Would you ask for entrance fee?

[ma7ie]

I was wondering what everybody else does.

When you take children to soft play centres or suchlike, do you ask parents to pay the entrance fee or do you pay for it yourself.

The reason I'm asking is that a new centre has opened in the next town and the entrance fee is £2.50 per child.

I only charge £2.75 per hour as that is the going rate round here so £2.50 is virtually an hours money for one child.

Am I being stingy?

[Polly2]

I would ask for entrance fee - thats a lot of money when you got 2 or 3 kids.

You could offer to put it on their bill???

Or maybe include in your next newsletter (if you do one) that you would like to take the children there and would parents kindly pay the fees as you are covering petrol, snacks etc.

[crazybones]

I have it in my information pack for parents that if we do something like this they have to pay the entrance fee Have had no problems so far. One of my mums gives me £5 a week in the summer to buy ice creams for all the children and another sends a "mini-hamper" during the school hols with carton drinks and snack stuff for all the children as well.

[ajs]

i would ask them for the money

one mum gives me £20 which i keep until it's spent if you know what i mean
and others just give me when i ask for it never questioned it or complained either.

i can imagine some mum's being ****y though as money is always an issue for some.

good luck though whatever you decide to do xxxx

[sarah707]

I ask for money - even if it's £1 for toddlers, I still add it to the invoice.

Why should I pay? I wouldn't go if it wasn't for the children

[fionamal]

As I charge £4 per hour I include soft play in my fees but if we are going somewhere that is pricey then I ask for half the entrance fee.

[ajs]

I ask for money - even if it's £1 for toddlers, I still add it to the invoice.

Why should I pay? I wouldn't go if it wasn't for the children

that's exactly what i say too my own are teens so it's not as if i need to go.

my first mindee's mum refused to pay toddlers fees so i never took him anywhere then she complained that we never went out she didn't last long i am glad to say xxxx

[Fifi]

If the parents were taking their children, they would have to pay.

Of course you must ask for entrance fees and any other outing fees.

[ma7ie]

I have got my own dd who is 2 so I suppose we would be going as much for her as any other children which is why I was wondering if I should be paying for mindees too.

Thanks for you advice, it's much appreciated. Didn't want to come across mean. (Hubby just mumbles about not running a charity don't you know!)

[deeb66]

I don't charge for any activities/outings.

Yes I do sometimes feel like I am working for nothing but i think I get it back in many other ways.......

I also put these costs through my books which helps to reduce my income anyway.......would rather spend it on the kids than pay it to the taxman

I do put in my contract that if I plan a major outing i will ask the parents to contribute towards the cost otherwise I could end up working the whole day for nothing

[manjay]

I don't charge for toddlers & Ti a Fi as they are only £1 each and I am taking ds anyway. Anything more than this I would aslo ask for a contribution

amanda xx

[wendywu]

I dont charge for Toddlers or up to £2.00 per child i dont mind. But remember that i think we are on a higher hourly rate in surrey than in some parts of the country. If we go to the cinema or a theme park then i ask for the money.

[deeb66]

I dont charge for Toddlers or up to £2.00 per child i dont mind. But remember that i think we are on a higher hourly rate in surrey than in some parts of the country. If we go to the cinema or a theme park then i ask for the money.

Exactly!

I live quite close to both Chessington world of Adventure and to Thorpe Park and usually plan a day out there during the summer.....I ask parents to contribute towards that as it would cost me an arm and a leg otherwise!

[wendywu]

Have you been on stealth deeb, i love that ride. One year we had season tickets and my youngest daughter and i got there when it opened out of season and did it 6 times, front row hands in the air Brave huh!

[manjay]

Have you been on stealth deeb, i love that ride. One year we had season tickets and my youngest daughter and i got there when it opened out of season and did it 6 times, front row hands in the air Brave huh!

Mad more like

amanda xx

[Banana]

I dont charge for small outings like toddler group and soft play at wacky warehouse etc...

but expensive days out a contribution is asked for

x

[Trouble]

i just put it on their bill at the end of the month and their fine with that

[katickles]

I don't charge as i like to get them out & about & interacting with other children. I also think if 1 parent refused to pay the fees while the others did pay i'd be stuck in a situation. If i was planning an a trip that would be expensive them i would ask parents, but the regular places we go to weekly i just pay for.

[jmoff]

I charge...I take my lo but if I have more kids the cost goes up so then I split the cost.

The parents are fine about it , I told them form the beginning.
It is added to their invoice.

Jx

[deeb66]

Have you been on stealth deeb, i love that ride. One year we had season tickets and my youngest daughter and i got there when it opened out of season and did it 6 times, front row hands in the air Brave huh!

You must be mad!

You have got to be joking......I am afraid i don't like those sorts of rides......I am usually the one left standing there taking the pictures and holding all the stuff!