OT-daycare issues

[RMulieri]

I need to vent and I need opinions.My dd4 has been at a prticular daycare/preschool since she was 1 yr old.She has always gone wed-fri 0630-1200( I am a night shifter so it works for me)There has never been a problem before..I was approached this am by the director to tell me that for the summer program there are no half days, and she will allow me to keep my half day on wed,thurs, but my daughter needs to be there full day FRi because every Fri is now a field trip ( which costs extra) or I can switch to tues,wed, thurs...which does not work at all!my boss is pretty rigid on my requirements at work.Several things really bother me ...first, I can't afford to pay extra.and 2nd I am not wild about my 4 yr old on a school bus going on field trips every friday(and not to local places either,some are a few hrs away)...I am so upset I could cry.My DD has been here for 3 yrs and has all of her friends I don't really want to have to find another center,but what can I do?,

 

[brandylouwho]

Wow, I would be really upset too. I am surprised that they'd change up their schedule & rules so abruptly like that. So, it sounds like these filedtrips are mandatory? Our center has trips in the summer and there is always the option of keeping your kid back at the center.

Maybe the center will work with you to work it all out. Go to them with a few possible solutions and see what they say--maybe the 4 year old stay back with the little kids on Friday mornings? I doubt little kids go on fieldtrips & I doubt the field trips start before breakfast time...so it may only be 3 hours or so that she'd need to be in a different room.

If they aren't willing to work it out with you, then it is time to move on. If you have to find different childcare, I would try to set up a few playdates for your DD, so that she can see her old pals once in awhile.

good luck! Finding a good daycare was one of the biggest decisions we've had to make regarding our babies (especially choosing one before we even had our first child) and I would be lost without them. I would be so upset if something happened and we'd have to find a new one now.

 

[Disneychix]

It does sound a bit crazy. Perhaps talk to other parents and see if they are all agreeing with this schedule and rate increase? Maybe everyone is upset. Otherwise I might say look for a new place. 4yr olds can adjust and make new friends very easily and your DD will be starting school soon and have to make that adjustment anyway.
Good luck.

 

[barkley]

that was getting to be the norm in our former area even back when my kids were little (now 11 and 13). the daycares abandoned their regular schduals once the school year ended-and in many cases had a separation application and registration process that resulted in a couple of hundred extra dollars to keep the kids enrolled they claimed it was to offer something different but i believe it was moreso because there were loads of parents with kids in the younger years of school who were desparate for summer care. so they made it that part-timers could only be m-th a.m. because they also had their weekly field trips on fridays (which carried a hefty fee). one of the places my kids were at did'nt care at all if the younger one's parents had issues with it because they LIKED haveing older kids since they required a much lower teacher to student ratio (it went from something like 1 teacher to every 12 kids up to 1 teacher to every 18-big savings on staffing). they did retain their infant/toddler classes on the normal schedual but that was because those parents were already paying around 25% more than for the 3 year olds and older (and they could successfully argue that they could'nt co-mingle 3 or 4 year olds who did'nt want to 'trip' with that group because of that state's laws).

you best start looking now or plan on paying the extra $$$-when we were in this situation i ended up having to figure out the increase in costs and then begining the month the regular schedual restarted-socking away a little bit to cover it when the following summer arrived (i'm still doing this with my kids who are in private school-i have to sock it away for the week dd goes to 'outdoor school' and then for the summer camp they attend in july ).

one suggestion i'll make is if you have a regular sitter maybe they would be interested in just doing friday mornings? you'de likely still have to pay for the tuesdays you don't use but it might end up cheaper than paying for the field trips and time you don't want.

 

[camlace]

Not sure I would call giving a parent notice of a schedule change in February that will not happen until June/summer "abrupt" The daycare center has every right to change their schedule/policies. If you do not agree or the new schedule does not meet your needs then its time to move to a new daycare or find a different job. I think 4-5 months notice is very generous. The center my daughter is at gave parents approx 1 months notice that they will no longer "allow" partial day schedules. The child does not have to attend 5 days a week, but there are no more 4 hour days. Of course if you like you can pick up your child as early as you want, but you still have to pay the rate for the full day.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[bellebud]

I've never done daycare, so I don't have any strong opinions on finding a new one or not (but as someone else posted, she'll start K the next year anyway and have to make new friends, etc, so I don't think it's so bad switching)... but I'd never let my 4yo do field trips w/out me. I'm sure many others will disagree. It's just my opinion and feelings as a mom.

good luck figuring this out.

 

[RMulieri]

Not sure I would call giving a parent notice of a schedule change in February that will not happen until June/summer "abrupt" The daycare center has every right to change their schedule/policies. If you do not agree or the new schedule does not meet your needs then its time to move to a new daycare or find a different job. I think 4-5 months notice is very generous. The center my daughter is at gave parents approx 1 months notice that they will no longer "allow" partial day schedules. The child does not have to attend 5 days a week, but there are no more 4 hour days. Of course if you like you can pick up your child as early as you want, but you still have to pay the rate for the full day.

Good luck with your decision.

I recognize the fact that the daycare has the right to change the policy.I also think that talking to me 4-5 mos ahead of time is very generous,and I am looking at new places.But I can't find a different job ..not very practical

 

[krystalleigh1]

I think it's worth discussing furthing with your daycare. It can't hurt to ask right?

-Ask if your dd can stay behind on field trip days. I'm sure they're not taking ALL the kids on fieldtrips. Ask that she stay in another classroom for a few hours until noon.

-See if you can work it out with your work to leave early on Fridays so that you can pick up your dd before scheduled field trips. (I know this may not even be possible).

-Think about another daycare.

-Sign her up for some park and rec. programs in the summer in liu of daycare. You may still have to find care for early morning hours, but maybe you could find a provider who would transport her to and from the park and rec. programs. Or you could maybe find one that ends around noon so all you have to worry about is getting her TO the program. It only lasts during the summer so she could go back to her daycare in the winter.

 

[RMulieri]

update...well I spoke with the other daycares in the area,all except one are wait listed for summer and I was told not to be optimistic about getting in since I would be way down the list.The one that isn't wait listed can't take dd4 on any of the days I would need so it would be pointless.I spoke with dd's current daycare director and got the specifics of this summer..it will cost me $100 more then I am paying now for the same amt of time and dayswhether she goes on the field trips or not.I literally broke down in tears and started crying.I am willing to switch days around at work, but it will still cost me $100 more a week regardless.( I was told it is the summer recreation rates) The director actually told me to pull her out for the summer and keep her home then...not acceptable in my mind.Like, if I could afford to stay home and not work believe me I would and would have no need for daycare.So now I am totally a mess.I have no family nearby and a nanny or babysitting service is costly( at least the reputable ones are). I looked into full time for summer and I can't afford those rates either, and my husband seems to think by yelling at me about this that somehow it will fix the problem.

 

[zoemurr]

is that they are near full for the summer and have someone willing to pay for your slot, but they would be fulltime. I know when I was teaching we had some part timers, but it was always with the understanding that if it was the last spot left and a fulltimer wanted it they would have to go fulltime or they would get booted. It's not nice, but it is a business.

I know I babysat a lot in the summer when I was a teenager,maybe you can find someone reliable and not a lot of $$ for those mornings. Unfortunatley you would probably still need to pay the daycare for holding her spot open until fall.

Sorry you're having a rough time.

 

[famofsix]

I find it really hard to find daycare centers that can accommodate
part-timers due to ratio issues. Essentially your little one takes the place of a full-timer unless another part-timer is coming on your off days.

Since you feel so strongly about the field trips, I would suggest moving her to a daycare that is in your school district and then the transition to kindergarten maybe easier since she would have a whole year to develop friendships with new kids. Kids are pretty good at transitioning friendwise most of the time. Perhaps you are already in the same district and she would meet up with some of her old friends in Kindergarten.


Have you looked into your community summer recreation or the YMCA?
I am sorry you're having a rough time. I just read the update

Tell all your friends you are looking for summer care and see if you can find a reputable homecare provider or college student.

 

[RMulieri]

you know I probably wouldn't even be upset if this was how it was always done..my dd has been there 3 years now and every summer for all ages was, pay the summer registration fee of $50 and then there were per field trip costs and considerations..I found out that to pay for part time ..w,th,fri 630-1200 would cost $175, Ft for summer Mon-fri 7-3 is $225. ...truthfully if I had the extra cash FT would be the better option so I asked about that and the director told me there were no more FT slots.I am thinking maybe to pull her out for the summer and cut back my work hrs to 2- 16hr shifts per week. I am also the first parent she spoke to, can't wait to hear the other parents since the tuition fee does not included the one time summer registration fee of $100.00

 

[Mkrop]

Are you near any colleges or do you know of any college kids coming home that you could hire for the summer?

I know a lot of people hire college kids(usually education majors) to watch their kids in the summer

GL

 

[krystalleigh1]

I agree about the college kids for the summer-but if you pull her from her center you may not get a spot in the fall.

Also, think about home daycare. They're almost always cheaper than centers and some do offer part time rates. There are some great hdc's out there you just have to check around and ask lots of questions.

 

[RMulieri]

Thanks for all your support.My DD's daycare has offered me t-th at my current rate....they don't want me to pull her.I spoke to work and they are willing to let me work Sat nite instead of fri.They also told me if I pull her for summer that they will keep her spot. So hopefully all will be well

 

[Mkrop]

Good to hear

 

[Aristomommy]

None of the daycares in this area offer half days except for Kindergarten. Even then the cost is almost the same (not half) because they need to staff for the correct ratio and it's hard to find half day staff. I am lucky that DS can go 3 days a week even as a young toddler as most daycares are full time until preschool age.

I am surprised though that they would do long field trips with 4 year olds. Ours does trip to the library (walking) and a couple of 30min. trips for the older kids. Maybe other parents will not like this either and they may change their minds.

 

[DVCJones]

I totally agree with not wanting your child going on the field trips. I was in the same position once. I still don't let anyone drive my kids around.

Maybe you can express you concerns with just not having her go on the field trips even if she was there a full day. I can't imagine that you are the only parent who would have an issue with this.

My kids daycare always had a teacher stay behind for the ones who were not going. Sometimes it meant that my DD spent the day in the infant room. You said that she has been going there for 3 years. This must mean they have younger children there. I can't imagine them taking the babies on a field trip too. Maybe she could stay behind and be a "helper" for the day.

Good luck!

 

[RMulieri]

update...well apparently there is going to be HUGE backlash about the full day field trips on friday for the 3 and 4 yr olds...alot of parents flipped out yesterday.The consensus was they are way too young to travel 3 hrs on a bus, and I found out a couple of the trips are SWIMMING...uh that is a huge liability in and of itself..especially swimming at a lake 3 hrs from home.Who knows what will happen, but alot of parents are of the frame of mind if we wanted daycamp we would send our kids to one.I am all for a trip here and there ( local stuff).I also found out that last year ( same program) started at the 5 yr old level,not 3 yrs like this year.The price difference is $125 more pp then last year.So I 'll keep you all posted, right now my DDs teacher said there is total parental anarchy..Thanks again all of you for your support

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Fridays was always field trip day for the day care my kids went to. No exceptions. Of course it cost more.

Several folks pulled their children out when they discovered that.

I'm so glad you were able to work something out!

I just read about the swimming. No way, No how should a 3 to 5 year old be allowed swimming in a daycare situation. There's no way the adults can keep an eye on all the kids at all times in the water. I'm glad all the parents are up in arms about that and they get the daycare to back down on that. It's just ridiculous.