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Hi, I have been dreaming of opening a home daycare for about 2 years now and I am getting closer and closer to doing it. I am very curious in knowing what the hardest part of owning a home daycare is??
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You will see it alot but the hardest part for me is having "the backbone". Im gonna be honest at tell you that i have a really hard time with people who dont want to pay. I have lost money because of it. please dont be like me! I cant believe how many people take advantage, but they do! -
A backbone is a tough thing to develop! I would also say that making sure you have your own life outside of daycare is challenging, and something you must plan for in advance. I also think where you choose to hold your home daycare is crucial, so that you can maintain some sort of home in a working childcare space.Comment
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All of the above, but i would also add being by yourself with so many kids, sometimes adult interactions is good and we don't have that much of it, getting use to it for me was hard at the beginning and I was very new at this and people tried to take advantage of me as well, you have to be convinced that you are the boss and you set the rules and they HAVE to follow them.Comment
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I just opened, but so far it's just getting the kids in! I know my biggest problem will be having a backbone! I'm too nice and it's hard for me to say no or put my foot down...unless i'm really really mad, then I somehow find my backbone ....
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Parents- can make or break your spirit.
I haven't opened yet but I do a lot of babysitting/nannying and have worked in a home daycare in the past.
I know my haredest part will be the parents and like everyone said having a "back-bone" because one girl I watched at my house after school and on weekends, the mom just dropped her off and never gave me a schedule (she told me in the interview she would give me one every wee,) but would just tell me "see you tomorrow" or "See you the day after tomorrow". Sometimes it would be up to 8 days straight before I got a day off
. She told me she worked in retail and would rarely work after 10pm but many times she picked up her daughter at 2 or 4 am (I used to work in retail and non of my manages worked that late!). I would stay up late waiting for her and she'd call me at 3 telling me that she had to drive like 2 hours away to help them manage there and we didn't always have a reliable car so she would pick up her daughter and get her a change of clothes for school the next morning (probably so the school wouldn't notice she was wearing the same clothes every day). We fed regular her decent meals (the same food we ate) at no extra charge (no food program or anything), bought her coloring books/games, let her take a shower if needed, and took her to some (family) kids parties with us when we had her- I even bought her a little "mini-spa kit" for Easter. On weekends I sometimes had the girl up to 12 hours straight- and towards the end the mom wasn't paying me anymore. when we picked the girl up, the principle even asked me and my mother what was going on with the girl and her mother because she doesn't live at the same address she was living at the begining of the school year. eventually the mom kept canceling on days she said she would be there and then the last too weeks she spent 1 night each week, but she just left town and never paid me for that.
So now I learned my lession and for my home daycare I will make sure they pay in advanced and to try to enforce a "no pay no play" policy as well as make sure they follow my policies.Comment
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The hardest part is having a backbone and the parents. If you give the parents a inch they will run a mile. Be STRICT right off the bat and make sure you have a handbook and contract. Make sure your family supports you also. One thing I have learned is people are always nice in the interview and 2 months down the road they show their true colors. People will try to take advantage of you and please do not let them. This is a hard business at times. People like you as long as things are going their way and once you do or tell them something they dont like you are the worst person ever.
Good luck!!!Comment
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A backbone - especially if you are a people pleaser like me!
When you want to do something special with/for your own child but can't or feel like you can't because of the other kids.Comment
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I am an odd duck here as the backbone part is easy for me so I would have to say the hardest part is dealing with the parents sometimes.
I don't have issues with enforcing my policies but I have the hardest time keeping my mouth shut when I meet new parents (or even some current parents) that tell me some of their parenting styles and then want a pat on the back for them.
For example I have a parent that thinks her child is gifted or advanced because they can spend an entire Saturday in their room watching DVD's since most 2 year olds don't have attention spans like that
*sigh*
NOT speaking up in moments like those is hard for me but I am also adult and professional enough to know that unless asked, it isn't my job to hand out an opinion or "educate" the parent.
That is the hardest part for me personally.
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The hardest part for me is staying organized with all the paperwork, It's a lot of paperwork to keep up with sometimes it becomes a little overwhelming The other thing would have to be the parents, but communication is key. You will find out in this business that parents will try to take a mile if you give them an inch. I'm coming across parents who always wants something for nothing
But it can be a very rewarding business
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Id have to say backbone and family time.
Enforcing policies can be hard when the parents give you constant sob stories but you have to stick with it. I'm dealing with problems now because I relented when they came crying.
Making time for your dh and children is really important and sometimes hard as well. My kids feel like I only do things with dcks sometimes and my dh can get irritated when our house is over run with little ones and daycare things and on the weekend i'm shopping for daycare or planning for the next week. I try to push all of that to the side when I can.Comment
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not snackingIt:
: will waitComment
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Two things:
1) Finding time to get my own kids to the doctor and such. My hubby has limited PTO and it's very hard to get them to their appointments. Even harder is getting myself to the doctor!!
2) Spoiled children!! I have a two year old who has an ipad, their own toy car to drive, and all the latest greatest stuff. Anything this kid wants they get and then they come to school on Monday expecting the royalty treatment. It usually takes me all day Monday to remind them things don't roll that way here and we need to share and take turns. This is the child who sees a toy (and they always want the toy someone else has not any of the millions that are being left alone) another kid has and says I want that and then grabs it. If I can say yes I will, but when I am changing a diaper we are not going into the art room for painting. Sorry. Sometimes things are a no and some kids are never told no at home so they come here throwing fits and giving me dirty looks.Comment
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Isolation
Not being able to out to lunch with a friend or co- worker
Long hours
The feeling that I am no longer in a professional position. I just left a 14 yr. job at a family agency.
Lots of younger kids. When I did FCC before the schools did not have j-K And I love working with 4's. I have two's and under now.Comment
I agree completely!!!
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