Originally Posted by Former Teacher:
basically what you are saying is that if the parents don't pay you enough to play with their child you don't? Nannyde, you never cease to amaze me with the comments you come up with 
Like I said not being rude, just stating an opinion 
YES of course.
It's not rude at all. We SHOULD be having this conversation. We SHOULD be making it loud and clear that we... like every other business offer a range of services for a FEE. That fee represents the amount of WORK we are doing for the fee.
Why would child care be ANY different than ANY other business? Of course you get what you pay for. We understand that completely with
EVERYTHING else. We pay for to the unit our electricity. We pay per gallon for our gas and our water. We pay by the minute for our cell phone.
If the parents are paying three dollars per hour then that would buy supervision, heat, food, water... basic care. If they are paying eight dollars an hour per kid and the child is one of two kids who are paying eight dollars an hour then the provider is making 16 dollars and hour. THAT buys a lot more effort, work, involvement, interaction etc. with the child.
Why would that be WRONG?
If the same child goes to the Doctor and they just see the Nurse Practicioner and doesn't have any tests or treatments done the bill would be as low as the business would allow.
If the same child needed to see a Dr and have lab work done the bill would be markedly higher.
The Doctors office is going to EXPECT to get paid more. The parents don't get to just walk in with a child and expect the health care provider to do WHATEVER the parents say or want just because they are bringing a CHILD to their office. The services the child receives are going to be based on the business being PAID to provide the services. More work means more money.
Just because we are in the business of children doesn't mean we just inately are required to do higher levels of work and involement because they are kids. We SHOULD get paid depending on "more" work. It is "more" work to play with a child then it is to have the child entertain themselves. It's "more" work to do crafts than to have the child watch TV. It's "more" work to have a child up at nap than sleeping at nap.
It's not personal. It's just the fact. It's okay if we charge "more" if we DO "more".