Interviews During Care Hours?

[LeslieG]

I'm just curious when you all prefer to initially meet with families. I usually prefer to meet after care hours only for safety reasons. I know I may be a bit paranoid, but if I've never met someone in person before, I feel a little nervous inviting them into my home while I have other children in care.

I currently have a family inquiring about setting up a meeting and would like to do it during the day. What are your thoughts on meeting during care hours?

[Heart12]

I'm just curious when you all prefer to initially meet with families. I usually prefer to meet after care hours only for safety reasons. I know I may be a bit paranoid, but if I've never met someone in person before, I feel a little nervous inviting them into my home while I have other children in care.

I currently have a family inquiring about setting up a meeting and would like to do it during the day. What are your thoughts on meeting during care hours?

I only take interviews after daycare hours. I get nervous about strangers coming to my home when I am alone with the kiddos. When I worked as an assistant at another home daycare, the provider would take interviews during daycare hours. I felt like it always took her attention away from the kids, & made them get very ansy (sp?)

[daycarediva]

I only take interviews after daycare hours. I get nervous about strangers coming to my home when I am alone with the kiddos. When I worked as an assistant at another home daycare, the provider would take interviews during daycare hours. I felt like it always took her attention away from the kids, & made them get very ansy (sp?)

Yup. I do allow parents to come for a few minutes for their child's first day and meet the kids. But that's it.

[DaveA]

I do interviews after daycare hours because I don't like splitting attention between interview and DCKs. Plu I want them to meet my wife since she's my primary sub.

[finsup]

I only do interviews after hours. Safety is part of it. I feel pretty confident defending myself but I would rather not be put in the position where it's just me with the kiddos. Also, I don't feel like we can really go over things in depth if my attention is divided. There are some pros to doing them during regular hours though. Personally however, there's not enough of them to make me switch.

If a family asks, I just say I cannot do interviews during daycare hours since it takes my time and attention away from the kiddos. But I would be happy to set up after hours or sometime on the weekend. If I had an assistant, I would probably be willing to do it though.

[laundrymom]

"I'm sorry mom and dad, but this world is t as safe as it was ten years ago. I conduct all initial interviews after hours. I'm sure you understand and appreciate the extra level of safety I provide the children in my care."

[Second Home]

I only do interviews after daycare hours . I tell interested parents that it is for the children's safety and I am sure they they would not feel comfortable with strangers coming into my home if their child was there . That usually works and most understand the ones that don't understand it's a safety issue don't schedule an interview .

[Play Care]

I do them during DC and I prefer it that way. I try to make it so that all DC work is done during the dc day, and this includes interviews. I arrange them when my assistant can be here so she takes care of the kiddos while I run the interview. I also let parents know that I *allow* 30 minutes for interviews as they can be disruptive. This way they know coming in that the clock is running.

[Baby Beluga]

I only do interviews after hours. I don't really care for doing it after hours (it makes my day longer) BUT I wouldn't be able to split my attention between DCK's and the family that is interviewing. Plus, DCK's are CRAZY when someone new is around.

I just say something like "For safety reasons I schedule all interviews after hours. I have an open slot on Tuesday at 5:30pm, Wednesday at 6:00pm or Thursday at 6:00pm." Please let me know which day and time works best for your family." And go from there.

[jenboo]

I do interviews only during daycare hours. I only offer them in the mornings between 9-10 and evenings between 4-530pm. These are my most calm times besides nap.

[Blackcat31]

I do interviews only during daycare hours. I only offer them in the mornings between 9-10 and evenings between 4-530pm. These are my most calm times besides nap.

I only do interviews during daycare hours as well.

I give the times I am willing to interview and the parents can choose what time works for them.

I have safety rules in play so that part isn't an issue for me but I refuse to devote my time outside of work to work.

[Meeko]

I put it more politely to those who ask...but get the message across that parents pay me to give my attention to their child...not to be chatting with visiting strangers.

I say that I am sure THEY wouldn't want an untold number of strangers gawking at THEIR kids during the day either. They always agree when they see it from my point of view.

[Magic]

I do interviews only in day care hours
one.. day long enough as is
but mainly so parents can see me interact with children , and I can see them interact with other children
and
so I can see all the children interact with each other
one of my last interviews the parent over stayed and in that time
the interviewing child almost took out an other child's eye about " 50 " times ...wow
if I had not seen this child with other children I might of taken on a child that turned out needed help beyond a day care providers help ..( I did get to see a follow up on this child else where ...licensing demanded he be removed from the day care ..

[Alwaysgreener]

I only do interviews after daycare hours . I tell interested parents that it is for the children's safety and I am sure they they would not feel comfortable with strangers coming into my home if their child was there . That usually works and most understand the ones that don't understand it's a safety issue don't schedule an interview .

I have said this plus my dh is gone on Monday nights, so I will not schedule one for then either.

[Lovisa]

Only after hours or on weekends here. My day is WAY too crazy to try and have a conversation, explain everything and answer any questions while all the kiddos are running around being loud, needing diaper changes, etc. I wouldn't be able to concentrate! Plus, like was mentioned above, the kids seem to act EXTRA crazy when someone is here. Safety is an issue as well. And I don't have an assistant or anyone else on my license so no one else to watch them while the interview is happening. I don't mind doing it during non open hours. I can concentrate on the conversation much easier