Opinions Please!! What Do You Look for in a in Home Daycare Provider?

Good for you!!!! As an in home licensed provider for the last 7 years myself, this is what I can tell you. (Also, I have recently had to search for new clients as many of my previous ones for 4 years either graduated or lost their jobs. So, I ask the new people, why me?) First off, let me say, this. Set yourself apart with quality. The families will be able to sense what sort of environment you have established as soon as they walk into your home. Offer integrity and safety! Let the parents know their kids will have an awesome day with you while they are away. If you can offer the parents that you will help thier little ones build a strong foundation before entering school, this will also be key. Be honest about what your expectations of your families are-Truth will get you everywhere with the parents! This is a difficult time for in home providers for a couple of reasons. But basically, it amounts to the economy. Many families have people they know that can watch their children for free, or for very cheap. Or, the parents are working longer hours just to keep their jobs, or are working multiple jobs. So, they need longer hours. If that's something you're interested in (longer hours) there really are very few of us that offer it. You can get a license for extended care if you would like to. My children have grown up with childcare, and they love it. They are 7 and 5 now. I'm not sure how they will feel when they are teenagers, but for us, it works right now. I think rates vary dramatically right now. I think your best bet is to be flexible from your base rate, and to be flexible in the schedules for the parents---especially as you start your business. I think in our area there are rates for infants and preschoolers in the $30-$50/day range. Part time care is typically charged more per day. That will be an important factor as you start your business and fill you 4-5 spots that you are looking for. I also love that you are not looking for 15 kids! Many providers have to have lots of children. I think 4-5 kids are great. You just have to make sure the mix of the kids is good. I don't think there's a magic number. Sometimes 3 is much harder than 5 or 6. Good luck in your endeavor and remember to laugh and to have fun!!!!

As a parent who has used 2 different home daycares over the course of my children's lives (now 3 and 6), I would say that Suzanne made 2 key points - integrity and safety. Many parents are discouraged when there isn't the transparency the would like with what the daycare provider is doing all day with their kids. Also, depending on the age of the kids, the ability to offer a mini-curriculum for the 3's and 4's is nice as they prepare for kindergarten. I don't see your kids being in the home presenting a problem - most daycares seem to start out that way. Daily rate seems to be $40-$50 around here. Best of luck in your new venture!

I have a sitter who comes to my home currently but do send my kids to an in-home daycare as a backup.

I'm OK with the sitter's kids being at home because it gives interaction with other children for my kids. Hers are older so they help play with the kids.

Extra perks could include offering a wider range of hours, field trips to local farm/zoo/parks, individual rooms for napping for each kid (if your home can accommodate), weekly reports on the child..just typed up, art projects, taking pictures and giving them to the parents.

Offer a lot of notice if you need a day off and discuss backup plans for the parents if you are sick--that is my biggest problem when my regular sitter is sick or needs time off.

I have seen ranges of $10-15 for 2 kids.

AE

I have been using in home day care for a little over 3 years and have 2 kids in care. I had one sitter for a couple months (discovered the woman had just gotten out of a relationship & issues were still being worked out) , then found my current babysitter and had to use someone for 1 month while she had her 2nd baby. When I looked at houses/ people, I looked for cleanliness, organization and how they introduced themself to my child (did they let my child dictate the level of interraction or were they too pushy) Another important factor was that the provider was able to communicate what types of daily activities they would do or if they had an outline to give to me during the interview. Be prepared to be able to show what the napping arrangements are, discuss snacks or lunches and does the outside area appear to be safe. I interviewed a women who couldn't describe a typical day and another who regularly gave her granddaughter juice in a bottle at 18 mos - we don't, another woman who had such a variation in the number/ ages of kids each day it was crazy.
What has helped us because we have a long commute is a little flexibility in pick up time (about a 25 minute range) and we communicate if we are running on the later sider of that range. Our sitter also charges $10/hr if we are late instead of the $2/ minute or a variation. Working together and communication is huge. Also, we don't pay if she closes for illness or vacation, but do pay if we keep the kids home. Many providers, you pay no matter what. She also tries to give us an idea of when she may be closed through out the year at the beginning of the year- of course it changes but she gives ample notice. Our sitter is beyond reasonable at $150 a week, but I have seen up to $225/ wk in home. My kids know her kids, her older step children and her husband. When I had my daughter, my son was able to go to her house PT and I only paid for the days he was there - I did not want to lose structure of getting him up every morning- now they go together. She also sent me pictures of the kids doing projects or when my daughter started so I knew she was okay. We'd chat during nap time when my son started then when my daughter started for a few minutes. I occasionally still call if we had a bad morning or if I was a little concerned about behavior. Good Luck!

PS - Suzanne is absolutely right - parents get a sens of the environment right away.