Originally Posted by MamaB'sKidz:
Ok I have 2 sets of parents wanting special rates for their children.
1st set of parents do not want to bring their son to daycare for the summer and they don't want to pay for his spot when he's not in care. The Grandmother has off in the summer so DCB will go there so the parents can save money. I tried to find a SA to fill that spot just for the summer but have had no luck. So I feel that they should pay the full rate for their sons spot through the summer. Is that reasonable?
2nd set of parents. In September their son will start in a local preschool program. This Preschool program is Tues. Wed. Thurs. & Fri. for 2 1/2 hours each of those days. So DCB will be in my care all day Monday and for 6 hours each day for the rest of the week.
I charge a rate for each full time spot, not by hours in care. I want to be fair and would love to help each family but I can't hurt my family financially in the process. I am a level 1 licensed home daycare and my state only allows me 5 children preschool age and under. One of those spots is filled by my son so I have 4 paying spots. So anyway, I just wanted to talk it out and get some feed back with other providers. :-)
I agree with the others but I'd offer a sort of explanation to the parents to maybe jog them as to what they are asking. I am retired now but I always liked to do that. Give them a wake up call of sorts. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
To #1 I'd say. "I understand your situation but I'm sure you can understand that it wouldn't be fair to me to lose 3 months of income so I'm sorry I can't help you out." (I'd want them to KNOW, although they should anyway, that they are asking me to give up 3 months of income. Would they do that at their job?). I might even add "Just as you probably wouldn't give up 3 months of income to help someone out, I can't either." Smile sweetly.
To #2 I'd say: "I have never discounted for time away at preschool because I cannot fill that time with someone else. I have a limit on how many spots I can have." If they act clueless (and I've had some that do) you could add. "Just like if your boss cut your hours and paid you less. You'd probably be looking for another job. So you can see how I couldn't do that." Smile sweetly.
I love to use the word "fair" in these scenarios. It's a little guilt trip for them.
(as well it should be)
Laurel