Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Policies and Clients
Second Home 09:18 AM 03-26-2014
Sometimes I feel that I have a good set of fair policies and then a problem comes up that has never happened before , an issue that I thought I had covered clearly and it makes me re-think all of my policies.

When I do interviews they last about an hour and I go over my policies in detail . Questions are asked back and forth , no one has ever complained about what I have as my policies .

I have been wondering how other providers are affected by their policies .

How does having strict policies ( and following through with them ) affect your ability to get new clients ?

Do you think that having a strict illness policy will make parents go elsewhere?

Have any parents told you that is why they went elsewhere for child care?

Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies ?
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 09:28 AM 03-26-2014
Hard to type lengthy reply on phone...

Never had a client pull for strict policies. Complain about it 9+ months in like it would change? OH YEAH. Make threats to pull? Sure and I hand them a withdrawal form with no emotion. No one has pulled.
Reply
Blackcat31 09:36 AM 03-26-2014
Originally Posted by Second Home:
Sometimes I feel that I have a good set of fair policies and then a problem comes up that has never happened before , an issue that I thought I had covered clearly and it makes me re-think all of my policies.

When I do interviews they last about an hour and I go over my policies in detail . Questions are asked back and forth , no one has ever complained about what I have as my policies .

I have been wondering how other providers are affected by their policies .

How does having strict policies ( and following through with them ) affect your ability to get new clients ?
My clients LOVE that I have clear and firm expectations and policies. That way EVERYONE knows the expectations and program content. I would hate to sign onto something not knowing what I am getting...kwim?

Do you think that having a strict illness policy will make parents go elsewhere?

No, the exact opposite as a matter of fact. I have gotten two new families because their old provider was so lax about illness that something was constantly being passed back and forth.
My current clients take illness seriously and will keep their children home to rest and recover immediately rather than allowing a small cold to become a huge cold that never goes away. It sucks when you are diligent about that and others attending the same program aren't. Many of my DCP's have sought me out because of my strong/strict illness policy.


Have any parents told you that is why they went elsewhere for child care?

I've only had one family leave because they thought my policy was too strict. Of course, they were the one family that continually tried to send their sick child and would never take day off to let them rest and recover. Once they left, we didn't have any more repeats illnesses...

Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies ?
Nope. I've never had that experience. For some odd reason it seems people instinctively want what they can't have...so when I have an opening, it is filled immediately without advertising via word of mouth or from my waitlist.

Parents respect your policies easily and willingly if you do right from the start.

Kind of like kids and rules/routines. They say they don't like them but we all know kids crave routine and consistency. Parents are VERY similar

I replied in bold above to your other questions.
Reply
Leigh 09:43 AM 03-26-2014
How does having strict policies ( and following through with them ) affect your ability to get new clients ? I think that parents respect that this is my business, and that my policies are necessary to it's smooth and continued operation.

Do you think that having a strict illness policy will make parents go elsewhere?Exactly the opposite. Parents love that I don't let sick kids play with their own kids. I think this HELPS get clients. The last child that signed on with me has parents who were quite impressed that we have had NO illness in our daycare all winter (Until about 2 weeks after this child signed on ). The other parents are very respectful of the rules, and follow the golden rule.


Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies ?Not yet, but if they choose to term over it, I won't feel a loss. They all agreed to these policies when they signed on.
Reply
Blackcat31 10:04 AM 03-26-2014
Originally Posted by Leigh:

Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies ?Not yet, but if they choose to term over it, I won't feel a loss. They all agreed to these policies when they signed on.

Reply
My3cents 10:18 AM 03-26-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Nope. I've never had that experience. For some odd reason it seems people instinctively want what they can't have...so when I have an opening, it is filled immediately without advertising via word of mouth or from my waitlist.

Parents respect your policies easily and willingly if you do right from the start.

Kind of like kids and rules/routines. They say they don't like them but we all know kids crave routine and consistency. Parents are VERY similar

I replied in bold above to your other questions.
this... I could have wrote this. Do I have issues or things that come up and bother me from time to time.....sure..... but for the most part the above
Reply
rebekki78 10:54 AM 03-26-2014
Originally Posted by Second Home:
Sometimes I feel that I have a good set of fair policies and then a problem comes up that has never happened before , an issue that I thought I had covered clearly and it makes me re-think all of my policies.

Boy, I have had a few of those days.

When I do interviews they last about an hour and I go over my policies in detail . Questions are asked back and forth , no one has ever complained about what I have as my policies.

No one has ever complained to me, either, except later on when they run into something that goes against policy. At that time, they have no problem asking if they can "this" or they can "that". I then remind them of the policies and offer a copy if they so desire.

I have been wondering how other providers are affected by their policies .

How does having strict policies ( and following through with them ) affect your ability to get new clients ?

It has never affected my ability to get new clients. so far, they have all understood the reasoning behind why I have such policies in contract.

Do you think that having a strict illness policy will make parents go elsewhere?

It is possible, but if parents don't understand that we run a business and these policies are in affect for specific reasons, then I don't feel bad if they go elsewhere. Most people have the common sense to understand why I need to cover my butt.

Have any parents told you that is why they went elsewhere for child care?

I have not ran into this, no.

Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies?

I'm sorry, but I still don't understand what it means to "term".
These are my replies to the questions you asked, in bold/italic under the question.
Reply
MarinaVanessa 12:41 PM 03-26-2014
Originally Posted by rebekki78:
These are my replies to the questions you asked, in bold/italic under the question.
"Term" is just short for terminate.
Reply
MarinaVanessa 12:43 PM 03-26-2014
I'm like BC. My clients tell me over and over during the enrollment process that they love that I am so specific with my policies and that I'm clear about what I should expect and what they can expect as well as what happens if these expectations aren't met.
Reply
Roxy1 05:54 PM 03-26-2014
I have had one person tell me straight up my policies are too rigid and she will be going to a center. I also had a lady not sign up because her son had asthma attacks and I would not reimburse for missed days. I also just today got notice to term care for enforcing my 9 hrs then overtime policy after 11 months of caring for their children!
Reply
KidGrind 03:56 AM 03-27-2014
Originally Posted by Second Home:
Sometimes I feel that I have a good set of fair policies and then a problem comes up that has never happened before , an issue that I thought I had covered clearly and it makes me re-think all of my policies.

When I do interviews they last about an hour and I go over my policies in detail . Questions are asked back and forth , no one has ever complained about what I have as my policies .

I have been wondering how other providers are affected by their policies .

How does having strict policies ( and following through with them ) affect your ability to get new clients ?

Do you think that having a strict illness policy will make parents go elsewhere?

Have any parents told you that is why they went elsewhere for child care?

Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies ?
Yes, my policies have a positive effect. I am almost sane.

Yes, parents I do not want to deal with go elsewhere.

No, I just don’t hear from them again after they make a quick exit.

Not yet. If it does I hope they find the right fit for their family.
Reply
Moppetland 06:13 AM 03-27-2014
Originally Posted by Roxy1:
I have had one person tell me straight up my policies are too rigid and she will be going to a center. I also had a lady not sign up because her son had asthma attacks and I would not reimburse for missed days. I also just today got notice to term care for enforcing my 9 hrs then overtime policy after 11 months of caring for their children!
But, they will run into the same rules and policies at a center. As a matter of fact, they won't be as flexible as home providers.
Reply
MotherNature 06:29 AM 03-27-2014
I had a family up & quit over the holidays. I'd had their baby for 6 months. They even said they knew they were losing their deposit quitting w/o notice, but I'd left them in a bind scheduling my vacations and holidays 'like that.' I managed to get almost 3 weeks off, paid, b/c I scheduled my vacation judiciously around paid holidays. They knew of the schedule 6 weeks in advance. It really caught me off guard, as we'd had a great professional relationship.
Reply
jenboo 07:48 AM 03-27-2014
I haven't had any issues yet. At interviews I just explain my policies and if they parents have questions, I explain why these policies are important.
I think it would be too stressful for me not to have "rigid" policies. That would 6 families trying to do what they wanted, constantly sick kids, not getting paid on time...no thank you. I would rather have a family pass up my daycare than deal with all the stress.
Reply
Tags:policies
Reply Up