Any suggestions/tips/hints/resources for starting a home child care? I have the certification and stuff all wrapped up (through the center on our base) and I have a ton (TON) of toys for ages birth-5. I'm looking more towards stories and suggestions from people who have done home child care and things like that.

Thanks!

No doubt you will have paid help... I don't care if its the Col. daughter, your best friend, have a total police check done. It may be the state law to do so, if not, tell the new help it is so their nose won't get out of joint...
Good luck.......

I actually don't plan to hire anyone to help. Won't get paid enough to afford to pay someone else

Hi, Mx2. I just returned from a Christmas visit with my son and family in "a place with palm trees and sunshine." There are also several military bases there....hmmm.

Anyway, my daughter-in-law does childcare also. She cares for 3 grade school children whose mothers work. The first are dropped off a 6:30 in the morning and the last is picked up at 6pm. When school is in session this isn't too bad but during school vacation it means that they are there all day. If you take care of young children whose mothers work, you will be expected have the children all day, everyday for 5 days a week year 'round. This can be difficult. If your own children get sick and need to go to the doctor or if you have to go to weekly therapy sessions for any of your own children, you will need to make arrangements for someone to care for these children while you are out of the house...double difficult. YOu will have to call each parent and ask permission to leave the children with someone else while you are gone. If the children are unruly, spoiled, or destructive, this is another problem because trying to rationalize with a pre-schooler can be difficult.

My daughter-in-law has the patience of Job and the ability live in a house that is messy and noisy all the time. I couldn't do it but if you can you will surely be a blessing to working mothers. Good luck in your venture.

DD

P.S. My daughter-in-law charges $50 per week per child and no refunds if the children are sick or absent for whatever reason. They get breakfast, lunch if they are there all day, and a snack after school if it is a school day. Hope this helps.

Thank you Dona, that was a big help

I've been a stay at home mom for the past 5 years (since I was 5 mo preg for my son) excluding a few months working at Old Navy and a few working in our old base's deli. So I am quite familiar with noise, messes, a house that is never quite clean, screaming kids, etc... you get the idea.

I will be authorized to have 6 kids over the age of 2 (including my children, who will both be other the age of 2 in April) and 2 under the age of 2. I plan to have 2 over the age of 2 in addition to my kids, and one under. More than that I fear would be too much, as our house is kind of small (especially once we add in all of the stuff the Family Child Care office gives me, like cubbies and sleep mats and a table and you get the idea!)

The fees are quite a bit higher than your DIL is getting--to begin, I get $135/kid/week. That is for full time children, but no matter what. The military member pays on a sliding scale depending on rank and income, and the Air Force pays the remainder. Also, the USDA provides a stipend for food (including for my own children, if they are here during care hours, which they will be most of the time).

My husband spoke to his first shirt and she has no problem with accomodating the occasional day where he has to be home so I can have an appt. Hopefully his future supervisors will be as kind. The FCC has a system of back up care providers, where I would watch kids for someone who has an appt, and then she'd do it for me. Hopefully that works in action as well as it sounds in theory.

So basically, based on what your DIL does, I think I have an understanding of what I am getting into, as I've already heard about those parts (the lady who does the FCC here is REALLY nice, and the office is literally across the street from my house so I have gone over a number of times to talk to her so far).

I guess I am just nervous. I would be for any new job starting, but doubly so given this is really a home based business and I determine the success or failure, I guess.

Thanks again, I appreciate your help

I made a mistake above. It's 6 kids total. Four over the age of 2 (including my own children) and 2 under two.

You are qualified and well prepared to do a great job. Good luck. DD

Thank you very much Dona. I haven't been feeling confident, but your post made me feel much better