In home child care ?'s

[Justanopinion]

Are you an in home child care provider? Do you have a terms and agreement type of thing with your parents?

Have a friend that just recently started doing in home care and is already having trouble with one family. She would like to come up with some type of formalish terms and agreement...can you help with examples of ones you have used.

thanks

 

[okeydokey]

I'm not a provider but I used one when my kids were younger. She had a contract that we both signed. It stipulated the payment terms, late penalties, guidelines for being absent, vacations and pick up and drop off times. The thing is your friend really needs to stay on top of parents that push the rules (pick up late or pay late) or it will just get worse.

 

[Hillbeans]

I have used the same home childcare provider for the last 6 years. We don't have a formal signed agreement in place but have general guidelines. My 3 YO goes to her 3x a week.

She takes off (and gets paid) for major holidays, like Christmas, NYE, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after thanksgiving. She takes 1 week off unpaid every August.

Any vacation we take I still pay her for the week. She is paid on Friday every week, in advance for vacations.

I don't send my children there ill, but if they're a little sniffly she's ok with that.

Her hours are anytime between 7 am and 6 pm. Don't be late! I think only once in 6 years were we ever late and it was a miscommunication with me and DH as to who was doing pickups.

I think the important point needs to be made that it is a business, and this person is taking care of the most important people in your life - treat them as such with mutual respect and things will work out fine.

 

[BARBARAAPPLE]

I run a daycare out of my home and I have been in buisness for 5 years. I have a contract that covers everything. When I interview a new family we go over the contract good, if they cant handle the rules the kids don't come here.I do require the contract to be signed.This is my buisness and I run it like any other buisness would be run, I take vacations and get paid for holidays. I also give a free week to every family.

The most important thing to have is a contract.....

 

[daughtersrus]

As a daycare provider, it is important to create a contract. The contract should include the days and hours of care, the rate being charged, any holidays that care will not be provided, the amount of vacation time, if the holidays and vacations are are paid or unpaid, if there is an extra fee if the child/ren are not picked up on time, when payment is due, sick policy, what supplies are provided by the daycare provider and what are the parents responsible for, what the termination policy is (how much notice has to be given)...

My policy statement also includes my experience, a little about my family, how we deal with discipline, consent forms that need to be filled out by the parents....The consent forms include permission to dispense medications, permission to take the child/ren on field trips, permission for EMERGENCY medical care and who is authorized to pick up the child/ren.

The problem that many providers run into is that they want to do this on the side or under the table and do not handle it as any other self-employed business owner.

I'd be happy to send you a copy of my policy statement, contract and consent forms via email if you would like. I have them saved them as Word Documents.

You may also want to look at the Redleaf Press website. They have a lot of good resources for day care providers.