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 your own children, you need to consider taking a first aide course. Moms leaving their child with you feel more confident in you as a caregiver when they know you can meet any medical emergency needs that may arise.
7. Become certified. Parents feel secure knowing that they are leaving their children in the hands of a capable and responsible caregiver. By taking the required college course where you can earn a certificate, you are showing the parents that you are a qualified and professional caregiver.
In some locations it's mandatory that caregivers are legally qualified with professional training and earned certificates. But even where this is not a legal requirement, it is a positive and professional structure that will ensure your family home day care business is a success.
8. Register your business legally and hang your license in a frame for everyone to see. This shows the parents that the government is aware that you are babysitting their children.
9. Create a child profile form. Ask the parents to fill in all the necessary information about their child. Besides their name, you'll need the parent's name, work phone number and cell phone number. You'll need the name of their family doctor and another relative that you could call in case of an emergency.
As well, you'll need to know if the child has allergies or any medical condition that requires special attention or medication.
At the bottom of the form, list the hours and days when you'll be providing day care and the rate of compensation. Also, if you have a set time for them to pick their child up, then you can also suggest an added fee to be charged immediately for any times that they arrive passed the agreed time. This ensures the parents that you aren't going to leave their child aside while you go out to somewhere, and it also prevents you from being abused by parents who aren't concerned about your time and arrive late.
A successful business is when both, parents and caregiver, have the same respect and compassion towards each other as well as to the children.