How to Start a Home-Based Day-Care Business
Have you ever dreamed of starting a home-based day-care business? Have you been hesitant to put your plans into action? Whether you’re interested in caring for newborns, toddlers, preschoolers, or a mix of all three, this comprehensive guide can help you make that dream a reality.\ Author Shari Steelsmith, a former editor with Parenting Press, offers down-to-earth advice and proven tips on everything from getting your day-care business off the ground, to managing your cash flow and staying...
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Including guidance on both the financial and educational aspects of running a home-based day-care program, Shari Steelsmith's book offers tips for successful business management as well as advice on caring for children. Suggestions for establishing and maintaining a home-based business, communicating effectively with children, and remediating potential problems are also included.
AcknowledgmentsixIntroductionxiChapter 1Family Child Care--Is It for Me?1The Benefits of Family Child Care1Is This for Me?2Kinds of Family Child-Care Providers3How Is a Family Child Care Different from Other Kinds of Care?4Styles of Family Child Care6Do You Have the Room?7Take Inventory of Your Skills and Experience9Are You Willing to Run and Maintain a Business?12Outfitting a Family Child Care on a Budget16The Three Most Common Reasons a Family Child Care Doesn't Succeed18Visit a Provider20Chapter 2Starting Out21Where to Start21The Next Step: Licensing and/or Registration22The Basic Components of Licensing26Planning to Make a Profit45It's Not Really as Hard as It Sounds49Chapter 3Policies and Procedures51Enrollment Records and Policies51Setting Your Fees53Termination Policy58Hours of Operation59Holiday Schedule59Vacations60When the Children (or You) Get Sick60Meals62Guidance or Discipline63Other Policies You May Wish to Consider64Chapter 4Your Daily Schedule81Age-Mix of the Children81Your Background and Training82Your Temperament82Devising a Daily Schedule82Mealtimes: An Essential Part of the Day82Naptime90Free Play91Structured Time99Special Events105Storytime109Chapter 5Fun Activities for Children115Language Activities116Science Activities119Learning Games122Movement Activities125Cooking and Snack Activities127Music Activities129Art Activities132Personal Safety Activities135Chapter 6Positive Guidance Tools143Children's Developmental Ages and Stages144Discipline/Guidance Techniques147Increasing Good Behavior152Decreasing Difficult Behavior155Fostering Good Social Skills162Where to Go When a Child Needs More Help Than You Can Give165Ten Common Guidance Problems166Chapter 7Back to Business175Generating Enrollment175Screening Parents and Children186Setting Up Your Office186Computer and Printer190Using the Internet as a Resource191Record Keeping195Chapter 8Solving Common Problems219Problems with Parents219Problems with Your Family227Problems with a Multi-Age-Mix of Children231Minimizing Interruptions233Chapter 9Planning for the Future235Small Versus Large License235Your Physical and Emotional Well-Being236Planning for a Substitute237Hiring an Assistant239Increasing Your Fees246Networking: The Importance of Being Well Connected249Planning for Accreditation251Setting Goals253A Word About Professionalism258A Wish for Success260Appendix261Publications261Mail-Order Catalogs for Publications and Other Products266Software268Professional Organizations and Associations268State Child Care Home Pages/Information on Licensing270Sample Forms and Worksheets272Index285About the Author292
