It might be easier to ask your parents to send lunches than to pay a higher rate at this point. I have found it best if I make changes over a long period of time. When I started out my rates were lower but the parents provided lunch. After I had a full program and a waiting list I raised my rates by $5 a day. At that time I also changed my policy to being paid even when their kids are sick or absent. I had one family drop me at this time but I replaced her right away. Last year I changed to getting paid before I provide childcare. Having said all that...I suppose that you could approach the families that haven't started yet. If two families agree to the rate increase then you might make the same watching fewer kids at the higher rate then you would watching more kids at the lower rates.

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