Hi everyone,

I am curious to know how long it does you to fill up a space usually. We had some unexpected openings and I am having a harder time than usual and I was wondering how long was "normal"?

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At least a few months depending on when the opening is during the year. Usually summer months is when potential families are looking in my area for care for fall school year. Hang in there, the right family will come along.

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Don't give up! Usually it just happens out of the blue for me. I went a year with an opening but I didn't advertise or anything. For quite awhile I haven't had to worry about it but now with everybody hurrying their 3-4 yo into preschool, it's getting a bit more challenging to find parents who want the smaller group for their child. It seems like I have a never ending wait list of people for under 2's. Then by the time my younger one reaches 2, the next person on my list is already looking for preschool.

Do you advertise a lot? Maybe a different way of putting the word out? Or offering something that might be a niche in your area?

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I usually fill spots pretty quickly but if there is a lull that is too long I will offer a seasonal special on my rate that just last until the next season starts. I have never had a parent leave when the rate reverted to the regular rate after the special.

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I think it depends on area demand. I live in a county with two large universities full of young couples with small children. There are more kids than daycare places available. If I lose a child, a new one is starting as soon as I want them to. I get several calls every single day. It wasn't that way when I did care in another state.

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I never know...Right now, I have completed interviews of clients awaiting a spot so I am covered for a while. But I went through several months before and not have calls or the interviews weren't what I or they were looking for. The "GOOD FIT" is worth waiting for, though!

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Sometimes I have a Waiting List of families wishing to start (usually at a time like August).

Sometimes, I have no one wishing to start. Like now as I am trying to fill an unexpected spot for July - no one from the Waiting List that would be a good fit for the spot wants to start in July nor am I having more than 1 inquiry a week or so. However, I have shorter hours (which prevents many people from enrolling) and I post my rates. So, those that would just be rate shopping skip right over me.

There seems to be waves of people, I've noticed, for my own business in my small community.

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For me it can be months or I might end up getting a couple within weeks of each other. When I first opened it took a few months to get my first kid. But I signed my seconed just a few weeks after. (For my first full timers). Most parents here start looking as soon as baby born knowing they need care at a year (Canada has 1 year mat leave that's available to most who are working). So sometimes I'll sign kids up months in advance of start date. There esier to get. My over 2s I can advertise for forever for since most people find care before that age unless they are moving into the area.

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Start building a wait list. I never have an opening so to speak. one kid leaves friday, new kid starts monday.

However, make sure you are patient and fill the spot with the right fit. Years ago I would fill it in a rush and then end up going crazy with a trouble family.

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I have a wait list right now, and get calls weekly, but it still takes about a month to get everything ironed out.

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Families are looking June, July, Aug. here. Sept. Hits and it may take months and months. I do have a waiting list but generally they have found care they are happy with by the time I call them with a spot.

By spring calls pick up. I've gone all fall and winter without one call!

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I opened right after Thanksgiving weekend (had a 2nd baby and took 6-8 weeks for us before I officially opened) and it was hard to get clients at that time of year. I had 1 for like 1.5 months then had a few weeks of nothing (just my 2 young kids) and then got a pair of sisters. They were here about 8 or so weeks until they withdrew with 2 weeks' notice ( the dad would drop off the younger daughter then take the older one to VPK and then on his lunch break bring the older one here after it was done and then either him or the mom would pick up. They were only 3 days a week but I think he got tired of all that running around and I don't blame him. Plus also they had grandparents that could help out so I think that's what they end up switching back to).

Then after that I was without work for 6 weeks from like all Feb-mid March. It was brutal. I worked for my mom 2 days a week while my hubby had off. Then i got one. Another the following week or 2. Then another one the next week, one 3 weeks later, another one the following week, and another one just this past weekend. Had some leave, one is a drop-in. Etc.

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