The Daycare Resource Connection

Ohana1 · Newbie

Daycare during recesssion??

Date: Apr 3, 2010

I have been in childcare more thatn 25 years and this is the worst I have seen it. Currently I have one opening but referral calls are not coming in. Our state is having a terrible time with unlicesned childcare providers, which are very attractive to parents in this economy. When money is limited many parents forget about quality childcare and preschool and go for the cheapest available. And unfortunately our state and licensing officials are doing nothing to help us. We lost 138 homes in the past year alone.

shortytish · Newbie

This is bad whenever i have been doing childcare for over 6yrs with great business, then all of a sudden kids just start droppn like flies. so now i am at the point trying to build my daycare back up.

Date: Apr 19, 2010

I don't think it is all about being licence or not licence if you are a good daycare provider then word gets out. if you are not a good provider that also gets out. i think that you have to have faith in the economy. if you go to church pay your tithes then the good Lord will help you through all this. sometimes god gives you trials to see if you can over come them or not.

Date: May 19, 2010

I had to cut my price, to keep kids and get kids, took little longer hours, and UGH, having hard time, I have to keep 12 kids to just pay bills and no money afterwards. I cant wait to things get better, Im tired 14 hrs days!

Date: May 26, 2010

First, your right about being a good or bad provider, if your good you will have a full house,if your not you will be looking for a new job! The part about being licensed, I dont agree, do you have any idea what we as licensed providers have to do to keep our license, we have to go to trainings,that cost money,we have to have paper work up to date or we are in trouble with the state and not a little paper work ALOT! we can't have 15 kids running around, we can only have a 5-6,so we are not making a couple grand a week, and what we do make we have to claim at the end of the year!
we have to make sure they are eating the right foods, we have to let the state come in to our homes for check up anytime they would like,I have to keep a log on anyone who visit my home even if it's my sister for 15 min. I can go on and on, Im ok with all this ,thats why I got licensed 17 years ago,but I just dont think its fair for others who do daycare unlicensed, they charge less and they care for 10-15 kids! And when times get tough like they are now, we are the ones who get punished for doing daycare the rite way,...... they have the full house!

Ohana1 · Newbie

Well for those that are not licensed they should be prcesecuted for child endagerment. furious

msmichelle · Veteran Member

You do not have to be licensed in all states, some states do not require you to be licensed if you have 5 or less children

Date: May 29, 2010

In NJ it is not mandatory to be a registered provider. Registered or not, providers are only permitted to care for a maximum of 5 children. However, registered providers are required to meet or exceed certain standards including the house inspection, training hours, CPR & First Aid. In theory, everyone is supposed to be reporting their wages but in reality, many unregistered providers are not. I know there are some unregistered providers who are following the rules. But, I don't appreciate it when some unregistered providers care for more children than permitted.
As for me, I have been a registered provider for more than 12 years. I have my CDA and I am a Nationally Accredited Provider. I have always cared for five children and had a waiting list until this past January. Now I care for only four children. I am not getting as many referrals as I have had in the past. I do believe our economy is having an effect on my business. Hopefully I will be caring for five children again when school resumes in September.

Date: Jun 7, 2010

you are so right...
we have lots of paper work and yes one little thing
that we do forget cause we have to be watching and keeping the kids\busy.
we get in trouble for.......
that kust to crazy-- the state wants us to mess up so that they can bubkj us good provider off the proga....

glendale,az

Theresa F · Newbie

I have been listed on this website for about 3 months now....I have never advertised before. I am in Michigan and have primarily teachers children in my care. I have three of my own school age children and I was delighted with my choice when I opened my day care. For the 2010-2011 school year I have one child (18 mos) returning and one of my children returning part time. I have lost one child this year and another family went to two days a week because the father lost his job. My husband and friends tell me to stay positive and things will work out.....I feel as though it is all going down the tubes...........I am also concerned about my family with the 18 month old. They came to my day care home for her to be with children.....................

Theresa F · Newbie

I am having a very difficult time finding families to replace the ones I am losing. I have two that are going to preschool.one will remain part-time and one staying one for the next school year...........I care fo ronly teachers children....I have three of my own children and two that are in care in the summer............I can't change to all year day care or my children don't have me to be with them and that is the whole reason for me to be a day care provider

-- Edited by Theresa F on Wednesday 9th of June 2010 07:11:17 AM

Date: Jun 18, 2010

FIRST OFF LET ME START BY SAYING, THE ONES THAT ARE NOT LICENSED MOST OF THE TIME ARE GREAT PEOPLE. I AM ONE THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY A NON LICENSED CARE GIVER YEARS AGO 31 TO BE EXACT, SHE IS STILL IN THE FIELD IN HER HOME WITH ANOUT THREE BABIES AND THE REST IS TODDLERS. SHE HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH ( REASONABLE RATES). I AM A PROUD PARENT AND LOVING WIFE/MOTHER WHOM CAN TRULY SAY THAT THEY ARE AS NOT AS HIGH AS SOME OF YOU DAYCARE OPENERS JUST FOR THE DOLLAR AND NOT FOR THE CHILD.... SOME OF YOU CAN COME DOWN ON YOUR RATES TO HELP THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AS WELL.

Date: Jun 22, 2010

Anonymous wrote:

FIRST OFF LET ME START BY SAYING, THE ONES THAT ARE NOT LICENSED MOST OF THE TIME ARE GREAT PEOPLE. I AM ONE THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY A NON LICENSED CARE GIVER YEARS AGO 31 TO BE EXACT, SHE IS STILL IN THE FIELD IN HER HOME WITH ANOUT THREE BABIES AND THE REST IS TODDLERS. SHE HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH ( REASONABLE RATES). I AM A PROUD PARENT AND LOVING WIFE/MOTHER WHOM CAN TRULY SAY THAT THEY ARE AS NOT AS HIGH AS SOME OF YOU DAYCARE OPENERS JUST FOR THE DOLLAR AND NOT FOR THE CHILD.... SOME OF YOU CAN COME DOWN ON YOUR RATES TO HELP THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AS WELL.

Date: Jun 22, 2010

I to am licensed and agree that some of you charge way to much.
I try to keep my rates under 100 dollers, and i provide all meals.
I do this because i love it. yes i do need the income, but so do the parents.
We need to help each other in hard times. GOD BLESS smile

Date: Jun 23, 2010

That's ridiculous under $100.00 per week, did you know that is less the $1.67 an hour if you are open from 7am-6pm. You said you did it for the love of it and the money, Well dose $1.60cents an hour really worth it, or do you have that much love??? Its even less because you said you charge less then 100.

Most parents have 2 incomes not always but most, SO DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD WORK AT THERE JOB FOR $1.67 AN HOUR? Even someone at a fast-food restaurant get minimum wage...Do you want fries with that?

Please rethink what you charge and you need to break it down by hour and if you still think its to much then please get our of the business.

Remember it is still a business!!!

We all do it for the money and the love for the kids.....

FYI.. $150.00 per week and 7am-6pm per hour is $2.50

When parents come to me and ask why 150-165 a week I break it down to the amount of hours there children are here and when you tell them its 2.00-2.50 and hour them realize its not that much...

WE ARE ALL WORTH WHAT WE GET AND DESERVE EACH DOLLAR WE BRING IN AND THEM SOME....DON'T EVER LET A PARENT MAKE YOU FEEL YOU CHARGE TO MUCH.. LET THEM GO AND TRY AND GET A QUALITY DAYCARE FOR LESS, IF THEY DO FIND ONE THERE MIGHT BE 20KIDS IN A 12x18 ROOM...

95% of the time the parents come back and realize its not too expensive... smile

msmichelle · Veteran Member

Right I agree do not sell yourself short, however the demographics in some areas do not allow providers to charge more than that. And if you have 5 kids $100 a week comes to $9hr (55 hours a week $1.80 per kid) If you were working at a daycare center on the average you might get $10 to $13 hr and watch 10 to 20 kids, you do not get $10 hr per kid.

I myself would charge more, but maybe the provider lives in a poor area, I would charge a higher price to start out and it I did not get any enrollment after a few months then I would lower my price. I suggest calling several daycare facilities in your area and get price average from that.

marycragers · Newbie

The daycares around here are doing okay. Curriculum is being updated and many of the parents are chipping in to provide snacks and craft materials. The biggest problem we have had is maintaining the school playground equipment. It's only five years old, but it's already rusting and one of the stairs to the slides is broken. The problem is there has never been any money in the budget to mantain the playground equipment.

Date: Jul 2, 2010

you make it sound like i'm nut's, I HAVE 3 single moms, one who makes 10.00 hr and is

Date: Jul 16, 2019

RE: Daycare during recesssion??