Day Cares, Preschools, Nurseries & Nannies in the United States

There are as many different kinds of providers as there are families. Here are a few common provider profiles.

• The mom who wants to stay home with her own children and still contribute significantly to the family income. This describes the classic and most common type of provider, Many of us are happiest when we cant be with and available to our young children throughout the day). Some of us have special-needs kids who do better with a parent around than a caregiver. Running a family child care business is often the perfect way to meet the two objectives of being available tov one’s own children and adding money to the family budget.
• The child care professional looking for more control and independence in her work. Many providers start out working for centers, preschools, or even therapeutic day-care centers, which are designed specifically for children with special needs. Perhaps they disagree with the director’s philosophy or would like the freedom to experiment with new kinds of activities. Sometimes they just need to earn more money! The bright lights of owning their own business beckon, and before they know it, family child care is their new career.
• The single parent who finds that family child care is a wonderful way to earn a living while enabling her to stay home u/ith her children. When families separate, it is stressful and difficult for all involved. Children are asked to make a lot of adjustments: the loss of one parent; often a new home, school, and community; and almost always, a formerly at home parent going out to work. Many single parents find it a blessing to be able to stay home and be more available to their children during this time.
• The husband-and-wife provider team. In today’s economy, Jobs are less secure and the idea of being in business for oneself is more and more attractive. There are multiple benefits to such arrangements, which are becoming very popular. You can apply for the larger license (for twelve rather than six kids) and thereby increase your income proportionately. Children benefit from having both a female and male caregiver. When you function as a team, the burdens of the business are shared. There are obvious hurdles to get over when you work with a family member, perhaps more so when partners live and work together in the same place, but husband-and-wife teams can be very successful and profitable.

Hmmm, sounds great, you say. But is this really for me?

Is This for Me?

Family child care is a wonderful option for many of us, but not all of us. It behooves you to look carefully at your life situation, family needs, career goals, skills, and talents before making your decision. You may love and adore your own two-year-old but be ready to check yourself into a sanitarium at the end of a day with three two-year-olds underfoot.

There are many factors to consider when you are evaluating your own suitability for running a family child care business. Perhaps the first and most important is asking yourself, Do I like being with kids?

It seems an obvious question, but it’s a critical one. Almost all of us love our own children very much and want to be with them. But not all of us like being with other people’s children. This is not a character failing, but it is an indication that family child care is not for you.
Claire, a provider from Seattle, shared her thoughts on this matter.

My good friend Lisa thought she might like to start a family child care. She had seen my success with the business, had a three-year-old son, and with a newborn daughter wanted to give up her part-time job and stay home with her kids. She asked me if I’d write her a recommendation for the licensing people. I had reservations right from the start. Lisa is creative and energetic with her kids, but she’s not a very patient person. I’d seen her lose her temper in stressful situations involving more than one child. I told her frankly that her strength lay in one-an-one interaction with children and I didn’t think she would be happy dealing with three or more kids at once.

You will be happier and the children in your care will be happier if you truly enjoy caring for and guiding young children. Fortunately, most family child care providers do. If you are the right person to run a family child care, you are probably the “Kool-Aid Mom” in your neighborhood and children are naturally attracted to play at your house. Your own children are sociable and like to have other youngsters around to play with). You do so much substitute-parenting that you’ve begun to think, “I should get paid for this.” By reading this book, you’re well on your way.