Daycare Phone Interview-
Can give you a lot of information about a child/children and their family. Initially when I receive a referral I start with a brief questionnaire over the phone. From here I set up an in person interview to help me gain a better understanding of the child and their needs as well as the family. I invite the parents to meet me, tour my daycare, and discuss their child/children more thoroughly. This information helps me determine if the child/children (family) will be a good fit for my daycare.
My main questions are date of birth, will the child need a special diet or are there any food allergies. Does the child have speech or learning needs. This helps me determine if I can help the child or if I have the ability to care for the child. Family values are very important to me- can we work together to help raise their child/children.
I suggest having questions ready ahead of time so that you will be prepared when someone calls or you have an opening in your daycare.
Daycare Visit Interview-
I show the family my daycare and give them my policy. The policy goes through the expectations I have for them and what I'm willing to provide for their child/children. This gives us time to discuss the policy or any questions they may have. I always give the parents a contact date to let them know my decision or have them give me a decision once they know.
Be honest with parents. If you know it’s not a good fit for your daycare let them know you will contact them in a couple days. You do not have to take every child you have an interview with. The decision in the end is yours and yours alone. I suggest you consider that you will have to work closely with this family for the next four years. I know in my earlier years, when I first opened, I thought I had to fill the opening right away. Please understand you need to do what's best for you and the other children in your care.
Explain what you offer in your daycare, your schedule, and what may be different about your daycare. For example in my daycare, learning is centered around creative play which encourages a child how to learn while they play. Teaching children colors, shapes and counting while playing. I love to see children in my care learn words to songs and see them learn from other children.
Continue to love taking care of children and watching them learn. Your daycare needs to change with the need in your community.
If you decide to advertise on social media or with a flyer, keep in mind the current children in your care need to be your first priority when adding additional children to your daycare. I love to get referrals from my families that I already have in my daycare, they are the best advertisement!
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.-Proverbs 22:6
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