Low ratio daycare

[Ottawaroses]

I have reopened my daycare and I am advertising it as a low ratio daycare. I want to care for two toddlers only. When I did daycare before I had toddlers and B/A kids. I advertise as low ratio but when the parents come to interview they seem put off by the fact that I am only intending to care for so few children. I have a daughter but she is in college so I don't have young children of my own. I have been a nanny for the past 5 years and I like the idea of giving lots of attention and care to one or two children.
Do you think there is a need for low ratio or will I have to adjust and try and take in up to 5 children (if I can even fill that many spots with the new Bill).

[Lee-Bee]

I think you need to specify what low ratio is in your ads. A LOT of home daycares use this as a selling feature...but they mean the full 5 kids. So in your advertising title put 1:2 or 1:3 as your ratio so you only find the families that want this.

It may or may not be a selling feature for families. Some love it...most want closer to 5 kids so they are in a more social setting. It will likely take more time to fill the spots but save yourself the time of having them arrive for an interview thinking you'll have 5 kids.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Maybe regional prejudice?

Lot SAHM here say "low ratio" because they think it mean not real dayhome and cash, no receipt. Here, low ratio is connected to babysitter so parent expect cheap.

Could also be concern that if only three children, if one or two leave, their child not have any friend to play with?

[5 Little Monkeys]

I think given time, you will find the right families. I find lots of parents choose hdc due to low ratio (here it's only 4 for private) and they want that smaller, family like setting for their child. Some parents choose hdc due to shortage of centre spots so low ratio won't make a difference to them. During interviews, you could ask why they chose to look at hdc's and given their answer you should be able to tell if they're in it for the long haul or if they're just using you until a centre spot cones available

[babydom]

A lot of families will love the low ratio. It's like getting the one on one like with a nanny but for a home daycare price. In your ad when u say low ratio clarify why. My home daycare focuses on low ratio, never more then two or three children. That way there is more love and attention to the children, etc. something like that

[Ottawaroses]

Thanks. I know of another 2 home daycares that only care for 2 children each, but they live in a section of Ottawa where there is a higher demand for care. When I did daycare before, as previously stated, I had all ages. My last year though I took care of 3 toddlers only and families seemed to be OK with it but I find this time around the daycare environment seems to have changed, Bill 10, $15.00 daycare, parents seems to want more.

[Ottawaroses]

Thanks. Parents are willing to pay $16.00 hour to have someone watch their one child in their home(no housework involved) as long as you take the child to playgroups, etc. for socialization. Of course the trade-off for the parent is the child stays in their home environment. I guess that individual attention is what I was aiming for in my daycare. It would probably help if I had younger children of my own as the parents would see that as at least there is someone to be with their child.

[babydom]

U just have to find the right families that will love the low ratio care. Right now I have four sometimes five three days a wk and always just two on Thursdays and Fridays. My parents love it that those two babies get more of my attention when the other three aren't around but they also love that some days the other kids are there to play with. Make sure u do social activities too like playgroups and play dates with other low ratio daycares. Parents will love it. Good luck :).

[Ottawaroses]

There is a playgroup that I can attend 3 mornings a week as well as library storytime one morning a week. The local park is popular with home daycares too. I plan to get out of the home as much as possible.

[Van]

That's the kind of thing that the parents would love to hear or see in your ad,and they come flocking to your door and also that you have LOTS of experience - don't worry it takes time to get the first few children but it will happen :)

[playfelt]

I would probably not advertise the low ratio part and just interview till you are comfortable. I have heard from people that had the opposite issue of advertising as low ratio and then when they went to fill the third and what parents thought was final spot she got the chance to take a family of 2 and took them so suddenly went from 2 to 4. She explained her business her choice but since she advertised as low ratio it somewhat committed her to upholding her end of the bargain. A lot of parents fear that rates will go up if there are too few and that is what is now happening as the new rules limit how many children parents can care for. So a parent of 2 taking in only 2 more would in the past be considered low ratio so you having none of your own at home and taking just 4 would have been too. The term doesn't really have a meaning these days and for that reason I would not worry about putting that in the ads and just fill spots till you are satisfied.