A Fresh Idea

[midaycare]

I do mostly organic, and all natural cleaners. I don't even allow parents to leave their cars running in my driveway. Many would try this in the winter... Remote starters are big here.

You will find that parents will choose you for what you offer, and then feed their child all processed. I have a mix right now. Out of 9 families, 3 eat very healthy, 2 kind of healthy, 2 occasionally healthy, and 2 all processed.

[RayofSun]

I just don't get the processed food thing either. I mean we are low income (adjusted gross for 2015 was a hair over 30,000 filing jointly). But we eat minimal processed foods. Now I do sometimes make hamburger helper from scratch, so it is the same thing, only a healthier version. And we don't eat steak, chicken and pork every night (daycare kids wouldn't eat it anyway). I do make homemade chicken strips (fried so not uber healthy). But I try to get in plenty of veggies. Of course this time of year I use a lot of canned and frozen, but I just couldn't feed my family processed foods all the time and feel good about myself.... Coming from the person who took my DD to McD's for breakfast this morning.

I know the life, all too well actually, haha. Growing up I wasn't the family that had much money. I can remember eating roman noodles for almost a whole month because they were so cheap. I've never been the crazy health fanatic until I had my first child, my son to be exact, he's only 2 now but when he was a baby the doctor told us he was allergic to lactose, and gluten so my whole world kind of flipped upside down. I realized I had no idea how i was going to feed my baby once he was off of special formula so I took to the internet and learned how to cook vegan and vegetarian. I havent looked back since he's growing healthy like any little boy should and I havent had to take him to the hospital for allergic reactions, and my wife and I actually have become healthy eating the way that we do now. It's not that I never take him out to eat in fact I think he's had more mcdonalds (yes they are gluten free, cooked in peanut oil) fries this week than meals at home. And when we go to the store he much rather me buy eggs than tofu patties so the only reason I changed my ways was for my baby honestly if Rayden didn't have these intolerance's I know I wouldn't be where I am today. I think its wonderful that you do what you can with what you have, and honestly I think that's all that matters, so long as the kids are happy and healthy, who cares what they eat? Of course it's hard this time of year to get fresh produce at a price that doesnt break the bank. Home made anything is healthier than its processed alternative, and a lot of times tastes better. sorry this was so long!
All the best,
Beth

[RayofSun]

Also you want to see if chickens are allowed with your license. Animals are restricted here.

It's a separate license so it is a bit of a hassle but one I think will prove to be worth it.

[RayofSun]

I serve mostly organic or minimally treated foods. I do not live in an affluent area, but it is a value for lots of people here regardless of income. It does cost more but I offset by using the farmers market and our own gardens, fruit trees and bushes.
My rate is higher to reflect the expense but I don't have a problem finding families.

Will you also do cloth diapering and wipes? That is popular here.

Most certainty on the cloth diapering and wipes, I'm allergic to latex and more often than not disposable baby diapers contain latex. We have a farmers market take comes through here on Saturdays in the summer which will defiantly help with costs

[Blackcat31]

If you join a food program, it is difficult to coordinate healthy eating and their requirements.

You can't serve the kids eggs from your chickens or serve them any wild game that is not processed/approved by a USDA stamp or approved facility. The eggs and milk from farms (or your own) must be pasteurized.

Most families in my area want ME to serve organic, healthy foods but take their kids to McDonald's and/or other fast food joints or serve 100% processed diets on their time.

I also welcome and support cloth diapering (which lends itself to issues in and of itself depending on the parent) but again, most parents want convenience. It's okay if YOU use cloth on your time but they want convenience and easy on their time.

I've found that most parents in my area that believe and practice vegan, vegetarian, organic diets etc are also baby wearing, co-sleeping, extended nursing, type parents that usually don't "believe" in group child care so those types of parents usually don't make good clients in my experience.

Hopefully, it's different in your area but honestly the whole idea/concept isn't new. It's unique, specific and more than likely difficult to do (not saying impossible) unless you are not really looking to use the income as a sole source of family income/support.

I've just seen alot of providers advertise to this specific type of parent and from what I've seen those particular programs aren't doing any better than the next one that serves, boxed mac and cheese and Speghetti-O's. kwim?

Here, when you limit your clientele you limit your business growth too.

[Unregistered]

The small city (60,00) I live close to has an in-home provider that has done this with a great amount success! Lots of demand in some parts of that community (especially near the university) for this type of care. She has had so much success she is considering expanding to group care.

I've been in other areas where it's considered "strange". You have to know your demographics.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I am organic because you can't make it if you're not in my area. All the centers in my area grow their own food and have chefs that prepare the children's food. They charge a high rate for this but I live in a financially affluent area. I do organic because I wouldn't have business if I didn't. It happens to be just where I live and I have to base my childcare services on that. I also have to run a preschool/ece type of program in my county, it's a requirement of my license. I'm required to have a somewhat structured day that requires certain activities for each age group.

At times, I wish to move because it eats up a lot of expense but I knew what I was getting myself into. Because of all of this I will only be doing childcare in the short term, because as other threads have stated, it gets overboard, especially when parents are flippant about things at home. But I've learned I can only control what I do at my home, so I let it go. Otherwise, in the meantime, I will be putting my blood, sweat, and tears into making my program successful while I'm doing it.

[Ariana]

I am also mainly Organic. I provide as much organic food as possible and focus on natural products and toys.

I get parents who really appreciate this and are very invested in their childs' nutrition which is great. I really enjoy the type of clientele I attract because they have similar parenting philosophies and values, although i am probably a lot more hard core than they are

I also agree with a lot of what BlackCat is saying. Some of these parents want you to take care of it for them. A child shows up in disposables but is expected to be cloth diapered at your house. Kids going to McDonalds on their time and some kids won't eat healthy food because they aren't exposed to it at home so you throw a lot away (which I have mitigated by making less and serving leftovers from my own family meals). I also find baby wearing and co-sleeping to be a big problem with this type of parent. I see some providers advertising that they will do all of that with children but I don't understand how they can possibly do this unless they are limiting their numbers to 1-2 kids at most.

I am also legally unlicensed and I know that licensed daycares can't do half the things these parents want so that is a huge factor as well.

[Unregistered]

Some of these parents want you to take care of it for them. A child shows up in disposables but is expected to be cloth diapered at your house. Kids going to McDonalds on their time

I think of this the same way I think of screen time, or sugar. I think parents should have the basic say over how much their children have, so I use them sparingly.

[Snowmom]

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said, but my advice would be to see what your competition offers and how they fair with it.

I consider myself an organic provider. My grandparents were farmers and the love of good, healthy food passed on to me.

We grow some fruits and veggies. I also frequent farmers markets whenever I can and buy locally.
However, food expenses cut BIG time into my profit every week. My grocery bills make some people faint. But, it was important to me.
You could cut some expenses by only buying organic when it comes to "the dirty dozen": http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214

I also make most of my cleaning products with essential oils, vinegar/water (floor cleaner, glass cleaners, etc), but still use a bleach solution on toilets and changing pads.

I don't know very much about organic toys that you previously mentioned. But, I can imagine that would be a little harder to supply and cost more. In general, I don't think that would make much of a difference to parents in my area. Preschool curriculum is one of the big pushes here.

[Blackcat31]

Preschool curriculum is one of the big pushes here.

that is #1 one thing talked about, discussed and looked for in my experience. Especially now that QRIS has made it's appearance.

[Annalee]

If you join a food program, it is difficult to coordinate healthy eating and their requirements.

You can't serve the kids eggs from your chickens or serve them any wild game that is not processed/approved by a USDA stamp or approved facility. The eggs and milk from farms (or your own) must be pasteurized.

Most families in my area want ME to serve organic, healthy foods but take their kids to McDonald's and/or other fast food joints or serve 100% processed diets on their time.

I also welcome and support cloth diapering (which lends itself to issues in and of itself depending on the parent) but again, most parents want convenience. It's okay if YOU use cloth on your time but they want convenience and easy on their time.

I've found that most parents in my area that believe and practice vegan, vegetarian, organic diets etc are also baby wearing, co-sleeping, extended nursing, type parents that usually don't "believe" in group child care so those types of parents usually don't make good clients in my experience.

Hopefully, it's different in your area but honestly the whole idea/concept isn't new. It's unique, specific and more than likely difficult to do (not saying impossible) unless you are not really looking to use the income as a sole source of family income/support.

I've just seen alot of providers advertise to this specific type of parent and from what I've seen those particular programs aren't doing any better than the next one that serves, boxed mac and cheese and Speghetti-O's. kwim?

Here, when you limit your clientele you limit your business growth too.

I have a couple parents that investigate my menu every morning and then all the kids talk about is going to McD's all the time. :confused:

[Annalee]

that is #1 one thing talked about, discussed and looked for in my experience. Especially now that QRIS has made it's appearance.

And it is getting harder to combat when the provider tries to explain the play-based learning theory....clients want to visualize preschool learning with worksheets or computer-based programs. :confused:

[Ariana]

I have a couple parents that investigate my menu every morning and then all the kids talk about is going to McD's all the time. :confused:

It definitely happens! This doesn't bother me though because I just serve them healthy food and they either eat it or they don't. It really depends on how you feel about it. I have no issues with whether a kid eats at my house or not or if they go home hungry. The parents are paying for my healthy food so I deliver that as part of my service.

[RayofSun]

WOW so many great replies and so so much to think about! Well I was talking to the chief (the wife), and she says that education (shes an early childhood development major) is what I should really be focusing on in addition to being organic while I can offer accommodations for vegan families, at a slightly higher tuition to cover the individual child's food costs or ask the parent to supply snacks meals ect. I think a be health/live health curriculum could work with the values we have in place for food toys ect. I'll teach shapes, colors, along with animals and simple science with fun activities like planting/watching the garden grow, and learning simple life-cycles by raising the chicks. Recreational activities would include yoga to teach healthy mind and body, and of course arts and crafts/dramatic play/storytime/sing-a-long. Sorry this post was long, this has been my dream for a very very long time, I can see my daycare so clearly in my mind now it's all about execution. Haha, well hope you are all well,
-Beth