I own a daycare and I have to let some employees go due to low enrollment. How do I let them know the bad new?

I'm sure with your low enrollment, the news will not come as a surprise. Juat tell them the truth, they will be fine.

call them into the office and have their pay slip sitting on the desk and they may guess.

my old boss called me into her office and asked me to close the door, I noticed a pay envelope on her desk. Before she could say anything I said is it time for me to go. She nodded her head and said yes I'm sorry. I said well I came here for 12 weeks work and been here for almost 3 years so thanks for having me so long. I said when do I finish and she said now. She let me go and say goodbye to everyone and I left.

Most people get sacked at some stage in their life from a job, one door closes and another opens.

Hear me out...thinking outside the square.

Had you considered going to the staff to see if anyone had an idea to prevent the loss of staff? Make the whole thing a group endeavor? That way if after a good deal of brain storming and no alternatives can be found it will easier on the staff to understand there is no alternative but to cut staff. (Spreading the responsibility) Ask for volunteers to quit and if this fails suggest a "last in first out" policy.

Give this idea time to work, don't be pushy.

Tell them they get 2 sit on their butts 4 a while and collect unemployment....

well said AIUI, most employers neglect the insight and abilities of their workers. sometimes it just a matter of involving those closet to the predicament.!!
"work circles" "industrial participation"ETC. just google them and more.

Whatever you decide on, be sure to write glowing letters of reference for your better employees. Some day the economy might right itself, and you'll want to remain on good terms with the staff who is already experienced and you have come to trust.

Walk up to them and tell them to exit themselves off the premises and to use their heads to open the f/ing door. LOL

Na, serious. I have been laid off a few times on the last in first out policy. Most people understand.

When my business was slow I almost had to do cut backs I went to my employee's and talked about what was going to happen some went to 4 days some went to 2 days they split things up so no one would get fired..All of a sudden friends and family of my employee's starting coming to eat with us after a short while things picked up and no one got fried..sometimes it's just better to wait bit...
Just a thought what works for one may not work for others do what you feel is right for you business.

Tell them that people were afraid to enrole at your daycare because there have been rumours around town that they have been involved in Satanic Rituals, and that they were searching for a child for sacrifice.

Or swap Satanic Rituals with Communism, Homosexuality, Marylin Manson etc etc. I'm sure they'll understand.

tell them the truth and maybe add in that you'd hire them back once things pick up....if you feel that's truthful.