Child care payment question

[Erin1700]

I watch children in my home. One of the kids comes T, Th, F. Starting Sept, the parents are sending her to a morning preK program M, T, W mornings.

The main reason is that they are having a baby and the grandparents watch her M and W so putting her in an AM PreK those days will lighten the load of the grandparents. On Tuesdays, the parents will get her at 11:30 and drop her off here until 5:30. Normal arrival is 7:30.

Of course they want a pay cut on Tuesdays. I understand this but they also want me to keep the morning opened incase PreK is closed and of course for the summer. The way I see it is those hours are easy to fill with someone else. Esp a mom who has older kids who go to school who wants to bring their little one once a week for a few hours so she can grocery shop, etc.

So what do I do? I feel like it is unfair to ask me to not take anyone else but save that spot for them. I am already saving a spot for their infant without charging. I think some places charge a small fee for holding the spot.

 

[disneystacy]

I would tell them you can keep the spot open for the summer at regular price and you will discount the Tues when pre- k starts again. I would also tell them that you cannot keep a spot open for days the prek is closed. They can call you ahead of time and ask if you have room, but its not a guarantee. They should have grandparents as backup. Thats what I would do.

 

[golfgal]

Most daycares charge for x number of hours/week whether they are used or not. Keep in mind you are running a business, whether your parents thing so or not. I would tell them that the fee for the week is X and figure out how many hours that will be. I know that most daycares will charge for base hours of a "normal" week, so 45 hours or whatever, any more than that and they charge extra, less than that, too bad. I also know that most in home daycares get paid vacations, usually 2 weeks paid and 2 weeks unpaid. You can always fill that space with someone that will pay a full fee so keep that in mind.

 

[INDISMOM]

My babysitter based the rate on lunch. If they were there for lunch, you paid the whole day.

My daughter was in half day kindergarten and we paid as if she was there all day everyday. I had no problem with this because it is her business and she was a wonderful babysitter.

.

 

[nhpooh]

If you keep the morning open then they have to pay for that spot, otherwise you can fill it with someone else. This is what I did when I ran daycare in my home. As someone else said they must call if prek is closed, if you have the opening sure come on over if not sorry it's filled. That is if they don't want to pay for keeping it open.

 

[daughtersrus]

I watch children in my home. One of the kids comes T, Th, F. Starting Sept, the parents are sending her to a morning preK program M, T, W mornings.

The main reason is that they are having a baby and the grandparents watch her M and W so putting her in an AM PreK those days will lighten the load of the grandparents. On Tuesdays, the parents will get her at 11:30 and drop her off here until 5:30. Normal arrival is 7:30.

Of course they want a pay cut on Tuesdays. I understand this but they also want me to keep the morning opened incase PreK is closed and of course for the summer. The way I see it is those hours are easy to fill with someone else. Esp a mom who has older kids who go to school who wants to bring their little one once a week for a few hours so she can grocery shop, etc.

So what do I do? I feel like it is unfair to ask me to not take anyone else but save that spot for them. I am already saving a spot for their infant without charging. I think some places charge a small fee for holding the spot.

What does your contract say?
Mine says..."Part time (min of 3 days per week) $40.00/day" "Before/After school 1/2 day Kindergarten or Preschool 5 days $170.00/week. Part time (min of 3 days per week) Before/After school 1/2 day Kindergarten or Preschool $40.00/day"..."Full rate is due on Monday for the coming week. Payments are expected to be kept up to date. No deduction from the full rate will be allowed if you child arrives late or departs early. "

My parents realize that not only are they paying for the care that I give their children, but they're paying for the spot so that they know that they will have care for their child if need be.


Keep in mind that you are self-employed and are the boss. You set the hours, the rate and the rules.

Best of luck!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Where I live the norm is to pay for the whole day, regardless of the hours you use them. So, I wouldn't expect any discount for Tuesdays. However, if you're confident you can fill the spot, I'd let them choose between paying 2/3 of the cost of the day and not having guaranteed childcare, or paying the full cost and knowing they can use it whenever they need it.

Another option might be that they could find someone to share the spot with. For example, there might be a mom who uses the same PreK who wants care for her little one while the older child is in school. If so, she might be interested in just contracting for the days when the other school is open. If the mom could find someone like that it would work well, but I think the responsibility for finding that person would rest with the mom, and not with you.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Where I live the norm is to pay for the whole day, regardless of the hours you use them. So, I wouldn't expect any discount for Tuesdays. However, if you're confident you can fill the spot, I'd let them choose between paying 2/3 of the cost of the day and not having guaranteed childcare, or paying the full cost and knowing they can use it whenever they need it.

Another option might be that they could find someone to share the spot with. For example, there might be a mom who uses the same PreK who wants care for her little one while the older child is in school. If so, she might be interested in just contracting for the days when the other school is open. If the mom could find someone like that it would work well, but I think the responsibility for finding that person would rest with the mom, and not with you.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I feel that if they want you to keep the spot open, then they should pay the normal day, no money off.

 

[Darcy03231]

Its been a long time since my children were in daycare, but I paid for the whole day regardless of how much time they were there for. Some days they went in late and left early and others they were there for the full day. I reserved the spot for them so I paid.

 

[worm761]

If they want you to keep that spot free for their child, then they need to pay for that spot. If you don't charge them for it, you lose income. If they don't want to pay for the spot, then advertise that it is open so you can fill it. IF it doesn't get filled and they want to use it occasionally, do you have a price for that?

 

[Darcy03231]

I forgot to add that my child care provided would do daily rates or hourly rates. Hourly rates were much higher than daily, but you only paid for the hours you used. At the time her daily rate was $20/day for (as I said, it was a long time ago) and the hourly rate was $6 or $7/hour.

 

[Hoodie]

It they want to have the spot reserved, then they have to pay for it. My son's daycare doesn't even offer part-time payment because it's too difficult for his sitter to fill his slot on off days. If they want to hold onto the space, then they need to pay for the space.

It's a business and you need to be compensated for your availability.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would tell them you can keep the spot open for the summer at regular price and you will discount the Tues when pre- k starts again. I would also tell them that you cannot keep a spot open for days the prek is closed. They can call you ahead of time and ask if you have room, but its not a guarantee.

I agree with the sentiment here. Drop-in/occasional care has to be on a "space available" basis. Additionally, I would not commit to those times more than, say, several weeks or a month in advance. If they want the time reserved, they have to pay for it.

I would not even necessarily promise them a summer-only slot; that removes your ability to obtian a new year-round "customer."

Most of the places here won't even do a partial-day contract; full days only on days you come.

 

[rainydayplay]

During school, my DD6's daycare has "before/after school care". For a week of after school, I am charged $40. For her to be there 10-30 minutes before school is an extra $5 ($45 per week, total). IF her school has a half day (they get out at 11:30), then I have to pay the full day rate for that day (an extra $7 per day, which should workout to the weekly summer rate of $80).

I think they might would let me off for the summer, since I teach and should spend a lot of time at home, right? But, between workshops (I've already done over 2 full weeks of those, with another few days next week) and trying to go help out my grandmother, DD has to be in daycare. I pay the full $80 per week, even though I try to keep her home at least one day per week AND week after next we'll be out of town on vacation, so she'll be out the entire week. Yep. I pay the full $80 for that week, which, as I understand it, is normal. (Gotta keep the spot open...gotta pay the ladies that still have to be there, etc.)

My opinion? If they want the spot, they need to pay for it. They'd have to if they were taking their child anywhere else.

 

[ksjayhawks]

If they want you to keep the morning open "just in case", then they pay for the full day or if the child is going to be there for lunch, they pay for the full day.

I would also charge a fee to hold the spot just in case they change their minds at the last minute. I would charge 1/4 of what their monthly rate would be once the baby starts coming.