Potential Family asks Current Family to fill out referral questionnaire????

[Crayola kiddies]

Well I think she just went about it the wrong way ....she should have asked for references and then when talking to them she could have posed her questions ..... I'm wondering how she got all of your current clients email addresses to question them in the first place ..... when potential families ask me for references I give them two daycare families and one personal. I think 3 references are plenty. I think yes I too would take a pass on this family unless you need them and have no other prospects ..... But she does sound rather "out there" and this is just a precursor to what will come ..... Ya ..... NEXT !!!!

[michellesmunchkins]

Well I think she just went about it the wrong way ....she should have asked for references and then when talking to them she could have posed her questions ..... I'm wondering how she got all of your current clients email addresses to question them in the first place ..... when potential families ask me for references I give them two daycare families and one personal. I think 3 references are plenty. I think yes I too would take a pass on this family unless you need them and have no other prospects ..... But she does sound rather "out there" and this is just a precursor to what will come ..... Ya ..... NEXT !!!!

She asked that I forward my current families her email addy and they all responded to her and were very good at getting back to her quickly. She then took it upon herself to keep their emails and continue emailing them. I've emailed everyone and told them to just ignore any further correspondence, thanked them for the references they gave but I think she's taking things too far and worry that parents won't want to give references if they are bombarded with crap like this.

[Play and Learn]

She asked that I forward my current families her email addy and they all responded to her and were very good at getting back to her quickly. She then took it upon herself to keep their emails and continue emailing them. I've emailed everyone and told them to just ignore any further correspondence, thanked them for the references they gave but I think she's taking things too far and worry that parents won't want to give references if they are bombarded with crap like this.

HOLY HELL! NEXT...

The fact that she's kept the parents emails is beyond understanding, and the fact that she's still emailing them! WOWIE. What a freakin tool. Block her emails/phone calls!

I only give out phone numbers for references. If my current families are comfortable in giving them their email addys, that's their choice, but I'm only giving out phone numbers.

WOW.

[Spixie33]

Wowsa. Run.

Some of the questions are pretty normal parent-like questions but why couldn't she call your references like the average parent would do and ask the questions over the phone?

Some of the questions like what they would like you to do differently etc is a bit over the top. Each person has their unique take on daycare and she is not a head hunter for some HR firm. That seems more like a question you would hear at a job interview for other types of jobs.

I just get a passive-aggressive feeling and like she would totally be eyeballing you and every mood her child was in and attribute it to you and your daycare.

[Inspired by Reggio]

...when potential families ask me for references I give them two daycare families and one personal. I think 3 references are plenty...

This is me as well ... at this point I have over 30 written letters of reference in my portfolio from current and past clients both in centre care and home care for parents to READ if desired plus I offer 1 current client, 1 past client and 1 personal / professional reference for doing a 'phone reference' ... personally I think EMAIL is too impersonal for a reference check - on the phone you can ask those kinds of questions and listen for any 'pauses' when answering or pay attention to what is NOT said to listen to your GUT in regards to is this an honest reference or are they just telling me what I want to hear?

When I ask parents to do a written reference for me I do ask them to offer both strengths they see in my program as well as comments on areas for improvement and my conflict resolutions skills - aka share a time where we had a difference of opinion and how we were able to resolve that so that prospective clients can 'read' in my written letters of reference a 'well rounded' vision of me!