Parents withdraw to go to a center

[Peacefulbird]

Hi. To be honest I talk to my clients upfront. 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'm very honest with them and tell them that their spot will be available after they leave and if they see or know someone interested to let me know. I have a demand and waiting list I also tell them as I'm helping them out, to just let me know at least a month ahead or as soon as they figured it out. Giving me time to interview and have someone to fill the spot as soon as their spot is open (they know they can count with their spot until they have to leave no pressure)

So far, i do not have problems filling the spots, the problems were when once I filled the spots (with contracts signed a month ahead), the leaving families change their minds (I guess they evaluate pros and cons); but I also had families that signed for short term and they stayed years (and they cancelled their daycare centre spots).

My opinion comes to this; if I'm offering a service, I must evaluate my needs ;

1. Stay empty keep looking around avoid families that need my services (even short term, obviously perhaps a good economic situation would allow that) or

2. Fill my spots even with short terms and offer a "quality service" for short or long term (which actually helped building a great reputation and get more people to know me and my serviced and get positive recommendations).

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" as we are in a "service" industry a day empty is a day lost for ever.

I got three long term families that started as short term (they were afraid to commit to a new situation and to someone they didn't know 100%, It took few months until they felt comfortable and secure that my services were what they were looking for).

***My personal advise is to keep doing what you're doing treat that family the same and let them see how good you are, I had families that once they tried the centres they regreted and wanted to come back but, their spots were filled.

And I also was thinking on a tighter contract a enrollment fee etc. But when families decide to leave for any reason and because is their child, they do not mind losing or paying extra that won't stop them. The well being of their child is priceless..

[Suzie_Homemaker]

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.