Childcare WAHMs?

[seraph]

I'm thinking about doing childcare out of my house. I've worked for home daycares and taught preschool, and I have taken ECE classes. However, it's been almost 10 years since I last worked in childcare, so probably the laws have changed since then. How hard is it to get a license these days? I'm also concerned about how it will affect my daughter. She's 4 months old now and used to having all my attention focused on her all the time. Will it be a hard transition for her?

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I;m not a childcare mama, but have to put my $.02 in anyway, LOL! I think that the laws to get licensed for in-home daycare are very strict, you have to go through a probabtion period and your house is routinely inspected. Also, I think you have to have tons of insurance (in case the kid gets hurt at your house). In all honestly, there are probably easier ways you can stay home and make money, LOL!

[LizHarrison]

I have not done day care in a LONG time, but I would recommend you call your local office of child care.. I think they have a web page I will seee iff I can find it foryou.

Liz

[LizHarrison]

Going by were you are

http://www.rrnetwork.org/calchildcar...nty.php?ID=888


and http://www.rrnetwork.org/calchildcar...nty.php?ID=990

HTH,
Liz

[Stugroupie]

Seraph, I am also looking into starting a home day care. I am checking out IL state licensing requirements. I decided to start with only one additional child part time just to see how things go. I don't have the extensive child care background like you do. I just want to make sure I don't get overwhelmed, you know? I've just gotten used to taking care of the house & dh with one little one around! My son is now 7 months, so he is not needing my attention like he used to.

So, it has been a few months. Did you start a home day care? Any tips or suggestions?

How much are you planning to charge? I was talking with one mom who was needing child care that I would charge $3 per hour and she said that was really high. I thought that sounded reasonable. But I am just learning...

[marisa]

I did childcare out of my home for a while. I found it very overwhelming. I worked as a preschool teacher for many years before I had my first child, and then planned to watch them in my home after the birth. I felt so different about watching kids after I had my own child. I felt like I couldn't really devote the amount of attention that I wanted to my own sweet boy, and I wasn't as patient as the other children deserved. I was tired, stressed and by the time my husband got home, I was a wreck. I burned out quickly. Also, I charged $100 a week, and this was a pretty fair rate for full time. In fact, I should've charged more.

[Staceyhsmom1]

I am quitting homedaycare in a month or two..am waiting to give notice. I did it for 7 years. I started slow, with one to three kiddies, then got busy and even more busy, needing a helper, now I am slow again with 2 kiddies.
I always had special situations. When I was the busiest, I did field trips, preschool activiites, the works.
When my son was in 1st grade we decided to homeschool him and at the time no daycare was coming on Fridays, so any new clients were told we weren't open on Fridays(So I could do group activities/field trips with my son)...what I'm getting at is my daycare changed to reflect the needs of me and my family....I now only have 2 kiddies, but I also have a 10 month old baby myself(which is partly why I'm quitting)
I always had awesome parents, if there iffy, don't take them! You need to know you're in charge, you make the rules, not the parents.
Issues for me were traveling, making timely payments, sick baby policies.
I highly recommend About.com's daycare/preschool community, it is very friendly, supportive and full of new as well as tried and true ideas. That community got me thru alot!