Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Home Daycare Providers: Would You "Work With" A Center?
Sugar Magnolia 04:15 PM 07-12-2011
I have been trying to think of new ways to get new clients, and I wanted some feedback from home daycare providers before I started making calls locally. There are not many centers that take infants around here, the ones that do tend to be large corporate type centers. Personally, I think infants are better off in home daycares. More personal attention, less sickness exposure, no staff turnover, just a nicer and safer environment for little babies. As home providers, do you find a lot of kids "age out" around 3? If parents ask you for referrals to centers when children get older, do you give them???? If a center director contacted you offering information about a center, would you be offended?
Here's the thing...I've had a lot of parents enroll because their 2-3 year olds have "aged out" of home daycares and they were looking for a preschool environment. We are a SMALL center, just 15 kids maximum, so we appeal to kids/parents that have been in home daycares, because they like our home-like environment and preschool structure. We also enroll a lot of kids whose parents were fed up with large centers due to staff turnover, poor supervision, etc.
So would you (home dc) providers be offended by a center approaching you with a brochure, or would you be willing to listen and accept the information? I don't want to "put off" home providers and waste their time or mine. Would a "finders fee" help your decision to refer people to a center? Say...$100 for every client they referred that signed up? Have YOU ever been asked by a parent to suggest a center preschool? If so, what was your reaction?
Here's the thing...I've had a lot of parents enroll because their 2-3 year olds have "aged out" of home daycares and they were looking for a preschool environment. We are a SMALL center, just 15 kids maximum, so we appeal to kids/parents that have been in home daycares, because they like our home-like environment and preschool structure. We also enroll a lot of kids whose parents were fed up with large centers due to staff turnover, poor supervision, etc.
So would you (home dc) providers be offended by a center approaching you with a brochure, or would you be willing to listen and accept the information? I don't want to "put off" home providers and waste their time or mine. Would a "finders fee" help your decision to refer people to a center? Say...$100 for every client they referred that signed up? Have YOU ever been asked by a parent to suggest a center preschool? If so, what was your reaction?
nannyde 04:25 PM 07-12-2011
I want the kid to age five so I wouldn't be in the business of advertising centers.
I don't have kids leaving to go to preschool because there isn't anything out there that is better than staying here.... IMHO.
Give me your kid from birth to the age of five and I will give you a kid that is done with Kindy before they even start.
I don't have kids leaving to go to preschool because there isn't anything out there that is better than staying here.... IMHO.
Give me your kid from birth to the age of five and I will give you a kid that is done with Kindy before they even start.
Country Kids 04:53 PM 07-12-2011
None of my children age out till 6th grade unless the parents move or something like that. I offer preschool here so unless they are wanting to pay the "Big Bucks" for the same thing at a center I have them all the way till they are 11.
I also do not accept children under the age of two so I receive no calls for infants.
I also do not accept children under the age of two so I receive no calls for infants.
Sugar Magnolia 04:54 PM 07-12-2011
Thanks Nannyde, I'm sure nobody leaves your awesome place!!! Yeah I figured competition is competition and hdc's would be put off. Wondering if some hdc's JUST do infants and toddlers? Does anyone here just do little ones? Hmm probably not, guess that wouldn't make much sense. Just trying to get the hdc perspective.... I know there's a lot of negative perceptions about centers, but most of that is earned by the large places.
nannyde 05:20 PM 07-12-2011
Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia:
Thanks Nannyde, I'm sure nobody leaves your awesome place!!! Yeah I figured competition is competition and hdc's would be put off. Wondering if some hdc's JUST do infants and toddlers? Does anyone here just do little ones? Hmm probably not, guess that wouldn't make much sense. Just trying to get the hdc perspective.... I know there's a lot of negative perceptions about centers, but most of that is earned by the large places.
It's the same thing as centers...... the money is in the older kids because you can only have a limited number of babies. I can have eight kids over the age of two but I can't have more than four under two.Thanks Nannyde, I'm sure nobody leaves your awesome place!!! Yeah I figured competition is competition and hdc's would be put off. Wondering if some hdc's JUST do infants and toddlers? Does anyone here just do little ones? Hmm probably not, guess that wouldn't make much sense. Just trying to get the hdc perspective.... I know there's a lot of negative perceptions about centers, but most of that is earned by the large places.
Michelle 05:25 PM 07-12-2011
Why would we go through the hard work of taking care of the infants and 2's to just give them to center's? 3's and 4's are the fun years!
Sugar Magnolia 05:37 PM 07-12-2011
Originally Posted by Michelle:
Why would we go through the hard work of taking care of the infants and 2's to just give them to center's? 3's and 4's are the fun years!
Yeah good point! Why would we go through the hard work of taking care of the infants and 2's to just give them to center's? 3's and 4's are the fun years!
hmmm I guess I need to go back to the drawing board.
Sugar Magnolia 05:59 PM 07-12-2011
Originally Posted by nannyde:
It's the same thing as centers...... the money is in the older kids because you can only have a limited number of babies. I can have eight kids over the age of two but I can't have more than four under two.
Warning: the following statement is a BIG FAT JOKE!It's the same thing as centers...... the money is in the older kids because you can only have a limited number of babies. I can have eight kids over the age of two but I can't have more than four under two.
Omg you are in this for money? How dare you! I think I'm gonna go to some meetings and complain about all you heartless money grubbers on here! You need to be monitored!
JUST KIDDING!!! Sorry I was channeling Laurasophia, the "work for free" drama queen! LOL! Couldn't resist.
Sugar Magnolia 05:02 PM 07-12-2011
Thanks Country, appreciate the feedback! 
Sugar Magnolia 11:40 AM 07-18-2011
Wow, scratch THAT idea! I called a lady in the neighborhood, she was listed as doing "infants only". Omg, she was sooooo rude! Before I even completed my inroduction she says "get to the point, what do you want?" I mentioned I was "giving out referal bonuses to anyone who...." "Keep your money and mind your own d##n business." Click. I am not mad, just hurt. Why so much negativity in the world?!? I get calls from sales reps, etc, all the time and I always let them speak and am always polite when I say no, even if I'm busy. Hurt.
Christian Mother 01:27 PM 07-18-2011
I think I might be interested in doing something like that. I have been in daycare for 17 yrs now but have only been a Inhome daycare provider for 2 1/2. I started out w/just infant and now they are all 2 1/2. I will get another infant who is a sibling in Dec. One of my dcp's would like to place there child in a preschool next yr. I am not worried or feel bad about it as he's a very gifted child and could benefit from a preschool setting. My house isn't set up for a preschool setting although I'd like to say I give them a head start when entering into a preschool setting as they will have already learned there numbers to 10, all there primary colors, ABC's, and a lot of nursery rhymes and songs. They will have learned there please and thank you's and how to be nice by sharing and cleaning up there toys. That is what we focus mainly on here. There are quite a few daycare centers and Montessori schools to choose from so if one approached me would like to be recommending I would def. consider if I was able to view, get inform. directly, and a finders fee would be welcomed of course. I am sure though that these parents though will have a pretty good ideal already as to where they would like there "Little's" to go.
They will have learned there please and thank you's and how to be nice by sharing and cleaning up there toys. That is what we focus mainly on here. There are quite a few daycare centers and Montessori schools to choose from so if one approached me would like to be recommending I would def. consider if I was able to view, get inform. directly, and a finders fee would be welcomed of course. I am sure though that these parents though will have a pretty good ideal already as to where they would like there "Little's" to go.
Sugar Magnolia 03:35 PM 07-18-2011
Thanks Christian! It sounds like such a good idea, on paper! When it came down to making some calls, I was so disappointed with the response I got 
Maybe it was just bad luck that I picked that particular "infants only" lovely lady.
Sure, I understand home providers that do newborns, infants, toddlers, AND 3-5 years (Nanny and Cat for example) that have no use for center referals. But gosh, this lady was so rude, like "how DARE you" attitude. Yikes, so discouraged now
Maybe it was just bad luck that I picked that particular "infants only" lovely lady. Sure, I understand home providers that do newborns, infants, toddlers, AND 3-5 years (Nanny and Cat for example) that have no use for center referals. But gosh, this lady was so rude, like "how DARE you" attitude. Yikes, so discouraged now
familyschoolcare 04:39 PM 07-18-2011
to sugar,
Would you be willing to work with a family day care provider that specialized in school aged children?
Would you be willing to work with a family day care provider that specialized in school aged children?
Sugar Magnolia 07:01 PM 07-18-2011
Originally Posted by joynerportia@yahoo:
to sugar,
Would you be willing to work with a family day care provider that specialized in school aged children?
Absolutely. I don't do school age and have two elementary schools within 3 blocks (one is charter school directly next door). So I get calls ALL THE TIME for before/after care. Yes, I'd be thrilled to refer the school agers to a nearby home daycare.to sugar,
Would you be willing to work with a family day care provider that specialized in school aged children?