eBook Excerpt

From: Tid-Bits For In-Home Daycare Providers.
eBook Author: Alyice Edrich

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Chapter One: My Story

When my son was first born, I dreaded the idea of returning to work. I didn’t want someone else raising my baby—especially when he couldn’t tell me if he was being mistreated. Okay, perhaps I was a little paranoid, but when I was growing up the babysitters I had were less than desirable, and I was too afraid to tell my mom what these people were really like. I decided the best way for me to stay home with my son was to watch other people’s children—in my home.

I was an assistant preschool teacher, I volunteered at the church nursery and daycare programs, and I had been babysitting for years. How hard could it really be? Besides, I was great with small children and just knew I could make it work.

So how did I get started?

Quite by accident! My sister-in-law asked that I watch her infant child, who just so happened to be a few months older than my son. She agreed to pay me. Somehow, I don’t remember where, I was told that I could qualify for state assistance in providing meals for my sister-in-law’s child as well as my own—if I became state-licensed. So I called the state and asked how to get started.

The first thing I had to do was fill out a state-required application and get fingerprinted on a state-approved form authorizing a criminal background check.

The next thing I had to do was take a state-required daycare provider’s class. Once I took that class, I was given a pamphlet full of information that helped prepare me for running a licensed in-home daycare facility.

Home Safety Inspection Required

I wasn’t quite sure what would be required of a home inspection, but since I had a newborn of my own, I was pretty sure our home met all the “safety requirements.” Wrong! I needed safety gates on the stairs (mind you our stairs consisted of two steps and a locking door at the top of the steps), and I needed a fireplace gate securely anchored to the wall to surround my floor heater.

Once I got those things fixed, I took pictures and sent them to my assigned state representative. She then made an appointment to come back out after I completed my CPR and First Aid certification.

I then signed up with the American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org) to become certified in CPR and First Aid. This class was way out of my comfort zone, but a requirement to receive my license. I learned the proper way to care for a child in an emergency situation, and I practiced on life-like dolls. Once certified, I had to send copies of my certification to my state representative.

My state representative came for her follow-up appointment and then handed me a signed letter stating that I was approved to be licensed as an in-home daycare provider. My license arrived in the mail a few weeks later.

Next, I went to what was known as 4 C’s, a state funded program to ensure that I fed the children in my care, proper, nutritious meals. It meant a little more paperwork and an occasional class, but in return, I would receive a set amount of money, per child, per “qualified” meal. I think what I liked most about this program was that it ensured that the children in my care ate properly and that I understood the fundamentals of nutrition.

Time For Clients

At this time, my sister-in-law had found a live-in babysitter/housekeeper, so I was off to find a few clients. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of watching a stranger’s child, but I had done so much work to get licensed by the state that I couldn’t just waste all that time, that money, and those resources.

Since I didn’t want just anyone in my care, I prepared a client package and placed a classified ad in the local paper. While I saw many in-home daycare providers passing out flyers, I found that route of advertising highly unappealing. How could I ask a parent to “TRUST ME” with his/her child in such an informal manner? I certainly wouldn’t hire a babysitter or daycare provider based on a flyer stuck on a telephone pole, laundry mat, bulletin board, or even my doorknob! I did, however, let the church know I was available—as parents often visited the church office looking for referrals.

Once I started receiving calls, I fumbled my way through a few phone interviews and made a few appointments to meet with clients, but they never showed up. Once, I even saw my potential client drive up to the house, look at it, and drive away. It was disheartening to say the least.

After that incident, I decided to warn my “potential” clients. I told them that I lived on a busy street, in a rented house—the paint on the outside was chipping and made the home look a bit rundown. The inside, however, was very nice. I had repainted the house, wallpapered the playroom, shampooed the carpets, had decent furniture, and I had a fenced-in backyard and tons of fun things for their children to do. I also reassured them that I was licensed by the state and had met all their safety measures. Furthermore, I had my CPR and First Aid certifications, credentials, and letters of reference from my previous employers (when I worked in the preschool, and of course, my sister-in-law).

I met with a few parents, gave them the tour, interacted with their children, went over the intro packet, and sent them on their way. To my surprise, they came back with a signed form, and payment up front. My licensed in-home daycare facility had officially begun.

Getting Started

My husband was very supportive and encouraged me by helping with the children on his days off, attending field trips, and taking the kids on walks. To this day, I don’t understand how he ever slept during the day—when he worked night shift! I supposed he was foolishly young and in love.

When preparing my home to meet my business obligations, I shopped at garage sales for strollers and toy boxes. High chairs and swings came from friends and family members—usually “on loan” until I could purchase my own. I didn’t go into debt to start my daycare facility; instead I purchased items as the children in my care grew in numbers and as the money came in.

Extended Part Of The Family

I had a tendency to treat the children in my care as if they were an extended part of my family—after all, they were there most of their little lives. How could I not love and play with them as though they were my own children? At first, I worried that the parents would get upset and think I was trying to take over their role as parent—because I had heard some horror stories of such incidents. But I think my pre-evaluation interview with each parent helped us feel each other out and they knew what to expect of me. In fact, I would often receive comments from the parents that they appreciated the fact that I took extra-special care of their children and did not treat them as though they were just a paycheck.

When I first began my daycare, I was literally clueless. I had no idea what I was getting into, I had no forms to provide the parents with, and I didn’t even know what my daily routine would be. I was a spur-of-the-moment kind-of-gal and didn’t know how to structure my life. I never had a problem meeting deadlines and goals, but I had never planned out my life. I didn’t know what I was doing the next day, let alone for the rest of my life. So everything I did in my daycare environment was by trial and error and learn-as-you-go.

When I brought up the fact that I wanted to purchase an annual pass to one of our local amusement parks and purchase a different pass each year, I worried that the parents would think the cost was a bit much or that the idea of taking their children out of my home for a few hours each week would be too nerve racking for them. But to my surprise and pleasure, the parents loved the idea. One mom said, “If I could afford to stay home, I would be taking my child to all those fun places. It’s great that I found a place that allows my child to do the things that I would do if I were home!”

I also informed the parents that they could take the pass home over the week-end if they were planning a trip to that particular amusement park—all I asked was that it be returned on Monday, so that we had it for that week’s field trip.

In the five and a half years that I ran my licensed in-home daycare facility, I only had one complaint about the annual pass and that was from my own sister. She wanted me to start watching her child, but she didn’t want to pay me for his annual pass.

Since I started my daycare to be with my son and I could be with him for all his firsts, I naturally had to take lots and lots of pictures. (I was and still am a picture-a-holic!) So I asked the parents of the children in my care if I could take pictures of their children. I also asked if they would be willing to invest $15 in a photo album. The parents loved the idea! Now, they not only got their little reports telling them what their child did during the day, but they wouldn’t miss out on any of their child’s “firsts,” either!

When a child got hurt in my care, no matter how small or insignificant it may have seemed, I was obligated to let the parent know. But I have to tell you that I didn’t enjoy that process. Even a scrape on the knee made me feel like a failure. I was supposed to watch these children with my life and they were not supposed to get hurt in my care—or so I thought.

Children are not only rambunctious little buggers, they are also little explorers and dare devils. If you can think it, they will try it! And no matter how child-proof you think you’ve made your home, they can always find something to get into trouble with; thus their need for constant watching.

Do your best to safeguard and protect every child in your care, but realize that there is absolutely no way you can prevent bumps and scrapes.

While I loved babies, I think I had the most fun with toddlers—ages three to five years old. They were just so adorable and full of life! They wanted to know everything and see everything and do everything! They no longer needed diaper changing, formula, bottles or help going to the bathroom (well, for the most part). Most of the crying for attention, hunger, diaper changes, and sleep was gone and replaced with giggles, lots of playing, and cute sounds—as they learned to speak. They wanted to learn, loved to sing and act goofy, and thought helping with chores was a fun game!

Running an in-home daycare was a lot of fun! My son had playmates with whom he built a special bond, the parents became my friends (well not all, but most), and because I set my standards ahead of time, I had a lot of flexibility.

Long Hours, Tiring Days

While I really enjoyed being a daycare provider, there were times that the hours seemed longer than usual, especially when I was PMSing, had a major migraine, or was about to go on vacation. There were even times when I thought the day would never end because of a screaming or bratty child. But the truth of the matter was that I would have still had to work through those days with my own child, so adding a few other children didn’t seem that much harder.

Actually, there were a few difficult parents. I had one infant whose parents held that child from the minute they picked her up until she went to bed. It was hard caring for the other children in my care with an infant attached to my hips. I even had one parent who would come into my home, open up my refrigerator, and tell me what I was missing! Never mind the fact that the item I was missing was not on our meal schedule or the fact that it was still my house and she had no right to start opening up my kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, or other parts of my home.

Then there was the one parent I had to let go because she decided to play “hookie” too many times. Of course, she felt she didn’t have to notify or pay me for the days she took off. When I let her know that it was unacceptable, as I had a business to run, she never returned. In fact, I had to phone her to come and pick up her daughter’s belongings and photo album.

Hire A Professional

The biggest mistake I made my first year was during tax season. I went cheap and hired a tax preparer who knew nothing about the allowable deductions for licensed in-home daycare facilities. My taxes were a mess! To this day, I still don’t think I received every allowable deduction. (On a side note, I had a friend who tried to do her own taxes last year. She had herself owing $6,000 to the IRS. When her husband finally talked her into seeing a tax accountant, he found her error(s) and in the end, she received a refund!)

Save For Rainy Days

Another thing I learned that first year was that parents get laid off, fired, quit their jobs, or move. Often I received little or no notice that the child would not be returning on Monday—even with our contract. To file a suit for breach of contract with a small claims court would cost more in time and money, than to simply let it go. Of course, I would never tell a client that. You want your clients to believe you will enforce that contract, so they will keep his/her end of the bargain.

You should always have a reserve of money in a savings account for rainy days. A rainy day could be a late paying parent, a child leaving your care permanently, an emergency requiring you to take time off, or things needing immediate repair.

For some, running an in-home daycare facility is a dream come true; for others, it’s a nightmare that won’t end.

If you love children, structure, and want to be home with your young child, starting an in-home daycare may be your dream job. But if you don’t like kids enough to be around them all day, or you see yourself in a corporate office somewhere, traveling the world for important meetings, and dressing for success, this isn’t the right job for you.

As a daycare provider, you’ll find yourself wearing sweats, jeans, t-shirts and spit-up. Your meetings will consist of cooking, cleaning, diaper changes, potty breaks, chasing rug-rats, teaching new skills, singing songs, and entertaining children.

You’ll need to seem cheery and happy, even on your worst day. You’ll have to come to the door dressed and ready for work, and parents will expect you to greet their children with a smile and bubbly attitude.

Parents want to know you to love your job and will make their children will feel welcomed, loved, and special.

They want to be sure you aren’t spending your days sitting in front of the television set watching soap operas or sitting at the kitchen table with a phone glued to your ear.

Parents will expect your life to revolve around their children for the hours you are open. And they hate to pay you when they’re late—after all, it was the traffic’s fault, not theirs.

Unless you have wonderful parents, most won’t even bother with a “Thank you” or “You’re doing such a great job.”

But you aren’t there for the parents—you’re there for the children, and they will shower you will so much love you can’t see straight! Children have a way of turning bad days into good days, and even the most annoying child can leave you wondering why you thought he/she was such a difficult child in the first place.

If it’s a “Thank you” you’re looking for, children have plenty of them—in the form of smiles, giggles, the special way they look at you when they realize they belong, the hugs that come out of nowhere, and yes, they even say the words, “Thank You!”

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