WOW - so many helpful people today! Funny. Pick-up time does actually go later when needed (at no additional charge), I didn't think that was a RED FLAG, but now I know. Sometimes its been as late as 7:30!

The Photography biz is actually more for THEM (the families I work for) and not a biz anymore...sadly...I do still make the jewelry in all that free time I have!

Yes - pictures of the place need to be done. Good idea - getting pictures of ME on there - Oh, my...I guess I'd have to hire a photographer!

Thank you so much. (I actually have three interviews this weekend)!!!

Word of mouth. Seriously. When I was looking for an in-home daycare, the first thing I did was ask for recommendations from other parents in my community. We ended up going with the provider that was recommended to us by a social worker!

I personally couldn't care less about organic food. I certainly wouldn't want to pay for it. Also, for closings, to you follow the school system or Federal Government? That made a big difference for us, too - as two government employees, having a provider who was open when our work was open was a huge bonus.

Other "nice to haves" include having a curriculum you use with the children, being fluent in another language so you can teach the kids songs/words in that language, having access to a great play area for the kids.

1. Change your pickup time to 6pm.
2. Get rid of your photography business stuff--for me as a parent that makes me think "this woman is going to be taking pics of my kids all the time without my permission and she has a business she's running when she should be watching my kid"
3. Have one menu tab that says "field trips" and put all those pics of outings on there--each field trip should not have equal weight with separate tabs like "tuition" and "schedule" and "about me"
4. Have a picture of yourself and your home/facility/backyard. It's a red flag for me to see allll these pictures of children and zero of you (or at least i didn't see any).

A few things...

*you serve juice with every snack
*you offer brownies as a snack choice
*you close at 5pm
*it doesn't appear (at least it's not noted on your page) that you have a bachelors or associates degree
*there are zero photos of your actual daycare on the website
*there are tons of useless info on your website. I don't need to know milestones of children by age, recommendation by usda on when and what to feed my child. When I go to your website, I want to know about YOU and your home daycare.

Sounds like the consensus is, at a minimum, a 5:30 pick-up time. Can you revise your hours? 5PM is very early since most parents work until 5.

No TV. Staff levels that keep ratios lower than state requirements. Great references. Above and beyond certifications and education.

Anonymous wrote:Your main issue is the 5PM pick-up. I don't know any daycares that close at 5 - everyone I know is still at work at 5. Try a 6PM close time and you'll have those slots filled in no time.

Do you really require pick-up at 5? This is crazy. At least extend this out to 5:30!

I agree about the 5 PM pick up. We used a daycare in Arlington that was 7:30 to 5:30, and that worked better for us, and even then we were cutting it close on our schedules.

Be sure to say, "We hardly ever leave our kids outside in the rain, and if we do, we'll admit we were 'a little bit wrong'."

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/04/parveen-ahmed-arlington-day-care-worker-apologizes-for-leaving-child-alone-outside-102624.html#ixzz30M1y6ton

Your main issue is the 5PM pick-up. I don't know any daycares that close at 5 - everyone I know is still at work at 5. Try a 6PM close time and you'll have those slots filled in no time.

Your website looks nice but it almost has too much info that takes time to sort through. I would bullet point a lot of it and put the most important stuff on the front page. It would also be nice to have a picture of you and what the daycare looks like.

I would take your photography business off of there. I also saw a spelling error or two. And if you are a peanut free facility, take Peanut butter completely off the snack list or say almond butter instead.

Sorry, I know this isn't supposed to be a critique of the website, but it can't hurt! I would also reach out to local Mom's groups. Since you do photography, that is also another way to advertise - offer some free sessions to your local neighborhood list serve in order to get your name out there.

The website is great. Unfortunately in this area location is such a huge factor. But yes - organic menus, routine, activities, loving environment that is clean and safe are all very important.

No, I was looking to what attracts people...like organic menus or something...

Maybe post on local list serves. That seems to be the main way moms I know give and receive information about openings.

I have a home daycare and I am trying to fill two spots, but having a hard time because of the time of year. What would grab your attention? I'm trying to figure out what I'm not doing. I love what I do and it's better when we're full!

My website is carynwaldroup.wix.com/carynwaldroup