How To Screen Families For Your Daycare

Before we talk about how to screen families, If you’re new to my site, don’t forget to snag my FREE Interview Guide to hiring quality staff for your program before you leave!

Now for the info! As a child care provider, you may feel like parents have all the power when choosing the care for their child. But in reality, you have just as much power when it comes to choosing what families enroll in your child care program.

Remember that although you may have space available, you are not obligated to accept enrollment if it isn't in your best interest or if you don't feel like their values align with yours.

Have you ever facilitated a tour, and within 2 minutes, you knew that a child was a total nightmare?

Or that a parent would be a high-maintenance pain in the booty? You know the tour....the child threw themselves onto the floor, screaming at the top of their lungs, throwing every toy in sight, while the parent pulled out their 50-page questionnaire.

They proceeded to ask if all your food was organic and if you would check their child's diaper every hour on the hour but only change them if they are wet because they don't want to use more than five diapers per day. Oh, and they want to know your late pick-up policy because they rarely leave work on time and maybe late a few times per week.

 Well, If you’ve been in the child care business for more than a minute, I’m sure you have met this family! If you’re new to starting a daycare, you will meet this family! So, how do you tell a family NO instead of just praying that they don't choose you? And how do you know if a family is a right fit?

 First, you need to ask screening questions that may trigger a potential issue. Parents are usually the ones asking all the questions while the provider feels as if they are being interviewed and waiting for the parent's approval, however it is important that a provider has their own questions to ask.

 When you're screening families, here are the top 5 questions to ask:

1. Has your child attended daycare or a child care center in the past? If yes, what was your experience like? What did you like and dislike about that program?

2. Does your child have any allergies or dietary restrictions?

3. Does your child have medical conditions or special needs that we should know about?

4. Tell me about your child's behavior. Are there any issues we should be aware of?

5. What are your expectations from our program?

Download my free Family Screening Guide for a complete list of screening questions to ask and to access my Family Information Card to give during a tour.

 So once you know a family isn’t a good fit, how do you tell them? After the tour, simply say, "I appreciate you coming by to tour our facility. After learning more about your needs and desires, I don't feel that our center would be the best program for your family." Then give the reasons why, if you choose to.

If this is too confrontational and makes you feel sick to your stomach, try this softer turndown approach, "We have an application process to make sure that we are a good fit for you and that your family is a good fit for us. If you would like to move forward with the enrollment process, fill out and submit the application, and I will notify you via email if your application is approved. The registration fee will be due upon approval." You could also mention that you have several families interested and that you will need to be very selective due to availability (of course, don’t lie if this isn’t true). After 1-3 days, email them the news that your program will not be a good fit for their needs and that you will not be able to approve their enrollment at this time.

If a family is not right for your daycare or child care center, it's best to be up-front and honest with them. Telling them "no" can be difficult, but it's better than dealing with consistent stressful situations and walking on eggshells day in and out.

By the way, if you want to know how to give an amazing tour, click here

 And yes, I know that you may need the income, but please be selective. Trust me, the money isn’t worth the trouble a high-maintenance family or child brings.

Here are some other articles packed with valuable content you are sure to enjoy:

How To Deal With Parents Who Complain About Everything

5 Tips To Max Out Child Enrollment and Create A Massive Waiting List

How To Handle Challenging Behavior In Children

6 Must-Dos for Effective Staff Meetings

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