Unlicensed But Want To Get Licensed...If Only...

[Sunshine75]

Hi,
Need to get everyone's advice. I have been on the forum for some time. I run a VERY small daycare. I watch two children and for the last year have been looking into getting licensed. I have NO DESIRE to watch more than two as that is what I can do for space and I also homeschool my boys. My families are very happy with me (as far as I know ...) The dilemma is that when I looked into getting licensed they had several improvements they wanted me to make. I needed to fix our concrete steps outside our house as the side of it is breaking down and also put up a fence. We live on a cul-de-sac and was not expecting this. The problem is that after looking at estimates to get all this done it would cost me half a years wages.....I can't afford that and feel stuck. It feels like I would have to either go big, which my families won't like, or continue being unlicensed. What can I do????

[butterfly]

Are you legally unlicensed?
What are your reasons for wanting to be licensed?

If you are legal now, what is the advantage of being licensed?

[TwinKristi]

Yeah I agree ^^. If you're operating legally with these 2 families I would just keep doing what you're doing!

[Blackcat31]

Hi,
Need to get everyone's advice. I have been on the forum for some time. I run a VERY small daycare. I watch two children and for the last year have been looking into getting licensed. I have NO DESIRE to watch more than two as that is what I can do for space and I also homeschool my boys. My families are very happy with me (as far as I know ...) The dilemma is that when I looked into getting licensed they had several improvements they wanted me to make. I needed to fix our concrete steps outside our house as the side of it is breaking down and also put up a fence. We live on a cul-de-sac and was not expecting this. The problem is that after looking at estimates to get all this done it would cost me half a years wages.....I can't afford that and feel stuck. It feels like I would have to either go big, which my families won't like, or continue being unlicensed. What can I do????

How many kids are you currently watching? Are they family to you? To each other?

As far as the fencing goes, state law does not require play areas to be fenced in buuuut, each city, community, county etc can enforce a law/requirement stating a fence is necessary.

Do you have a park nearby?

Also, I wouldn't look into having your entire yard fenced but just a small area instead. 50 sq feet of outdoor play space is required PER child in attendance or a park, playground, or play space within 1,500 feet of the residence.

So if you don't have both your families attending at the same time, you wouldn't need a lot of space.

[Sunshine75]

The families I have are not related. One child per family. Minneapolis area says only one family to be legally unlicensed. Checked into getting licensed and several items to fix which are more costly but not necessarily unsafe in regular conditions. Because of how our house sits on our lot at an odd angle no good place to put a fence as our backyard is small and on a hill. Putting it in the front would tick off my neighbors. ..

[Blackcat31]

The families I have are not related. One child per family. Minneapolis area says only one family to be legally unlicensed. Checked into getting licensed and several items to fix which are more costly but not necessarily unsafe in regular conditions. Because of how our house sits on our lot at an odd angle no good place to put a fence as our backyard is small and on a hill. Putting it in the front would tick off my neighbors. ..

Legally you can't watch kids from two different families. You can only watch ONE family's children...even if they have 18 kids.

MN licensing says:

The Minnesota licensing rule states that in order to be excluded from being a licensed child care provider, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Provide care to only related children; and/or

2. Provide care to children for a single, unrelated family for any length of time; or

3. Provide care for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any 12 month period.

Not following these guidelines and operating without a license is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statutes, Section 245A.03, subdivision 3

[NeedaVaca]

I would let one of the families go until I could be legal. I would then get licensed and maybe take a 3rd child for however long it takes to make up for the $ I spent on fixing things.

[LadyPearl]

I am going through the process to get registered right now. I have an inspection by a local agency tomorrow morning (They help with prepping for a state inspection.). Dh and I plan to look at what needs to be done and determine if we want to get registered. I don't want to have a bunch of kids so being unregistered is fine. We'll assess the to do list, regular requirements, and financial investment first.

[Janice62]

Is a quick 2 month job out of the question, like a weekend one?

A quick weekend job or night job and you might be able to cover those expenses...possibly. Maybe find a grant? I once wrote a paper and got awarded almost 2 grand to put cement area in my backyard and a light for late evening playtime. It's a tax deduction.

http://www.diapers.com/p/kid-kusion-play-safe-fence-w-6-panels-black-and-gray-878813?site=CA&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_D&utm_term=KN-049&utm_campaign=GooglePLA&CAWELAID=500001800000022465&utm_content=pla&ca_sku=KN-049&ca_gpa=pla&ca_kw={keyword}

or

http://www.hooverfence.com/temp-fence/