by Ronnie Dauber

Created on: July 11, 2008   Last Updated: July 14, 2008

Operating a family day care in your home can be fun and rewarding, but it also has its own set of challenges. Here are some guidelines that will help you to get started in your own family day care business.

1. You will need to have passion for children. If you love children and know that you can treat them like your own, then you'll be a great substitute for their own mom.

This is probably the most important factor in becoming a good day care worker. You are their substitute mom away-from-home, and they will be depending on you for that love, encouragement, discipline and fun that they would be otherwise getting at their own home.

2. You will need to have proper facilities for the children. You'll need room in your home to accommodate another child or children including places for them to play and to nap, and there should be a secure yard where they can play outside.

3. You will need the appropriate equipment. Draw up a list of all the things that you would need to make caring for them easy. For example: if you're caring for a baby you'll need a crib, a playpen, a highchair, booster chair, safety gates, plug caps for electrical outlets and appropriate toys. If you need to take them in your vehicle, you'll need car seats. These are things you would provide and that would remain in your home.

The parents usually provide anything specific for the child such as clothes or medications.

4. Get a fire inspection done on your home and then hang the framed certificate so that it's visible to all the parents. This shows the parents that your house has been inspected and is safe for their child.

5. You need to be organized. Once you know the age of the child or children that you will be caring for, you can set out a daily routine for them. Children are happiest when their lives are organized. Plan when to feed them snacks, lunch, go for their naps, play outside, have quiet time where they could read or watch TV, and when they would go for a walk.

This not only keeps their minds busy the entire day but it breaks up the day and makes it more interesting for both you and the children. A planned routine is not only a great way to make a child feel secure, but it's a tool to discipline them with. For example, if they misbehave you could enforce a time out when the others are doing certain scheduled activities, and since children don't like to miss out on routine activities, it will be a good way to keep them in order.

6. You will need to know first aid. Even if you have

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