Starting A Home Daycare Business

Child care resources for parents and caregivers

When beginning your child care business it’s important to decide what type of care you wish to provide and the types of resources you’ll need to support it. Creating a handbook which thoroughly outlines your child care policies and procedures is an invaluable tool for you and your clients. Your handbook are tools you can use to convey your needs and expectations to the parents.

Your child care handbook is designed to help introduce your program and policies and serve as a reference tool for both you and the families choosing to enroll in your program. The benefits of a handbook include having all your information in one place at your fingertips. It can be presented in a binder, printed as a booklet or in a folder. After establishing your policies, creating the daycare forms and information your clients need and compiling the handbook, you’ll want to find a way to make your policy handbook work for you. As with any business, it’s important to put

Use your handbook as a reference when problems arise. It can be a powerful parent education tool. You can point out issues easily and with minimal confrontation.

After reviewing your policy handbook with prospective clients, you may want to have them sign a separate statement stating they have read and understand your policy guidelines and provide them with a signed copy. Parents appreciate receiving a copy of any forms, contracts or other agreements you have asked them to sign.

It’s a good idea to start your handbook with an outline or statement of the type of care, services and program you provide.

Let parents know why their children will benefit from being in your care and why your program is special or different. Be sure to include your qualifications and why you chose child care as a profession. This is a great place to talk about your personal philosophy about caring for children.

To aid in developing your daycare handbook we’ve included some key points and questions you should consider, such as: What is your personal philosophy on caring for children? What is your discipline policy? How will you handle late payments? Will you charge a late fee? What are your emergency procedures? What are reasons for termination? When is a child too sick to attend child care?