Family references

[momof4inpink]

Do you mean the child has been in the care of another provider and is changing daycares and you want to 'follow up' with the previous provider with a reference on the child?

Yes ~ I have done this. I always ask a client WHY they are changing childcare to get their perspective and than ask for the previous provider contact as a 'follow up' coming at it more so from a perspective of wanting to find out how the child was coping in group care and what strengths and challenges the child might have transitioning to a new program and so forth to help make a more educated choice if my program can meet the child's needs or not.

I personally wished I would of done this as well, but I was leary to ask the parents I have had several potential clients wanting to pull thier child from a local dayhome provider, and of course I have no idea whom this person was. However I declined (basically refused) to take them on as clients, as the parents went on about this provider in a very very negative way. I thought to myself "wow" that is awful to be speaking about another dayhome provider that way.They may have had the right to complain about thier childcare provider, but it really rubbed me the wrong way. I also know that when you are being intervied by a potential company, or future boss, one of the main things you learn is NOT to bash your previous employer. I feel that same respect should also be followed for switching chidcare providers in the same area Yes it is true that not all parents and childcare providers mesh together, but bashing the previous childcare provider rings a huge "RED FLAG" for myself.

[Inspired by Reggio]

....Yes it is true that not all parents and childcare providers mesh together, but bashing the previous childcare provider rings a huge "RED FLAG" for myself.

Oh I totally agree with you on this front ~ this would be a red flag for me as well a parent putting ALL the blame on the provider with a big ole list of complaints ~ ummm and why was your child there so long??? So unless it was a provider known in my community to have multiple complaints and high turnover and the kid was still 'wee' so that it was a short term thing before they realized they had made a mistake in trusting the person I tend to be wary too of anyone 'bashing' their previous provider.

I have had a few older children who joined me because the child outgrew the previous program aka the provider admitted they did not like the over 3 age group and the kid was getting 'bored' and had behaviour as a result or they moved and it was no longer doable drop off and pick up and so forth ... only had one client who had truly negative things to say about the previous provider ability to work with the child or parents for solutions and they laid it on the line that their child could be 'spirited' and they needed help with stopping the behaviour and I took a chance cause parents were willing to do whatever I suggested to make things better for the child and themselves ~ I did not bother calling that provider that time because I figured the parents were sharing what they had 'done wrong' as well in that relationship ~ they were here three years and the child make leaps and bounds and well some of the stories that the child told about the previous provider I can see why the child was misbehaving in the program ... she was overtired cause they did not 'rest' and she was under stimulated and bored cause most of the program was about 'errand running' things for the provider family.