Operate a Successful Day Care in Your Home
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There has been for many years (and still are) a need for Day Care Providers throughout the nation. There also have been many books written on taking care of infants, pre-schoolers, and school age children. Check the shelves in any book store and they are loaded with guidance manuals and babysitting or childcare manuals. This manual takes a different approach to the operation of a Day Care Business. Along with taking care of children there are other aspects to operating a business. As we take a tour through the manual, together, we find other facts of knowledge are needed to be successful in operating a Day Care. My first years were stressful and at times, I thought that taking care of kids was not what I wanted to do. As time progressed I learned the tricks of the trade, what makes it successful and how to handle very difficult situations. I also learned how to "MAKE MONEY" in my operation, which is not something the Child Care Guidance books on the store shelves tell you. First off why are you considering doing Day Care? Could it be that you love children? Could it be so that you can meet new people? Could it be that you would like to see children raised properly? Could it be that you feel you owe something to society? It could be all of the above and than some. However, we all think about our job as the reason we are doing it, is "TO MAKE MONEY". There will be excerpts from my years in dealing with children. No actual names will be mentioned and incidents can be related to numerous persons or children that at one time were under my care. However no one has been singled out and these occurrences have happened numerous of times over the years. "My Children" who I have attended to over the years still come back to see me, send me cards, and keep in touch. They also inform me of the many things that they learned about dealing with children while under my care. Some have even helped me in caring for younger children. Many now have children of their own. I feel a great sense of satisfaction that I literally raised many children and also from the appreciation that I have received from the parents. My files are filled with letters of recommendations and appreciations. As a provider one should provide a safe day care that supports the physical, intellectual, emotional and discipline needs of the child. I recommend that if you are going to take care of children that you make every attempt to do it with their future being taken into consideration (in growth). I also strongly recommend that your future be taken into consideration (financially). In your area there is a Children's Support Group or a similar guidance organization. Join it and be an active participant. They will keep you updated on new requirements, refer persons to you who need day care, provide workshops to assist in gaining knowledge and they will take an interest in your operation. Some state colleges or Social Services offer free credited courses on child development that day care providers are eligible to attend. This book is written in phases and by chapter, so that you may refer to the section needed upon situations that may arise. I suggest that you take notes as you go along so that you may relay thoughts to the parents during the initial interview. There is also a question and answer chapter for reference. The one thing which needs to be emphasized is that most children are not a problem, after your break-in period. However you will need to learn how to communicate with the parents. They will put you in many more difficult situations than the kids will. It is most important for you that the parents will work with you. There’s a right way, a wrong way, your way and my way. Lets get started and learn how to help children and "TO MAKE MONEY" doing it my way.
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About the Book
There has been for many years (and still are) a need for Day Care providers throughout the world. Many who attempt to baby-sit or get into Child Care know children very well, but have difficulty in succeeding. Usually they run into problems that they can not handle, which generally is not with the children. They start to lose money, become discouraged and slowly weed themselves out of Child Care. This manual takes a different approach to the operation of a Day Care. "She didn’t pay me this week, how do I get my money?" "I thought the child was coming here every day, but she only came three days this week. What could I have done?" "Mrs. Taylor has to work New Years Day. All my other clients are off. Should I provide Child Care for her on that day?" Miss Ellen has the answers to these questions and many more. She walks you through the difficult times and how to handle most problems before they happen. Included are chapters on how to get started, drawing up a contract and why, as well as record keeping, bartering, insurance and finally a question and answer chapter.
About the Author
Grace Ellen Thrift was born the third of five children. Her birthplace was in a rural area of Virginia called Hyacinth. The home was not insulated, no electricity, no running water therefore no indoor plumbing. Ellen grew up with a great imagination as a child. She and her friends played on going games of Cowboys and Indians. Where they left off in a game at the end of the day, they would continue tomorrow. Items were used for meaningful commodities, such as grains of corn for money. She was somewhat a tomboy. At a very early age her father would take her on hunting trips. She also accompanied him on business trips to the mountains where he sold his products. She would take care of household choirs, such as bringing wood into the house for the heating and cooking stoves. She also would prepare turtles and other hunted game for family consumption. At fifteen Ellen took a job working behind the soda counter in a country drug store. Here she saved enough money to purchase a trumpet so that she could be in the school band. During her school years Ellen was involved in just about any activity that came along. She sang in the choir, played the trumpet in the band, acted in plays, played varsity basketball, varsity softball, and was a wild cheerleader. From these experiences Ellen remembers in detail what it was like growing up. Later she married and started her family. At this time she moved to Norfolk, Virginia as her husband was in the military. Two children later she moved to Washington DC. There she was a resident manager of a thirty-three unit apartment building. Twins were born, so now with a total of four the family moved into a house in Rockville, Maryland. After the fifth child was born, Ellen decided to go to work to supplement the family income. Her work experiences included being a computer operator, a waitress and a cafeteria aid in the public schools. Needing to be with her children, she decided to be a stay at home mom and started baby sitting at home. As her children got older and started leaving home the baby-sitting turned into a full-scale child care business. Many people have attempted day care work and than stopped, probably for a great number of reasons. Taking care of children is almost a natural instinct for someone who has had children of their own. Even young girls learn to make extra money baby sitting a few hours at night. However it doesn’t matter how good one is with children, if they are not business minded and don’t know how to handle off beat situations, they most likely will give up. Because of the need for day care operators and because Ellen has the know how, she decided to write about what it takes to be successful in the day care business.