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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Hours Open
rhondawarren 06:21 AM 10-13-2013
How many number of hours are you open for childcare? 10, 11 or 12?
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Moppetland 06:38 AM 10-13-2013
I'm open for 10.5 hours. I use to be open 18 hours, but I was burnt out.
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rhondawarren 06:45 AM 10-13-2013
I use to be open 11 to 12 but I'm reopening my daycare in my new home so figuring out how I want changes I should make this time.
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JoseyJo 06:54 AM 10-13-2013
Currently we are open from 7-6 (11 hours) but as of Nov 1 we are going to 7-5:30 Whoop Whoop!

Sometime in the future I could see us going to 6:30 to 5:30 if the need arose. The hours don't bother me as much as the late evenings.
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Cradle2crayons 07:24 AM 10-13-2013
I do contracted care only so I don't go by hours but the most I do is around 8 or so per day. But I work 7 days a week in general. And sometimes if the one mom works a double... Then the kids will be here 12 hours. By that's not every day.
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JoseyJo 07:43 AM 10-13-2013
When I am interviewing I give preference to families who WANT to spend time w/ their children- the children seem to be much better adjusted in general.

We have open hours but have set hours for each families d/o p/u (I don't charge extra but I do call if they are late to d/o and p/u each time asking if everything is alright, I was worried since I didn't hear, afraid their was an accident, etc After a few times they get the point)

The families we have now range from 7.5 hours to 9.5 hours daily - everyone comes M-F.
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Blackcat31 08:01 AM 10-13-2013
Other threads about hours open

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65671

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=open+hours

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...=opening+hours
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Leigh 06:20 AM 10-14-2013
I am open from 7:30-5:30. I will do overnight care, as well, when it doesn't interfere with my own family (Drop off between 9:30PM and 10:30PM, pick up between 6:30AM and 7:30AM).
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blandino 06:26 AM 10-14-2013
10.5.

We are open from 7:00-5:30. I can reasonably see us moving to 7:30-5:30, hopefully soon. I would love to close earlier, but we still have 8 kids picked up between 5-5:30.
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momofboys 06:29 AM 10-14-2013
10 hours - my "hours" are 6:45-4:45 but each family is only to use 9 a day
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LK5kids 06:34 AM 10-14-2013
10.5 hours...7:00-5:30pm! But right now everone comes at 7:30. I love that ;-)
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daycarediva 06:41 AM 10-14-2013
Originally Posted by blandino:
10.5.

We are open from 7:00-5:30. I can reasonably see us moving to 7:30-5:30, hopefully soon. I would love to close earlier, but we still have 8 kids picked up between 5-5:30.
Same here, I have one kid aging out next year that comes at 7 and won't replace with anyone earlier than 7:30. Last contracted p/u is 5:30
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Rachel 07:16 AM 10-14-2013
I'm opened 9.5 hours a day, 7-4:30, which is standard here and more than enough. I don't know how you 12 hour ladies do it!
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Cradle2crayons 07:27 AM 10-14-2013
Originally Posted by Rachel:
I'm opened 9.5 hours a day, 7-4:30, which is standard here and more than enough. I don't know how you 12 hour ladies do it!
12 is easy, 16 is even more fun!! Lol
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MarinaVanessa 07:36 AM 10-14-2013
I'm open for 11 hours. From 7am to 6pm. That's one hour before most office jobs open and one hour after they close. I used to be open from 6am to 6pm but that one extra hour would make me angry when clients were late. At least when I open at 7am I'm already up getting my own kiddos ready.
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Tdhmom 07:49 AM 10-14-2013
9.5...7:30-5 I used to have my last pick up at 4. Accepted 2 kids that p/u at 5 I really miss getting off at 4 lol
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Unregistered 07:57 AM 10-14-2013
9 hours, from 7:30am to 4:30 pm.
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Blackcat31 08:17 AM 10-14-2013
I do not operate on standard open and close hours.

I open 15 minutes prior to the first scheduled child and close upon exit of the last scheduled child.

Sometimes I am off as early as 3:30 and other times I am not off until 5:00.

I don't accept children who need care prior to 7:30 (7:00 for full time kids)
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Childminder 08:53 AM 10-14-2013
18 hours Mon-Sat plus overnight on request
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Willow 09:00 AM 10-14-2013
My available hours are 7-5. Parents can contract for up to 9 of those each day but only during their working hours (I'm not in the business of "warehousing" children for parents who don't care to spend any amount of time with them).

Currently my earliest drop off is at 7:15/7:30 and my latest pick up is around 4:15/4:30ish.


When I started 11/12 hours a day was a pretty standard day but my children were obviously taking a hit so it didn't last long. There is no way in heck I'd work those hours now or ever again, even if my own children weren't a factor
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nothingwithoutjoy 09:27 AM 10-14-2013
8 1/2 hours--8:00-4:30.
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spinnymarie 11:10 AM 10-14-2013
Right now, 7:30 - 4:30, 9 hrs.
Probably will be opening longer when I expand the business next year, I'm guessing 7:00 - 5:00, or 6:30 - 5:30 (but with an assistant).
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Brooksie 11:13 AM 10-14-2013
10 hours. 7:30-5:30.
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LeslieG 12:47 PM 10-14-2013
9 hours. 7:30am-4:30pm.. it's wonderful!! I can't imagine working much later than 4:30!
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Sunshine75 01:28 PM 10-14-2013
I have contracted hours with each family but the time for drop off can be as early as 7 am with pick up by 5 pm and no more than 9 hrs. per day per family. Agree with many who have found that this works well and cuts down on being taken advantage of.
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MotherNature 01:53 PM 10-14-2013
I'm thinking of changing my hours to close at 6. Right now I'm 'open' from 7-7, but I do contracted hours, and my first kid is here 7:30-5:30 & the other is 9-6. I have a newbie starting in Jan & I think they're 8:30-5:30. I'm just worried that te one dcd will be late. He's usually on time, but sometimes runs 10 mins behind when h's teaching across town.
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nanglgrl 02:30 PM 10-14-2013
8 hours, 7:30-3:30. They are contracted hours though so some clients aren't here the entire time. After a little over a year of doing it this way I may have to extend my closing time in the near future. I'm doing fine now but losing 2 full timers would hurt.
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dingledine 04:02 PM 10-14-2013
A bit less than 10. My first kids come around 7:20 and leave a few minutes to 5.
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Rachel 09:36 PM 10-14-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I do not operate on standard open and close hours.

I open 15 minutes prior to the first scheduled child and close upon exit of the last scheduled child.

Sometimes I am off as early as 3:30 and other times I am not off until 5:00.

I don't accept children who need care prior to 7:30 (7:00 for full time kids)

I'm just curious what your latest close could be. If a parent would pay a premium for 6 would you do it (contracted, regular). Or do you have a set open and close time, and only take contracted hours within those times.
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Sunshine74 09:54 PM 10-14-2013
Our center is open from 6:30-6
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April 10:16 PM 10-14-2013
I hope your right.....I've been majorly taken advantage of and it's continuing to get worse over the last few months....My hours have been 7-5:30 Mon- Fri since I opened a couple of years ago. However many ppl tend to think its ok to drop their children off early and pick up late and I have finally had enough and will no longer allow my children to be robbed of their time with me. I just gave my parents a letter today stating that I am switching to contracted hours with a maximum of 9 hrs per day as well as the latest pickup being 5:00. I had a pretty upset parent who initially said that she will have to look elsewhere because she wanted that extra 1.5 hrs a day that I currently allow until the 28th of this month because she wants to be able to go to the gym or grocery store without being inconvenienced with her child while doing so.....towards the end she calmed down and understood where I was coming from and may end up staying. I don't want to lose my current families but my children must come first. Not to mention it breaks my heart watching all of my DCK stare out the window between the 8-9 hr mark asking when their mommy is going to be here....its unfortunate that some parents are forced to spend time with their children.......


Originally Posted by Sunshine75:
I have contracted hours with each family but the time for drop off can be as early as 7 am with pick up by 5 pm and no more than 9 hrs. per day per family. Agree with many who have found that this works well and cuts down on being taken advantage of.

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Cradle2crayons 12:54 AM 10-15-2013
Originally Posted by April:
I hope your right.....I've been majorly taken advantage of and it's continuing to get worse over the last few months....My hours have been 7-5:30 Mon- Fri since I opened a couple of years ago. However many ppl tend to think its ok to drop their children off early and pick up late and I have finally had enough and will no longer allow my children to be robbed of their time with me. I just gave my parents a letter today stating that I am switching to contracted hours with a maximum of 9 hrs per day as well as the latest pickup being 5:00. I had a pretty upset parent who initially said that she will have to look elsewhere because she wanted that extra 1.5 hrs a day that I currently allow until the 28th of this month because she wants to be able to go to the gym or grocery store without being inconvenienced with her child while doing so.....towards the end she calmed down and understood where I was coming from and may end up staying. I don't want to lose my current families but my children must come first. Not to mention it breaks my heart watching all of my DCK stare out the window between the 8-9 hr mark asking when their mommy is going to be here....its unfortunate that some parents are forced to spend time with their children.......
That's why I only watch kids contracted care only also. I do afternoon shift and some doubles for one mon. Their schedules change every week and I get it a week in advance. So they are allowed to drop off one hour prior to shift start and must pick up within one hour after their shift ends. Those days of the weeks and exact times change every week though. Yesterday and today that means 9:30 am until 9:00 on and other days it means 4:00 pm until midnight, just depending on their shift.

Even though some days are longer than others, I know that my daycare kids are ONLY here while their mom is at work and not getting her nails done. I'm providing these single moms with weird shifts the chance to support their kids while 99.99% of day cares won't watch these kids due to schedule. I don't owe them nail and gym time.
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Laurel 04:21 AM 10-15-2013
11 hours (7 to 6). Just have one that pays till 6 (extra charge) and the others leave by 5:30.

Laurel
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delferka 04:47 AM 10-15-2013
I'm open 8 to 5. Everyone usually leaves by 4:30
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delferka 05:05 AM 10-15-2013
I treat it like any business. My dkp don't work 10 hr days and neither do I. I've had people take way to much advantage of me. Doors are closed at 5. I have my own family that I want to spend time with
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LoraJenkins 05:10 AM 10-15-2013
My hours change depending on parent's needs. Almost all of my families work in retail, restaurants and bars so their hours are not usual. I could have my first drop-off at 5:30am and my last pick-up not until 10pm that night or later. Makes for long days but these families have a hard time finding care elsewhere. I guess you could say it's my niche.
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Blackcat31 07:01 AM 10-15-2013
Originally Posted by Rachel:
I'm just curious what your latest close could be. If a parent would pay a premium for 6 would you do it (contracted, regular). Or do you have a set open and close time, and only take contracted hours within those times.
I am not willing to open before 7 am and not willing to work beyond 5:30. My regular closing time is 5 but would consider 5:30 for an additional fee.

For years I was willing to work anywhere inside of 6 am to 6 pm but since I've been doing this for so long, I am more focused on personal time verses income... does that make sense?

Now I value my OFF time much more than I used to so there really wouldn't be a rate high enough to justify me working beyond 5:30.

I'd much rather move my opening time to earlier than agree to stay later now days.

I've had families leave because I moved my close time to 5 from 5:30. They were offered the later time at an additional rate but opted to go where they could pick up at 6. I totally understand.

They have to do what works best for them and I do the same.

~BC
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MarinaVanessa 01:49 PM 10-15-2013
Much like BlackCat I have hours that I'm willing to work within but work on scheduled hours. The only difference is that I advertise my business hours (7am-6pm) and then discuss each clients contracted hours which they sign a contract for. Here's how I explain it:

Daycare Hours
The daycare’s regular business hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. however these hours are not necessarily the hours that a client is allotted to bring their child. Unless a client is a drop-in client, hours for care will be discussed and a schedule will be set which includes a fair amount of commuting time and this will become the child’s “scheduled hours”. Care will be provided for children only during their contracted scheduled hours.


Right now I have Mondays off and Thursdays I'm off at 3:30 I love it when my schedule is awesome like this.
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LaLa1923 04:44 PM 10-15-2013
I do contracted hours only but I'm licensed for 24/7 care.

My first gets here at 7, my last leaves at 9pm.

I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to do the 9pm dck.
However, he does lay down after dinner until his mom comes.

I'm tired...lol

So 14 hrs...ugh
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