[H1449]How To Open A Home Daycare

Your prospective clients (the parents) will have many questions and concerns when it comes to choosing the right daycare provider for their children. This is a given. You, as the caregiver, will also have some questions and concerns that you would like to voice to the parents. Sadly, there are times when parents are not receptive to the issues that daycare providers raise. It is also true that the daycare provider may feel unable to communicate the issues properly, simply because their livelihood is at stake if they ask too many questions of the parents.

Here are the top eight issues that you need to make sure parents are aware of:

(1) Immunizations are not optional. While parents may have had reasons to put off that visit to the pediatrician, you as a childcare provider have a responsibility to the children of other parents. Proper and timely immunizations ensure that the kids, as well as the daycare provider, will remain safe and healthy. So you need to firmly advise the parents that their child cannot come back until all the immunizations are current, and that they will need to bring proof of said immunizations straight from the pediatrician's office. Assure the parents that you are not being overly protective or difficult, but simply astute and wise when it comes to keeping everyone healthy.

(2) Timely payment is a responsibility, not an option. Other childcare providers can tell you many horror stories about rubber (bouncing) checks. As a small home based business, you will be hardest hit by this, as the expense of a lawyer is not in your budget. Make sure that your clients understand the seriousness of a missed payment. Are you prepared to refuse entry to a child whose parents are behind by more than a week? You need to establish a solid policy and stick to it. As the saying goes, cut your losses.

(3) A signed contract exists for a reason. Make sure that your parents know that they are legally bound by the terms of the contract, even if later on they decide that the terms are inconvenient. If the contract stipulates that the parent needs to give a two week notice prior to being allowed to cancel the care for their children, then make sure that the parent realizes that you have the right to charge them for those two weeks.

(4) They get what they pay for. If you feel that the parent is exhibiting price resistance, help them to understand you are in this business not only because you love children, but that you need to contribute to the costs of supporting your family, even as the parent does the same by working outside the home. Explain the higher cost of quality toys (do you avoid the lower priced products that are recalled so often for safety concerns?), books, and nutritious snacks. If you have paid assistants, they also need to earn a reasonable salary.

(5) Business hours are set for a reason. In-home childcare providers have families of their own they want to spend time with, and so parents need to respect the time windows for drop-offs and pick-ups. Help them to understand that just because you are already at home does not give the parent the freedom to be late. At the same time, acknowledge any flexibility you do offer (it is a selling feature that many in-home daycares use) and make sure the parents understand your time penalty clauses.

(6) There are rules of discipline. A parent's natural tendency is to side with their child when discipline has to be applied. Keep good notes and provide the parent with a copy whenever a major problem occurs. Explain to the parent that you expect them to help reinforce any corrective training that is required.

(7) Communication is key. Open communication will help head off problems caused by misunderstandings. Tell all your parents that you want them to be completely open. Your business thrives on good word of mouth, and for either party to simmer on an issue is not positive for the relationship, or your business. Explain to each parent that if they see something that they question, they should bring it to your attention immediately.

(8) Sick children belong at home. Nothing is more of a nuisance to a childcare provider than having a sick child dropped off. It can be very inconvenient for the parent, but you need to be strict about this rule. Daycares can be the fastest way for a disease or illness to spread through our communities.

If you ensure that the parent understands these 8 concerns, and that they agree with all of them, your relationship with that family should be a smoother one, and your daycare will never have a vacancy for more than a day.