Running a Day Care

Hi J.-

I had thought at one time to open a home daycare. You will need to contact Community Care Licensing which is run by CA. You can find the local office in your area or go online at ccld.ca.gov. They will give you a packet and guidlines of what is required, including insurance, background check for you and your hubby, etc.

If you have the time, some colleges or adult ed center offer a home daycare class. I took it and I realized it was not what I wanted to do. I realized I would be home on my own with up to 6 kids for 11-12 hours with no lunch break, etc. and others peoples kids making a mess of my new house. I found a daycare that was open crazy hours and worked nights while my hubby was home.

You must decide on the hours you will be open, # and ages of children to accept (licensing has requirements on this so check that), if you will transport places (ex: field trips, grocery store, park or before and after care for older kids). Call or visit other home daycares in the area to get an idea on the going rate, registration fees, late payment and late pick up fees, vacation and sick policies & payment credits, holiday closures, withdrawal notice, etc. I would also call daycare facilities to check out their rates and policies. You need to have a back up plan in case you are sick or when you will be gone on vacation. You also need to decide if you will provide meals or certain supplies and what you want the parents to provide. Once you make all these decisons, draw up a contract for the parents.

Other things to consider: Where will the children sleep (purchasing mats and cribs?), play, eat, etc. You may want some areas off limits so your house isn't messed up. What will the children play with (I would recommend separate toys from your daughters) and what type of curriculum will you offer (teacher supply stores sell preschool teaching books)Look into a small business loan so you can cover some of the basic supplies you will need to start off.

Hope this helped and good luck.

J.

Good for you!

Check with your local city services. You can go to or check you City's website and see if they have the zoning requirements and necessary licenses. Just FYI is you buy a house with a Homeowner's Association make sure they allow for home businesses, such as a childcare, because ours doesn't.

Hi J., I have been running my home daycare for 11 years, you dn't have to own your own home, many people run daycares out of their apartments, you hust have to have then sign a wrtten approval for you to run a daycare in their complex. You do have to be CPR Certified you also have to have a firstaid course, which is good for 3 years. you also have to have finger prints done or live scan, To start you need to attend an oreintation and at the oreintation they will give you all the inormation to get started, it's best if you have an area in your house for a daycare room, so it is seperate from your family, We use one side of our family room, we have a really large family room, we also have a backyard with a swingset, riding toys, basketball hoop (for kids )I also have a preschool curriculuim, I also do kendergarden rediness. If you have any other questions let me know. Are you guiys here in the San Diego Area? id so the next oreintation is September 25th you may want to go check it out and be ahead of the game. J. L.

You can contact your local social services agency and they can send you an entire packet on everything you will need to open a licensed day care facility out of your home.