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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>What Hours Do You Work?
Unregistered 10:50 AM 04-02-2015
When I started I was open 7:15-6:30 it I had about 3 days a week parents used the full hours. I got burnt out very very fast. Since then I cut back to 7:30-5:00 although I have one family who sometimes needs care till 5:10 (they are very close family friends so it works out) but in the same breath the majority of my little ones are gone by 4:15-4:30
So my last half hour to an hour I usually only have 1-2 kids. I would love to do 7:30-4:30 but I just don't think it's possible for my area.
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Annalee 10:54 AM 04-02-2015
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
When I started I was open 7:15-6:30 it I had about 3 days a week parents used the full hours. I got burnt out very very fast. Since then I cut back to 7:30-5:00 although I have one family who sometimes needs care till 5:10 (they are very close family friends so it works out) but in the same breath the majority of my little ones are gone by 4:15-4:30
So my last half hour to an hour I usually only have 1-2 kids. I would love to do 7:30-4:30 but I just don't think it's possible for my area.
I work 6:00 to 4:30...no exceptions to anyone on open or close. Clients get 9.5 hours a day not to exceed 4:30.
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Martha Stewart 10:55 AM 04-02-2015
I have found that whether i was open 6:30a-6:00p, or 7:30a-5:00p that there will always be families who pick up the very last moment I am open. Like you, I burnt out quickly with the long hours, so I changed them. I am in the process of closing my daycare over the next month and a half, but if i were to go back and do it again I would work 7:30-4:30, with the 3rd friday of the month off & paid. There will always be customers who want the hours you are open
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bananas 11:01 AM 04-02-2015
My first kid gets here at 8:30 and my last kid is here till 5:30/6ish. I have an evening job so I just drop the last kid off at their mom's office on my way to my second job (that mom is a good friend of mine, wouldn't normally provide drop-off delivery otherwise ;P).
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Second Home 11:07 AM 04-02-2015
7am - 5pm .
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Blackcat31 11:14 AM 04-02-2015
Depends on the day.

I am willing to begin work at 7:00 am and am NOT willing to work after 5:00

Some days I don't have kids arriving until closer to 8-8:30 and on some days I have my last kid picked up by 4:00.

All my families have contracted hours so I know exactly when I am on the clock and exactly when I will be off the clock every single day.
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KSDC 11:15 AM 04-02-2015
7:30-5:30.
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mommiebookworm 11:17 AM 04-02-2015
7:30 to 5:30
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ColorfulSunburst 11:19 AM 04-02-2015
7am-7pm.
A first kid arrives around 7:15am, a last one is picked up around 6:45pm.
Am I tired? Yes, I am.
Do I love my job? Yes, I do
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Shell 11:22 AM 04-02-2015
Generally 8-5, but I do supposedly open two days a week at 730, but the family rarely comes before 8 (except if I am running behind, then they're always here at 730 magically ).
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laundrymom 11:22 AM 04-02-2015
4-5:30. M-f
My early kids leave by 4, last ones are gone by 5:15-5:20 even though their contracted to 5:30.
I've made a conscious choice to take kids who leave by 4:30 the last few years so it's just my older clients that are here later.
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Cozy_Kids_Childcare 11:24 AM 04-02-2015
5:30am to 5:00pm although I am considering pushing back my closing time to 5:30.
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Annalee 11:25 AM 04-02-2015
Originally Posted by ColorfulSunburst:
7am-7pm.
A first kid arrives around 7:15am, a last one is picked up around 6:45pm.
Am I tired? Yes, I am.
Do I love my job? Yes, I do
OOOOHHHHHWEEEEE that is a long day
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Unregistered 11:31 AM 04-02-2015
7-530
I want it to be 730-530....
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kendallina 11:39 AM 04-02-2015
Starting next year I'm moving from doing part-time preschool to full-time childcare/preschool. My hours will be 8:30-5:15. No exceptions, family time is too needed and I'm fortunate enough that there are enough clients in my area that can make those hours work.
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ColorfulSunburst 11:43 AM 04-02-2015
Originally Posted by Annalee:
OOOOHHHHHWEEEEE that is a long day
it is
At 7:15 I usually am in a gym's steam room and then spend a half an hour in a pool. It helps reborn for a next day.
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Annalee 11:50 AM 04-02-2015
Originally Posted by ColorfulSunburst:
it is
At 7:15 I usually am in a gym's steam room and then spend a half an hour in a pool. It helps reborn for a next day.
I used to have hours like that years ago. It is NOT that I can't do it, it is just not what I WANT TO DO
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Jack Sprat 12:08 PM 04-02-2015
7-5:15. About twice a month I take a drop in at 5:55a. Never for more then two days in a row. I won't open any earlier and I will not stay open any later no matter what.
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DaisyMamma 01:19 PM 04-02-2015
I open at 7:30 and close at 5:30.
Those who arrive at 7:30 leave at 4:30. Those that leave at 5:30 arrive at 8:30.
When people call for daycare and ask what my hours are, I reply, what hours do you work and where. And then I say, ok so you need from xx time to xx time. I can (or can't) do that, the fee would be xx.
I don't offer extra time for whatever they want to do. I do the contracted hours.
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daycarediva 02:36 PM 04-02-2015
7:15-5:30 are the earliest hours I open and the latest I close (contracted hours).

All of my incoming clients are more like 7-4:30, and that's what I am aiming for next year. It looks like I will have that schedule in Sept!
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Gemma 02:40 PM 04-02-2015
I work 7:00am to 7:00 pm
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Heidi 02:41 PM 04-02-2015
Originally Posted by DaisyMamma:
I open at 7:30 and close at 5:30.
Those who arrive at 7:30 leave at 4:30. Those that leave at 5:30 arrive at 8:30.
When people call for daycare and ask what my hours are, I reply, what hours do you work and where. And then I say, ok so you need from xx time to xx time. I can (or can't) do that, the fee would be xx.
I don't offer extra time for whatever they want to do. I do the contracted hours.
Same here... 7:00 (usually 7:10) to 4:45 right now (usually 4:30). Amending that to a firm 7:15-4:30 once we move (in two weeks...yikes!)

Then, I often get an answer like "oh, we can make that work".

One lady called me a couple years ago wanting care at 6am. I said, I don't start that early. She said "oh, ok, then my husband can get them ready and bring them at 7:45". DO YA THINK?
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Unregistered 04:06 PM 04-02-2015
My hours used to be 7am-4:30pm. Got burnt out so changed to 7am-4pm. Due to my own child's school schedule, I will be changing my hours to 7am-3pm starting this summer.
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MsLisa 04:13 PM 04-02-2015
I get to work (with my daughter) for 6:30am and open the Pre-K room.
My first set of brothers arrive between 6:45 - 7am.
One of the SA older girls who is autistic, arrives at 7am and is put on her van shortly after.
The 2nd set of brothers arrive between 7:10 -7:20am.
At 7:30 a Pre-K teacher comes in and takes her kids (the 2 younger of the brothers) and I take my 3 SA kids to the lobby to wait for the busses.
One older SA girl arrives and another SA boy arrives at 7:35 while we're in the lobby.
Bus 1: 7:45 (older girl)
Bus 2: 7:50 (the 4 kids)
Sometime in between there my 2 kindergarten boys come and wait for their bus which arrives at 8:15ish.
When all SA kids are gone I go to my classroom and vacuum, straighten and put down chairs for the day.

I return to work at 3:30pm and manage my class of 12-18 (give or take) SA kids till 6pm (or till last kid leaves).

So my hours are 6:30 - 9am & 3:30 - 6pm. Monday thru Friday.
This does not include half days (6:30 - 9am & 1pm - 6pm) or No school days (6:30am to 6pm).
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sharlan 04:22 PM 04-02-2015
My hours are from 7 - 5:30.

BUT, I have one that only comes 2 or 3 days a week and in order to not lose her, I work around the parents schedule. This week I had her for 3 1/2 hrs on Monday. Nothing T or W. Dad called last night and asked for 6AM to 7:45 PM as he had to work a double last night. Mom texted at 6:45AM that she overslept so they were staying home. She is in nursing school and not allowed to show up late. Mom is off on F, so they don't come. This child never comes if Mom or Dad are home. Parents pay full rate.

I have 2 Mom's that get off at 5:30, so I allow them a 15 minute window and then start charging $1 a minute. No one else is allowed to be late.

I would love to change my hours to 5 PM closing, but it won't work in this area.
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BumbleBee 04:26 PM 04-02-2015
7am-6pm

Generally my first kid is dropped off at 7:15am and my last kid leaves at 5:45pm.
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spinnymarie 04:41 PM 04-02-2015
Our hours are 7 - 5. One of us works 7:00 am until the first 5 kids leave, usually between 4:00 - 4:30, and the other works 7:30/7:45 until 5:00. That includes set-up/clean up - our earliest available arrival time is 7:10 and our latest departure time is 4:45.
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Unregistered 05:03 PM 04-02-2015
Hours: 7:00am-4:00pm
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Thriftylady 05:14 PM 04-02-2015
I am having issues getting kids right now. I am willing to work 7AM to midnight. I do contracted hours and if I could get kids either during the day or during the evening I would go full in one way or the other. DH being out in the semi, it just doesn't matter much to my family life, especially now that DD is driving, working and all that. Guess I am somewhat a loner lol, although I do love adult contact.
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christine19720 08:59 AM 04-03-2015
7 am 5 pm.
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LysesKids 09:07 AM 04-03-2015
Originally Posted by Thriftylady:
I am having issues getting kids right now. I am willing to work 7AM to midnight. I do contracted hours and if I could get kids either during the day or during the evening I would go full in one way or the other. DH being out in the semi, it just doesn't matter much to my family life, especially now that DD is driving, working and all that. Guess I am somewhat a loner lol, although I do love adult contact.
I'm in the same boat - I need kids bad, but I refuse to work that late at night anymore unless I was only doing 2nd or 3rd; I learned a long time ago to limit myself so I wouldn't burn out. I offered 2nd shift the first year I re-opened and not one parent wanted it so I went back to limiting it to 12 hrs
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kitykids3 10:37 AM 04-03-2015
When I first started over 8 yrs ago I was open 6am to 6pm. After a while no one really needed before 7 so for a while I was 7am to 6pm.

A little over a year ago I started to seem really burned out (even though I found out in June it was cuz I was in 3rd stage heart failure, not from the job and getting older) so then I changed it to 7:30am to 5:30pm. I have 2 families that used to use until 6, but I surprisingly didn't lose them and they have made the 5:30 work.
10 hours is still a bit much for me with having the weak heart, but I sometimes have one of my assistants open and always try to have at least an hour or 2 to lay down upstairs. Plus I have 3 part time assistants that do most of the physical work. I think I would keep it at 7:30-5:30 anyways even if I was healthy. They obviously were using til 6 when it wasn't necessary and didn't leave when I changed it. Just using me. hehe

I would love to be done at 4:30. For those of you who do it, how is that possible? Don't most people in your areas work the typical 9-5 or is it a different shift? Can I ask what areas you're in?
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finsup 11:04 AM 04-03-2015
I don't have set hours exactly. I find out what the parents need and provide that. But, what they pay directly reflects that. If a family needs 7am-6pm, they are going to pay more then one that only needs 8-4. But in the majority of cases the families I decide to take on work between 7 and 5. I have no real desire to work earlier or later, but in some cases I may.
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daycarediva 11:08 AM 04-03-2015
Originally Posted by kitykids3:
When I first started over 8 yrs ago I was open 6am to 6pm. After a while no one really needed before 7 so for a while I was 7am to 6pm.

A little over a year ago I started to seem really burned out (even though I found out in June it was cuz I was in 3rd stage heart failure, not from the job and getting older) so then I changed it to 7:30am to 5:30pm. I have 2 families that used to use until 6, but I surprisingly didn't lose them and they have made the 5:30 work.
10 hours is still a bit much for me with having the weak heart, but I sometimes have one of my assistants open and always try to have at least an hour or 2 to lay down upstairs. Plus I have 3 part time assistants that do most of the physical work. I think I would keep it at 7:30-5:30 anyways even if I was healthy. They obviously were using til 6 when it wasn't necessary and didn't leave when I changed it. Just using me. hehe

I would love to be done at 4:30. For those of you who do it, how is that possible? Don't most people in your areas work the typical 9-5 or is it a different shift? Can I ask what areas you're in?
I'm in NY.

Most of my families have the parent that goes to work later drop off, and the parent that gets out earlier pick up. I REALLY hammer family time with their kids at interviews, and have been weeding out clients who are open-close regardless.

Some of my families work in the medical profession (7-3 shift) and the hospital is around the corner. Two are local college professors/4 year school, work at home (medical billing), one has an in home psychiatry practice and sets her own hours, one is a personal trainer (sets own hours), one is an artist (sets own hours).

The only one who uses my over 10 hour/OT rule on a regular basis is a single dad, sheriff. No local family. He gives me a heads up he needs to work until 6 or before 8 and then pays accordingly.
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Meeko 09:21 AM 04-04-2015
6am-6pm m-f
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Stephnrich 04:06 PM 04-04-2015
7:00 - 5:45
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Gemma 06:44 PM 04-04-2015
I hope my next group of families will be picking up at 5- 5:30
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mduck 09:39 PM 04-04-2015
I work from 8:30 till 5:30 at the latest, 2 days a week, and 12:00 to 5:30 two days a week. 3 to 4 days a week. Only one child, but I have three of my own at home. Most pick ups are at 5:00 though. I do a flat rate that evens out the difference in hours.
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Josiegirl 03:31 AM 04-05-2015
7-5 and most of the time that last hour d r a g s. I couldn't imagine working later.
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originalkat 06:53 PM 04-05-2015
My hours of operation are 7-5:30.
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Lovatic24 07:42 PM 04-05-2015
I do drop in care and the earliest child is never here before 9 am
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Unregistered 06:22 PM 04-06-2015
7:00-5:30 m-f
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Crazy8 07:13 PM 04-06-2015
I advertise as 7:30-4:30 now but I have one family till 5pm. I have not changed my hours on them as I know they need the 5pm pick up but when they leave I will stick to 4:30 families only. I turn away plenty of people who need 5-6pm but I can usually find a few who are ok with the 4:30 pick up time.
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hsdcmama 05:50 PM 04-09-2015
I am open 6:30-5. I have 3 kids here right now that are all open-close. I wonder if I would lose them if I changed my hours to 7-5. Especially since one family suddenly decided they needed 7-5 instead of the 7-3:30 they used for a whole year. I definitely wonder if they use me, especially when they pick up/drop off in pajama pants & slippers.
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DaveA 05:57 PM 04-09-2015
6am-500pm. M-F
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daycare 08:16 PM 04-09-2015
14 kids open 745 -530 M TO F

Soon to be closing at 5 on Fridays
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LindseyA 07:16 AM 04-10-2015
7-5:30 M thru F. I would love to close earlier but we live in a rural area and every dcf I have, commute and get out of work at 5. So 5:30 is a must have closing time.
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AuntTami 08:01 AM 04-10-2015
HOLY COW! How do you guys get away with not opening til 7!? My doors open at 5:30 and *technically* close at 5:30pm but my regular kids are gone by 4:30. I would lose ALL of my families if I didn't open til 7 or later! One comes at 5:40, the next comes at 6:45 and his sister comes after pre school at 11:45.

I don't mind for the most part but 5:30 is early. Especially for this night owl! My former job was 3rd shift! My body loved it, but I hated not being able to do anything during the day cuz I was asleep!

5:30am-4:30pm m-f and I have one that comes every other weekend and then I take drop ins on weekends if I feel like it.
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Annalee 08:11 AM 04-10-2015
Originally Posted by AuntTami:
HOLY COW! How do you guys get away with not opening til 7!? My doors open at 5:30 and *technically* close at 5:30pm but my regular kids are gone by 4:30. I would lose ALL of my families if I didn't open til 7 or later! One comes at 5:40, the next comes at 6:45 and his sister comes after pre school at 11:45.

I don't mind for the most part but 5:30 is early. Especially for this night owl! My former job was 3rd shift! My body loved it, but I hated not being able to do anything during the day cuz I was asleep!

5:30am-4:30pm m-f and I have one that comes every other weekend and then I take drop ins on weekends if I feel like it.
I worried about the same thing when I started closing at 4:30, but I have since learned if clients want your services they will make it work. I work 6:00 to 4:30 and most kids are picked up by someone other than their parents. The same with opening at 7:00, if parents want your services they will make that work too.
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daycare 08:23 AM 04-10-2015
Originally Posted by AuntTami:
HOLY COW! How do you guys get away with not opening til 7!? My doors open at 5:30 and *technically* close at 5:30pm but my regular kids are gone by 4:30. I would lose ALL of my families if I didn't open til 7 or later! One comes at 5:40, the next comes at 6:45 and his sister comes after pre school at 11:45.

I don't mind for the most part but 5:30 is early. Especially for this night owl! My former job was 3rd shift! My body loved it, but I hated not being able to do anything during the day cuz I was asleep!

5:30am-4:30pm m-f and I have one that comes every other weekend and then I take drop ins on weekends if I feel like it.
Depends on your area you live in. Do people have to commute ?

And like PP said. How bad a client wants to attend your program. It's amazing what clients will do to make your hours.

I have a few families that have their neighbors drop off because they can't meet my open hours. They commute to the city and no way will I open before 745. I teach preschool and that is draining in itself is draining so I couldn't pathom the thought of working any longer than I already do. I often work until about 7:30-8 each night, but that's all paper work kids are gone by 5:30.
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