Your weekly child care rates are outlined in your Financial Agreement. As stated in that document, upon acceptance into Family Day Care, and the signing of the contract, you will be required to pay a security/holding deposit. This is equal to two weeks tuition. After a minimum of 6 months of attendance and if a WRITTEN two-week notice for termination is given, this deposit is credited towards your last two weeks of attendance at Family Day Care. If you terminate your enrollment within the first 6 months and/or do not provide a written notice at least two weeks before last day, you will forfeit this deposit and it will become the property of Family Day Care.

You may pay the tuition by cash or check. Payments must be made on each Friday by 5:30 p.m. for the following week. The child care fee will be paid regardless of absences; including illness, holiday, and family vacation. Late payments will be charged a late fee and the child may not attend until payment is made current.

What you pay will buy quality child care, nutritious meals, and a nurturing environment for your child. Your fees must provide my income including taxes and social security. Beyond that, your fees pay for special child care insurance, training, food, toys, equipment, art supplies, and all of the other things that your child will use. For children over age 2, it also pays for a preschool program.

Like other self-employed workers, Family Child Care providers do not receive the benefits many employees take for granted. These include health and dental insurance, life insurance, retirement and pension, workers comp, regular paid vacations, flexible time off and unemployment insurance. These benefits often amount to as much as 35% of an employee's wages.

Unlike other forms of self-employment Family Child Care is very restrictive. There is no room for growth. The state dictates the size of my business and the ages of children that I can care for. I cannot take time off for appointments or obligations without careful planning and covering of my responsibilities. To protect my rights and income, you will find that a guaranteed wage is part of my contract.

To protect precious time with my family you will find late fees in my contract. Most people have a 40 hour work week. Mine is 55 hours and up and that does not include my training, preparation, bookkeeping, paperwork, shopping, or cleaning time. I really do NOT want the extra fees, but it�s unfair to have families cutting into my already limited family time.

I hope this gives you a better picture of the true cost of child care.