What is reasonable to "give" to your daycare, on top of tuition?

[justKate]

I just need a reality check, I guess. DD is 18 months old, and I feel like her daycare is (sort of rudely) trying to squeeze extra money out of me all of the time.

I pay her tuition monthly, plus a $75/year "registration fee" which I suppose is to cover supplies/materials.
Before each semester (August and January), each child is asked to bring two boxes of tissues, two pull-over bibs, and two disposable cameras for their class.
Parents are asked to sign up to plan/help with two class holiday parties each year, with an expected donation of $15 per party that you plan.
A photographer comes twice each year and takes photos of the kids that they try to get you to buy. The first year I didn't even know my daugher had photos taken (she was 7 months old...didn't think of it).

Is this normal? I mean, I have no problem contributing if there is something that the school needs and can't afford, but it seems like donating tissues and bibs is sorta their responsibility. And I'm really not interested in planning holiday parties for an entire daycare of kids, when my kid has no idea what's going on. This is a licensed, for profit, daycare center. Yes its small, but geez....

What do you all think?

[Dingletwitz]

While I find it distasteful, every daycare dd has been to has done some kind of fundraising. Once it was to make a sidewalk, and they sold tupperware. Now, I'm not into buying crap just because it's a fundraiser, and if it's anyone else I just say 'instead of the wrapping paper, why don't you just throw this 10 bucks in the pot. I don't need any junk'. But daycare? no way. Not giving up any additional money for the book sales, the tupperware, the toy sales, the entertainment books. Not me.

[phathui5]

Some parents might really like the photos, especially the kind of people who like to call their kid's daycare "school." It's like getting school pictures. They shouldn't mind if you decide not to purchase them.

As for buying the extra supplies every semester, I would ask them why those aren't covered by the supplies fee. Are the cameras so they can take pictures of the kids? Do they give you the pictures?

[claras_mom]

I don't get the tissues and the cameras. The former should surely be covered by tuition, the latter seems odd in the age of digital cameras, unless they're letting the kids take the pictures.

I don't get the bibs, because it seems they must have a vast stockpile of them. I mean, sure, at dd2's daycare, I provide a couple of bibs and sippy cups for her use, but they will ultimately (assuming I remember 3 or 4 years from now) come home with her. I don't have to keep replacing them.

Parties? If I had that kind of time in the middle of the day, I wouldn't need to have my kid in full-time daycare.

/grump

All that said, dd1's preschool (we did a year of preK) did have fundraisers. I participated when I felt moved to. Buying wrapping paper left me unmoved, but I did help her class with a project for the gala fundraiser, mostly because it was a really good opportunity for me to volunteer in her classroom, and that was important to dd. Turns out the whole thing was a good warm-up for kindergarten. Dd1 is in a public alternative school and yeah, the PTA/parents are expected to help fundraise to cover the costs of materials, field trips, etc.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by Dingletwitz

While I find it distasteful, every daycare dd has been to has done some kind of fundraising. Once it was to make a sidewalk, and they sold tupperware. Now, I'm not into buying crap just because it's a fundraiser, and if it's anyone else I just say 'instead of the wrapping paper, why don't you just throw this 10 bucks in the pot.

I guess it is just bad taste. I think it would feel better about it if they were asking for money for something they couldn't afford, like new playground equipment, or stuff for the kids. But for stuff like paint on the building...well that should be included in the cost of doing business, I think. It would be different if this were a non-profit, or a public school, but this place is putting cash in the owners' pockets each month.

Originally Posted by phathui5

Some parents might really like the photos, especially the kind of people who like to call their kid's daycare "school." It's like getting school pictures. They shouldn't mind if you decide not to purchase them.

As for buying the extra supplies every semester, I would ask them why those aren't covered by the supplies fee. Are the cameras so they can take pictures of the kids? Do they give you the pictures?

Yeah you're right about the photos. I just thought it was weird that they just took (and printed) photos of all of the kids, rather than asking if you wanted your kids' photos taken. I really liked the idea of them taking photos and sharing them (even by email), but that hasn't happened in the 13 months she's been there. I think I'm going to send extra tissues and no cameras this time around, because at least I know the tissues will get used.

thanks for the thoughts. I'm just sorta confused about the whole thing!

[mimie]

My dd's daycare is similar - $50 registration fee, plus 10 volunteer hours that can be fulfilled by selling stuff for the fundraisers or helping out in various ways around the school. On top of astronomical tuition!

What makes me okay with it is that our center is a non-profit organization. I joined the board, which fulfills my volunteer hours. So I get to see where the money is going (good teacher salaries and training), and make sure that the organization is in good financial shape (many daycares around here have gone under lately due to the recession). I won't sell/buy any crap for fundraisers. It is overpriced and unnecessary. I do buy the coupon/entertainment books and holiday wreaths.

As far as the pictures, our school doesn't make anything off of them. They have turned out really nicely, and are way cheaper than taking my kids to a studio. So it's a nice convenience and a good deal.

[hakeber]

In Latin America this has proven to be very normal. In benjamin's last pre-school in costa rica we had to bring toilet paper, white board markers, etc etc and every other week they were asking for this art supply or the other...I felt like I needed to have a fricken stationary store in my cupboards! And this was on top of $80 tuition each month and a martriculation fee of $160 and a "supplies fee" of $75.

I was asked...no not asked, TOLD to send in 15 bucks for this, 20 bucks for that. I got so steamed I joined the PTA and began vociferously complaining. It was outrageous!

But his nursery and preschool in Argetina were the same. And they always had this stupid fricken show at the end of the year that we had to have costumes made for him...he could barely WALK! C'mon! We always arranged to be "out of town that weekend for a wedding." whenever they would come up Like I'm paying 50 bucks for a satin dance outfit he's never gonna wear again....you must be joking!

This is Kindergarten now and the place where they are really getting me are the uniforms. He has to have a tie, now...but not any navy blue tie...oh no, it has to be for his HOUSE...like this is Harry Potter or something. and the tie costs 17 dollars...for an elastic band neck tie with a teeny tiny yellow lion on it?! But I've already paid the matirculation and the book fees and two uniforms and a PE uniform. There is too much invested to pull out now, ya know?

Tell me how much it will be up front, and stop with the sneaky hidden fees!

[2cutiekitties]

I am sorry but DAYCARE? I mean come on! Preschool is bad enough, but DAYCARE???????

[hakeber]

Originally Posted by claras_mom

Parties? If I had that kind of time in the middle of the day, I wouldn't need to have my kid in full-time daycare.

/grump

Oh my god! Thank you! I mean seriously! Add to that for me, internet research projects for pre-school expositions...I have a job, lady! That's why my son is in pre-school. I would like to know if there are seriously parents that put their under twos in nursery and day care because they just want to have lunch with their girlfriends and hit the afternoons sales at the mall?

Seems unlikely to me.

[lolar2]

For a non-profit, I think that's OK. For-profit? I think not.

[lilyka]

Wow. Like someone else said...if i had free time to volunteer in the afternoons I wouldn't need daycare.

And disposable cameras? really. Is this the dark ages. They need get a digital camera and upload pics to a site parents can print from.

And as much as daycares charge you should not have to bring anything extra.

When i did daycare I charged a registration fee (covered supplies for that child like an extra bottle, emergency formula, emergency toiletries and emergency clothes, and a back of diapers) and weekly tuition. Parents provided food and diapers and really anything their baby needed but if I were providing these things I wouldn't ask them to bring them or have a fund raiser so I could afford them. I would just raise my rates to cover them.

[meemee]

Originally Posted by justKate

I just thought it was weird that they just took (and printed) photos of all of the kids, rather than asking if you wanted your kids' photos taken.

this is not the daycare but the photography place policy. and it works for them. how it works is the parents see the pictures - omg so sweet and order some. it has happened wherever i am - ps/dc/elem school.

that way they still make money even though they have to throw out some unwanted prints.

[Skippy918]

Our daycare just has monthly tuition and a yearly registration fee. They do have pictures twice a year, but you don't have to buy them. As for parties, they've had a Halloween and Christmas party and asked parents to bring in snacks or drinks, but that's pretty much it.

[zebra15]

My DS has always done in-home daycare but in addition to the weekly fee I am always sending him with something to 'donate'. Really a box of tissues isn't going to break me, nor is a cheapie camera. You can probably get all they want for under $10/year.

Many parents will take a few hours off work to volunteer in the 'classroom'. Its cute to see the little ones have a holiday party.

I worked for a few employers that gave volunteer time and stuff like this counted as well.

My DS is 10 and homeschooled so obviously he needs inhome care. Over the years I have sent snacks, art supplies, cleaners, tissues, and numerous other items. By now its just something that I dont think about.

[justKate]

Well I went ahead and sent in the items they requested, but wrote a note on the party sign up sheet that said something like, "I will be happy to contribute to the holiday parties, but my schedule won't allow me to commit to plan a party at this point...." So hopefully that was a gentle approach. I really don't mind contributing, but I do mind being tasked.

So much to learn in each stage of parenting!

[rhiOrion]

Well, my DD has only been in daycare for a couple of months. But come on, I pay $1079 a month (more than my mortgage) for her to be there. I don't think I should have to provide tissues!

At our DC I have to provide: diapers, wipes, any diaper creams/sunscreens/etc, pacifiers, and extra outfits. If I wanted to use their formula then I'd only have to provide bottles, but I sent breastmilk, so I provide that (obviously!). I was also asked if I had an extra little security blanket/lovey, and I did, so I took it in, too. They provide toys and bibs, etc.

I have no issue at all with fund raisers. But there should be NO expectation of contributions. Then it's not a fund raiser, it's a tuition increase, in my opinion. They're having an open house / book sale sometime soon, and I may go, or I may not.

[its_betty]

I hated it when my son was in daycare/preschool and they nickel and dimed us with extra fees. For goodness sakes, we were already paying around $1,000 a month. I remember our school charged us $5 for a white t-shirt to be decorated as a graduation "gift." REALLY??!! I paid them probably $25,000 over the 2 years my son went to that school and they couldn't toss in a t-shirt?

Hint hint for any daycare/preschool owners: I would have been so much happier if they raised tuition by $25/month and "included" all the extras. Yes, it would have actually cost me more, but not having to think about bringing in $3 for something or buying tissues or a damn t-shirt would have been worth it.

[RaeDyCo]

The only extra charges (besides the rather hefty monthly fees) from our daycare is if they go on any field trips to somewhere that charges admission (i.e. museums, science centre, etc). Regular field trips to the park, library or anywhere with no charge are free and DCP picks up the transportation cost.

If I was asked to provide tissues, bibs or cameras, I would think that is unreasonable. I don't have a problem providing diapers and wipes (and assume that they will occasionally be used on another child) but I do think the rest is just wrong!

[nextcommercial]

I certainly don't understand the two cameras thing. I forgot those things even existed. LOL. Wouldn't a digital camera for each class be just as good.. if not better?

The pictures is no big deal. Those are nice to have, but you don't HAVE to buy them.

NO way would I plan a party for a whole daycare! I worked in daycare, and we planned our own parties. Why on earth would the parents be expected to plan them? In grade schools, sure, you have a room mom who CHOOSES to be a room Mom and plan parties.

[Carma]

Our daycare asks for group snack twice a month. Diapers, wipes. And they have a fundraising (items too expensive) each year, I don't buy. The also ask for boxtops (I always forget). And there are parties with Haloween, Valentine, etc. where you have to bring in food. We will have 3 kids in this daycare soon, think they should forgive us for not joining in the fundraising

Carma