DCM Texted And Asked Last Night If Child Got Injury But I Didn't Notice

[CityGarden]

And yeah, only have 1 good family out of 4 it seems.... . Oh the joys of being new....

Trix23 it does seem you have your hands full with your current families, I suggest you really self-care this weekend and try to go into next week rested and centered. If you don't exercise start! I am not suggesting this to be snarky, I am serious! This job is hard and I just started back exercising after having not and it made my ability as a provider, teacher and business owner better. Also you are/were working very long days until 8pm some days if I recall correctly..... that is a very long and taxing day.

I too am a brand new provider, right now I have 5 families plus a family member I helped out for a bit - with the exception of doing business with family which was short-term to begin with, all of my families have been "good" families. Maybe start a thread to brainstorm either 1) your enrollment process and offerings to attract quality families and 2) your policies and procedures which will allow for some dialogue in advance to avoid "issues" prior to them taking place.

I think part of the reason I have quality families is that I found this board prior to opening and have been very purposeful with each step. I also feel my offerings, cost and handbook have helped set the tone as well and when I am caught off guard (and need to come here for guidance) I have gotten better at saying "let me think about that and get back to you" then coming here for input or having a quiet moment to reflect prior to responding.

[trix23]

I've been reading this forum for about 2 years and I just opened about six months ago so my handbook and policies and everything is pretty clear on what's okay and what's not but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong that families that have all these issues like my program. I do have a screening process it's a little more strict now than it used to be but ask things like discipline at home, what hours and days are needed, try to get a feel for their personality, asked what types of food they cook at home and that kind of thing. I think the fact that I'm new I'm just not getting enough exposure and family seem to think that because I'm a home care provider and not a center that they can have their way. If I were to send you my handbook you would agree that there's no problem with my policies and procedures and I even go over it with families and reiterate policies if they're broken and tell them to reference my handbook which is also available on my website for them to download or look at at any time and I have emailed it to all my clients as well. So I'm not really sure at this point what else I can do other than put families on probation and tell them to read the handbook and sign it and give it back to me as proof of them having read it

[CityGarden]

I hope you know I am not trying to attack you.... I just feel for you and don't want to see you burn out! So if your policies are tight and you feel your screening process is also solid maybe it is where or how you are marketing..... or something in your offerings. In example sometimes specializing your offerings can improve you quality of clients.

A couple examples:

One provider here only takes 4 children all 0-3 she (in CA we can only have 4 children 0-2 anyway) but she markets this and markets herself as AP friendly. She is ALWAYS full, ALWAYS in demand and she has some of the most solid job security I know. She likes AP so it works for her and she likes the families because they have similar values to hers. She also charges some of the highest rates in my area and I have met and like several of her families.

Another provider only takes children 3-5 years and potty trained. Her hours and vacation schedule are not working parent friendly but she has a preschool program with lots of offerings in an intimate setting with some of the lowest teacher to child ratios. Her enrollment is harder to fill due to being in direct competition with large preschools but she is solid and making a solid living. She is about 1-1.5 hours away from me but I am modeling much of my program after her successful in-home program.

What is your niche?

I see you commented on this thread but maybe something in there will inspire a way to attract new, better quality clients:

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86238&highlight=niche

And this one on her niche:

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70908&highlight=niche

I am just brainstorming out loud. My niche and rates seem to attract similar moms - who for the most part I like!

[trix23]

I know you're not attacking me

I'm just at a loss of what to do because my methods and screening process aren't working. Although now I have prospective clients fill out a Questionnaire on my website and then pay $25. Then we do a phone interview. If I like their answers and ways, I tour them. Did all that with aa lady yesterday and today (She's the first one for this whole process) and she's starting her baby next week!

[trix23]

My niche is that I only take 0-4 year olds and am a holistic program. Homemade meals and snacks, some organic stuff, attachment parenting, positive discipline, cloth diaper and breastfeeding friendly, serve vegetarian 3 whole days/week, serve minimal amounts of kid food, have a mixed age group, send pictures to parents throughout the day, and include everyone in outside and art activities.

[childcaremom]

I've been reading this forum for about 2 years and I just opened about six months ago so my handbook and policies and everything is pretty clear on what's okay and what's not but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong that families that have all these issues like my program. I do have a screening process it's a little more strict now than it used to be but ask things like discipline at home, what hours and days are needed, try to get a feel for their personality, asked what types of food they cook at home and that kind of thing. I think the fact that I'm new I'm just not getting enough exposure and family seem to think that because I'm a home care provider and not a center that they can have their way. If I were to send you my handbook you would agree that there's no problem with my policies and procedures and I even go over it with families and reiterate policies if they're broken and tell them to reference my handbook which is also available on my website for them to download or look at at any time and I have emailed it to all my clients as well. So I'm not really sure at this point what else I can do other than put families on probation and tell them to read the handbook and sign it and give it back to me as proof of them having read it

:hug:
This was the hardest part of the business for me. Finding the families who will respect me and my program. I tweaked and tweaked before I found my zone.

The best thing for me was to interview a lot. So even when I didn't have openings, I would interview for potential openings. It helped me learn to pick out red flags.

I would classify this as growing pains. I think it's normal. (maybe not but it's how it was for me ) For example, the family from the nanny: I weed those families out during initial emails and no longer enroll them. Why? I have learned that the parents need as much, if not more, training, than the children do. Same with families from centres. Won't even interview them anymore. I only know this from experience. I had a few bad experiences with families from centres. Came to recognize that the differences between a centre and my program is too different (loose drop off times, loose illness policy, waaaay different behavioural expectations, etc etc). I think we all have our bad experiences with certain issues that shape our decisions about families we will work with in the future.

I replaced ALL of my first families within the first year. I've had some doozies since. I got much better at screening but still not perfect. It will come with time. You will learn to pick out the demanding parents, the hands off parents, the ones who will have a hard time hearing no, the ones who will not be comfortable with the care you are providing no matter what. It will come!

I get it. It's frustrating. It's annoying that parents can be this.much.work. How hard is it to follow policies that you agreed to follow? I can't tell you how many times I thought this over the years.

In the meantime, this is a wonderful opportunity to perfect your backbone and learn how to enforce your policies professionally and effectively. It stinks when your families are ALL given you a run at the same time but keep advertising, keep interviewing and you WILL get there.
:hug: :hug: lovethis lovethis

[trix23]

I was communicating with them by email too but how did you weed them out over email? What kind of things are red flags for you? Or things that make you decide it's a "no"? I'm not good at screening people. :/

[childcaremom]

I was communicating with them by email too but how did you weed them out over email? What kind of things are red flags for you? Or things that make you decide it's a "no"? I'm not good at screening people. :/

I think this really depends on what your sticking points are. Maybe not.

I always ask email inquiries what hours they require care for (I did contracted hours, not open to close), when they need care to start (our mat leave is 12 months and most families start looking 2-3 months in advance. If they need it right away I'm curious as to why.... did they get kicked out of another daycare, didn't like the care they had lined up, moved, etc), if their child has been in care before (if the child is young and they are switching care I want to know why: were they termed, did they leave because they weren't happy with care, move, not a good fit, etc etc), and if their child has any allergies or health concerns (not sure if that's legal for you but I always ask because I'm a nut friendly house and we also have cats and I am legally unlicensed).

Depending on their responses, I may choose not to interview. Immediate no's are coming from a centre or nanny or grandparents (again this is due to my own negative experiences and is not always the case but I'm too old and jaded now ). Another immediate no is allergy to nuts and/or cats. If they do have allergies I address that right away: supply own foods, etc. If it's an older child I will ask if the child still naps. If not, I do not bother interviewing as I don't accept children who do not nap. I will also ask if they have back up. If they don't, I won't interview. I require all of my families to have back up so that if I needed a day off, I could take one easily.

Red flag for me: Someone who emails and wants to know my rate. No other questions.

Generally, I will interview people if they don't meet the criteria for immediate nos. Then during my interview I go over my policies but I ask a lot of questions. I have parents bring their child(ren) so I can meet everyone. We do a tour, I go over policies and I ask a lot of questions. They take 60-90 minutes and I like to schedule a bunch in one day (I usually interviewed on weekends). I take notes and write down answers to their questions so I can review afterwards. My questions and concerns vary depending on the age of the enrolling child. I had a lot of issues with naps so always asked a lot of questions around sleep, for example.

I think that the best way to think of it is that there is a learning curve for this, like anything else. You will start to notice the 'tells' that give things away for things that are issues for you and learn how to ask the right questions. For instance, naps were always a huge issue for me. I asked tons of questions. Describe your nap routine. What sorts of props does your child use in the crib? How does your child wake up (eg: happy and will chat until rest is over OR scream and cry)? What time does your child go to bed at night? What time do they wake up? What is your bedtime routine? Where does your child sleep at night? I go over what the routine is here. Watch for their response to that. Etc. etc.

[trix23]

I'm learning about why not to take people that have had a nanny, but why grandparents and centers?

[childcaremom]

I'm learning about why not to take people that have had a nanny, but why grandparents and centers?

It's based on my experiences. And they jaded me. I could go on and on (and on and on) about the issues I've had but it doesn't mean that they will happen to you, kwim? These situations certainly jaded me (and burned me right out) but you might not even experience the same ones. You could sign all of your families from centres and have them be the best families in the world and wonder what in the world I was talking about.

You learn as you go. I had sticking points. No sick kids. No late pick ups. Back up care plan is a must. Nap times are non negotiable and must be independent sleepers. I made sure to discuss these issues in depth during interviews and ask parents lots of questions. So it's not enough to say yes, you have a back up plan. Tell me what it is. Who is watching your child? What happens if your child wakes up sick? What happens if child gets sick while here? What if I need to close unexpectedly? Etc. Etc.

Thank the nanny family. They are teaching you what you need to know when you are faced with the next family coming from a nanny. You will go over your policies clearly and make sure that they understand what group care is. You will tell them that you will not be able to accomodate special requests such as dietary changes and late drop offs for breakfast. You will be able to say it professionally and with a smile and feel confident if you decide to sign on that family. And feel confident to address each issue as they come up.

Thank the early dropping off family. Now you know to address that issue in your policy book and during interviews.

I think the best advice I could give you is to interview and interview and interview. Try new techniques. Throw in some new questions. Take notes and review them later. What worked? What new info did you get from parents? Etc etc. Then look at your experiences: what issues are you continuously running into from parents? How can you prevent that from happening? What questions can you ask to clarify the situation?

The bonus of interviewing a lot is that you have a waitlist to build up, as well, and have already pre-screened potential families. So if you do run into issues and determine a family is no longer a good fit, then you can go to your waitlist.

[trix23]

Today the dck fell again in the kitchen and hit the back of his head. I filled out an incident report and made a copy of it after DCD signed it. He then said, "a lot of boo boos". I've sent home 2-3 incident reports in the 4 weeks he's been here so I don't consider that a lot.... But I'm honest and forthright about injuries, something most providers don't do.

In a situation like that, what should you say? I said, "Yeah, kids 0-3 get boo boos. It's part of being kids."

Do they think I'm beating or abusing him or something? I mean.... I don't even know what that comment means it's so odd...

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Today the dck fell again in the kitchen and hit the back of his head. I filled out an incident report and made a copy of it after DCD signed it. He then said, "a lot of boo boos". I've sent home 2-3 incident reports in the 4 weeks he's been here so I don't consider that a lot.... But I'm honest and forthright about injuries, something most providers don't do.

In a situation like that, what should you say? I said, "Yeah, kids 0-3 get boo boos. It's part of being kids."

Do they think I'm beating or abusing him or something? I mean.... I don't even know what that comment means it's so odd...

That is a lot of boo boo reports for a new child, at least compared to what I send home. But, some months are like that for one particular child. My younger ones (2's) get sent home with more boo boo reports than my older ones (4's/5's). But, now I've begun ONLY writing a boo boo report for things that bleed. If it's just a bonk or something I will take a photo of the red mark (or lack of a red mark) and type up a simply note like, "Johnny ran a few feet, fell, and bonked his noggin on a toy. All is well. Ice was applied and there's no visible mark. Kids are so tough!"

If I'm sending home more than 2 paper copies of incident reports within a short amount of time then I will say something like, "So SAD that he keeps finding ways to get a boo boo! He's had more boo boo's than all of my other kids combined this month! 2's are just SO BUSY! "

[daycarediva]

I just want to say that just because a child questions an injury does not mean they are a liability to your daycare.

I always let daycare know if my toddler son was injured at home if he has a visible mark and I expect them also inform me if he was hurt at daycare.

The other day on our way to the car I noticed my 5 year old had huge claw marks on his face (broke the skin, very little blood). He can talk so he told me that another student clawed his face, the teacher didn't know it had happened.

Last week, I got my toddler home and into the bath, he had clearly been bitten by another child on the back (the mark is still there over a week later). No injury report either, the teacher said he "didn't cry" --which, I'm sorry, I know my child and he cries very hard when he gets hurt or when he gets his feelings hurt.

And while I realize stuff happens and kids bite and get bit and kids get hurt sometimes, I will always bring it to the attention of his teacher when my kids get hurt and a staff member didn't know it occurred. It doesn't mean I am a liability, it means I care that the children are being properly supervised.

Honestly, it sounds like there IS a supervision issue.

That is a lot of boo boo reports for a new child, at least compared to what I send home. But, some months are like that for one particular child. My younger ones (2's) get sent home with more boo boo reports than my older ones (4's/5's). But, now I've begun ONLY writing a boo boo report for things that bleed. If it's just a bonk or something I will take a photo of the red mark (or lack of a red mark) and type up a simply note like, "Johnny ran a few feet, fell, and bonked his noggin on a toy. All is well. Ice was applied and there's no visible mark. Kids are so tough!"

If I'm sending home more than 2 paper copies of incident reports within a short amount of time then I will say something like, "So SAD that he keeps finding ways to get a boo boo! He's had more boo boo's than all of my other kids combined this month! 2's are just SO BUSY! "

Same here. I use brightwheel and snap a pic, add it to an 'incident report' my boo boo sheets are for blood only.

[Ariana]

My niche is that I only take 0-4 year olds and am a holistic program. Homemade meals and snacks, some organic stuff, attachment parenting, positive discipline, cloth diaper and breastfeeding friendly, serve vegetarian 3 whole days/week, serve minimal amounts of kid food, have a mixed age group, send pictures to parents throughout the day, and include everyone in outside and art activities.

This might be your issue. I got a lot of crazy when I billed myself as "holistic". Now I do not advertise that way at all. The holistic doesn't come into play until the child is enrolled. Granola type families are extremely entitled people.

[Ariana]

Today the dck fell again in the kitchen and hit the back of his head. I filled out an incident report and made a copy of it after DCD signed it. He then said, "a lot of boo boos". I've sent home 2-3 incident reports in the 4 weeks he's been here so I don't consider that a lot.... But I'm honest and forthright about injuries, something most providers don't do.

In a situation like that, what should you say? I said, "Yeah, kids 0-3 get boo boos. It's part of being kids."

Do they think I'm beating or abusing him or something? I mean.... I don't even know what that comment means it's so odd...

How did he fall? I am definitely not accusing you of anything!
Might be time to review your supervision, for example kids are not allowed to be walking around in my kitchen. The only place they are allowed to be free is in the play room or outside.