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At the beginning of our pregnancies, we know it all. "Sure, I'm going back to work after I have the baby," we tell our husbands confidently. "I think I'll telecommute while I'm on maternity leave," we tell our bosses and assistants. And of course, "I'm sure that after two weeks at home, I'll be dying to go back," we tell our girlfriends. We never hear the snickering.
But as we near the ninth month, something happens. Maybe it's Mother Nature looking out for the best interests of all her little ones. Maybe it's the reality of the high cost of good childcare. Whatever causes the change inside of us, one thing is clear: we're not going back to work anytime soon. Maybe when the kids are in college. Or after they're married. But not now – didn't you see the nanny murder trial on television?
Then a new reality sets in – the one where we still have to pay the mortgage, buy groceries, put gas in the car, and hey, is a week in the Bahamas once a year really too much to ask? What's a conscientious mother to do? Opening a home daycare center can provide us with the financial stability we need and still let us spend time with our children.
Mothers Working From Home
"I just love to be
around children," says Jacqueline, a 35-year-old mother of four from Campbell, Ohio who started her own
home day care four years ago. "I feel children need more one-on-one care and attention than a center
setting can offer."
Lisa, 42, from Tampa Bay FL, decided to stay home after her second child was born. "Unfortunately, after a year the credit cards were maxed out, and I needed to bring in a paycheck," she says. She currently has three infants in her daycare. Her own children, now four and six, "are well mannered, well adjusted, giving and compassionate people. They share well, and can take no for an answer without any response," qualities Lisa sees as a direct result of her decision to work as a caregiver from her home.
How to Get Started
If you're considering opening a home day care, the first step is to contact your local licensing agency
and request a copy of the child care regulations, suggests Mariann Kosub, Director of the Cloverleaf
Child Development Center, in Millersville, Maryland. "Be an informed provider. Not only will the
preparation be good for you and your program, but it will show the licensing specialists that you care
about the law. Consider joining the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or
any of the other reputable national organizations to promote quality child care."
In addition to courses in child development and infant/toddler CPR and First Aid certification, Kosub recommends potential home day care providers enroll in management and small business courses to gain a better understanding of the business side of childcare.
Certification requirements vary from state to state. "Ideally, a caregiver should have as much training as possible," says Kosub. "At the barest minimum, I think that 90 clock hours of training is okay for assistants, but I'd like to see at least 120 hours. For lead caregivers, I prefer more coursework and experience." Child Development Associate certification is sponsored by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (http://www.cdacouncil.org/) a nationally recognized program that seeks to improve the quality of child care. Participants can be certified to run a variety of programs, including infants/toddlers, preschoolers and bilingual programs. The program requires:
- 120 clock hours of training in specific content areas
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- 480 hours of experience
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- Employment as a lead caregiver
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- Minimum age and high school completion/equivalency
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- CPR and first aid certification each year that a provider works
Certification candidates must also maintain a Personal Resource File of reference materials, parent questionnaires, a formal observation, interview and written assessment.
The cost is about $350 for a three-year certification. Not all states require that home day care providers maintain CDA certification, and it may seem like a lot of effort to invest-especially if the point is to be at home with your own children. But it makes good sense. If you were looking to place your child in a home day care, you would want the provider to have these qualifications. Your children will benefit from the skills you learn as well.
How Many Kids to Care For?
Once you have obtained the proper training and licensing, you'll need to determine how many children
you'll care for. The NAEYC recommends the following guidelines:
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The age group for which you'll be caring determines how structured your day care should be. "To require a schedule for a baby who doesn't understand why he cannot eat when he is hungry because it's 'not on the schedule' is simply insane; a baby should eat, sleep, and play when he wants to, not when a schedule dictates," says Kosub. But older babies and toddlers will appreciate some scheduled activities "because they rely on transitional cues to move from activity to activity during their exploration. Songs, for example, help a great deal to establish consistency in the routine and regular times for meals such as lunch also contribute to the child's sense of routine."
The need for structure increases with age, so if you'll be caring for older children, there should be a set schedule each day. Kosub suggests scheduling time for "free play" each day, as well as time for art, outdoor play and circle activities. "Under no circumstances should an elementary type classroom, with desks and tight schedules, be used for children under the age of six in child care; it simply isn't developmentally appropriate," she says.
Plusses and Minuses
Although both Lisa and Jacqueline find their work personally rewarding, they admit that it leaves
something to be desired professionally. "People don't see what I do as professional. Until they do, it
will not be rewarding to me professionally," says Jacqueline. "A lot of people don't see what I do as a
full time job or even a job. They tell me, 'You're just a babysitter – how hard can that be?' The
parents of the children don't understand why I need all the paper work that I need on each child."
"My children want to do things with me, and we can't," says Lisa. "My husband gets three weeks of vacation, and I have lost children because I want to take one week unpaid."
But both women agree that despite the hardships, the benefits of running a home day care are many. "The hugs from a day care baby, or the smile after a little one burps and is ready for a nap are priceless," says Lisa.
Jacqueline adds, "Just to see the children smile and watch them grow ... knowing I helped in this part of their lives is the best reward I could ever receive."
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ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary
Child Care Information Exchange
ABCs of Safe and Healthy Child Care
The Early Childhood Education Online Website
White House Conference on Child Care
Child Care Online (Canada)
USA Child Care
National Child Care Net
Preschool Teacher
Early Childhood Today |
