For those who use home daycare?

My mother insists that it is outrageous that we pay even when the kids do not go. From what I know, it is pretty typical to have to hold thier spot.

So I was wondering from those who use home daycare, what is the arrangements for the summer months when your are off (teachers) or the family vacations etc when they do not need to be there?

 

I am a teacher and we pay full-price for the summer months, even though I'm off work. I do send the boys to the sitters a couple of days a week because they love going and playing with the other kids and it keeps them in the routine of going. If I let them stay home for the entire summer, I have a feeling August would be BAD! Our sitter previously didn't charge teachers for the summer because she only kept a couple of teachers kids. Now, 80% of her kids are teachers kids, so that would be a HUGE chunk of her pay gone for the summer.

The only time we don't pay is during my sitter's 2 week vacation in the summer.

 

we use a center now, but when we used home daycare we paid even if the boys did not attend. it's standard in our area.

 

We don't have to pay our provider if the girls don't go, even if its just because they're sick. They aren't in a state licensed home though, so that may make her more flexible. She is the only provider, in home or daycare center that we interviewed, that didn't charge full price if the kids weren't there, for holidays, etc., so I know its not typical that we don't pay when they aren't there.

 

We pay regardless of if the girls are there or not. However, since they only go 3 days a week, if there is a day they have to stay home because of illness then I just switch my days at work and they just go to daycare (in a home setting) the next day. I agree with the policy...it's their paycheck and they need it to live off of...I have no problem with it. DH thinks it's ridiculous, but I don't. My sitter also takes a 1 week paid vacation. I do'nt have a problem with that either. The only time we don't have to pay is if my sitter can't work ad then she credits us that day the next week or whatever.

 

Yeah I have to pay when they aren't there, for holidays, and like the PP mine also gets 1 week paid vacation. She is actually the cheapest daycare around here I found, and I LOVE it there, the girls love her, and she does a great job with them so I dont mind paying when they aren't there!

 

Like pp; we have to pay when the girls arent' there for any reason. The only time we don't pay is if she is taking vacation or closed because she is sick. We even have to pay her Holidays!!

 

Yes, we absolutely have to pay when we're not there, and I think it makes total sense. It's her livelihood, and she needs to be able to plan and meet her financial obligations. It's not her fault that my child was sick or we planned our vacation that week, KWIM? My employer pays me for vacations and holidays, and they pay me if for some reason they are unable to have the office open that day (like when the federal government is closed for snow or sometimes when there have been the big IMF/World Bank protests in DC, etc.). (I am however fortunate that my daycare provider's mom lives next door and they have a large extended family who all know the girls well, so if she has an appointment or needs to be away for the day, there is backup care available. She is closed on holidays but has had others sub for her when she's done vacation-type things.)

Now as far as teachers who have the entire summer off -- I know it's got to be really painful to have to pay for those three months, but again I can understand where they are coming from. Really she has no guarantee you will even be back in the fall, and she could potentialy be holding that spot for you, unpaid, when she could have filled the slots to continue her income stream. And childcare isn't like other freelance gigs where she could pick up some other gigs during that timeframe and then clear her calendar again for you -- generally if she's adding kids into her care, they're not going to cycle off at the end of the summer. So if you want the space in the fall, you have to pay to keep it open in the summer. I totally get that. But OUCH on your wallet!

 

Yep!! pay whether they go or not, I think that's fair. I do have the option also as my kids are part time, we can switch a day sometimes, if they're sick, so that helps.


amanda

 

I do in-home daycare for four other children full time (7:30 am-5:30pm). I take 2 weeks unpaid vacation time, but other than that, I get paid for any days the kids don't come regardless. Even holidays!! It is that way pretty much everywhere around here. I figure I am a full time employee just like a banker, teacher,etc. and I deserve a paid holiday. I enjoy doing daycare, but honestly as a mother and an in-home daycare provider, the daycare business has very little flexibility. I don't get to take my boys places that I would like because I have other children I am caring for and we don't have a mini-van (YET). So, holidays and vacation days are days I get to just be a mom.