Five Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Home Daycare

Starting and running an in-home daycare business can seem like a great way to earn money while staying home with your kids. If you avoid some common mistakes that new home daycare providers make, your business can be a success. There are a number of articles online that tell you what you should do but not many tell you how to avoid the pitfalls. Learn from my experiences, and you will be able to run a successful home daycare from the beginning!

1. Not doing research on state laws and requirements

You need to decide if you want to be licensed or not. Either way, there are certain requirements the state has that you need to follow. Most states now have all the information you need on the government website. Read them and become familiar with them. If you choose to be unlicensed, find out what paperwork you are still required to keep, such as permission forms, contracts, ect.

2. Taking kids in before your home is ready

Although you may be anxious to get started taking in kids, you need to have your home ready. Decide what parts of the home will be used for childcare. In my home, that is the living room, hallway, downstairs bathroom, and kitchen. Once you know where the kids will be, childproof those areas. Keep medications out of reach, preferably in a locked cupboard. Make sure kids cannot access cleaning supplies. Use plug guards.

You also want to make your home inviting to the children. Hang colorful posters on the wall. Choose a space to put up artwork the kids do. Keep toys in reach of the kids, and DVDs and other "no-no's" out of reach of the little ones.

3. Taking children before your paperwork is ready

Depending on your state requirements, tax requirements, and how you choose to run your daycare, you will need certain paperwork. Common things you need are: Contract, Handbook, Travel Permission Form, Medication Permission Form, and Medication Log. I use all of these and more. I had no idea how much paperwork I needed to make sure I wouldn't be liable in cases of injuries or accidents. The forms you will need can be found online or you can make your own.

If you take in children before the paperwork is ready and signed by the family, you could end up in a situation where the family decides they don't like your terms after all and pulls the kids (often not paying you what is owed). You would also have increased liability in cases of injuries and accidents.

4. Taking your friends or neighbor's children

It can occasionally work to take your friend or neighbor's children, but usually it causes problems for your business or relationship. Some common issues that come up are: parents pick up the children late or bring them early, parents feel they don't need to abide by the contract or the rules in the Handbook because you are friends, and payments are made late.

If you do take kids from a family you know, keep the business stuff separate from your friendship. Make sure all paperwork is signed before taking the kids. Be upfront with the parents about your rules and expectations. Have a ready-made excuse in case you need to sever the business relationship.

5. Not making time for your kids and family

If you have young children or homeschool, your kids are accustomed to a certain amount of attention and interaction from you. Once you start your daycare that will change significantly. This is a difficult transition for your kids. Expect some behavior difficulties as they adjust. Make some time to spend alone with them each day. I made a commitment to spend a half hour with my daughter each day playing a game without anything competing for my attention.

Have a family day- that is one day a week where there are no daycare kids, no adult friends visiting, just a day for the family. This is necessary to re-energize yourself, let yourself and family just relax, and reconnect with each other. If you have a spouse, be sure to schedule time each day to catch up with each other, and a date night at least every other week without any kids.