were going to pay for a second space when it became available - a full 8 months before they needed it. They knew that this is a low turnover day home and that the odds of another space were slim as I had no one aging out that particular year. In order to relieve the financial strain on that family paying for two full time spaces when on mat leave, I offered to seek a short term client with the aim of any days that client signed up for would not be charged to the existing family. But that was exceptional circumstances and done not for my benefit (since I was being paid regardless of whether I phased in a new client or not) but for the benefit of the client - with the agreement of the entire client base.

My opinion is in direct conflict to yours - That the security of keeping loyal clients who have been here long term, by providing a stable day home vs one in constant change, is more important that the short term financial gain for me that a short term client brings.

My door is NEVER open to anyone who needs my spots. I am not interested on "bums in seats" resulting in high turnover. I am very particular with who I take and I have never offered a space to someone based on them wanting to come here. I vet my clients and I choose my clients based on what is in the best interest of myself and the client's I already have because in my market, that has proven to be the best way of having a low turnover day home and stability for all. I eliminate potential clients based on the boundaries I have determined to be the right ones for both my business and my family.