If You Have Done FCC Long Term

[Play Care]

so I'll just say that I think I've been able to sustain my DC career because I don't take it so seriously like some do. Please don't take offense, but I just don't put the pressure on myself to make this a strict, stringent, by-the-book job. I take each thing as it comes, learn from things that went really bad, and move on.

I find this to be a balance. Because when I'm too "loosey-goosey":: I wind up feeling like a doormat. When I'm too stringent I wind up feeling foolish
Somewhere there has to be a happy medium.
I recently had to talk to a parent who was ten *minutes* early each morning...On one hand, I felt as though it was *only* ten minutes. On the other, this is DCP who already pushes it, so extra time, even if it's *only* ten minutes was too much. It adds up to almost an hour more each week - and over an hour if I include the fact he often doesn't pick up until 4:45 (my closing time) and is here for 5-10 minutes after getting dcg ready to go.
Many of the providers in my area are way more relaxed about things - but I also see them working 2-3 side jobs to make ends meet.

[nannyde]

I think some other things that make providers successful over time is SPACE. Having space to get away from crying has been my greatest single asset in caring for the younger crowd. Having space to keep the older crowd away from the younger crowd makes all the difference.

I don't make decisions based on how crying feels to me. I can walk away, grab a fresh breath and go back in when I am ready. Keeping your self under control and making decisions based on what you think is right is a way better position than making decisions based on what individual kids want at the moment.

Having infants separated from toddlers... toddlers away from preschoolers... and preschoolers away from infants is what works best for me. Each mixing is by invite only instead of a daily occurrence because of space.

Having helpers for every year of business is another huge factor in longevity. Having helpers to be in the play room at ALL times the kids are up and carry the load of cleaning, laundry, and paperwork has helped too. It costs money... big money... but it makes all the difference in longevity.

One thing you might want to ask within your question is longevity plus the number of kids the veterans carry through the years. Getting advice from a twenty year vet who has a couple of kids a few hours a week is different than someone like Blackcat who carries a full load of ten kids singlehandedly over decades. Blackcat knows how to care for kids in a way I don't because I've had to have an assistant when my numbers go over eight. (iowa law).

The learning curve is very different when you are juggling multi level aged group kids than when you have a handful of before and after school kids and one preschooler.

Remember that with longevity the provider AGES. The provider ages one year for each year of experience. As we age our finances change, our generational differences with parents increase, our health changes.... our CHILDREN age... etc. So what worked a decade ago was a different time than now.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I give this advice to the few that have told me they want to do in-home, so I guess this is my secret to my 12+ years:

1. Make peace with whatever room you allow the kids into will be trashed. It's unavoidable, and nothing new carpet/paint/or a little drywall or woodwork work won't fix when your daycare days are over.

2. Make sure you truly are a homebody. If the thought of being "stuck at home, all day every day" freaks you out, this is not the job for you!

3. Decide what you are willing to put up with and what you are not, make a contract and handbook, and STICK TO IT!

A few friends in the biz that have quit has been largely due to the way kids behave today (basically not respecting her authority). I use a John Rosemond approach with a lot of my "problem areas."

[Blackcat31]

One thing you might want to ask within your question is longevity plus the number of kids the veterans carry through the years. Getting advice from a twenty year vet who has a couple of kids a few hours a week is different than someone like Blackcat who carries a full load of ten kids singlehandedly over decades. Blackcat knows how to care for kids in a way I don't because I've had to have an assistant when my numbers go over eight. (iowa law).

The learning curve is very different when you are juggling multi level aged group kids than when you have a handful of before and after school kids and one preschooler.

Remember that with longevity the provider AGES. The provider ages one year for each year of experience. As we age our finances change, our generational differences with parents increase, our health changes.... our CHILDREN age... etc. So what worked a decade ago was a different time than now.

This is so true. The variables make a HUGE difference.

I use a John Rosemond approach with a lot of my "problem areas."

I lovethis John Rosemond.

I give his "Parent Power" (I think it's called "The new Parent Power" now) book to family members and friends as a baby shower gift.

I've thought about handing it out to all new enrollments here. ::

[originalkat]

1. What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
It was born out of necessity. I needed a good income to enable me to stay home my five children. I have been a licensed childcare provider for twenty seven years in various counties in Minnesota. I homeschooled my children for eight of those years while doing daycare.
I love children and would rather deal with children's games than adult/children's game playing in the corporate world.
I kept a grateful heart, thus enabling me to keep my attitude right (most the time:.

2. What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
I run a quality home daycare. I have always had a waiting list due to that fact. I love the children and they know it. Most of the children do not want to go home with their parents.
This is a HOME daycare, not a daycare center. I do not run it like a center.
I confront the issues that need to be confronted and let the others go, aka, pick your battles with the parents.
I do not take every child that comes along. My husband and I interview the parents and child for two to three hours. This is the most important relationship. We are, in essence, co-parenting. I have them ten hours a day. The parents have them two to three hours a day and then they go to bed. I need to know that we are all on the same page.

3. What are your longevity secrets?
I am very disciplined and run a tight ship. I am consistent and I do not let the children rule the roost. This creates a peaceful, calm environment (most of the time) for them and for me.
I get up an hour early every morning to have my coffee, read my Bible and have some time to myself.
I make my weekends special. Every weekend is pretty much a mini vacation.happyface
I pursued other options outside of daycare. I took night classes and online classes.
I have a busy life outside of daycare. This helps to keep a right perspective and a good attitude.
I take all of my vacation time. Every year.

I will probably think of more. These are some excellent questions to ponder. Thank you.

happyfacehappyface I love all of this!!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I've thought about handing it out to all new enrollments here. ::

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have referenced him to many a daycare parent (I tell them to just google his name with whatever problem) and follow his advice. I guarantee 100% success. They come back the next day horrified. Well, that's why your kid is in this boat in the first place...you refuse to be the parent. I'm glad I will not know you and your child when they are 10, 13, 16, 18, etc!

[nannyde]

3. What are your longevity secrets?
I am very disciplined and run a tight ship. I am consistent and I do not let the children rule the roost. This creates a peaceful, calm environment (most of the time) for them and for me.
I get up an hour early every morning to have my coffee, read my Bible and have some time to myself.
.

Yes to the above

I learned early on to NEVER appear tired to the day care parents. I get up at least an hour before first kid. As I have aged it takes longer to look not tired so each year I have gotten up a little earlier.

I may have slept beyond that a couple of times when I was sick. I hate the feeling of only having a little time to myself before the kids get here.

I run a tight ship too. The more kids the tighter. I'm in the process of selling my house so I have been closed for a few months and just ran a crew of two to four kids for about six months. It's easier to be more relaxed when I have two kids in a 2500 square foot house and a helper!!!!!!

[Lucy]

I find this to be a balance. Because when I'm too "loosey-goosey":: I wind up feeling like a doormat. When I'm too stringent I wind up feeling foolish
Somewhere there has to be a happy medium.
I recently had to talk to a parent who was ten *minutes* early each morning...On one hand, I felt as though it was *only* ten minutes. On the other, this is DCP who already pushes it, so extra time, even if it's *only* ten minutes was too much. It adds up to almost an hour more each week - and over an hour if I include the fact he often doesn't pick up until 4:45 (my closing time) and is here for 5-10 minutes after getting dcg ready to go.
Many of the providers in my area are way more relaxed about things - but I also see them working 2-3 side jobs to make ends meet.

I get what you're saying about policies. My comment about being more relaxed really referred to my everyday schedule, or lack thereof. As far as how I handle enforcing policies, I guess I'd have to say I'm a little inconsistent. My current families have been with me for 3-9 years so there's a little latitude. I won't be walked over however.

This school year is the very first year I've had all school agers. Two of them are PM Kindergarten, so they're here with me almost all day, except for the 2 hrs 45 min they're in school. And my bigger SA'ers are here a total of 3 hours. For 19 years, I had mixed ages - newborn to 11 years and everything in between - all at the same time. I feel like the strict time schedule way, and the endless (what I consider to be picky) rules on how to play with each toy way, just don't work FOR ME. Your mileage may vary.

[Laurel]

I find this to be a balance. Because when I'm too "loosey-goosey":: I wind up feeling like a doormat. When I'm too stringent I wind up feeling foolish
Somewhere there has to be a happy medium.
I recently had to talk to a parent who was ten *minutes* early each morning...On one hand, I felt as though it was *only* ten minutes. On the other, this is DCP who already pushes it, so extra time, even if it's *only* ten minutes was too much. It adds up to almost an hour more each week - and over an hour if I include the fact he often doesn't pick up until 4:45 (my closing time) and is here for 5-10 minutes after getting dcg ready to go.
Many of the providers in my area are way more relaxed about things - but I also see them working 2-3 side jobs to make ends meet.

I totally agree. There are some that take advantage so they wouldn't even get that 10 minutes.

Laurel

[Laurel]

I think our styles are personal to fit us and our personalities.

Before doing this I worked in schools both volunteering and for pay. At my childrens school I got to know all of the teachers and staff very well. I hugged them all when my last child grew out of that school. I made a special trip to each classroom, principal, janitor, secretary for hugs. You get the idea. Loved it there.

What I noticed from working there for pay (principal said I was there so much for volunteer work that he may as well hire me and did ).

Anyway, I noticed that some were more strict and some more laid back and just went with the flow. Yet both were effective. I even stretched myself and requested teachers who weren't my style sometimes. We could request teachers if we did it before the class list was made up.

One year I worked as a paraprofessional in a first grade classroom and so did two others (because of overcrowding and they didn't want to hire another teacher). I noticed the principal paired us with like personality teachers. I mean the same type of personalities as we had.

My day is pretty much unscheduled except for lunch/nap, etc. No curriculum per se but I also don't allow them to rule the roost. It works for me.

I think there are both by the book and more scheduled types of providers and more laid back ones and being one or the other doesn't make one last longer in this business than another.

Laurel

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Fun read!