Quote Originally Posted by bright sparks View Post
How long is a piece of string? lol Honestly it varies for many different reasons. Saturation of providers in your area, birth rates, the going rate, centres and daycare providers opening and closing. The last 1-2 years seems to have been a particularly slow time for a lot of us in the GTA, but it's not exclusive. I remember at one point there was nearly always a thread in the top ten about the frustrations of not being able to fill spots. It was hard for a long time for those of us relying on the income. I thing it is hard to say on a grand scale as every provider brings something different with their services. I just found that during this time I wasn't even getting enquiries so it wasn't so much me, my program or my rates because every enquiry I did get always resulted in a signed contract and great feedback. For me I think it was because there was a sudden onset of mums staying at home and offering home daycare for a good $10-$15 less per day. There were close to 20 who did this. 2 years ago I was getting anywhere from 3-12 enquiries a month and currently I'm lucky if I get 2 a month but sometimes there is a peak. In the new year I got about 12 in 1 week but it was totally random. I don't particularly find any time of the year to be busier with enquiries than the other. Maybe May/June but that is specifically for school aged kids looking for summer care which I don't offer.
This true.

Not huge amount of carer in PEI but not huge amount of population either. Some local carer charging just $22 for full day with meals and snacks but they soon go out of business.

Once have a good name and rep and experience, it big help with word of mouth which is always better.

Three year ago was slow on island. Lots of parent lose job with local firm closing and lots of moms try to open day care and earn when at home but inexperience mean under charging trying to be competitive and not understanding that they working for free is not charging enough.

All the new carers did affect everyone for a while. Of course, young family like to save on day care fee but experienced carer make mistakes as they learning. Mistake on too flexible hours, too low fees. Also parent realize over time that cheaper care not always good care which challenges children. Sometime experienced carer worth fees if problem phase or toilet train or child need extra help with some development.

It all settle after about 8 months parent look for carer basing on skill not cost and cheap carer realize lot of work for little money and either close day care or learn lesson and charge fair fee.

I am super lucky. Family grown up so for me this is extra money job for our vacations or luxury expense. I just work 4 days a week. Close Friday always and like today, children often leave early if parent on fishing boats as they finish work around noon.