https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 31 May 2026 16:53:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839049 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:41:57 +0000 annem1990 2839049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: Also, if you are wary of having to be stuck to a 5 days/week, 10 hours/day schedule, find parents who have more flexibility. We travel a lot and it's amazing to be able to work in such a flexible way. If that's important to you, be upfront about it and perhaps seek parents who work part-time, from home or different shifts than their spouse. If you find a family that needs super consistent care and you cannot take a random week off (with plenty of notice of course) then it probably isn't a good fit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839047 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:37:41 +0000 annem1990 2839047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had other children in my home on a weekly, scheduled basis. I also have brought my son to another person's house and was paid to watch those children as well. I liked both for different reasons. I do have an extensive childcare background as well as a Bachelors in Elementary Education, which I think is a huge advantage for finding families. I have used local FB groups and playgroups, rather than Care.com to find families. Everyone has to pay on Care.com now and it just seems it is far less used.</p> <p>Because you are looking at having only a small # of children, you need to ask what that family/families are expecting. My families have never expected a super rigid routine. I do crafts, projects, sensory stuff on my own will, but I've never had a specific routine. You need to decide what kind of expectations you are willing to work with. Do you want to have a strict schedule? Look for families who want that and will appreciate it. Do you want a more relaxed, "home-like" experience? Find someone who prefers that. Personally, I like a more relaxed vibe, but not everyone agrees. This does not mean we sit in front of the TV all day, however. My advice: if you don't get a great vibe from the parents, it's probably not worth pursuing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839043 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:28:44 +0000 Ajsmommy 2839043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use an inhome and one thing that we really really liked was that she had a packet printed out that she gave us when meeting that had all of her rules and guidelines. Her hours, her days off, her sick/vacation time, sick policy. Key things we wanted to know specifically included: naps, outside time, discipline, routine and I wanted to see the areas in which my kids would be. She has it set up in her living room/kitchen area and naps are in a separate/quiet/dark area. She had a fenced yard with kid friendly toys.</p> <p>ETA: ours is open from 7a-5p and she doesn't "do" any education...she does art projects sometimes </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839042 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:18:02 +0000 josina 2839042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have always done in-home daycare...<br /> Structure/a daily schedule is key... the kids play/nap/eat/etc. at the same time everyday.<br /> Safety... No pool. Door locks. Fenced-in backyard.<br /> A monthly schedule with any dr. appointments, early closes, etc. noted well in advance. My biggest complaint about our in-home is her frequent early-closures for dance classes or football practice for her kiddos. It is one of the things we put up with for in-home though.<br /> Price - should be cheaper than a center or licensed daycare.</p> <p>I'd also be concerned with how long you're going to run the daycare? If your son is 4 and your home-schooling how long will you do daycare? I wouldn't want to put a 1 year old in only to have you close a year later.</p> <p>ETA. For you have a clear set of rules... if a LO isn't going to be there you need to know by x time. Will you charge for absent days? Vacation days for yourself (how many a year, any paid). If parents are late to pick up charging $X/minute. Minimum amount of hours / week?<br /> Our 1st daycare did get paid holidays (Christmas, Easter, 4th of July). Current one does not. We pay $1/minute for being late. Minimum of 15 hrs /week / child. Paid every Friday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839041 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:16:52 +0000 smuckers 2839041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally forgot to include my perspective as a mom now, lol.</p> <p>EDIT: You aren't asking if I would consider you, so I'm going to change this answer. Also it just felt like I was being super negative on re-read and that's not what I was going for.</p> <p>Important things for us were: flexible hours, good routine/structure, transparency, safe facility, reliability, and a pay rate for non-full time (ugh this eliminated so many freaking places; we were only looking for part time and most daycares required us to pay the full time fee regardless) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839039 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:13:18 +0000 smuckers 2839039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was younger, my mom ran a licensed in-home daycare. I have amazing memories from her running it, and would honestly love to do it myself some day. She started it for the same reason you are: she wanted to stay home but still earn some money. It ended up being a huge passion of hers that she did for almost a decade, well after we were in school.</p> <p>So, from that perspective: there were 5 kids, age range was 6 weeks to 4 years old. Craft time was never about daycare kids joining us; it was about us joining the daycare kids. She usually had the same craft for all ages, modified for ability. She made healthy/organic meals and snacks, and the parents got the next week's menu on the Wednesday before. Each child had a worksheet that explained their day left in their cubby for parents at the end of every day. Discipline was a time out chair, time out for as many minutes as their ages (clock started after they stopped yelling/fussing after they were old enough to understand that restriction). No TV time allowed except for the bigger kids during nap time with parental permission (1 hour maximum). She had a strict sick policy, including for us (we were relegated to our bedrooms if we were sick... no living room or TV time, as it was the 90s and we only had 1 TV). She was usually open during snow days, and had very flexible hours (we were in Northern New Jersey at the time, almost all of the parents worked in NYC so this was an important thing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839037 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:02:23 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2839037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did home daycare from when our son was 12-18 months old and I really wasn’t concerned at all about a curriculum or philosophy. We chose home care to mimic our home dynamic when DS was that young so simple activities and outdoor time, accommodating nap schedule and mealtimes, etc. I did want to see sample menu ideas and what to do about allergies, as well as a rough daily schedule and outings/playgroups/activities. I wanted to know who else would be in and out of the house during the day. Police record checks for our provider and her husband were provided, as well as a handbook of policies. Things like the pay schedule, how we paid, rules for sick kids, her vacation time and sick policy, etc. It was about 5 pages and looked like she had consulted a lawyer or template to put it together. </p> <p>I’m your case I would likely only have kids around your child’s age to minimize the restrictions on the day. If you go much younger, you’ll need to adapt to the younger kids restrictions and not have flexibility. Higher chance the kids would play together well too. Personally I wouldn’t be keen on an unlicensed, informal environment knowing it’s basically a side job for the provider, but I think it could work. I would definitely do a 2 week trial after an interview.</p> <p>ETA: what about liability if one of the kids gets hurt in your care? Not sure how that works but even informal care I would make sure you have your legal stuff organized. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839036 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:01:42 +0000 snowjewelz 2839036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ultimately decided against in-home care vs center, but a lot of it is just that I really value policies/structure/protocols, etc. </p> <p>So personally, I was the most interested in like sick policies, safety (access to areas in the house), what happens if you're sick or your own kid is sick, what schedule do you follow (public school schedule, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839033 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 08:52:31 +0000 periwinklebee 2839033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd want to know more about the curriculum/materials/activities. What's your philosophy? Where will you get your inspiration? Personally I would prefer an answer that points to a specific method, like NAEYC standards (for choosing age appropriate materials)/etc. Different people have different preferences, but I think something more thought out and mindful about meeting the individual needs of the child than joining in the projects you do with your LO is important. Also, what's the daily routine - outdoor time, naps, etc? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2839016 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 07:17:51 +0000 erinbaderin 2839016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would want to see menus and more examples of what you planned to do with kids - saying you’d have the other children join in if they were old enough concerns me. What if they weren’t old enough? A lot of kids that old are in kindergarten so odds are that your kids will be younger, I would think. </p> <p>I guess based purely on what you’ve said here I would be concerned that you don’t really want to do this, you just want some extra money, and having some other kids around while you keep your son entertained seems like a good way to make some cash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2838999 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 05:16:58 +0000 hellobeeboston 2838999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: do you have an area and set up for naps? Would you provide a list of what food you’re going to serve? Think about food allergies also, and be sure to find out before they start. </p> <p>Since you’re sounding wary about the full long days already, have you considered more of an after school type set up? I know about 20 people in my area looking for help after preschool and school, it still ends up being about 25-30 hours a week for commuting parents.... but that way you would have the mornings to yourself. Just a thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2838996 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 04:36:45 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2838996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m having the best experience right now using Care to find childcare, and it’s changed my mind about nannies and in home care a bit. :happy: The one thing I have always liked about daycare though is the academic part of the curriculum. LO reviews concepts like yesterday/ today/ tomorrow everyday with his class when they go over the day of the week and weather. Man, I tell you if he asks for something that we just cannot fit into the evening and I tell we will do it tomorrow when we get home he understands and is satisfied. I’d also want to how what outdoor time would be like- field, playground, toy cars etc? How will you handle naps? How will you handle discipline?</p> <p>Ten hours wouldn’t be long enough for me. Our daycare opens at 6 am and closes at 6:30 pm. When I’m not running late I drop off LO before 6:30 am, and I pick up no earlier than 5:30 pm. </p> <p>Yes, just the same way parents tour and even can test out daycare (mine gave you two freebie days) you could suggest a trial run. Or ask to be interviewed in the parents home and observe. Set up a code of behavior that parents acknowledge that gives you flexibility to part ways if a child is not good fit for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/running-an-in-home-daycare#post-2838993 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 02:24:02 +0000 Hypatia 2838993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're considering starting an in-home daycare to bring in extra money. We would just keep two kids in addition to our own, so that we wouldn't have to be licensed (and with just me there I wouldn't want more than that really). </p> <p>We have a fairly large house with a playroom (certain rooms or areas can be gated off if need be). We have a big backyard. I'm CPR certified. I'd include breakfast, lunch and a snack. I'm starting to do more crafty preschool learning activities with my four year old (who will be homeschooled), so I'd have the other children join in if they were old enough. </p> <p>What would you like to see in an in-home daycare that I haven't listed?</p> <p>How can I go about finding out if a kid is a good fit for us? Should we do some sort of trial period? I don't want to be stuck with a kid who destroys everything they see or who bites or bullies, etc. </p> <p>I am wary of the commitment of being tied down to a ten hours a day, five days a week schedule...but being able to make money while staying home would really help us out right now. I'd love to hear your thoughts. </p>