In-home Daycare - Minneapolis,MN

To those saying your hours are wrong, stuff it. Every provider has a right to set their own hours. This mother is off at 4:30 and as another person here has said, unless her commute is an hour long, she should be there by 5.

As far as hours are concerned, I am open 24/7. I do believe in being accommodating. But that's my niche. I'm okay with it. I do have parents that pick up at 2 or 2:30, 3:15 and 3:30...not separate parents, just the various times they show up on a regular basis. I enjoy the parents that leave early because it gives me more time to bring my evening crew in on.

I can tell you what was in my daycare providers contract under each sub-heading at least. It wasn't very long.

1)Mission
2)Hours open/availabilty (I agree that it doesn't matter what hours you pick whether standard or not, you can pick your own)
3) Costs per week, late policy (every 10 mins will = $____, due AT THE TIME OF PICK UP) and my daycare provider even talks about lengthy absences (we get one week without pay if the child will not be there the whole week, and then every other extended period of time is 60% of the normal tuition cost in order to "hold" the spot. Payment is by the spot, not attendance). Also, she puts in here all holidays (that are WITH pay) that the daycare will be closed. Again she emphasizes that tuition is based on the "spot" not on attendance, so it's due in full on the day specified for the week regardless of how often the student attends. She also has a "no-show" policy, stating that if you don't show up without making a phone call after so many days in a row, you will be dropped.
4)What you will provide (food, diapers, ointments/lotions. My daycare provider provides all solid foods, no milk, and any ointments or lotions that might be needed)
5)What the parent will provide (formula, either a jar or pre-mixed bottles, diapers, wipes, change of clothes, whatever you require her to bring)
6)Sick policy (I may have a copy of my daycares. It's certain time frames before they can return after being sick)
7)Immunizations policy (required to be up to date or provide documentation exempting of some sort)
8)Open door policy (parents are allowed to come to the center at any time during the day to see their kids, etc.)
9)She finally puts in here a terminiation policy. If you wish to terminate services, you have to provide a two weeks PAID notice. You can still receive services for those last two weeks, BUT if you choose not to, you still have to PAY for two weeks AFTER the time notice is provided. This allows her time to find someone else to fill the spot.

She also did have something in there about returned checks and fees that she would charge for a returned check and requirements to have to pay in cash or a money order after that.

Those are the basic points she hits. You don't have to have anything fancy typed, just as long as you get the main things across and you both sign it, then your good. When you get licensed, there is a LOT more required paper work. I had to fill out an application, multiple papers for food (so that the center could get reimbursed by the state for their food costs), forms that describe my infants eating/sleeping patters that I wanted followed, emergency contact information, and media/photo use. Plus, you will have to end up writing a parent handbook at some point (which will contain a LOT of the stuff that was locate in my contract).

I will add that my daycare provider almost never charges me a late fee, BUT I'm late MAYBE once every two-three months and when I enrolled, I explained to her that I work in a crisis management field so sometimes crisis happens at closing time. I always call her when I'm running late and let her know as soon as I can (which luckily has been before I'm actually late) and she is good. But, I also pay on time every month and show her how grateful I am regularly for caring for my son each day so I can work. It's truly an under appreciated job I think sometimes, but I want to make sure she knows that I don't feel that way about her!

I am in MN. Your hours are typical. I am open 7am-5:30 pm. Most of the time parents work staggered hours from each other and one parent will drop off, and another will pick up. No child needs to be in care for a potential 12 hours a day and no single provider wants to be caring for anyones child that many hours a week. Just saying.

I am licensed in Hennepin Cty (14 years). Licensing has a big back log in many counties now, but start by looking online. There should be a plethora of info there for a potential new provider..info for what constitutes "legally unlicensed" etc.
http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/hs/childcare/index.htm

The state shutdown is affecting some things of these processes and slowing it further, like background checks (I think)

You need to have a backbone to do this business. You get to decide things like hours, whether you will take kids who are not immunized(with proper paperwork in place) ages you take (within licensing ratios), what to charge, when to close, etc. Those are business arrangments. But you have to be willing to enforce them. If you don't want to have a contract, then don't. But it is recommended to have a policy book and a contract. That way you are both on the same page for all of these things.

If you want her to stick to the hours and get the shots up to date, tell her in a non confrontational way, if possible, and be willing to lose her if she won't. Sometimes thats the nature of the business. I run a pretty organized and professional business and in 14 years have had really just one short term family (because I canned them after a few months) that treated me this way.

Good luck.

Daycares here charge after hours care for that. Public daycares charge $1 a minute, per kid, no excuses.

My provider, doesn't charge if we arrange it before hand. If not, she gives the first 10m free, then $10 for every 15m late, per kid.

I think as far as contracts go, you just write something up that you both sign and date.

M.

I think an hours extension may have to be made in the future for other clients, but I understand. My daughter's inhome daycare provider won't accept very long after 5 on a regular basis because that's her family time. She still has a life of her own. If a mom took advantage of her she would politely talk to them about it. I understand that in your situation it isn't a matter of accommodating her hours because there's an hour that she is off and doesn't show up, unless it's an hour commute to her work. My daycare provider doesn't do a contract but she will give polite "warnings" so-to-speak if she feels your disrespecting her. If she agreed to the hours then find a nice way to talk to her about it on the phone or in person. Also tell her that in order for you to watch her children they need to get their shots updated so other kids aren't in any danger and hers aren't either. Getting licensed I'm not too sure, but I believe you can go down to the city's administration building and ask them.

You don't need a license to have a contract though. And licensing is a few thousand here which is why my daycare provider hasn't had a license, plus she rents her house.

I am no expert but unless you plan on taking on more kids than hers I don't think it would be worth it to get licensed. You set yourself up then for all kinds of rules and regulations that can be tough to comply with. Just tell her that she needs to get up to date on shots and you will have to charge her more if she is late. Be very calm and business like about it-tell her this is what every place in childcare does and you are not any different.

How are people supposed to pick up their kids by 5 when the typical work day is from 8-5? I think you should extend your work day to 6-6, like most care providers (and daycares).

I think your hours are fine. If that what works for you then their problem. You set them for when you are able to watch children. I don't know about getting licensed since I only had one kid I watched and I'm not in the Mn are but I would def get a contract before she screws you! Make her sign it or give her notice. I wish I would of done this with one that I used to watch her kid for months ago before I quit.
I was stupid though and didn't assuming that since she's friends with a family member that she wouldn't screw me in anyway. Boy was I wrong! She owes me $71 and I still haven't gotten it and that was months ago. I would take her to small claims but I'm not going to pay costs if I lose so I'm just going to take it as a loss so PLEASE get a contract.
I would if I were you, state your start to finish hours during days you care for child, shots (obviously) need to be up to date, any illness that you think they should not attend for, she needs to pay you by the last day if things don't work out or such, and anything else you need to cover.
I wish I could help with the other part but can't sorry. Have you tried calling maybe Health and Human services in your area and asking them how to get licensed? They might be to some help or direct you in the right direction. Good luck! :) (I had my hours 6am-4pm because the lady who's child I cared for worked days hours and was off no later than 3:30 and her husband was off by 1:30-2 but he was too lazy to pick up his kid. Don't go out of the way to set hours- like I said, do what works for you.)

In Ca you can keep 2 kids from the same family and not be licensed.
I think you should write up a reasonable contract that gives her decent drop off and pick up times and some requests about anything else you are concerned with. Such as days off, vacations/paid or not paid, leaving your care with or without notice, immunizations, late fee, ( A lot of places charge $1 or $5 per minute you are late past an agreed upon time.) Is food included or not, and diapers included or not. Are you allowed to take them out of your home, in the car, with car seats, and to where? I would use humor when telling her you want a signed contract. Laugh and say, Judge Judy wouldnt like us to do this without a contract and we dont want to have to go see her if theres ever a misunderstanding between us. It will protect both of you.
EDIT: as far as the late fee, my sister has a prschool and there is a charge for late pick up, but parents will get off work early, show up to get their child and then stand around talking to other parents for an hour past the closing time, and then wonder why they were charged extra! My sister still had to keep an eye on them, clean up after them, and it made her late going home or where ever she needed to be after hours. So be aware of this bad habit with some parents.

Maybe the first thing that you should do is to sit down with the parents and talk with them. They may not realize that they are putting you out and making you feel frustrated. Many times all it takes to straighten out a problem is getting it all out in the open. Your state licensing agency may have some sample contracts on line. Even if your state says that they are not legally enforceable they do put all of your rules and fees on paper so that there are no misunderstandings. Good luck!

When I had a child care center I found out that a child care contract is really not enforceable. If it is not a legal document it holds no legal value. It really is a waste of time, actually more of a bluff on the providers part.

I will ask what her reasons are for being late.

If it's traffic, having to finish an assignment, anything reasonable then I would say you need to tell her to find another provider if you can't accommodate that.

If she is just going home or hanging out at a bar after work, something she is choosing, then tell her that she is being warned that you cannot keep her children after 5 pm and be done with it.

It comes down to your choices. Why can't you watch her kids that extra hour...why you are not able to keep them until 6. Most of the child care providers in my state are open until at least 5:30 and a lot are open until 6pm. Most home providers are open 24 hours a day.

It is her choice to even give her kids shots or no shots. It sounds like you just really don't want to watch her kids and that is okay too. My parents who chose to not vaccinate just had to fill out a paper saying they did not want to do them. I think you are over reacting.

If you are truly interested in providing child care in your home then call your local licensing agency and have them mail you the state regulations. It will help you decide if you really want to get the license and eventually a contract to provide services to children that receive child care assistance from the state. I had my center open for about 4 months before I got my contract with the state. Before that I only took private payment.

Most states let you watch some number of children unlicensed. A few say none that are not directly blood related to you, such as a sister's children... but most say at least a few, maybe 2-3 states say up to 6 unrelated children.

Hi Annie
Call Resources For Child Caring at ###-###-#### and ask for Teresa they also have a great web site at www.resourcesforchildcare.org. The companion site state wide is Child Care Resource and Referral, www.mnchildcare.org both websites are available. Unfortunately due to the state government shut down not all services are available at this time.

I agree with Nikki, most hours are 6-6. But you also need to consider the liability risk you are taking by having a "daycare" in your home. Most insurance companies don't allow this and could cancel you if they know you are doing it. But if you are going to do it, my daycare lady had in hers that if you are late, it's $10 per MINUTE that you are late and we KNEW that she meant it! You can't let these people walk all over you. And a lot of us don't get shots for our kids so if thats a concern for you, you may need to find other kids to watch. and if you know the mom gets off work at 4:30 and can easily be there by 5 then you can have those hours if you don't have any other parents. But really you should have done this from day one so it may be hard to get these parents to now do what you are asking. Good luck.