How to Start a Home-Based Day-Care Business, 4th

by Shari Steelsmith

• ISBN13: 9780762727612
• ISBN10: 0762727616
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: Globe Pequot

Summary

This guide tells readers what it takes to start a home-based day-care business, including information on getting licensed, setting policies, and managing cash flow.

Author Biography

Shari Steelsmith is a freelance writer and editor specializing in topics on family and early childhood education. She lives near Mt. Rainier, Washington.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
Chapter 1 Family Child Care-Is It for Me?	1	(20)
The Benefits of Family Child Care	1	(1)
Is This for Me?	2	(1)
Kinds of Family Child-Care Providers	3	(1)
How Is a Family Child Care Different from Other Kinds of Care?	4	(2)
Styles of Family Child Care	6	(1)
Do You Have the Room?	7	(2)
Take Inventory of Your Skills and Experience	9	(3)
Are You Willing to Run and Maintain a Business?	12	(4)
Outfitting a Family Child Care on a Budget	16	(2)
The Three Most Common Reasons a Family Child Care Doesn't Succeed	18	(2)
Visit a Provider	20	(1)
Chapter 2 Starting Out	21	(30)
Where to Start	21	(1)
The Next Step: Licensing and/or Registration	22	(4)
The Basic Components of Licensing	26	(19)
Planning to Make a Profit	45	(4)
It's Not Really as Hard as It Sounds	49	(2)
Chapter 3 Policies and Procedures	51	(30)
Enrollment Records and Policies	51	(2)
Setting Your Fees	53	(5)
Termination Policy	58	(1)
Hours of Operation	59	(1)
Holiday Schedule	59	(1)
Vacations	60	(1)
When the Children (or You) Get Sick	60	(2)
Meals	62	(1)
Guidance or Discipline	63	(1)
Other Policies You May Wish to Consider	64	(17)
Chapter 4 Your Daily Schedule	81	(34)
Age-Mix of the Children	81	(1)
Your Background and Training	82	(1)
Your Temperament	82	(1)
Devising a Daily Schedule	82	(1)
Mealtimes: An Essential Part of the Day	82	(8)
Naptime	90	(1)
Free Play	91	(8)
Structured Time	99	(6)
Special Events	105	(4)
Storytime	109	(6)
Chapter 5 Fun Activities for Children	115	(28)
Language Activities	116	(3)
Science Activities	119	(3)
Learning Games	122	(3)
Movement Activities	125	(2)
Cooking and Snack Activities	127	(2)
Music Activities	129	(3)
Art Activities	132	(3)
Personal Safety Activities	135	(8)
Chapter 6 Positive Guidance Tools	143	(32)
Children's Developmental Ages and Stages	144	(3)
Discipline/Guidance Techniques	147	(5)
Increasing Good Behavior	152	(3)
Decreasing Difficult Behavior	155	(7)
Fostering Good Social Skills	162	(3)
Where to Go When a Child Needs More Help Than You Can Give	165	(1)
Ten Common Guidance Problems	166	(9)
Chapter 7 Back to Business	175	(44)
Generating Enrollment	175	(11)
Screening Parents and Children	186	(1)
Setting Up Your Office	186	(4)
Computer and Printer	190	(1)
Using the Internet as a Resource	191	(4)
Record Keeping	195	(24)
Chapter 8 Solving Common Problems	219	(16)
Problems with Parents	219	(8)
Problems with Your Family	227	(4)
Problems with a Multi-Age-Mix of Children	231	(2)
Minimizing Interruptions	233	(2)
Chapter 9 Planning for the Future	235	(26)
Small Versus Large License	235	(1)
Your Physical and Emotional Well-Being	236	(1)
Planning for a Substitute	237	(2)
Hiring an Assistant	239	(7)
Increasing Your Fees	246	(3)
Networking: The Importance of Being Well Connected	249	(2)
Planning for Accreditation	251	(2)
Setting Goals	253	(5)
A Word About Professionalism	258	(2)
A Wish for Success	260	(1)
Appendix	261	(24)
Publications	261	(5)
Mail-Order Catalogs for Publications and Other Products	266	(2)
Software	268	(1)
Professional Organizations and Associations	268	(2)
State Child Care Home Pages/Information on Licensing	270	(2)
Sample Forms and Worksheets	272	(13)
Index	285	(7)
About the Author	292