Holidays at Daycares?

[Camno's Mama]

Perhaps where you are that is the case, but we have been at our current center for 14 months, and DS is on his 5th teacher. Turn over rate in this industry is extremely high. And the day care across the street for our house is constantly advertising for new lead teachers! If it was a job that they loved, and not in it for the money, then why aren't the teachers staying??

Turnover rate is high for many reasons. One that we ran into a lot was that a lot of our teacher's assistants were students who were studying to be teachers. Sometimes the college schedules would get in the way. And they hire a lot of teachers in the summer to be on call for field trips, etc. So, you see them come and go.

Another is the high expectations. A lot is expected of teachers, and they don't get paid much and there aren't many other rewards. A lot of times, and I'm not saying always, the directors at the centers don't value the teachers that they have as much as they should. Also, the parents' attitudes can really stink. Parents often have a hard time understanding the pressures of making a classroom run smoothly, and don't always come in with a lot of respect for that. I've been yelled at by parents for disciplining their children appropriately (meaning they got upset because their child got a timeout for biting or similar misbehaviors), for sending them home sick with fevers of 103, and for starting circle before their child arrived (late, may I add). It's disheartening, and although many people love it, sometimes it's not what it's cracked up to be. There are also a lot of wonderful parents, but the difficult ones make things very complicated.

And, yes, there are some teachers that just shouldn't be teachers. Maybe they thought it was easy so they took a job in a day care. People with that attitude won't make it long. And you will find that some classrooms have a harder time keeping teachers. (The toddlers and two's especially...I can't figure out why... ). But that is the name of the game in any profession. Sometimes you don't know something isn't for you until you do it.

I guess I just hate to see the teachers be treated and talked about disrepectfully because they're working in an industry that is both necessary and honorable. It doesn't seem like much, what with the cleaning up puke, potty training kids and wiping noses, but there is a lot more to it. Teachers go to inservices to learn the best way to teach your child's age group. They learn new techniques and discuss the problems in their classroom to better find ways to address them. They need this time to consider their options. And they definitely deserve a few paid vacation days. Maybe there would be more teachers choosing this field if it didn't come with so many stigmas.

 

[kcromley]

I just wanted all the teachers out there to know how much I appreciate what you do. Many of us have the luxury of working with people who are, more or less, rational and who can, more or less, articulate their own needs. Working with very young children doesn't bring either of those and can be extremely stressful.
I like to think, this holiday season, that perhaps after spending a day with his own child, the OP will better appreciate what the job entails, and will share that $50 or $60 he was so determined to save in tuition, with either the employees caring for his child or in donated supplies to the daycare he uses. It makes me think some good will come out of this thread yet. Happy Holidays to all.

 

[melancholywings]

Yes.For summer camp ( summer daycare)I pay a flat one time $175 activity fee that covers i day per week field trip,1 day per week pooltime,1 day per week bowling and 2 camp tshirts in addition to my tuition. I also pay for fieldtrips throught the year.Anywhere from 5-10$ per trip depending where they are to.

We do too for summer camp or the xmas week. During the summer it's between $20-40 a month and then there's a one time $20 gas fee. During the winter it's by the day and dependent on the activity. DD loves the field trips they do movies, strawberry picking, ice skating, the museum, etc. Any left over field trip money (such as trips being cancelled due to rain) is pooled together for an end of summer class party. We also have to pack our own lunches on field trip days.
I don't mind the expense. The daycare has to take them out, leaving the kids stuck in that room all summer would lead to insanity and unhappiness for kids and adults.

 

[still grumpy]

I just wanted all the teachers out there to know how much I appreciate what you do. Many of us have the luxury of working with people who are, more or less, rational and who can, more or less, articulate their own needs. Working with very young children doesn't bring either of those and can be extremely stressful.
I like to think, this holiday season, that perhaps after spending a day with his own child, the OP will better appreciate what the job entails, and will share that $50 or $60 he was so determined to save in tuition, with either the employees caring for his child or in donated supplies to the daycare he uses. It makes me think some good will come out of this thread yet. Happy Holidays to all.

What a load of self righteous BS. Working with very young children is a blessing, and is rewarding. You are the one who doesn't seem to get that. Maybe you need to spend some more time with YOUR child.

All and all it is a pleasant job with many rewards. High pay isn't one of them. That is the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. My job pays no way near what I would be paid in a different field with my degree. I do it because I love it.

Let the for profit care centers show their appreciation to their staff with giving up a bit of THEIR profit. And if people want to show their appreciation a direct gift to the teachers is the way to go. Not a coffee cup with candy, but hard cash. (I am talking preschool and daycare, not licensed teachers who have a much higher statistical pay rate.)

 

[kcromley]

actually, "still grumpy "(what a great name for you!), it was meant sincerely. And I am with my young children full time, that is why I both know and understand what the job entails, and it is by far the hardest job I've known. Hope you agree! Signing off...

 

[still grumpy]

In that case it is just plain sad that that was/is how you see your young children. It is good that you have great childcare, and I hope your let them know past the few dollars that they make that day. Bye-bye.

 

[kcromley]

huh? I don't have childcare. I did when I was working, and I treated my childcare workers as the most cherished employees in the world, as they were taking care of my most precious possession. Maybe you got confused on posts or something; anyway, goodbye; I'm not logging in again.

 

[holly7347]

When my oldest was in daycare there were only 2 exceptions to not having to pay. The entire daycare/preschool was shutdown the week between Christmas and New Years and no one had to pay for that week. And after your child had been there for 1 year you got a week vacation where you could basically have them out for a week and not pay. They did once close for a snow day and we didn't get a refund for that. Chances are if they are a good daycare they are paying their employees for holidays - that money has to come from somewhere.

 

[alyssa810]

We have to pay when the center is closed, as it is tomorrow and Friday; we have to pay when we go on vacation, if our son is home sick, basically whether he's there or not. This has been the practice with all places that we looked at when we were looking for day care providers, both in center/school environments AND in home day cares. I agree that it stinks, but one of my girlfriends made a good point- she said that even when you go on vacation, you still have to pay your mortgage if you're staying at a hotel.

 

[northriver]

My dd goes to all day preschool. We pay a yearly fee divided into 10 months, so we pay August-May. That includes once a month teacher development day, all sorts of holidays, over a week winter holiday break, a week for spring break etc etc etc.

The home daycare I used to have also had paid holidays, paid vacation days, etc. It was all stated in the contract we signed each year.

Why wouldn't anyone NOT want to provide decent wage and benefits like paid holidays to the people who care for our most precious posession - our children!?

 

[tr-ray]

I don't want to add fuel to any fires, but I did want to make a few comments.

I'm a new mom, and even though I have had no prior experience with daycares, I did know that there would be a few days where a center would be closed, and DH or I would have to try to take off to watch her.

I think OP's original sentiment was that he *THOUGHT* had to pay for Black Friday, when his child would not be able to attend, and would have to find alternate care OR take an unpaid day off.

This spurred further comments that everyone has Black Friday off. This is definitely not the rule, and I'd say the exception.

Another comment was made regarding banks. DH and I both work at a bank, not as tellers, but in the back office/operations, and the only paid holidays we get are national holidays, and one state holiday. I also have to agree with a PP that mentioned that many bank's BRANCHES are now open 7 days a week.

Now, come next Black Friday (as I am still home on maternity leave), DH and I will have to battle with our other co-workers as to who could possibly have that day off. Not everyone in each of our departments can just take that day off -- someone will need to be there to support normal business operations. If someone higher in seniority wants that day off, usually that's how days off are awarded. I have several co-workers who also have children in daycare, in the same situation, as does DH. If neither of us can have that day off, I have to hope and wish that one of my DD's grandparents could possibly watch her.

 

[gigi1313]

My wife just informed me that we have to pay the daycare for the two days that THEY are closed for Thanksgiving. She says that this is common for all daycares but I find it hard to believe.

Is this really a common practice?

i'll admit to not having read thru the whole thread...

do you pay by the day or by the week or the month?

we pay ds' daycare by the month and when it's a five week month and he's there more days, i pay the same as a holiday month when the school is closed for three or four days...

if you pay per diem, then maybe you've got a gripe... otherwise, it's like any other private school... the annual tuition is pro-rated into a monthly cost and some months you "win" and other months you "lose" but imo if you like and trust the daycare and your child is thriving, you automatically WIN no matter the cost (as long as you can afford it)

 

[NEDisneyFans]

But their profit does go up. They are not spending money on the food for 75 kids that they would have had to spend on those days, there are not spending money on the gas for the buses on those days, their electricity cost is reduced on those days, the hourly employees are not getting paid on the holidays so their payroll is reduced, etc. etc. etc.

Haven't you heard of "overhead"?

Most businesses build the cost of doing business into their pricing structure. While they don't "charge" for days they are closed, the customers are still paying.

While it might make you feel better -- or less confused -- if you paid a higher daily rate for just the days the center is open, it would be much more complicated for the business.

Let it go!

 

[ZPT1022]

It is not like the daycare are my employees. When I hire an employee I get to dictate the terms of their compensation, the hours they work and the benefits they receive. The daycare is a business, just like any other business; with the primary difference being that when there is a holiday, their profit margin goes up.

Most business that close on a holiday have their profit margin go down; but the daycare industry's profit goes up. How can they justify this?

Maybe they average out what it takes to run the center each year and divide it by 52 weeks.

 

[gaelic grace]

I think the only area that OP has a reason to gripe is that he didn't know the holidays in advance. I work part time and take my child to an in-home provider. I pay for the full rate even though he is not there everyday and the days he is there he is only there for 4-5 hours. She is also on the high end of care for our area. We pay for all holidays and we pay her for her vacation. I do all of this gladly and I knew it when we started using her with our first child. I get paid holidays and vacations and so should she. I understand that many people don't get the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas off but many of those people have personal days that they can take. Once your child hits school age there will be many more days that you are having to look for alternate care. One thing that hasn't been stated is that I want my child care provider to get a break. I want her well-rested when she is keeping my most precious gift. Childcare is hard work it requires alot of patience. I know a few days out of town every once in awhile makes me a better mommy. I can only imagine the same thing is true for child care providers. I also think that if you work full-time for some people it's a great reason to spend an extra day with your child. Children are many things but they aren't convenient. It's not convenient to take a day off sometimes but it's part of the territory with children.