are we really supposed to pay for 3 months of a daycare we can't use?

[Anonymous]

Some of you are very paranoid. I don’t think daycare providers are pulling some kind of long game con posing as parents to steal your dollars. That’s weird. Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

If you aren't planning on returning then give notice as per your contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are very paranoid. I don’t think daycare providers are pulling some kind of long game con posing as parents to steal your dollars. That’s weird. Get a grip.

I didn't say they are posing as parents. Some of them are pretty open about being daycare providers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in Va., we all know there's a stay at home order thru June 10. Our in-home closed 3 weeks ago and expected full payment for April, which we paid. So that's 7 weeks of payment with zero care.

DH and I are both working -- our provider has kids and has posted on social media that she allows them to do playdates with other kids but outside and they know them well so it's all well and good. It's obviously not.

We have involved grandparents, two with asthma and two with diabetes. We aren't seeing them at this time, but I cannot imagine ever sending kids back to this daycare even when they re-open -- too much concern about what being in group of kids from many families, plus several workers and the kids in home of owner would mean for safety of our loved ones as this virus works its way through the area.

We are both employed now in industries that are currently very busy, but expect to take a beating and have been warned that while no furloughs/layoffs planned now, it won't always be that way.

the owner is a neighbor. I feel this pressure -- both in writing from owner to families and from society at large -- that if we are getting paid, then so should the daycare. This feels nuts to me -- this is not her fault, but to pay a significant amount of $ for three months of daycare we won't use with potential job loss on the horizon seems insane. Are we heartless to pull kids out?

It's an in home daycare, which makes it worse that they charged 100%. How many staff? If it's one of those with a permit (v. License) to care for up to 5 kids, I'd try to talk to the owner that even the centers who have to pay rent and teacher salaries are offering discounts.

[Anonymous]

Daycare centers like Bright Horizons will never be out of business, especially in urban areas. In home daycares may have a little trouble.

[Anonymous]

If you’re comfortable with the possibility that you won’t be able to get a spot in a daycare right away when remote working ends, go ahead and pull them. Otherwise you’re paying for the security of knowing your spot will be waiting for you.

[Anonymous]

This whole situation is insane. I am an essential employee and my husband is able to telework but actually has insane amounts of work and has been working into night hours to stay on top of it. We were forced to bring in a caretaker to provide care for our daughter while we work and are obviously paying for it. This is a very expensive area to live in and even both of us have full time jobs, we were already living paycheck to paycheck. How in the world is it reasonable to expect tuition payments for service that is not provided? We are talking thousands of dollars for moths of closure. Am I really expected to take out a loan to make those payments? I am not getting paid if I don't work, it is as simple as that. We made a decision to pull our daughter out and will have to look into other schools when this is over. I know there is tremendous pressure to continue making the payments and as much as I sympathize with preschools and childcare providers, we have to think about sustainability, not only theirs but ours as well. Are you going to be getting paid if you get sick and need months of health care? Is there a possibility that either you or your spouse loose the job in the near future? Do you have a hefty savings account that will not miss a few thousand dollars? We don't, and that is why we made the decision that we did.

[Anonymous]

Do you want a daycare to come back to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pull my kids out. You don’t need their care at this time and honestly, after this, daycares won’t be tight for a spot.

What does this mean

Daycares will not have a waitlist anymore. People will be scared to send their kids back for a while. Daycares will be out of business

.

Yes and then it will be more competitive then ever to find a spot when you need it. Lots of demand for a few spaces. It’s a lose/lose situation.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daycare centers like Bright Horizons will never be out of business, especially in urban areas. In home daycares may have a little trouble.

I think the very small ones or the ones that keep kids broken into very small groups will actually have some demand after this. I know a couple parents who want to move their kids to tiny inhomes once this is over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pull my kids out. You don’t need their care at this time and honestly, after this, daycares won’t be tight for a spot.

What does this mean

Daycares will not have a waitlist anymore. People will be scared to send their kids back for a while. Daycares will be out of business

No, some of the big ones like Bright Horizons Innovation Station and St. Anthony's in Old Town will ALWAYS have a waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Mine was 2.5 months of preschool we are not using. I just got an email that we could get a refund or make a donation. I made a donation to pay the teachers. I think it would be nice if you still get your salary to do that, but that's just my personal opinion.

[Anonymous]

Our in-home provider refused payment when I tried to drop off this week’s check.

[Anonymous]

An in-home provider that isn’t following social distancing rules isn’t one I would return to. It’s that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole situation is insane. I am an essential employee and my husband is able to telework but actually has insane amounts of work and has been working into night hours to stay on top of it. We were forced to bring in a caretaker to provide care for our daughter while we work and are obviously paying for it. This is a very expensive area to live in and even both of us have full time jobs, we were already living paycheck to paycheck. How in the world is it reasonable to expect tuition payments for service that is not provided? We are talking thousands of dollars for moths of closure. Am I really expected to take out a loan to make those payments? I am not getting paid if I don't work, it is as simple as that. We made a decision to pull our daughter out and will have to look into other schools when this is over. I know there is tremendous pressure to continue making the payments and as much as I sympathize with preschools and childcare providers, we have to think about sustainability, not only theirs but ours as well. Are you going to be getting paid if you get sick and need months of health care? Is there a possibility that either you or your spouse loose the job in the near future? Do you have a hefty savings account that will not miss a few thousand dollars? We don't, and that is why we made the decision that we did.

Most preschools and daycare run on very thin margins. Many will not survive this and will not reopen. That is why parents are paying - because they want their preschools and daycare to be open when their children can return to care.
When teachers don't get paid, they have to file for unemployment and actively look for other jobs while they collect any monies. This means they likely won't be back at the same school when the dust settles. Are you ready for a complete staff turn-over?

Daycare and preschool isn't just like a nail salon or a hairdresser. You aren't just paying cash money in exchange for a flat service. $ = care. That's what a babysitter does. Parents are paying to maintain the relationships between their caretakers and their children. There is so much change going on right now. I don't want my kid to have to go through all this only return to a completely new school with all new faces and kids. I'd like to return them to some semblance of normalcy.

We looked long and hard before we found a preschool we liked. Would we find one we liked as well. Not sure?

If you can't afford it, you're kids will adjust. But for those who can, they are willing to make some sacrifices, as long as they can, in order to maintain established relationships and familiar surroundings in this time of upheaval. It's not insane.