Can i care for children in my home

Also, make sure that they have toys that are "just theirs" that they can keep in their bedrooms and go play with and not be expected to share them. How does your spouse feel about it? A supportive husband will make doing child care in your home much easier. Decide what's important to you and write your contracts and policies. Get ready to market your business. Make a flyer on your computer, print or buy your own business cards, check out the price of newspaper ads for your area.

Word of mouth is probably the best advertising. Tell people that you are starting child care in your home, ask them to help you spread the word, and ask them to give your name and phone number to prospective clients.

It has lots of great ideas for ways to market your business. It will tell you what items are deductible business expenses, and tell you the best way to keep records for your business.

He also puts out a book each year that takes you through the steps of doing your taxes, you may wish to purchase that book. The tax book usually comes out in January of each year.

What kinds of toys will you need? Simple, versatile toys are the best. Blocks, dolls, play dishes, toy cars, puppets, children's books, puzzles, dress-up clothes this can be anything-old Halloween costumes, old clothes etc. For outside, balls, jump ropes, and hula hoops are good, and can be used in many different ways.

Riding and push toys, a sandbox, and toy tractors and trucks are also a great addition for the outside environment.

Garage sales and dollar stores such as Dollar Tree are often a great source for toys. You will also want some simple arts and crafts materials such as paper, glue, pencils, markers, and crayons.

You can add more toys and arts and crafts materials as you go. Find out if there is a child care resource and referral office in your area. They can offer great resources for your business, and can list you in their database of child care providers.

The one in my area also has a great toy lending library. Most important of all, be prepared to be professional. If you present yourself as a professional, parents will respect you more, and it will make your new adventure much easier. Product has been added to your wishlist. You can view your wishlist by creating or login account. Home-based programs provide a more flexible, less structured environment, and might be next door or down the street.

Unlicensed home-based programs are often just as good as licensed ones, but your child is not protected by provincial regulations, such as those related to fire safety and playground equipment standards.

The best ways to ensure your child will get quality care is to visit during operating hours and talk with parents whose children are already enrolled. Many centre and home-based caregivers offer part-time care, but if you only need care for a portion of the day or week, you may want to consider other options. Start your search early, months before you go back to work or in some places even before your baby is born.

Here are some questions to get started:. Once you have found a few potential caregivers or centres, phone them or check their website to answer some basic questions. Plan to visit the ones that fit your criteria. Before making a decision, check references and talk to parents whose children have been enrolled for a while.

Last updated: February Child care: Making the best choice for your family Whether you work full-time, a few hours a week or have other outside commitments, choosing child care is an important decision. Good caregivers: Understand how children grow and develop. Provide children with a stimulating environment and many ways to learn. Work with you and listen to your concerns.

Want to help your child reach any goals that you have set. A good child care setting: Is clean, safe and has a small number of children per staff member. Has staff who are professionally qualified, fully immunized, and have had police background checks.

Has areas for indoor and outdoor play. Has a quiet space for rest or naps. Is smoke-free, both outside and inside. Has a variety of safe toys and equipment that is cleaned regularly and kept in good condition. Serves nutritious meals and snacks. Allows you to drop in, unannounced, for short periods of time.

Ensures that inactive screen time is not part of routine activities. What is the difference between a centre-based and home-based program? What about part-time care? Some families choose a combination of different types of care. Office of Personnel Management recommends class sizes up to 12 for toddlers in daycare centers. Assuming those warm, responsive interactions between caregiver and child, the lower ratio is ideal.

In-home daycares also cater to a wider age group, which makes it easier for siblings to be together. And typically there are only one or two teachers. While anecdotes abound of in-home daycares operated by teacher parents who opted to stay home with their own children, Dr. Glenn-Applegate notes that in-home child care providers tend to have less education than those in daycare centers.

Reputable in-home daycare programs are licensed to operate on a state-by-state basis and will have to pass an inspection process to ensure their home is safe for children.

Parents should confirm the license is up-to-date and that the facility is following state guidelines. Most states also offer a searchable database of licensed in-home child care facilities, and local nonprofit child care-focused agencies also assist parents in finding a match for their in-home care needs.

Nonetheless, Dr. Glenn-Applegate notes that personal recommendations will typically trump a web search. Parents should also confirm that a desired facility is adhering to "safe sleeping" regulations.

According to Holly Flanders, founder of Choice Parenting , a New York metro area-based consultancy firm that aids families in finding child care solutions, each state has different ratios for safe sleeping numbers, ensuring infants have access to a safe crib "and not be nodding off in a chair or bouncy or swing. Equally important are the facility's policies toward caregiver emergencies. At a larger daycare center, staff members who fall ill or otherwise require time off function within a pool of other caregivers able to step into the classroom on short notice.

Parents should clarify how the home-based care responds to such emergencies and the timeline in which parents are notified. These are all things to be looking for.