I’ve just found a new blog started by a home daycare provider called Mary (great name

Here’s what she wrote:

“Hi, I’m Mary and new to this site…. so bear with me while I test some things out.

I’m happily married for 8 yrs now and have 3 children. I’m a licensed in-home daycare provider.

Hopefully, I won’t bore you with my blogs!!

Mary”

You can see the blog here: I am Mary

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just been reading a MySpace blog by *Sweetness* who’s just about to open a home daycare.

Here’s an excerpt from her blog post:

“Just a little update. Life is okay, one day at a time. The boys are growing like mad crazy. My youngest is FINALLY running around. Joe will be home in a couple months. We can hardly wait. Lots of plans when he gets home. Including a visit from his mom and step-dad. I am now going through the process of opening a home daycare since it was so hard to keep a sitter when I was working at COX. The boys are going to be starting their own activities.”

You can read the whole thing here: Life

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just been reading about yet another new home daycare provider. It looks like this home daycare business is really catching on with mothers like Kristyn. And it’s easy to understand why when you’re both staying home with the kids and running a fun and stimulating business.

Here’s an excerpt from Kristyn’s blog post:

“It was great to be able to help out with camp in a way that didn’t require me to be away from Abby, and it was great practice for when I start my home daycare in June. And I now know for sure that I won’t take more than four kids at a time, at least while Abby is still a baby!!”

You can read the whole thing here: How Does Seven Under Four Sound To You?

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just been reading about yet another new home daycare provider. It looks like this home daycare business is really catching on with mothers like Kristyn. And it’s easy to understand why when you’re both staying home with the kids and running a fun and stimulating business.

Here’s an excerpt from Kristyn’s blog post:

“It was great to be able to help out with camp in a way that didn’t require me to be away from Abby, and it was great practice for when I start my home daycare in June. And I now know for sure that I won’t take more than four kids at a time, at least while Abby is still a baby!!”

You can read the whole thing here: How Does Seven Under Four Sound To You?

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just been reading about yet another new home daycare provider on a message board and this time she’s only 18 years old. Her story’s really interesting. It just shows you that you can overcome most obstacles, such as age, if you really want your own home daycare bad enough.

Here’s the orginal post:

“Hello, I am preparing myself to open a home-based daycare center! I am very excited, but worried. I’m young, 18, and have one child of my own 18 months, and I love children A LOT! I’m scared that my age will make parents not want to trust me! I rent to own my own home, and am engaged to be married! So could you please give me some tips on how to stay positive, my only defense is that I’m a GOD fearing woman, whom because of my age makes it very easy to get down and play with the kids, unlike other daycare providers! Also, I was wondering if you could help me by telling me some of the things I need to look out for, for the home inspections! Thanks so much, Ashly”

You can read the whole thread here: Just beginning

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just been reading a blog post written by lilkimm, a very defiant mother who’s determined to stay at home with her child.

I recommend you read her post: it’s really quite inspiring.

Here’s an excerpt:

“I dropped off my “not returning” letters to both my previous jobs this week.
I knew I wasnt going to go back from the time Elianna was about 4 months old.
I can not imagine another person looking after MY daughter.
“I am” not ready to have her left alone without me.

I’ve decided I’m going to do home daycare.
I think it should be MY right to stay home and raise my child.
I know A Lot of people dont agree with that but I don’t care, lol.
I’ve been told “oh you’ll regret not putting her in day care while she’s young”
Well I don’t care, it’s my choice.”

You can read the whole thing here: Not returning to Work !!!

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just found a forum post by another new home daycare provider.

Here’s the original post:

“Hey ladies,

Well, I”m almost open and I’m so excited!!!

Here is my new website, I’ve been working hard on it.

www.ourcircleoffriendschildcare.com

I have 1 client and a few waiting until I’m licensed.”

You can read the whole thread here: I’m Almost Open

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just been reading a forum thread where daycare providers talk about how they got started. It includes some interesting and useful info.

Here’s the original post:

“Hi Tara!

Seeing as you’re in Ontario also, I was wondering how you got started in doing your Day Care business?

As I told you before, my DS is in day care full time as part of a therapeutic referral… to be around other kids to help with his speech etc….

Anyway, I’ve been thinking that instead of paying someone else; why can’t I do the same thing for DS and get paid to do it? LOL

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
_________________
Kim”

You can read the whole thing here: How’d You Get Started?

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

I’ve just found a great fact sheet about starting a home daycare business called “Growing Ideas: Caring For Young Children - Business Matters” produced by the University of Maine.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Caregivers or business owners?

Family childcare providers are both. Caring for and educating young children is important and rewarding work. Understanding how to operate a family childcare business helps provide the income and working environment needed for program success.
Why develop business skills?

When family childcare providers consider themselves professionals, it influences how they and others view and respect their role as educators. Being aware of and developing business skills is part of that professional role. Good business skills can save time and money, reduce stress, and support smooth functioning of a program. Creating a “business toolkit” can help.”

You can read the whole thing here: Growing Ideas: Caring For Young Children - Business Matters

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below:

Here’s a great article all about preparing your home for starting a home daycare:

CHILD CARE HOME: PREPARING YOUR HOME

Jana Funk
Extension Home Economist
Oklahoma State University

Copyright/Access Information

Is your home child-proof, comfortable, and inviting? Be certain that all areas, indoors and outdoors, are safely child-proofed. Put all items that are breakable out of the reach of the children in your care. This can be done by safely locking these items in closets or putting them on high inaccessible shelves. Poisonous plants should be removed from the home. All toys should be stored on shelves, not in toy boxes. Toys stored on shelves are more appealing to youngsters. Also, when toys have a special place on a shelf, children learn to take care of them instead of just throwing them in a box.

Play materials, furniture, and outdoor equipment should be checked daily for loose parts or any safety hazards. All broken toys should be fixed or removed from the children’s play areas. Carefully define the areas that are used for your child care home business. These usually include the living room and/or dining room. Some areas are for family use only. You may decide against using bedrooms and offices. Some areas like the kitchen and bathroom are used for both child care and family.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

The caregiver must have adequate toys and play equipment to meet the needs of all the children. Toys help the children grow, develop, and learn. If you care for toddlers, it is recommended that you purchase at least two of each toy to encourage play and to avoid problems with sharing.

As children get older, toy storage is more important. Open shelves are better than a toy box because children can see the toys more easily. One of the ways a child learns is by making choices. If all of the toys can be seen, the child can make choices without putting all of the toys on the floor.

Depending on the ages of the children you keep, the equipment you need will vary. Child-size tables and chairs can be used for a variety of activities as well as meal and snack time. Each child should have his own bedding, even if you use your own family’s beds. A diapering area close to a sink makes sanitizing easy after each diapering. For older children provide a step-stool for sinks and toilet. Do you have an outdoor play area you can use? A hard surface is nice if you have wheeled toys, although soft-surface areas are of equal importance.

BASIC EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS FOR CHILD CARE:

* child-sized table and chairs
* individual sleeping places
* diapering area
* space
* art materials
* water and sand
* assorted toys and blocks
* children’s books
* games, puzzles, vehicles, dolls
* props for pretend play
* music
* baby furniture
* storage area

OPENING A CHILD CARE HOME

The following procedures will assist you in opening a child care home. Call the Department of Human Services. Get a copy of the Family Day Care Home Standards Booklet and review it. If you are interested in becoming licensed, you must:

a. Obtain TB tests for adults and immunization records for children who are members of your household.

b. Have proof of rabies and other required vaccination for each dog and cat.

c. Contact the local fire department and have an inspection made of your home, if required in your community. A portable fire extinguisher suitable for Class A, B, or C fires with gauge must be available in the kitchen area.

After you have completed the above requirements, contact your licensing worker and make and appointment for an inquiry visit. Make a list of questions for the licensing consultant. The consultant will have helpful ideas on how to make your home safe, comfortable, and fun for children.

ZONING REQUIREMENTS

Check on zoning requirements in your area. Your DHS licensing consultant can help you. You may also get information from your public library or city hall. Generally speaking, rural areas do not have zoning restrictions.

Questions to ask my licensing consultant:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Things I plan to change or add to my home for child care:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

DOCUMENT USE/COPYRIGHT
National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension Service
Children Youth and Family Educational Research Network. Permission is granted to reproduce
these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only (not for profit beyond the cost of
reproduction) provided that the author and Network receive acknowledgment and this notice is
included.

Talk soon,
Mary Nightingale

P.S. Thousands of future or current home daycare providers just like you have already signed up to my ‘how to start a home daycare’ newsletter. It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I may cap signups soon, but for the time being you can still join. Don’t worry, it’s free. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail below: