I was wondering how long should it normally take to find children to watch in a home daycare setting. I have been trying for months to be able to quit my full time job in order to be home with my daughter and watch children. I think that my home daycare will be nice and I would bring my child to it. I am getting a few emails but I don't hear back after that. I am charging the same rate as the two other day care providers in my subdivision. I want to know how to get people interested to at least come look at my home but I can't even get that far. I am really getting down because I have wanted to be home for over a year now and watching my child grow up before my eyes. I never get to spend a lot of time with her because of work. Plus her daycare provider won't be able to take her after Dec 3rd because she thought I was staying home for sure and found a replacement. Her contract says a three week written notice which is what I was going to give when I knew I was staying home. I love the provider my daughter is at so not only am I stressed about trying to stay home, I might have to find another provider for my daughter. Any advice?? Thanks
Yes I have ads on any website I can find. I also have my ad on craigslist, sittercity and care.com that I check on a regular basis. I don't have the prices listed because most daycare providers say not to list them. You should first get people interested so they can come see your home then show them the contract and tell them the prices. From there they can decide if they are interested. I have everything else listed that you asked about. thanks
When I did this two years ago, I put an ad in the local paper (Aurora). It was kind of pricy, but I got a lot of phone calls, and some didn't pan out to anything, but I filled my spots pretty quickly. I called about 10 other home daycare providers in the area and priced myself in the middle. Would the other two in your neighborhood be willing to pass on your name if they got calls but were full?
Make a website? Give your contact information, as well as information any mom who's seeking a daycare would covet. Rates, hours, what happens if the kids are sick, snacks and food, activities etc.
Have you posted on Craigslist? What about Facebook or putting an ad outside of a local market?
are you sure you are charging an average price? Call every home daycare in your part of the city to make sure. Don't compare yourself to the lowest or the highest, and don't price yourself at center prices.
It can take a LONG time to get clients. And even after you get clients, they can leave and then you will have to do it all over again. I was full for 3 years then lost all but 2 kids. It took me 7 mos to fill up again.
Think about what your program offers that makes it special. Talk up those points. Do you have experience? Do you make great nutritious meals? Do you teach them sign language? Come up with a list of those things and post them by the phone so you can talk them up.
try these sites
https://www.care.com/
http://www.4sitters.com/
http://www.daycarematch.com/default.asp
http://www.sitterland.com/
http://www.daycarebear.com/
http://www.daycarefinders.net/
http://www.findcarenow.com/
http://www.childcarehelp.com/index.html
http://www.childcare.net
http://www.mydaycaresearch.com/
http://www.caresquare.com/?gclid=CMuL6Z2kxZUCFQRgswodoFk-iQ
http://www.olx.com/
http://www.mamasource.com
http://www.babysitters4hire.com/
http://www.merchantcircle.com/corporate/
http://www.nationalchildcareconnection.com/index.htm
https://sittercafe.com/index.asp
http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a1068895/looking_f...
http://us.bajohn.com/index.php
http://www.mychildcareguide.com (this is a site that lists licensed providers)
http://www.familydaycaremarketing.com/free_day_care_listi...
http://www.mynewdaycare.com/
http://www.kindylist.com/
http://www.looking4daycare.com/
http://www.childcareratingz.com/index2.jsp
http://chicagochildcare.blogspot.com/2009/05/moms-trust-m...
You will probably see more children coming in around the holidays. That is one of the two times a year that most people switch daycares if they need to. I've been doing daycare for the past 10 years, with the last 6 being out of my home. It took me a good six months to get a couple of part timers when I started. I posted an add three time in the Aurora/Naperville papers. This last time I posted on sitter city and care.com, and really had no luck. If it is something that you really want to do, stick with it. The first year will be hard with the last of adult communication. If you decide that you need to provide another provide, please give me a call. I can help refer you to someone in your area if you are in/near the western sububurs. Everywhere from Bollingbrook, Naperville, Westmont, Aurora. There are other suburbs that I can help you with to get contact information.
I think that maybe listing the price would be a good idea. If you go to a standard daycare, you can call and get their rates. With this economy, I am sure money is a factor as well as a quality,safe daycare.
Hi! What about charging a little less than your other neighbor providers? Also, do some flyers and post them around the neighborhood or placing them at stores or in Mailboxes. Maybe even have some kind of catchy thing about yours, maybe like you only offer Organic foods or something that will set you apart from other providers. I know it is hard, but we mom's can do it!! Good Luck !!
