New DCPs Asking When I'm Going To Stop Updating My Policies???
They put a deposit down 9 months ago and haven't even started yet. I've sent update policies twice in the 9 months. Now I'm being asked when will it be a final copy because I've made soooo many changes since they signed on.
I basically responded with "never". As my program, business and regulations change so will my policies. Also when they signed on I'd not even opened full time yet, so I've come across several issues with parents and had to add policies to deal with scenarios that have come up How do you handle a question like this? |
I'd handle about the way you did... "never". When I open my handbook will have a clause in it stating that I can change policies whenever I feel theres a need to. I do plan on giving a couple or more weeks notice(when possible) from the time I notify parents of the change until it takes effect, but for the reasons you stated above, it will happen from time to time
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"never" :)
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One of my DCMs was chatting w/ me a few weeks ago and mentioned that her husband saw one of my "policy updates" that I sent home about wearing appropriate shoes (no flip flops) on field trip days and wearing shorts or bloomers under dresses and skirts..
He asked her "why is she sending this, this is all common sense stuff. Who would send their kid in flip flops when they are going hiking? " She said she just had to smile at him and say "Yes, she had to send it, some parents don't have any common sense" :lol: We have to change our policies as things come up. I never would have assumed I would have to tell a parent that flip flops are inappropriate for hiking or that even after I told them they would still send them in flip flops on field trips and I would have to make closed shoes mandatory. There will always be stuff that comes up. :) |
Never! At some point it may be longer than the dictionary:ouch:. When will parents not need "common sense" written out?
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I keep a notebook of everything I need to add to my updated contract. I was under the impression you could only update your contract when the contract is up for renewal. Depending on the provider, at the beginning of the year or after the family has been in your daycare for 1 year. Am I wrong???? If I am wrong that would be great because I have 9 months of issues to add to my policies/contract. :)
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You can change it as much as you need to. :)
That said, I am not that concerned about my contract. It is very basic and is only two pages. I only recall changing it if my fees go up (that is a separate fee schedule though) and also changed it once to add a 'hurricane prep day'. I had people wanting to bring their children to me so they could prepare their homes and I was stuck trying to do mine with their children here. :rolleyes: Luckily my adult daughter and son came over to help. Their jobs let them off early.... I may have made 2 or 3 changes over 18 years or so. My reasoning is that for things that should be common sense, like someone said not wearing flip flops on a hike, I just tell the parent. I don't know why all that little stuff has to be written down. If a parent were to ever tell me (which they never have that I recall) "Well not wearing flip flops on a hike is not in your contract" first I'd look at them like they had two heads and second I'd say "Why would I need to put it in there? Wouldn't it be obvious?" Then I'd let them squirm to come up with an answer and bring me the shoes. I also have spare clothes/shoes just in case. No use ruining our day because someone refused to bring the right clothing. I just don't sweat it. That said, I have had parents from time to time who forgot things like the shoes. I reminded them a lot and I usually did get them on time. If I knew they were doing it on purpose then I'd just say keep them home because they don't have what they need to participate after being reminded repeatedly. I also tell them in person and put a note in their bag. No emails or texts. I have never done emails/texts except for one this year to send her pictures of her child when I get a cute one. We talk or call each other. I think I would just love for one of them to say "Well it wasn't in your contract." I wouldn't take people or keep people long who had that attitude anyway. I can't recall anyone ever saying that to me about anything. I just refuse to sweat the small stuff. It usually is only one who has that problem. I just address whatever it is with them. No need to give everyone else a 20 page handbook that they're not going to read anyway with every possible thing that could ever go wrong ever. Just my two cents. :) Laurel Edited to add: I guess I should add that I don't require a two week notice for them to leave (although I request as much notice as possible) and no money is involved. They can leave anytime they want and I can terminate any time I want. So maybe that is why I don't feel the need to defend my contract. They can either follow the rules or leave. I also don't make a million rules because then they'd want to leave and I don't want that. It is just a common sense thing to me. I make a few simple but important rules and if they can't follow them then bye bye. No one has ever left because they were upset and I've never had to term anyone. (Should have once or twice but didn't) |
Originally Posted by lovemylife: |
Originally Posted by Laurel: |
"When people stop trying to find loopholes...." :lol::lol::lol:
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You should do another update today and call it "Policy Update: Daycare Provider can and will update the daycare policy whenever she wants because it's her daycare & she can do what she waaaaants" lol :D
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Originally Posted by MamaBear: |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: I haven't even started my daycare yet but I have been working on my policies for over a year (it's at about 14 pages now) and even though I believe I have covered most of the basics I know I will never fully be done updating it. They don't understand that this business is your "baby" and that you want to make sure that it is the best business you can make it and that the contract/ policies are as clear as possible to avoid misunderstandings in the future. They also don't understand that there are some scenarios you can't predict that cause conflict and that cause you to change your policies to avoid further conflicts. Originally Posted by MamaBear: |
Originally Posted by Laurel: I am actually trying to move in that direction. I don't want a 20 page handbook/contract to cover every single scenario, because something always comes up with ONE parent and no matter what there's always a "loophole" |
Originally Posted by lovemylife: The POLICIES and HANDBOOK are completely different and can be updated whenever they need to :) |
Originally Posted by cheerfuldom: I have been doing this for 18 years plus. I have found what works for me and what doesn't. Laurel |
Originally Posted by Laurel: I also do a two week notice strictly for budgeting... |
Originally Posted by Cradle2crayons: |
Originally Posted by cheerfuldom: having said that, it's your business, you make the rules and do what's best for you. |
Originally Posted by lovemylife: |
Originally Posted by Laurel: |
Originally Posted by Cradle2crayons: Yes, that is true. My contract stays the same, but my handbook gets the additions. I have only updated my contract once in 4 years, I have updated my handbook probably 5-6 times each year! My contract is 1.25 pages long. My handbook is 12 pages! :lol: |
Originally Posted by Laurel: |
Originally Posted by Familycare71: Laurel |
Originally Posted by JoseyJo: I think when she said it would be fine I would have said "Well it isn't going to work for me. I think I have some shoes that will fit him but they are girls shoes. I guess they are better than nothing though." I do have some shoes but even if I didn't have his size I'd say that so maybe they would bring in shoes. I have sent a boy home in pink shorts once because that is all I had (hot pink). You better believe they sent me spare clothes the next day. :lol: Laurel |
I think it's great if providers can operate without a handbook. likethis
If every relationship and/or client we served in this business actually did use common sense, we wouldn't have half the issues we read about daily on the forum. Unfortunately, common sense is not so common anymore. :( I'd be MORE than happy to run my business without a handbook but my regulations require me to provide an explanation of specific practices, such as how I will manage diaper/bathroom procedures, discipline, guidance, curriculum, nap and rest times as well as meals, payments and closed/absent days etc. I also think parents appreciate the outline of services I am providing to them. Just as there are providers who have trouble speaking up, there are parents who also don't know how or what to ask a provider, especially first time parents. Not to mention that I usually have 10-12 kids and I'd rather not go over all of those details so many times to each adult in charge of the child. That's a lot of talking. Instead I use my handbook to outline the basics and leave the questions that arise for each individual family to ask me individually. |
You can't make rules to fit kids imaginations. And in the same way, you can never assume parents will have common sense, never ever. When I worked mainstream pre-K, public facility I had to keep adding rules to the kids. You just know that imaginative things would come up... and the older snappier kids would usually end up saying, "it's not against the rules!" to which I would rely "I shouldn't have to make a rule about XYZ" LOL. The craziest was cutting another person's hair. I finally made a rule "keep your scissors and all art supplies to yourself".
In the same way, parents aren't sensical most of the time. I think they are, then they pull some boneheaded stunt like sending a kid with no diaper, and just pants... or sending a kid in shorts when there is snow on the ground. |
Originally Posted by Nebula: |
Originally Posted by Mister Sir Husband: |
Originally Posted by JoseyJo: |
Originally Posted by misslori50: Another parent a few years later decided her child was find in flip flops to go hiking in. Child gets a stick stuck in the side of his foot enough that it bleeds. She STILL doesn't want to send him in closed shoes, saying accidents happen. Great family otherwise so I just bought some tennis shoes for him to keep here... |
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