Do you think it's fair to ask a week off from Daycare??

Question

I have an in home daycare, and a lot of people have told me that I should have taken Christmas week off PAID. I might do that this coming year, but I was wondering if parents have a problem with this? From what I've heard, not really for the most part.

You?

Answer 1

See what is common in your area. If you decide to do it put it in your parent information, in writing, and give lots of notice. Around here, providers expect to be paid for a one or two day holiday closing or snow days but if they are closed for the whole of Xmas week they usually don't charge, as long as tuition is up to date.

Answer 2

i think so it's not fair  to be off from daycare paid.

Answer 3

Well considering most people pay for the time their children are in daycare I don't think people will be wanting to pay for time that the kids are not there.  I have never heard of anything like this although Im sure it would be nice for you.

Answer 4

No provider in my area closes for more than the legal holiday.  Also, NONE would charge for time my child wasn't in their care.  This would be highly irregular in the area I live in and could likely end up closing down the business.  No one I know would use such a provider.  In your area, it may be customary.  Check around.

I am sure that many of your parents are working while their children are at your home.  What arrangements will they have to make when you close for a week and they still have to go to work AND you will charge them for it?  Think about it, you will charge them, and the alternative provider will charge them.  That is costly!

I am not saying you do not deserve time off.  I am asking you to look at it from the parent's point of view.  I know I would have a serious problem with this...not because you don't deserve it...but because as a working parent it creates a logistical nightmare and a financial burden.

Answer 5

I certainly think you are entitled to a week off with pay if not two weeks. Although I do not work in a home daycare I do work for a preschool that has extended care before and after hours. This is my third school in 23 years of teaching. When I first started teaching we were not paid during the breaks, Christmas and Spring. Now all three schools have the policy of teachers being paid. We also get extra vacation days to equal the number of days we work per week and the same for sick days. These are our only benefits. And yes the parents are charged during this time and it is in the parent handbooks.

I think you will find some parents will complain but if it is in the handbook they will know ahead of time and they will also have time to find an alternative care for that week. You need to take care of yourself too.

Answer 6

I have never heard of this. Even the larger daycares don't charge parents for the holidays that they aren't open. I think you would lose a lot of clients. I don't bring my children to daycare, but have many friends who do. They would have big problems with having to pay for childcare when their children aren't there. You could take the week off, but don't expect parents to pay. I think that parents that are taking the kids to you would say they had no problem, but would be finding a different daycare asap.  You would also need to make parents aware of this before Christmas, probably when they enroll their child. If you have anyone getting assistance from the government they only get the assistance for the time the kids are in daycare. The money they gave to you would have to come out of their pocket. Also all parents would then have to find a different daycare provider for at least the week you take off, and have to pay that provider as well. I think if you think no one would have a problem with this you are kidding yourself. If you want to take the week off do so, but don't expect people to pay for services you aren't providing.

Answer 7

You do deserve it.

But you are asking young parents to come up with another provider to pay ..as well as paying you for that week. I know I wouldn't  have been able to pay that.And by law you cannot stick medicaid with time you are not there. And then there is your monthly food program can't bill them for kids that aren't there :)

We all choose our vocations in life and I think its great you are a provider. But you are not corporate. Can you hire another provider  you trust to come in and do your job for that week? at least you won't lose too much income and you will get  the break you deserve. Because we all deserve a break. I might sound negative but I am just playing Devils advocate.

Personally I think you should just shut 'er down a week and sleep for a week lol I would!

Answer 8

Coming from a person that has to pay for daycare, and knowing that it isn't cheap and Christmas here...i couldn't afford to pay my daycare anymore now.  It's kind of expensive as it is.  It isn't like a regular 9-5 job where you have a boss, co-workers, hourly payrate, insurance benefits, etc., In my opinion, if my daycare asked for an additional week of pay and my son isn't there, i would find someone else.  So it is only my opinion that it wouldn't be fair.  ONLY MY OPINION.  (In todays economy, money is very tight and people are struggling to make ends meet).  Happy Holidays from someone whom is only expressing her opinion.

Answer 9

My child's daycare gives us a certain number of uncharged days for my child to miss if they are sick or if we go out of town. If I want to take my child out of daycare for a week, I still have to pay for that week. If my provider told me they were going to close for a week over Christmas or in the summer, I would have no problem with that, but if I was expected to pay for the week even though my child was not receiving care, I would be looking for a different provider. It depends on what your regulations are, but I would expect many unhappy parents who will be looking for other options. I encourage you to take time off if you need it, but don't expect your parents to finance your time off.

Answer 10

Yes, I believe you should. I am the director in a very small private non-profit in Los Angeles. It is a school for working parents and has a sliding scale tuition. We are closed, WITH PAY from Christmas Eve until January 2. It is NOT uncommon for home providers to be closed at this time either, and not lowering or prorating fees for the month.

You should certainly do it.

Answer 11

It's not uncommon, just try to coordinate with the parents. A week off in the summer and the week between Christmas and New Years, sounds fair to me. They get paid vacations you should too.

Answer 12

Being a mother who's child is in daycare, I'd have to have mixed emotions on the matter.

I just recently took my daughter out of regular daycare and into a family based daycare.

Based on the pricing, I may think it reasonable to give her some money towards a vacation. For example I'm currently saving a bit of money because in home daycare is cheaper.  I'd be comfortable giving her a bonus if I knew she wanted a break.

But paying for a full week would really not be feasable to me as I really don't have that much money to go around.

If you have more than one child in your care, I'd suggest mentioning the thought to the parents and telling them it's a personal choice and voluntary donation on their part.  Some will probably be more than happy, wheras others who are barely paying their bills and will now need to find a sitter for that week, would probably not be able to help out. I know my work only gives me 1 day off christmas week.

At the beginning of the month you could leave a note in the kids lunch boxes mentioning the idea and getting their input.