Childcare Provider
You should be blessed with the love and desire to care for and guide your charges. You will be spending plenty of time together so you should have a well drawn out plan for providing inspiration, direction and consequences for both appropriate and inappropriate choices. Patience will be the key to a kind and gentle environment. You want then to grow and flourish while in your care. Your resourcefulness and love of children will be the backbone of the reasons you began this business in the first place. If you have selfish motivations you may not make it through the first day. Be sure to be prepared for anything to happen. Take the latest first aid and CPR course and make sure the certificate is kept current. Although it is not required for success a background/degree in education, or early-childhood development will allow you to draw from strengths and knowledge to gain confidence and credibility as you begin the business. Be prepared to listen and to make changes - flexibility is key.
If you are planning on using your home and you have a safe, secure environment for both play, learning, rest and meals then you are in luck. Much of what you need to succeed is already paid for. Of course you will need to follow local laws and regulations and make sure that you are up to date on all of the sanitation and security regulations and provisions that you need and want to provide. Now for the fun part. Secure a variety of educational toys, books and games suitable to the age group in which you specialize. You can scour the consignment stores or even mention to your friends and family that your business and the children you care for are going to require a constant circulation of supplies so you are willing to pay for slightly used wonderful products. You can even tell a few people that you will sort through their old toys and donate what your not using. Other playroom accessories include a designated compartment/location for the kids to keep daily projects, place their personal items, and the specialized work tables and chairs built for little people comfort. You may want to invest in some large outdoor equipment for the kids to get their sillies out in the day. This can be an assortment of play set layouts with climbing and jumping sections, large balls etc. Children need to exert themselves and explore so you will need to be able to make changes frequently to keep them stimulated and happy.
If you are already a Mom then the start-up cost of this business may be quite modest. The best way to start no matter what your situation is to make a list and break it into must haves and then a wish list that can be added to as time goes by. The key to securing the resources you need is to look for slightly used or free or resale sources. You can find wonderful brand name toys at garage sales or consignment stores. Be aware of the best toys (and ones used in local day cares) and look for quality products when you search. You need to be able to clean them easily and hope that they will be both educational and can last. For your safety and that of the children you will need to hold liability and medical insurance and pay for local registration requirements.
You should be able to get your first client through low cost basic advertising and word of mouth from friends and family. Just putting a flier at a church, library or doctor's office should get the business going. Once you have established credibility and acquired testimonials from the families you serve you can normally get as much business as you can handle through referrals.
Like many other small businesses your location will determine how much the local market is willing to spend. Your yearly income can range anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 a year. How many children can you care for both legally and emotionally/physically and provide quality care? Verify that you are meeting state regulations regarding the number of children permissible in a private home daycare.
Provide an on-site event childcare service for all occasions. Functions can include meetings, conferences, reunions, conventions, parties, or weddings. On-site caregivers take care of the children’s needs so that the hosts can take care of their guests. Provide CPR and First Aid certified by the Red Cross staff. Supervise infants and children. You can provide special entertainment, crafts, games, snacks and videos. For large events you may want to organize attractions including climbing walls, jumping stations etc. Work closely with the host and plan the activities and schedule to work with their party.
