Additional care for a older additional child how can i charge?? Or should I??

[weekendgirl66]

I have put myself in a bit of a situation i feel, Two children from the same family the older one started with me their 1st day at school 10 years ago, This child does no longer come to me for childcare they are now in High school aged 11,, ( days and hours have changed over the years we have never had any problems always worked well together)..
Child 2 now 9 does after school activities (which i have never dropped of and collected for as far to much running around and i didn't feel it would be fair on my other children i care for),, Mom said Child 2 would collect and drop at my house, then when the weather turned cold i said she could stay and i would make her a snack as well,, Not that i mind, but this has now turned into every week for the last 2 terms,,, I know i have cause this myself, but feel taken advantage of a little,, What can i do ( If anything??) I need to be a bit more business like i feel regarding charges

Are you saying you are minding this child after school regularly and not getting paid for it? If so, then you should be paid.

Yes it has turned into a weekly thing,, i didn't expect it to be i thought it would be a few weeks, but how can i charge when i offered it would be ok for her to stay?? think i just need to realize i'm a soft touch. [hmmm]

As you offered without giving any guidance I think you'd probably cause upset by changing your mind. You are perfectly within your rights to do so, of course, but what would be the response?

Would the older child just go home, in which case you'd not get paid anyway? Does the older child help in any way, perhaps by playing with younger children?

Maybe you could say something about needing her slot for a paying child unless she wants to start paying, maybe say it's a shame but could do with a bit extra for holiday/ new kitchen etc that might make her consider the idea of paying you or making other arrangements.

I would say something similar to what Rootvegetables suggests. If you admit that you expected it to be a very short term arrangement, but that it has gone on a lot longer than you anticipated, and that you now realise that you need to raise it since you need to advertise that space for a paying child...
I don't think that is unreasonable or rude in the circumstances.

thank you all for your responses, i dont want to upset them, she is a lovely girl, so think i shall just let it ride its course

You sound lovely weekendgirl - they are lucky to have you

She knows you are a childminder, so hardly expects to get free childcare.

Just send her an invoice based on what she has stayed so far, preferably itemized as it appears so ad hoc?

Why would you upset the family by talking to them?

Assume this is once a week and a few hours - at a minimum - why should this family get free childcare?

Write a letter if you prefer and say that you have had a lot of after school enquiries and need to know if this arrangement is to continue and if so then you need to charge as otherwise you will be out of pocket

Tbh I would have said something at half/end of last term - but you have done this for 2 terms now

back dated invoice springs to mind lol