Any reason to give more than requisite 30 days notice leaving day care?

[Anonymous]

We've been planning to leave our day care center at the end of the summer, and it requires 30 days notice. Should I tell them earlier? I guess I secretly fear that once we become "short-timers" they will care about my child less, which is probably irrational. At the beginning of the summer, they asked for families to indicate if they were returning for the fall, but we just ignored it (and they haven't come after us). My guess is that they assume we are staying, and already have a transition plan to the next classroom to begin at the end of next month.
It has served me well, but I do not love this daycare (it's BH not a home day care).

Anyone have any experiences to share re: drop off in care after you give notice? We are leaving for preschool, not moving out of the area or anything like that.

[Anonymous]

We are in the same situation. I actually decided to tell them sooner rather than later. I have more than one child leaving so I figured it would be better to give them extra time to fill the spots.

BTW, I had similar (irrational) concerns about being "short-timers" but the teachers care for the kids so I got over that ...

[Anonymous]

Right, but maybe the teachers will think we are dissing the place to go to a preschool? The teachers in the next class are already talking about my child being in their class, etc.

I figure it will not be difficult for them to fill the spot...it would be in the 1s room in a downtown daycare-- there's probably a waitlist a mile long (or they'll move up an infant, where there's probably an even longer WL).

PP, did they seem grateful for the earlier notice?

[Anonymous]

The director was grateful and I'd say the teachers have been the same if not it bit more attentive since they will only being seing our kids for a few more weeks.

They have been doing this far longer than I've been parenting and they've seen people come and go. I'm not at a BH but at a pretty large center. BH's are pretty big -- they deal with the turnover (children and teachers) all the time.

If you are that concerned, then wait until the 30 day mark. It is all you are required to do.

[Anonymous]

Give the notice! I'm on the other side and BH keeps telling me that they "think" they have a spot in August but since current families only have to give a 30 day notice they can't promise for sure. We are moving into the area and gave our notice to our current daycare about 60 days out and after their first "sad to see you go" they haven't mentioned it and I don't see any difference in the treatment. I mentioned it to them earlier than I had to because I didn't want them to start planning the transition to the next room.

Maybe you'll give your notice and I'll be the one getting the long awaited call that they have a spot!

[Anonymous]

If you are not really happy with the place, and it is a high demand class, I don't see any reason to give more than the required notice, especially since it is pretty long (30 days). If it was a 2 week notice requirement, I might feel a little more persuaded to give more notice than the minimum. But they won't have any problem filling the spot.

[Anonymous]

PP here - oh, and I've done this twice, with 2 different kids in 2 different day cares. The first time, the teachers all found out immediately and started talking about how sad it was we were leaving and started asking us why we weren't staying. I did not think the care got worse, but it was a little awkward to explain why I wanted some other place for preschool, rather than stay. The second child, I notified the director, and it didn't seem like the teachers found out until I told them. But neither time did the care seem to drop off, it was just awkward with the first and I would not have wanted to prolong that awkward phase.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. Yes, it's the awkwardness that I want to avoid. It's almost like saying that the next classroom's teachers aren't "good enough". Also, this daycare is in DH's office building so they may really wonder why we would switch.

It's sort of like becoming a lame duck. As it is, we've stop really raising any concerns (since it's an uphill battle anyway, so why bother when you're a short-timer). But I feel like I don't want to prolong that phase.