Breakfast

[Kittycat]

This could be a one off and I hope it is
I don't supply meals and ask all parents for breakfast to be already given or if needed supplied, and a packed lunch
One mum has turned up not giving her child breakfast this morning
Now I've given the poor mite some cereal and a drink,
I don't know if she wants me to give him breakfast everyday?. But if so I am happy to give him here if she supply's.

Should I also charge her today for breakfast?
As it wasn't planned

[karen2010]

I wouldn't charge her !
Speak to her at pick up, maybe she was super rushed this morning or maybe LO didn't feel like eating too early.
I regularly dropped my Daughter at my Childminders without having had breakfast ( early drop off 7am) , my childminder happy to give her some toast or cereal, I would have been mortified if she had then charged me !
Xxxx

[shortstuff]

I think it depends on the communication you have had with this parent about food etc.

Personally I would happily give a child a bowl of cereal so I am not penny pinching but this could be the start of other issues creeping in. You give in to one mum and the others might also want you to bend your rules for them too.

[Koala]

Well I do think differently to others and even though I include all food etc... in my rates and always feed children purely because of situations like this and many other reasons, I would charge because this isn't what you provide - to me it's not about the pennies it costs it's about your policies and the service you provide or don't provide in this case - You don't provide food and therefore parents have to provide it and I presume the parents know this! And agree to it on signing up to your terms and conditions. So stick to your policies, terms and conditions or you cannot expect others to.

I agree it can be rushed on a morning and parents have lots to do and if they can't or forget to provide food then, i agree, the little should not go without, should be fed but always charged accordingly And I would be happy with this as a parent as it is my responsibility to provide food for my child, if I forget - it is unforgivable but if I have someone who is willing to pick up my slack I have to suck it up and pay for it - simple.

If a child goes to school without lunch - would you expect a teacher to buy them food, let them go without or would you accept that the best thing is to provide them with a school meal and charge accordingly? or give it to them for free?

You really need to make parents firmly aware that either you DON'T provide food or if you are willing to provide food accept that some will want to access this but you must charge accordinly or before you know it, it can become a regular occurrence - nip it in the bud now or decide how you need to move forward. Good Luck