Rate increases

[mickyc]

I agree. You need to cut costs not increase fees. You need to remain competitive. Organic is not necessary IMO and very expensive. Maybe offer a cheaper rate if everyone supplies their own lunch?

Decrease your arts/crafts. I only do them 3 days a week instead of 5 and do a lot of coloring/drawing instead of complicated crafts that require a lot of supplies. I have also made a list of things and asked parents to donate if they had any kicking around at home (buttons, egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, milk cartons etc.)

[bright sparks]

I agree. You need to cut costs not increase fees. You need to remain competitive. Organic is not necessary IMO and very expensive. Maybe offer a cheaper rate if everyone supplies their own lunch?

Decrease your arts/crafts. I only do them 3 days a week instead of 5 and do a lot of coloring/drawing instead of complicated crafts that require a lot of supplies. I have also made a list of things and asked parents to donate if they had any kicking around at home (buttons, egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, milk cartons etc.)

The thing with Organic is that just because someone thinks it isn't necessary doesn't make it so....I understand that you stated this as your opinion. It is personal preference and there will for sure be parents looking specifically for this and those who don't care about what food their child is fed. Upon research and education, most people end up coming around to it once they understand the importance of it, while for others it isn't an option due to the added cost. Organic groceries are not overly expensive anymore contrary to what you may think. I buy most of my produce in bulk too which gets my costs down a lot but obviously the elimination of organic produce all together would have a much more significant effect on my purse strings. My bulk grains cost similar to those bought from the grocery store with the added benefit of being whole grains not refined and organic. My cost of food alone is not the only issue. Fuel, Gas, hydro and water have gone up phenomenally which I can't do anything about. Obviously I know then I have to cut back wherever I can to make up for the places where I have no influence. I have a bright daycare room which means I don't need any lights on during the day and right now I don't even have big eaters.

I have such a touchy group of little ones right now who don't even like crafts apart from one. It's not even that they don't do anything but simply that they kick off screaming and crying every time. As a result I now only do crafts for monthly themes and instead do treasure baskets, sensory tubs and malleable play. Loads cheaper and I honestly haven't bought craft supplies in years.

[Lee-Bee]

The thing with Organic is that just because someone thinks it isn't necessary doesn't make it so....I understand that you stated this as your opinion. It is personal preference and there will for sure be parents looking specifically for this and those who don't care about what food their child is fed. Upon research and education, most people end up coming around to it once they understand the importance of it, while for others it isn't an option due to the added cost. Organic groceries are not overly expensive anymore contrary to what you may think. I buy most of my produce in bulk too which gets my costs down a lot but obviously the elimination of organic produce all together would have a much more significant effect on my purse strings. My bulk grains cost similar to those bought from the grocery store with the added benefit of being whole grains not refined and organic. My cost of food alone is not the only issue. Fuel, Gas, hydro and water have gone up phenomenally which I can't do anything about. Obviously I know then I have to cut back wherever I can to make up for the places where I have no influence. I have a bright daycare room which means I don't need any lights on during the day and right now I don't even have big eaters.

I have such a touchy group of little ones right now who don't even like crafts apart from one. It's not even that they don't do anything but simply that they kick off screaming and crying every time. As a result I now only do crafts for monthly themes and instead do treasure baskets, sensory tubs and malleable play. Loads cheaper and I honestly haven't bought craft supplies in years.

I would mention it o the families, present your case as to why you are not going to do organic...if they see it is to prevent THEIR daily fees from rising I suspect most will be fine. The family that was keen for organic will likely be fine with their child having non-organic food for the remaining months of care. I have a vegetarian family here that is fine with their child eating meat while in my care (daily) because they realize the trade off of having their child eat meat is that their child is in a daycare that both child and family are happy with. Surely they could find a vegetarian daycare but they would just be trading off for something else. I would find it surprising if they left care so close to the start of school because of a change in food, especially if you explain the reasoning.

[bright sparks]

I would mention it o the families, present your case as to why you are not going to do organic...if they see it is to prevent THEIR daily fees from rising I suspect most will be fine. The family that was keen for organic will likely be fine with their child having non-organic food for the remaining months of care. I have a vegetarian family here that is fine with their child eating meat while in my care (daily) because they realize the trade off of having their child eat meat is that their child is in a daycare that both child and family are happy with. Surely they could find a vegetarian daycare but they would just be trading off for something else. I would find it surprising if they left care so close to the start of school because of a change in food, especially if you explain the reasoning.

Wow! There is a significant difference in eating organic or conventionally grown versus being a vegetarian and eating meat at daycare. Why would they need an exclusively vegetarian daycare to accommodate vegetarian meals? It's not hard to accommodate that in the slightest or have the parent send food. Sorry going off topic but I just find that alarming!!

[Lee-Bee]

Wow! There is a significant difference in eating organic or conventionally grown versus being a vegetarian and eating meat at daycare. Why would they need an exclusively vegetarian daycare to accommodate vegetarian meals? It's not hard to accommodate that in the slightest or have the parent send food. Sorry going off topic but I just find that alarming!!

As easy as it seems to skip out on the meat for a vegetarian child I don't think it is THAT easy. For one the meat is a huge source of protein and if I just cut it out the child is now left with starch and veggies everyday. A vegetarian incorporates other sources of protein in place of meat in their diet to compensate for the lack of meat. In addition a LARGE amount of my meals are made in the crock pot...so even the starch and veggies are soaked in meat juices for hours :-) It's hard to get around the meat when cooked like that!! Obviously the family isn't so hard core vegetarian that their child having meat here is an issue.

I wasn't so much comparing organic to meat/vegetarianism but to point out that a lot of families are comfortable flexing on some issues to keep their child in quality care. Therefore I don't think informing a family that is keen for organic meals will result in pulling a child out of care.

I wouldn't have signed the family on if they wanted to send their own meals to avoid meat. I would possibly (possibly) consider doing it for a family that has been in care for a long time and needed to suddenly change their child's diet for health reasons...but I have no desire to start serving different children, different foods.

[bright sparks]

As easy as it seems to skip out on the meat for a vegetarian child I don't think it is THAT easy. For one the meat is a huge source of protein and if I just cut it out the child is now left with starch and veggies everyday. A vegetarian incorporates other sources of protein in place of meat in their diet to compensate for the lack of meat. In addition a LARGE amount of my meals are made in the crock pot...so even the starch and veggies are soaked in meat juices for hours :-) It's hard to get around the meat when cooked like that!! Obviously the family isn't so hard core vegetarian that their child having meat here is an issue.

I wasn't so much comparing organic to meat/vegetarianism but to point out that a lot of families are comfortable flexing on some issues to keep their child in quality care. Therefore I don't think informing a family that is keen for organic meals will result in pulling a child out of care.

I wouldn't have signed the family on if they wanted to send their own meals to avoid meat. I would possibly (possibly) consider doing it for a family that has been in care for a long time and needed to suddenly change their child's diet for health reasons...but I have no desire to start serving different children, different foods.

My son has been vegetarian for nearly three years and I know first hand how easy it is to make veggie meals. It's not about eliminating meat but replacing it. I understand that if you make everything in the crockpot then this really isn't feasible but it's not impossible just obviously personal preference to what a person wants to do. I cook in bulk and in advance so really it's not a daily issue to cook two meals, and I make veggie meals a number of nights a week for all of us regardless of being veggie or not. What are people thinking saying they are vegetarian but they will eat meat if it means they get a daycare spot. Jeez that's nuts!!