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1)
Conduct the interview in the off hours, either
the weekend or the evening when both parents and the
child(ren) can be present, and you have more time
to relax and prepare for the interview. After the
initial interview, suggest that the parents visit
your facility during the day when the children are
present to see how you operate and to allow their
child to get to know the other children. Encourage
them to visit a few times if necessary.
2) Have your family present for a portion of
the interview. This will allow you to see how well
the children interact, to see how the family interacts
with your child(ren), and to allow them to meet everyone
in your household who may be present when their child
is in your care.
3)
Have your materials nicely packaged in a presentation
folder and ready to give to the parents. Take time
to go over each form. This should include a copy of
your:
-
Business Card and Brochure/Flyer
- Welcome
Letter
- Parent
Handbook
- Policy
Manual
- Registration
Form
- Child
Development Form
- Permission
Slips
- Injury
Reports
- Food
Program Forms (if applicable)
- Daily
Infant Activity Sheet (if applicable)
- Medical
Information Form
-
Testimonials or letters from the parents and the
children are a nice touch.
- Any
other forms you use and need to go over with the
parents.
4) Have your training certificates, CPR certification,
license, membership registrations or other professional
documentation either displayed so the parents can
see them, or in a nice portfolio so you can go through
them with the parents. This helps validate your background
and experience.
5) Have your Interview Checklist available
so you can refer to it as you go through the interview.
This helps you check things off so you don't miss
any important information you want to parley to, or
gather from, the parents. It also helps you to take
notes during the interview, which you'll need as you
make your decision whether or not you can build a
quality working relationship with the family.
6)
Don't just sip tea and visit at the kitchen table.
Take the parents on a complete tour of your facility,
showing them every area of your home their child will
use. Try not to rush through the tour. Talk about
the activities you do with the children, how you arrange
for their naps, and so on. Encourage parents to ask
questions as you go along. When your done your tour,
take the parents back to the meeting area giving them
an opportunity to ask questions and take notes.
7)
Never sign a contract with the parents on the spot.
You both need time to reflect on the interview. Ask
yourself if you feel you can work with this family.
If the children seemed to get along. If the parents
were on time for their interview. If they winced at
your rates. If they seem to jump from one child care
facility to another. The answers to your questions
could be an indication of things to come. If the parents
wander from child care provider to child care provider,
they could be either hard to get along with or renege
on payment and therefore are constantly on the run.
Late for the interview could indicate a lack of respect
for you and could end up being how they treat your
relationship.
Instead,
encourage the parents to take your information packet
home and read through it. This gives them more time
to thoroughly examine the policies and to discuss
their feelings about the interview.
8)
Reserve your Child Care Contract until the parents
indicate they would like to use your services. Your
Parent Handbook/Policy Manual covers everything concerning
your policies and operations. This is enough to go
over for one night. When the parents come to sign
the contract, you can go over each clause in your
contract in detail, referring to the manual if need
by, and reinforcing the information the parents were
given.
9)
If you do decide this is a family you'd enjoy
working with, get your fees upfront, especially your
two week advance. Then make sure they are aware of
your two week trial period. This will give you enough
time to ensure the child will fit in with your group
and that the parents are easy to get along with. It
also gives both parties an opportunity to terminate
the care with no ill feelings or obligations.
10)
Do a background check on the family. If they have
used child care before, find out who they used and
get the phone number of the caregiver or facility.
If the parents can't give you the information during
the interview, ask them to call you the next day,
or offer to make the call yourself. Then follow up.
Call the previous daycare and ask why the parents
left, if there were any difficulties with the family
or the child that you should know about. Did they
pay on time? Did they pick their child up on time?
What was the previous caregiver's overall impression
of the family? Was she sad to see them go? The more
you know, the better you can feel about your decision
to say yes to the family if they decide to hire you,
or to turn them down if you just don't feel there
is a match. It's okay to say no.
Resources:
Forms
for your information packet and an interview Checklist
may be found in our new Online
Catalog. Click
here to learn more.
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