"As for paying, look at it this way, if they didn't charge you for the weeks, the remaining weeks of the year would just be more expensive to cover the cost of those weeks. You'd pay for it one way or another. "

Agree. DD's last preschool explained it this way - they have set staffing costs for the year. They take that number and divide it by the number of months to make it easier for families to pay for that 1 big number throughout the year. some months have less school days, but the driver is not how many school days exist in a month; rather the driver is the set staff costs and divvying that up on a monthly basis.

What is reasonable though is to find out what days/weeks they take off so you can see if, on the whole in a year, you think you are getting your money's worth and it is reasonable what they are taking off. FWIW, yes, I think 1.5 weeks is excessive. 1 week is normal for between xmas and new years.

12:31 here -- I should clarify that we continued to pay our daycare providers when they were on vacation (as we always intended), but they wouldn't let us also pay the backup person, as I'd assumed we would have to do. I assume that our DCP either paid the backup herself, or works it out in barter by providing backup when needed. In any case, we should have had to pay double that week, and we didn't, and I'm grateful.

Anonymous wrote:My contract with my in-home provider specifies the "big" federal holidays plus two weeks paid vacation. They don't always take the vacation (one year they only took two days) and tell us well in advance. But we are extremely lucky that when they did take a long vacation this year, they made arrangements with other in-home providers (their friends) to take care of our kids, at no cost to us (and in turn they provide the same service to the other providers). I feel bad that they wouldn't let us pay for that time, since they are entitled to that paid vacation, but we will take that into account when giving a holiday bonus this year.

You are a great parent!!!! Kudos to you

As for a provider making back up arrangements. I used to do that for some clients in the past. I quit when I found out after all the arrangements had been made by myself with another provider (who ALL my clients knew well), some repeat offenders would not show up with the kid and the back up was counting on the kid being there and the money, having turned other kids away during that week. I felt obliged to pay her something, even though I wasnt seeing any money myself from the clients. So in the end I got burned. My clients are all responsible for lining up their own back up. I may recommend someone if they ask, but I will no longer be a part of lining it up for them.

My contract with my in-home provider specifies the "big" federal holidays plus two weeks paid vacation. They don't always take the vacation (one year they only took two days) and tell us well in advance. But we are extremely lucky that when they did take a long vacation this year, they made arrangements with other in-home providers (their friends) to take care of our kids, at no cost to us (and in turn they provide the same service to the other providers). I feel bad that they wouldn't let us pay for that time, since they are entitled to that paid vacation, but we will take that into account when giving a holiday bonus this year.

Anonymous wrote:lady hush, you don't know what parents are saying behind your back...they may have problems but don't want to raise them because you might take it out on their child so crawl back under the rock you came from

LOL contrary to what you say, my clients have no need to talk behind my back because we have a very open line of communication. I have stellar recommendations not only from prior clients but also the school in my district, as well as the principal in that school. Almost all clients find me through word of mouth recommendations from either past clients or those who have tried to join my daycare home and havent gotten in because I hardly ever have space available. I dont take things out on my kids because i treat each and every one of them with respect. Something you seem to lack.

lady hush, you don't know what parents are saying behind your back...they may have problems but don't want to raise them because you might take it out on their child so crawl back under the rock you came from

that would be, WOULDNT WANT you all in my home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:16 -- that's great for them, but does anybody else get three days off for the 4th? I certainly don't.

if parents are entitled to vacation time, what makes you think a daycare provider isnt? if it just so happens to fall during the 4th of july weekend, what of it? Lucky that she has notified this early, she could wait til the time came and then announce it!

if someone had an issue with my taking 4 weeks off i would tell them find someone else. I have personally known providers who never took time off. one was state licensed who pushed her limitations as far as what she could handle. She burned out so bad with the daycare she lost her license and is no longer allowed to do daycare (at least through the state) in virginia anymore. A parent who had her son with that provider also had her younger daughter with me (the other provider didnt have space for the daughter nor did I for the son at that time). The mom told me she was happy knowing I took time off for *mental breaks* because the other provider was wearing herself out. Makes for a big difference. I dont think a lot of parents realize what it is like to be around 3-5 little ones 10 hours a day, sometimes 12. Heck, some parents cannot even handle their ONE child alone for a couple hours. Have respect for the providers

Wow - I certainly don't get four weeks of vacation a year, and I imagine a lot of other people are in a similar situation. You are certainly entitled to time off, but four weeks seems extreme. I also have to say that your attitude is a big part of why I didn't even consider home daycares for my child.

thats the best part of having your own business. You make the rules. My clients do not complain as they are informed well in advance and I work with them in other ways to make up for lost times if necessary. I also have to say, I wouldnt want most of the parents I see posting in here as my clients for many reasons. Too many people quick to assume and slamming in homeproviders. One of the reasons I refuse to advertise my daycare on here. Would want you all in my hoe. I only care for kids from normal families

You all have a great day now. I am off

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:16 -- that's great for them, but does anybody else get three days off for the 4th? I certainly don't.

if parents are entitled to vacation time, what makes you think a daycare provider isnt? if it just so happens to fall during the 4th of july weekend, what of it? Lucky that she has notified this early, she could wait til the time came and then announce it!

if someone had an issue with my taking 4 weeks off i would tell them find someone else. I have personally known providers who never took time off. one was state licensed who pushed her limitations as far as what she could handle. She burned out so bad with the daycare she lost her license and is no longer allowed to do daycare (at least through the state) in virginia anymore. A parent who had her son with that provider also had her younger daughter with me (the other provider didnt have space for the daughter nor did I for the son at that time). The mom told me she was happy knowing I took time off for *mental breaks* because the other provider was wearing herself out. Makes for a big difference. I dont think a lot of parents realize what it is like to be around 3-5 little ones 10 hours a day, sometimes 12. Heck, some parents cannot even handle their ONE child alone for a couple hours. Have respect for the providers

Wow - I certainly don't get four weeks of vacation a year, and I imagine a lot of other people are in a similar situation. You are certainly entitled to time off, but four weeks seems extreme. I also have to say that your attitude is a big part of why I didn't even consider home daycares for my child.

Anonymous wrote:our in home provider takes federal holidays, plus one week in the summer and one week between xmas and new years. However, she provides a calendar ahead of time. the only issue I've had is that she also closes when DCPS closes for weather and other stuff--our problem is that we're just not notified in time and scramble at the last minute!

My contract clearly states that parents are responsible for back up care for those few times I may have to take a sick day. You'd be surprised how many parents dont bother looking for back up for those just in case days and then such as yourself are left scrambling for daycare. Just easier to put the blame on the provider who may need to take a day off, suddently, because she got sick overnight. Would you really want her watching the kids, exposing them all to the germs? You'd be surprised how many I have had say they didnt mind if their kid was there watching tv while I lay on the couch.

As for snow days, I tell my parents watch the news. While I am open on the days school closes, I DO follow Fairfax County Government as far as closing. THey only close in rare cases sp it works out ok. the only thing I ask the parents is to watch the weather during the day and if they see it is getting worse, use good judgement (Something I find some parents do NOT have) and come before the roads get so bad they are impassable. While I am equipped to keep the kids longer periods of time, including having a generator in case the power goes out, I would rather see everyone home safe and sound.

Anonymous wrote:

if parents are entitled to vacation time, what makes you think a daycare provider isnt? if it just so happens to fall during the 4th of july weekend, what of it? Lucky that she has notified this early, she could wait til the time came and then announce it!

if someone had an issue with my taking 4 weeks off i would tell them find someone else.

You don't sound very professional at all. You are running a business. If you only provide service for 48 weeks out of the year then you need to be upfront with your customers when they sign up for your services. Your clients are not lucky of you happen to notify them sometime in advance of just one day before you decide to be closed. Every well run in home daycare center that we saw had a printed schedule of holidays and vacation time outlined for the following year. If you are going to run a business you need some level of organizational ability. The ability to set a calendar is pretty simple.

That is what happens when people are so stupid to ASSUME the worse.

My clients all know at the time of interview that I take 4 weeks off during the year. Two weeks are very well in place, thank you very much. The other two, ones taken during the summer, are announced at LEAST 2 months in advance if not more (Afterall I DID need to make reservations, right?) All my federal holidays are clearly spelled out in my contract. So before you ASSUME I am unprofessional, get all the facts before you make an ass of yourself.

our in home provider takes federal holidays, plus one week in the summer and one week between xmas and new years. However, she provides a calendar ahead of time. the only issue I've had is that she also closes when DCPS closes for weather and other stuff--our problem is that we're just not notified in time and scramble at the last minute!

if parents are entitled to vacation time, what makes you think a daycare provider isnt? if it just so happens to fall during the 4th of july weekend, what of it? Lucky that she has notified this early, she could wait til the time came and then announce it!

if someone had an issue with my taking 4 weeks off i would tell them find someone else.

You don't sound very professional at all. You are running a business. If you only provide service for 48 weeks out of the year then you need to be upfront with your customers when they sign up for your services. Your clients are not lucky of you happen to notify them sometime in advance of just one day before you decide to be closed. Every well run in home daycare center that we saw had a printed schedule of holidays and vacation time outlined for the following year. If you are going to run a business you need some level of organizational ability. The ability to set a calendar is pretty simple.

OP extended vacations are common for in home daycare or preschools that follow the public school schedules but it is pretty uncommon for a daycare center to do this.

I have never heard of a daycare center that doesn't have a contract or an annual calendar published listing the specific days that they are closed. I would question the quality and professionalism of your daycare if they have no contract.

Anonymous wrote:17:16 -- that's great for them, but does anybody else get three days off for the 4th? I certainly don't.

if parents are entitled to vacation time, what makes you think a daycare provider isnt? if it just so happens to fall during the 4th of july weekend, what of it? Lucky that she has notified this early, she could wait til the time came and then announce it!

if someone had an issue with my taking 4 weeks off i would tell them find someone else. I have personally known providers who never took time off. one was state licensed who pushed her limitations as far as what she could handle. She burned out so bad with the daycare she lost her license and is no longer allowed to do daycare (at least through the state) in virginia anymore. A parent who had her son with that provider also had her younger daughter with me (the other provider didnt have space for the daughter nor did I for the son at that time). The mom told me she was happy knowing I took time off for *mental breaks* because the other provider was wearing herself out. Makes for a big difference. I dont think a lot of parents realize what it is like to be around 3-5 little ones 10 hours a day, sometimes 12. Heck, some parents cannot even handle their ONE child alone for a couple hours. Have respect for the providers