Daycare at home?

[samy23]

I'm thinking about this and wanted to ask a few questions to those who have a home daycare. 1. Why did you decide to try a home daycare yourself? 2. How old was your own child/ren when you started doing it? 3. How many children did you start taking care of at first and how old were they? 4. How many do you take care of at your home daycare now? 5. Is this something you plan to do long term?

[gitanamama]

Hi there! I currently run a small home daycare and I'd love to share my experience.

1. I worked in childcare for a number of years before my son was born and have a BA in education. While I was pregnant, I worked as an assistant at someone else's home daycare and realized I could I easily open one of my own. I knew I wanted to stay home with my son but couldn't afford to do it without a source of income.

2. My son was 3 months old when I first started watching other kiddos--I had two 10 month olds at the beginning and slowly began adding more. 

3. Right now I watch between two and four kids (four is the legal limit here) between the ages of 9 months and 3 years (my own son is now 17 months.)

4. I go back and forth about whether I'll do this long term. I know I'd like to continue to do something similar until my kids are all school aged so that I can stay home with them (we only have 1 now but will be TTC again soon.) Eventually I would like to expand the business and rent a space outside my home, or rent a different house with a separate area for the business.

What I love about my job:

-getting to spend time with my son and earn an income. 

-my son has the benefit of being around other kids and being with me. 

What I don't love so much:

-it's really hard living and working in the same space--we have a very small house, so I feel like I live in a daycare (we have a plastic play structure in our living room!) Ideally, I'd like to have the childcare business in a separate part of the house, or even a garage or studio, but that's not doable for us right now. I also feel like I have to keep the house clean and organized all the time, which is really hard to do with a bunch of toddlers running around. 

-there's a lot more to running a business than just the hours I'm with the kids. I have to keep track of taxes and bills and other paperwork and put in at least an hour everyday cleaning up and preparing for the following day.

-it's hard on my hubby sharing our house with a bunch of wild little ones. When he comes home after work and needs to relax, there are usually kids still running around and making noise. And the parents usually like to linger when they come to pick up their kiddos, so we've lost a lot of privacy in our home.

-my day doesn't end at 5:00. This is the case with all mothers, but after taking care of young children all day, it's often hard for me to summon the energy and enthusiasm I need to take care of my own little guy. Childcare is draining!

I know the disadvantages list is larger than the advantages one, but I do really enjoy my job for the most part and I think it's the best option for this time in our lives. I hope my input is of some help to you--best of luck in your business venture!

[Alphaghetti]

Originally Posted by samy23 

I'm thinking about this and wanted to ask a few questions to those who have a home daycare. 1. Why did you decide to try a home daycare yourself? 2. How old was your own child/ren when you started doing it? 3. How many children did you start taking care of at first and how old were they? 4. How many do you take care of at your home daycare now? 5. Is this something you plan to do long term?

Hi there! A little late to the party, but I wanted to weigh in.  I have been doing home daycare since May, and I LOVE  it!  To answer your questions:

1. I decided to do home daycare after I began searching for a job, and realized that I couldn't find good, affordable child care for my own school aged kids.

2. My kids are/were 11, 9 and 7.  It is very important to me that I be home for them, and with them in summers and before and after school.

3. I currently care for three children at a time. I have four families, but two are part time. In my province, home daycares can take in up to five children at once, but that is personally just too much for me to manage personally.  The children I care for are between 15 months and 26 months in age.

4. I plan to do this for as long as my own children require adult supervision.  I may do it for forever, who knows? What other job can you wear yoga pants to work, commute to your coffee pot, play all day, get a tan in the summer, all the while being there for   your own kids?? 

WIN, WIN.

[emandbri]

1. Why did you decide to try a home daycare yourself?

It is something I've always considered.  When I bought my van 4 years ago I got one that seats 8 in case I did home child care.   I really kid, especially the baby and toddler stage.  I really miss babywearing, signs, etc.   When I was looking for care for my oldest, while we were still in college,  I would have LOVED to find someone to watch him who did AP and who didn't charge full time for a part time spot.  I actually gave up and we arranged our schedules so one of us was always home but then it took us longer to finish.    I'm hoping to find others like who need something like that. 

2. How old was your own child/ren when you started doing it?

I watched kids occasionally for friends' kids over the years but started really doing it last Jan at that time my kids were 14, 12, 7, and 4.  

3. How many children did you start taking care of at first and how old were they?

I started with my friend's kids.She needed care because she was leaving her husband and needed to work.  The girls were 4 and 10.  I watched the 4 year old full time and the 10 year old when she wasn't in school.   I watched them until April.    I then had foot surgery and needed time to recover.  When I felt up to it I put ads up on care.com and sittercity.com. 

I found a 1 year old and that family and I totally clicked!  My husband was in the other room during the interview and was shocked at home much I had in common with the mom, he didn't know I put an ad up specifically looking for a child to watch who had parents who did AP.  Unfortunately her dad lost his job.  

I then put an ad up on craigslist and found a 4 year old that I watch tues and thurs. 

4. How many do you take care of at your home daycare now?

Just the one, I have her for another few weeks, her mom graduates from collage and I think is planning to stay home with her over the summer and maybe look for a job when she starts kindergarten.  

5. Is this something you plan to do long term?

I don't know yet.  I would like to but if I can't find any kids to watch obviously it won't work!  I wanted to do part time but I'm considering full time after school is out. Right now I volunteer weekly in my daughter's kindergarten class and really want to keep doing it.     I'm also considering working in the school district but I'm not sure I can find something part time and really want to do part time.   I sometimes need to pick up my older two from after school activities so I need something flexible.  I also like that right now I can get stuff done during the day, laundry, grocery shopping, etc and have nights and weekends be family time.  I don't want a "real job" because I know if I did the kids would watch tv and play on the computer all day when they weren't in school.