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Riverside County Family Child Care Association>
CONDUCTING A PARENT INTERVIEW
February 18, 2008
CONDUCTING A PARENT INTERVIEW
By Holly McDonough
Excerpted from Making Home-Based Child Care Work For You
People often ask me how to prevent high turnover in child
enrollment. I think the key is to avoid enrolling children
just for the sake of filling all openings. You should take
care to enroll only children you can work with on a
long-term basis and whose parents you can communicate with
openly. Make it clear to parents inquiring about care that
you, too, have an interview process and want to be sure
your child care philosophy is similar to (or at least not
in direct conflict with) their own. Parents may be
surprised, but most will appreciate your honesty—even the
ones who are sent back to the referral center!
Just as the parent’s screening process has several steps,
so does the provider’s.
Step One: Telephone Screening
During the telephone screening process, narrow down the
field of potential clients with a few general questions and
comments:
How old is the child?
What type of care are you seeking: full or part-time,
temporary or long-term?
Give location, hours and fees.
Briefly describe your services. Keep description brief, as
you want parents to come and see your child care operation
first hand. You have worked hard to set up your facility.
Take pride in what you have to offer.
If you don’t have an opening for the caller’s child, do
everything you can to refer him/her to another facility or
an appropriate referral agency. The parents will remember
your helpfulness and may call on you later for care.
If, on the other hand, you do have an opening that might
fit their needs, invite them out for an on-site visit. At
some point you will want them to come with their child
during child care hours. For now, encourage them to make
this first visit during off hours and without their child.
It will be much easier for you to talk without having six
or seven other children demanding your attention. While you
want to be as flexible as possible, you also need a certain
amount of down time. Keep set hours for interviews, so that
you can get the necessary rest and relaxation you need. An
hour after closing during the week or two hours on a
Saturday morning will give you a chance to collect yourself
after a hectic day or week.
Step Two: InitiaI Home Visit
When the parents arrive for the initial interview, present
yourself in a professional manner. Dress professionally and
greet the parents with a smile. Always introduce yourself
and extend a warm welcome. Give all of your attention to
the interview. Take messages if the telephone rings. Don’t
run back and forth cooking dinner, doing laundry, etc. If
you have small children of your own, try to get them to
play in the room with you so that you don’t have to
continually leave the interview.
Give the parents a tour of all areas of the house used for
day care, including outside playground, sleeping, eating
and play areas. Tell them about the services you provide
and all day care policies. Invite them to look around all
day care areas and to ask any questions.
During the interview process, look at the parents while
they are speaking. This makes for more personal contact and
shows a sincere interest in what they have to say. Make
sure all of their questions have been answered fully. Once
all of their questions have been answered, be prepared with
a list of your own questions (see sidebar). Make notes if
necessary, but don’t spend too much time writing during the
interview. You want to give all of your attention to the
conversation. Spend ten minutes immediately following the
interview to make notes while impressions are still fresh
in your mind. At the end of this visit, send the parents
away with a handbook of your policies, a copy of your
contract, sample copies of activity and meal schedules, a
list of references to call and a registration form.
If all agree, invite the parents to stop by during day care
hours with their child. Remind them that you will be happy
to answer questions during this visit, but to please
understand that you will also be caring for children during
this time.
Step Three: Return Home Visit
When the prospective clients arrive for the follow-up
visit, finish up whatever activity you are engaged in and
encourage some free play time. This will give you the
chance to watch how the children interact with each other,
and you will be free to interact with the visiting child.
This will also make it a little easier to answer additional
parent questions.
At the end of the visit, encourage parents to call with any
further questions. Try to avoid signing them up on the
spot. You want them to give this a lot of thought and you
should review your own notes. Everyone wants this to work
long-term.
If you don’t feel you can accommodate the needs and
expectations of the parents and the child, don’t be afraid
to refer them for other care.
If all parties feel it is a fit, welcome your new clients.
Be sure to have them complete all necessary contracts,
health forms and other required paperwork before the first
day of care.
See below for handy interview forms.
For Providers: Parent Interview Questions
From Making Home-Based Child Care Work For You
By Holly McDonough
©1998 CCPPIN, Inc.
Has your child been in day care before? If so, for how
long? If not, who has provided child care?
Why are you seeking new child care? (If applicable.)
Is someone available to pick up your child by closing time?
Do you have emergency backup care?
What is your method of discipline?
How do you approach potty training?
Will you be giving two weeks’ notice to your former child
care provider? If not, why?
Does your child have any special needs based on religious
or health issues? Are there any activity or food
restrictions?
Are you available to participate in occasional day care
activities and special events?
Are you willing to sign a contract?
Are you available to chaperone an occasional field trip?
What is your child’s favorite activity?
What general observations can you give me about your
child’s development, activities, etc.?
What are your expectations of a child care provider?
May I have the names of references? (If possible, ask for
name of a former caregiver. Be sure all contract
obligations (final payments) were met.)
Use this space to add your own questions.
For Providers: Parent Interview Work Sheet
From Making Home-Based Child Care Work For You
By Holly McDonough
©1998 CCPPIN, Inc.
Parent/Legal Guardian Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Name of child:
Referred by:
First contacted:
Days and hours care is needed:
Initial home visit scheduled for:
Notes, comments, observations from home visit:
Follow-up questions or concerns:
Return home visit scheduled for:
Notes, comments and observations from return home visit:
Follow-up questions or concerns:
Child enrolled into care to begin on:
Forms and contract given on:
Follow up action:
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