Has anyone broken up with their daycare provider? DD has been at the same place since 5 months and it was great in the baby rooms. Now in preschool, we're less than thrilled. There's nothing concrete that's wrong, just feeling eh about it. We have always had a positive relationship with the directors, and we're in a small close knit town so it makes it a little more difficult. There's an opportunity at another (similarly priced, similar distance) center that offers food, extra-curriculars, and more outside play time for the same price. We think it's best to move her, but are worried about leaving the current, trusted center. If you broke up with your daycare for no "real" reason, what did you do and how did you do it?
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We didn't give a reason when we moved our son, we just gave notice in the time frame required by our contract stating "DS's last day will be xx/xx. Thank you for the care you have given him in the past year." and left it at that.
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@SwanSong: you are so much tougher than me! i'm so anxious over the conversation. i'm sure it'll be fine, but i worry about the care after giving notice. did you notice anything different?
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We haven't done this yet - but we will be soon.
For the last 1-1.5 years I have been increasingly frustrated with our DC center. The only thing that has kept me there is 1) I have absolutely love for the newborn room and wanted DD2 there and 2) the rest of the teachers we still love.
Its nothing major, just a bunch of smaller things adding up to moving DD2 when DD1 goes to Kindergarten in the fall.
I have been making comments and speaking up more than I have in the past (for fear of rocking the boat). I plan to detail a long letter to the Director when we leave and give her my honest opinion of the transition I have seen the center take in the 4 years we have been there. I have also been (as I said) making comments as I see things, so that nothing comes as a shock.
When I send the letter I will be asking for the area directors contact information too so I can CC her.
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@Balletbee: I didn't notice a difference in care, if I had, I would pulled him immediately. I got anxious about telling them but it wasn't a big deal, I just kept reminding myself he likely wasn't the first to change daycares and he wont be the last.
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Those are real reasons, and I wouldn't hesitate for one second to tell them to the director as reasons for moving on.
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@Balletbee: We pretty much said it wasn't the right fit for us and his last day would be such and such. You had to pay for two weeks even if leaving so they offered the care for those two weeks and we were NAH! Thanks! lol You gotta do what's best for your family!
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The daycare isn't going to retaliate by giving your son substandard care after you give notice. They're a business, one that thrives on trust, and doing something like that means bad reviews and bad rumors that they're not interested in. I would just give notice and say thank you for the years of care. If they ask, you can just say you found a better fit.
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If it's making you anxious, try focusing on how incredibly common this is. They have this happen ALLL the time. You're not going to break their hearts.
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I'm giving our DC notice on Friday that this is my daughter's last month after over two years there so I understand being nervous! We aren't particularly unhappy but we have been on a waiting list since I was pregnant for a daycare that will be a better fit so we're moving. It's been the plan all along unbeknownst to them!
It sounds like it would be a good move in your situation. I'm just going to let them know on Friday in person with a letter spelling out her last day and thanking her teachers. We've been really happy with the teachers actually, it's just the directors of our daycare don't really seem to do anything and are not good about communication at all. I'm not going to bother to say anything about that though! I think you should do what makes you the most comfortable and if it's giving as little info as possible that is fine.
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This is really common and happens a lot. And honestly, care providers do the work because they love children- they'd have to be sociopaths to mistreat a child because he was leaving soon.
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Offering much more value and enrichment for a similar price is a very real reason!
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Thank you all so much! Just what I needed to hear!
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Our old home care provider did have a little attitude when we told her we were leaving. She immediately assumed we were going to another home care place and was a bit snippy. There had been a couple issues leading up that annoyed me but same as pp's we had a spot open at a centre and we were moving. He was there 1 month after we gave notice and she did stop commenting as much on how his day was (saying 'good day' instead of details) but I would have pulled him if I thought there was a decrease in care. I would just keep it straightforward in your case.
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We did exactly this. We didn't have a good reason except that we found somewhere that was a better fit for our son. I just emailed that his last day would be xyz and then when the director asked in person I just explained that it was a bigger center, more playspace, etc. It was a little awkward but it's all good now - my younger son actually goes there now!
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I think you can just say that most of childcare is really about fit and feel, and while you felt the current center was a really good for your child as an infant, you have found another center that is a better fit for your child at his current age/stage. The end.
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Thank you guys so much. It’s hard to differentiate between business and emotions when dealing with your kids- but I know it’s the right move for her. Thanks again for the words of advice!
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@Balletbee: you’ve already received great replies, but I just wanted to add that we went through the same dilemma last year & it ended up being a total non-event. The centre director was super pragmatic and didn’t even address the sad factor
that did just prove my point in that there was no love lost, and the warmth in the new classroom was lacking. No regrets and I just remind myself they see this all the time!!
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We had the same problem. Infant and 2 room was great but when he moved to preschool room the teacher was not a good fit and clearly burned out. There was no other teacher option for him there so we told the director in October that he would be changing schools in January. Didn't want to move him before the holidays. At first she pushed back and questioned our decision but I politely kept saying "it's not a good fit for him here" instead of "your teacher is a jerk who is mean to my kid". That teacher resigned a few months after we moved so clearly I was on to something.
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