Question

Anyone else still pay for daycare during this time, even if your child doesn't go? My husband and I are in disagreement over this right now. I want to pay some, he doesn't.  

Answer 1

Absolutely paying my in home daycare!  

Answer 2

I ran an in home daycare for 5 years and can’t even imagine what I would be doing right now if I was still running it. I would be so screwed. I think if you can afford it right now- I would definitely pay some if it’s feasible.  

Comments

@karleen agree. Especially if a home daycare. We aren’t getting unemployment or any Benefits. Except a loan which we will have to pay back.  

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@karleen I though self-employed were now available for unemployment

Answer 3

We are, only because the daycare is making us in order to hold our spot (1 week)

Answer 4

The daycares I know have furloughed their employees so there’s no one on payroll. Check what yours did.  

Comments

@coulometer I work for one and they are still paying us while we are home. So not all have done so.  

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I work for one too. We are actually working from home. We do lesson planning, online trainings and I email my parents every few days to check in on them. I’m also doing a drive by hello tomorrow to see them. Starting next week we’re doing virtual zoom lessons

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@coulometer not all are doing that. I work for one and am still working. I know our company is not charging a penny for daycare during this time while parents keep the child home. And our corporate offices are helping to arrange for unemployment. In times like these, I’m thankful I work for a large company.  

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I have hours of online training  but it would have taken way longer to get done if things were “normal” at least now, when we go back that’s outta the way

Answer 5

Our (in home daycare) asked that we pay half

Comments

Ours asked for half as well.  

Answer 6

We pay 50%. It’s to ensure that the teachers still get paid. If this wasn’t done then teacher might be forced to find another job. If teachers leave, the daycare wouldn’t be able to teach the kids when they reopened. Especially if this quarantine doesn’t effect your finances they are already allocated towards daycare. Our daycare is high demand with a waiting list. We would lose our spot in the classroom if we stopped payment.  

Answer 7

We suspended our account. Paid 1 extra weeks worth and have to pay registration fee when sign back up. The daycare is closed and employees not getting paid. We did hire 2 of the teachers to watch our 3 while we work though!  

Answer 8

My daughter goes to an in home daycare and we have to pay 60%.  

Answer 9

My son’s preschool has stopped our monthly payments, and anything we paid up front for we will be credited. It’s a no for me

Answer 10

My son daycare stopped our payment since my son is not going until he is back

Answer 11

Ours is not making us pay, but if they were having us pay the 50% they originally mentioned, I was going to disenroll my son for the time being.  

Answer 12

Imo you should pay a little if you are working from home. dont forget they have bills as well.  

Answer 13

Ours is not having us pay but we donated some.  

Answer 14

We dont pay, they suspended the fee

Answer 15

Ours told us not to pay it’s a center though not in home

Answer 16

@touraco me and hubby disagree too, we are still paying 50% and my rationale is=if we can afford to, let’s continue to pay. They said they will likely reduce the fee if they qualify for a grant (which my guess is they will). I’m ok doing a little to help keep them afloat.  

Answer 17

Our center is not charging. I think it probably depends if it is a center or in home day care. Centers are likely receiving the small business bailout from the govt to float them through this and have also probably furloughed their employees so they can receive unemployment until the stay at home order is lifted. In my view, if they are not getting benefits to keep them a float and make sure employees are getting paid I would be willing to continue paying but if they are receiving benefits and employees are still being paid it’s not fair to ask people to keep paying for a service they can’t use.  

Answer 18

If I was voluntarily keeping my child home, I would pay some even if they didn’t require. We now don’t have a choice, so we are not paying. If you have the means to pay, and it is someone who the income makes a difference to, I would do what you can. It’s a hard time for everyone now.  

Answer 19

I struggle with this, too. If things were reversed (we fell on hard times and the daycare was doing fine), would they chip in to help us out? Don't get me wrong, I want the centers to stay open and teachers to keep getting paid. I just have mixed feelings because I bet if we ever missed a few tuition payments they wouldn't be cutting profits to help.  

Comments

@omura I would and I have lowered my rates and never ever regretted it.  

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@reaction you're awesome! I know our old daycare constantly had memos posted everywhere that services would be immediately discontinued if payments were late. They also posted notes to familes that were past-due on the doors - folded up for "confidentiality" but we all knew they were billing notices  

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Jessica, a few years back a young couple came for a meet & greet. Both had grown up in foster care. She was in school, working part time. I gave them my sibling rate and never charged them overtime. She finished school, soon got a nice job. I was heartbroken and delighted when just over a year later, they gave me tearful notice. They had bought a house! I was out of their commute radius. They send a Christmas card and a picture every year.  

Answer 20

That’s rough!  

Answer 21

On April 1, it was 37 years since I opened my state licensed child care home. Through the years I have lowered my rates for many families going through hard times. Reduced rates so young couples could afford me without subsidies. I am now closed, I don’t know for how long. My small circle of kids’ parents are voluntarily paying me a portion of their weekly rate! I am so blessed. So moved. As soon as this is over, I promise I will shop ever more at small shops, non chain restaurants etc.  

Answer 22

We can’t afford to pay for it right now so I had to pull my 4yo and luckily his day care was lenient with their 30 day notice policy. But if we could still afford it and we’d still be paying full price per their policy

Answer 23

I am still paying. it’s a private in home situation and she relies on the income.  

Answer 24

I do daycare in my home and I’m not getting paid anything right now, it stinks. I closed for 2 weeks and will reopen Monday, but I will only have 2 kids coming back for only 2 days a week. So much income lost.  

Answer 25

I recognize your son in your profile picture, I think we might go to the same daycare . I’m ok with paying the reduced rate because I want my sons’ teachers to still get paid. They’re amazing & I want them to still be there when we can go back. They’re also doing what they can to give us fun things to do with our kids, created by them, while they’re closed. I don’t want us to lose our spots either, finding an amazing daycare I trust is huge and I don’t want to lose that. I also think that if the roles were reversed, the owner of this particular daycare would help us work something out in regards to tuition.  

Answer 26

I have a home daycare, I have been paying in full and plan to as long as we can

Answer 27

If I’m getting paid, then I pay my nanny. It’s the right thing to do.  

Answer 28

I’m not getting paid, but I just sent a check for two weeks pay to our babysitter. I know she really needs it now.  

Answer 29

Ours is not collecting tuition but set up a donation page for families to contribute to if they choose. The donates will be split between the staff as they are not being paid when the center is not open. We have decided since our family is lucky enough to continue to have two incomes at this point we will donate because we love our center and staff.  

Answer 30

Right now we are still getting paid so yes, we will keep paying. It’s a home daycare and I 100% know if we fell on hard times she’d work with us on payment.  

Answer 31

I think if it's a major corporate place, then no. If it's a smaller center, then as long as you're getting paid I would say you should pay something.  

Answer 32

I would unenroll personally if the child isn’t going.  

Comments

@ufo527 I am keeping all the files open. Nobody has unenrolled, and they are welcome back when they go back to working outside their homes and I reopen. Soon, I hope. Day care homes were the last thing Pritzker shut down.  

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I meant as a parent, I would unenroll if I wasn’t sending my child. I know it’s a double edge sword but if A parent is no longer working as a result there’s no need to send bc 1) it’s expensive and 2) they’re home to care for their child. It’s such a crappy time for everyone. Like I want to wake up and hope it was all just a bad dream.  

Answer 33

We are paying our nanny. because we dont want to lose her. I work in an essential business but hubby is home.  

Answer 34

Sadly, some of my parents have lost their jobs. Once Pritzker let’s me reopen, my families will have a year to come back! We are a team.  

Answer 35

We are paying half!  

Answer 36

We pay full price. This is our sitters only income and she watches all teacher’s kids

Answer 37

The center I work at are not charging parents

Answer 38

I am paying my preschool teacher and our skating coach both have continued to provide services via zoom. They have lost their income but my husband and I still have ours we are doing what we can.  

Answer 39

I think if you have paid for the past three weeks you have been very generous but if it goes on until May they will understand about not paying anymore.  

Answer 40

Thanks everyone for your input. I do want to continuing to support my son's daycare despite all this and him being home. It's sch a wonderful place for my son.  

Answer 41

If I’m getting paid 100%, my home daycare provider is getting paid 100%.  

Answer 42

I think paying a lower amount is fair- I agree they aren't getting paid so they need something, but people also aren't spending as much money right now. When they reopen- maybe send the employees a catered lunch (that's one thing we plan to do- stole the idea because an order has already been placed at our restaurant :) ). For those that haven't been impacted financially- consider donating meals to hospital workers. We've been doing so many deliveries and I can say Good Sam needs it! They have 1900 employees and up until yesterday we're the only ones bringing them food :( There are so many causes that are supporting this to various hospitals- many aren't allowing staff to bring in food for safety. It's obviously important they stay nourished. Sorry- I know that's not what this was about but I feel so strongly based on what I've seen while doing deliveries