Being friendly yet professional with parents!

[MUM2BLESS]

Just wondering... As a childminder I want to offer a friendly yet professional service to parents.

Has anyone got a good relationship with the parents and remained proffesional in how the service is being run.

EXAMPLE you do not want to lose the freindship but you may be getting late pick ups and payments.

How do you ensure that you remain friendly but business like too?

My cm just says it with a smile. I've never done anything serious, mind you, like late pick up or late payment, but little things that she prefers that I would otherwise be unaware of. I don't mind at all and that she says it with a smile and so nicely, I don't take offence at all, either.

As a teacher, I find the same thing works with parents with whom I am friendly. Just a :) goes a long way! :) And stating it reasonably and in a friendly way, too.

Sorry, you're probably reading that like, duh,captain obvious. Not the most helpful or great plan but it works for me!

monitor the late collections - if just occasional then no need to raiase as an issue, but if you can see a pattern emerging then review contract early; you might want to offer the family an extra half hour to accomodate, there might be a pressure at their work giving a knock-on?

late payments - if you issue regular newsletters then you could include a para to all parents 'a reminder that all invoices be paid within x days, a copy of my payment policy is attached' then you are not singling one family out

Thanks for that BoysAreLikeDogs especially about not singling one family out. I do have a newsletter which I will mention both next time

I think you have to start as you mean to go on and be aware of enforcing rules and regs - explaining them from the outset, nipping things in the bud.
Be aware of your body language, facial expressions, be upfront and honest and a bit of tact and diplomacy doesn't go amiss. Smile and explain.

If its a general thing - stick it in a newsletter then perhaps one particular parent doesn't feel targeted.

Its keeping to professional boundaries isn't it, parents often forget this as they are coming into your home.