Home or Preschool Environment?

[FCCProvider]

For the passed 7+ years, I've always used my dining room as my daycare room, and my husband and I just ate on the couch for dinner. Now that we had our daughter last year, we've been sitting at the counter with barstools to eat. I've been getting a bit of baby fever lately for #2, which makes me think of our dining situation. I can't fit another highchair at our counter. We are military, and moving isn't really an option right now. We are in base housing and the area surrounding us isn't the greatest.

So, I'm thinking I want to let go of my playroom. I want to get a small dining table and a childs sized table for them to play at. And bring in two of my ikea book cases from another room. All the toys would be in cloth baskets with the window so the kids can see what's inside. I have a large walk in closet I currently use for rotating toys and craft supplies. I could reorganize that so the larger toys go in there and the closet could stay open during hours for kids to get what they please.

I guess my question is, as a parent, would you be put off if it looked more like a home than a preschool?

I've attached what my play area looks like currently and the items I want to put in there.

[Annalee]

For the passed 7+ years, I've always used my dining room as my daycare room, and my husband and I just ate on the couch for dinner. Now that we had our daughter last year, we've been sitting at the counter with barstools to eat. I've been getting a bit of baby fever lately for #2, which makes me think of our dining situation. I can't fit another highchair at our counter. We are military, and moving isn't really an option right now. We are in base housing and the area surrounding us isn't the greatest.

So, I'm thinking I want to let go of my playroom. I want to get a small dining table and a childs sized table for them to play at. And bring in two of my ikea book cases from another room. All the toys would be in cloth baskets with the window so the kids can see what's inside. I have a large walk in closet I currently use for rotating toys and craft supplies. I could reorganize that so the larger toys go in there and the closet could stay open during hours for kids to get what they please.

I guess my question is, as a parent, would you be put off if it looked more like a home than a preschool?

I've attached what my play area looks like currently and the items I want to put in there.

There are hundreds of ways to provide family child care....What works for your own family always comes first! Taking care of your own family will allow you to provide even better care for the children in your program....Your room setup can work however you set your mind to it... Best wishes to you!

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Many people chose family child care because it is a home. The things you've chosen look lovely. I think you'll make a warm, welcoming environment that says we live and work here, and it's cozy and kid-friendly. Don't apologize for it; sell it.

My child care is incorporated into my living space, and my families like it that way.

[Crazy8]

I like to have a separate space for my daycare, but not if it meant giving up having a kitchen table for my family to eat at. The stuff you have picked out looks great. How many kids do you care for? If its not too many I think you can make it work. Do you have a living/family room too?? Since your own child is young and you'll be having another having the shared space will probably work well. My own are older now so when I "shut down" the daycare at 5pm I don't really want to look at it the rest of the night, LOL!

[butterfly]

I agree with the others about YOUR family needs to come first; but to answer your question on what the parents prefer....

I have my whole basement for my daycare. I have it completely kid friendly with murals on the wall, etc. It appears more like a preschool than a home. I have so many people comment on how great my space is. I think my space sells it for me. I think parents have the idea that if I'm willing to devote so much of my space to daycare I must really have a heart for it. (doesn't mean that others don't... - just saying that's the impression I get from interviews)

[Annalee]

I agree with the others about YOUR family needs to come first; but to answer your question on what the parents prefer....

I have my whole basement for my daycare. I have it completely kid friendly with murals on the wall, etc. It appears more like a preschool than a home. I have so many people comment on how great my space is. I think my space sells it for me. I think parents have the idea that if I'm willing to devote so much of my space to daycare I must really have a heart for it. (doesn't mean that others don't... - just saying that's the impression I get from interviews)

First impressions are everything, BUT I did daycare in my living room for 10+years and stayed full....I have been in a newly built 24 x 32 room designed for preschool since 2003 and am still full....I think during the interview is where the "sell" can be made as well....I had many appreciative comments while in the living room about the "home" atmosphere and how they loved smelling supper cooking in the evenings at pickup....so I think there are many positive aspects to both kinds of child care.

[KidGrind]

As a parent, it never put me off when there wasn’t a designated play area. If I saw it was a safe environment and their were toys for the kids, it was okay with me.

I am a military provider too. I live off post in a PPV and fall under the umbrella of the military. I’ve held onto my dining room table. I’ve placed it up against a wall. However, I will be letting it go in a week or two for the playroom.

I agree with everyone’s assessment that you have to do what is best for you.

[FCCProvider]

Thank you so much, everyone. It makes my decision so much easier. Our living and dining room are connected, I just have a couch separating the two. I only care for a few children at a time. My max is 6, but that is rare. One day I'll have a large space. But it will have to be a while.

[CraftyMom]

I have one room that we call the play room during daycare. It has all my daycare stuff in there and the toys all stay in there. That room also has a large closet that has our washer and dryer in it, so it isn't completely a dedicated daycare area. It is also the room you enter when you come in our home, so everyone passes through it.

When I hear parents make comments about my set up as to why they chose me, what I usually hear is "I love the feel of your home". So I take that to mean the entire home, not just the playroom. The kids are free to go in any room on the first level, but ALL toys stay in the playroom., so they spend a lot of time in there

[originalkat]

Over the years I have changed my setup to meet my family's needs. At times it looked like a preschool and others not as much. Do what works for your family. As long as you have it set up in a pleasing and organized manner, you will get clients.

[SignMeUp]

I think having a cohesive look like the furnishings you're picking will make it look pulled-together, organized, neat, homey and fun.
When you have an interview, or when kids are coming, open the closet, set a few age-appropriate things out in various areas in an inviting way -- I think people will like it!