Start & Run a Home Daycare
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Child Care is a much sought-after service today. If you love working with children and want to run your own business, a home daycare could be the perfect choice. The initial cash investment can be minimal, and the demand for safe, nurturing care for children is always high. Providing quality child care and making a profit isn't child's play. Caring for children is as challenging and multifaceted as parenting itself. In addition, you need to master record keeping, licensing requirements, and all other tasks associated with running a small business. This book will help you get started right and keep your daycare running smoothly and successfully. From deciding whether a home daycare is for you to planning healthy, appealing meals, from keeping the books to keeping the children happy, Start & Run a Home Daycare provides the information you need to build a thriving business caring for children.
AcknowledgmentsxviiIntroductionxix1Is Child Care for you?11.The Entrepreneurial Spirit12.The Business of Child Care23.Why Daycare?24.Evaluating Yourself and Your Situation34.1Step 1: self-evaluation34.2Step 2: family evaluation64.3Step 3: situation evaluation92Assessing the Need for Child Care121.Determining Your Objectives122.Creating a Questionnaire133.Collecting the Data133.1Mailed questionnaires133.2Telephone interviews133.3In-person interviews194.Estimating Costs195.Analyzing Your Data203Daycare Licensing211.Group Size222.Caregiver Qualifications223.Program Outlines234.Physical Environment235.Health and Safety246.Nutrition257.Parental Involvement258.Administration (Operating Procedures)259.Getting Your License2610.Unlicensed Daycare274Setting Up Shop281.Legal Advice281.1Finding a lawyer281.2Your first meeting281.3Keeping legal costs down291.4The Child Care Law Center292.Naming Your Business293.Your Business Structure303.1Sole proprietorship303.2Partnership313.3Incorporation314.Insurance315.Your Project Log335Money Matters: Your Start-Up and Operating Budgets371.Your Start-Up Costs372.You Need Money--Where Can You Go?422.1Relatives and friends422.2Banks and other lending institutions422.3Government443.Your Operating Budget444.Estimating Income445.Estimating Expenses455.1Food costs455.2Supply costs455.3Equipment replacement costs486Setting Your Rates541.Local Rate Standards542.Your Expenses553.Your Time554.Your Quality of Care555.Late Fees586.Absenteeism587.Holidays and Vacations588.Rate Increases589.Bad Accounts5910.The Rate Sheet597Setting and Stating Policies631.What Age Group Will You Care For?642.How Many Children Can You Accommodate?663.How Will You Handle the Illness of a Child?663.1Communicable diseases673.2Administering medication674.How Will You Organize Transportation and Field Trips?675.What Kind of Behavior Management (Discipline) Will You Use?686.What Kind of Supplies Will Parents Provide?717.Who Will Act As Substitute Caregivers?728.Who Will You Release the Child To?729.How Will You Encourage Parental Participation?7310.What Are Your Emergency Procedures?7311.When Will You Provide Care?7412.What Meals Will You Provide?7413.Your Policy Statement7413.1Purpose and philosophy statement7513.2Trial period8213.3Illness8213.4Transportation and field trips8213.5Behavior management8313.6Supplies8313.7Subsitute caregivers8313.8Releasing the child from care8313.9Parent participation8413.10Emergencies8413.11Meals8413.12Child abuse848Finding Customers851.Flyers862.Bulletin Boards883.Newspaper and Newsletter Advertising884.Using the Yellow Pages885.The Internet896.Marketing By Association907.Word-of-Mouth Advertising908.Your Logo919.Publicity919.1Radio bulletin boards919.2The news release929.3Keep it up9410.Referral Agencies9411.The Marketing Activity Sheet959The New Customer981.Handling Those Telephone Calls982.The Personal Interview993.The Information Package10210Program Planning1061.What Children Need1062.Creating a Daily Schedule1083.Choosing Activities for a Child's Development1084.Weekly Activity Chart11111Play1191.What Are Learning Centers?1202.Housekeeping Center1203.Art Center1214.Construction Center1235.Quiet Center1246.Book Center1247.Sand And Water Center1258.Music Center1259.Other Centers1269.1Math center1269.2Science center1269.3Camping center1269.4Infant center12610.Outdoor Play12711.Staying Organized and Having Fun12812.Toy Libraries12913.Games12912Health and Safety1311.Why Caregivers Have to Worry about "Little" Illnesses1312.Preventing the Spread of Germs1322.1Hand washing1322.2Diapering1332.3After using the toilet1332.4Food preparation1332.5Other helpful hints1343.Immunization1344.Recognizing Communicable Diseases1345.Parent Communication1356.The Hazard Zone--Your Home1366.1Falls1366.2Poisoning1366.3Drowning1406.4Choking1406.5Burns1416.6Motor vehicle accidents1416.7Other dangers1417.Outdoor Safety1428.Fire Safety14513Nutrition1461.The Food Guide1462.Menu Planning1473.Mealtimes1494.Getting Children to Eat1495.Infant Feedings1516.Special Diets15214Children With Special Needs1531.Making the Decision to Care for Children with Special Needs1542.Handling the Issue with the Parents of Your Other Children1543.Readying Your Home15415Parents: Partners in Child Care1561.Starting Out on the Right Foot1562.Keep Them Involved1573.Problem Solving15816Keeping Records1601.Financial Records1601.1What is a business expense?1611.2Expense records1621.3Revenue records1621.4Your business account1642.Child Records1653.Facility Records1654.Employee Records16517Child Abuse1731.Your Responsibility to Report Abuse1732.What Constitutes Abuse or Neglect?1742.1Physical abuse1742.2Sexual abuse1742.3Emotional abuse1742.4Neglect1743.Signs of Abuse or Neglect1744.The Abusive Parent1765.Reporting Abuse1766.Telling the Parents17818Finding and Hiring Employees1791.Writing a Job Description1792.Recruiting Employees1803.Interviewing Applicants1814.Trial Period1815.Benefits and Incentives18219The Out-of-Home Daycare1841.What Kind of Daycare Do You Want to Operate?1842.Finding a Location1853.Legal Legwork1874.The Director of Your Center1885.Other Staff18920Caring for the Caregiver1921.Managing Your Limitations1932.Taking Time for You1933.Join a Caregiver Support Network194Appendixes1.Government Offices1972.Child-Care Organizations and Associations2043.Internet Resources206Bibliography208Samples1.Child-Care Needs Assessment Questionnaire142.Cover Letter for Questionnaire183.Food Cost Analysis464.Supply Cost Analysis495.Equipment Replacement Cost Analysis516.Average Daycare Rates577.Rate Sheet618.Transportation Permission Form699.Policy Statement7610.Flyer8711.News Release9312.Telephone Information Sheet10013.Child-Care Agreement10414.Daily Schedule10915.Weekly Activity Chart11816.Child Medical Form13717.Medication Permission Form13918.Weekly Menu15019.Monthly Expense Record16320.Expense Summary16421.Monthly Revenue Record16622.Child Information Sheet16723.Medication Administered Form16924.Accident, Injury, and Illness Report17025.Daily Information Sheet171Tables1.Child Development Chart1122.Activity Idea Charts1143.The Four Food Groups1484.Signs of Abuse or Neglect1755.Staff Responsibilities and Qualifications191Worksheets1.Child-Care Provider's Self-Evaluation Quiz42.Family Evaluation Quiz73.Situation Evaluation Quiz104.Project Log345.Pricing Start-Up Equipment406.Start-Up Budget437.Food Cost Analysis478.Supply Cost Analysis509.Equipment Replacement Cost Analysis5210.Estimated Operating Budget5311.Average Daycare Rates5612.Writing a Purpose and Philosophy Statement8113.Marketing Activity Sheet9614.Safety Checklist14315.Location Checklist186
