Pros and Cons of Being a Home Daycare Provider

Welcome to ‪@sunnypatchpreschool‬ I'm Geraldine Ralph and I have a licensed home daycare where I care for up to 12 little ones under the age of five and I create content to help YOU to run an amazing daycare in your home! Today I'll be taking about 5 pros and cons of running a childcare program from my home.
If you have a home daycare or if you're just starting out and you have some questions I'd love to hear from you!
Be sure to subscribe to my channel for more tips and tricks for running your home daycare.

[@lizagarcia2117]

I have been a provider for 16 years with a large licence. I run an in home Montessori Program. 1/2 of my clients are teachers too. I started off as a nanny for 10 years and then an assistant director for a center when I was getting my teaching credentials for another 2 years. At first I was open 12 hrs too, then 10 now 9 hours. I have always been year round Monday -Friday 8-5. Best pro is flexibility for my own children con is feeling isolated and trapped, even with assistants. After covid parents have a different mentality and they are no longer personable and they treat me as disposable. GREAT video!

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

I agree that parents are so different now! One of the things I intend to be working on in my program is bringing back a sense of community by offering more opportunities for families to get together for playdates in the upcoming year.

[@LotusFamilyEducation]

Great list! I think struggles for me are… 1) Not having time for appointments for both my children and myself 2) Sometimes I feel like my family loses the privacy they need to learn and make mistakes (ex: my 3 yr old having a tantrum or my 9 yr old being sad or angry about something) 3) Sometimes outside energy effects energy of my home or business (ex: frustrated mom running late for work may be rude to me or another family member) My Pros are… 1) Better connections with my children and being able to care for extended family (nieces, nephews, cousins) 2) Being able to control my calendar (not needed to request vacation time) 3) No RED TAPE/ Creative Freedom (when I was in the classroom there was soooo much red tape around what & how to teach)

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Excellent list! I agree with you on all of these. As a young mother I felt so much pressure on #2. I felt like my kids lost the privacy to process and I lost the privacy of going through the process of learning to mother. My son was a live wire and my daughter was very shy. Parents can see the normal behaviors from both personality styles and judge - so many times I felt under the microscope. It gets tricky when mothering is also your business as well as a process you’re learning. It’s much easier now and I’m so much more compassionate for it.

[@rebecca.sydney]

Love this video! I’m in the process of converting my detached garage into 500 sq ft of livable space comparable to a 1 bed 1 bath apartment. Will be opening my daycare next year! 🎉

[@e.jackson1308]

Thank you so much. Starting the process for in home childcare.

[@aquariusqueen1815]

I love your videos and I think your set up is amazing! I’m in the early process of getting everything together so I can apply for my license.your videos have helped me a lot. So I wanted to thankyou for taking the time to make these videos. I live in Wyandotte Michigan so it’s nice to see someone doing what I hope to do in the near future that lives in the same state as me ❤️

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Thank you so much! I’m so happy for you, I’d love to hear about how the process os going for you, if you have any questions feel free to reach out. Good luck!

[@SK-jp2ok]

Great video ! Thank you 🙏

[@ginaivy6189]

I have been looking for a second assistant for so long. Can't wait till people wanna work again lol Your list is right on point! At this point, 27 years licensed, I try to take Friday's off and have my assistants close for me

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Congrats on 27 years 🎉 How many children are you licensed for?

[@ginaivy6189]

@@sunnypatchpreschool 12

[@ginaivy6189]

@@sunnypatchpreschool and thanks. Gongrars to you as well. I was only going to supplement income for 2 years, until my youngest could walk and talk 🤣🤣🤣 here I am. He turns 27 in May.

[@melindaedgington9925]

I'd like to add a con: Redtape. So many rules regarding licenced care. In Canada anyway. I ended up babysitting in my own home instead of running a daycare just because I did not want to work with kids all day and then do paperwork all night. It means I can only take on 2 children but I have the time to read to my own children at night.

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Awe I’m sorry to hear that. I feel like most of the requirements here are fair and designed to keep the children safe. It’s great that you’re purring your children’s needs first and only taking on the number of children that works for you!

[@dailyoccasions9539]

Hi! Love your channel. You look so fit and healthy. Can you share your healthy habits, systems or routines?? Please

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Hi! Thanks so much you’re the sweetest :) I’d be happy to create a video for you! Water, sunscreen, daily physical activity, vitamins and meal prep with lots of veggies and fruit. Also a little bit of vodka soda on the weekends 😉

[@ladysadieoptimist103]

I am 3 months postpartum. I have a 2-story home. I have four children of my own: 12, 5, 3, and 3 months. I homeschool my children and we spend Tuesdays at co-op. Anyway, I am not sure if I want to share my living space with daycare stuff. I would want ot conveert the garage. That's a major investment, though. I may also only do an after-school program to make time for my own children. Is this possible?

[@lenajohnson9824]

I'm just beginning and feedback would be great 👍

[@aracelidelgado1965]

I absolutely love your content. I am in the process of obtaining my license. I am doing this in faith.. My question is do you have a furniture provider that you may suggest for kids furniture?

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Thanks so much! We use ikea for all of our cube storage. Our wooden chairs are from community playthings and our high chairs are from Amazon. Foundations 2020 Secure Sitter Feeding Chair, 13", White/Tan a.co/d/63WRlMk

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

You could always start out with items from Facebook marketplace. All of the items for my first program were purchased second hand. Good luck!

[@yerhere1233]

Thanks for your video…How big should your house be at a minimum? Rooms, area, is having a basement necessary? Thanks

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Thanks so much for watching :) We have a 1900 square foot house and our basement area is about 1500 square feet and it’s comfortable for 14 kids. I’m really good at pairing down the toys. We spend a lot of time outdoors and my children are grown though. I think it depends on your needs, I’ve had a basement for both of my in home daycares and wouldn’t even think about buying a home without a basement. I love having our program and our home separate. When I’m done working I love that my upper level doesn’t look like a daycare.

[@NatashaShchukina]

Thank,you. What's your opinion on buying a house for running a day care ,is it worth it,ir it's too risky?

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Hi! It depends on your state and city regulations. Here in Michigan the person who is running the childcare business has to live in the home but you could also purchase a home and rent it to someone who wants to run the program. I think if you had the right person running the program it could be lucrative. Proceeds from the program would be paying off the house and if the program went belly up you could still use it as an investment property by renting it to a regular family. There are a lot of variables to consider. If you're in the market for a new home or an upgraded home that you wanted to run your own program from you would do well in the right area. The write offs for childcare providers are the best! Thanks so much for watching

[@elizabethcagle6289]

Do you advise a large group daycare or a smaller daycare when first starting out? I know childcare in Michigan is needed. I am in Michigan too. I am in a center now, but I am looking for a different home to start my own childcare. I would like any advice.

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

Hi Elizabeth I advertise as a preschool program (it’s in my name) and when I am talking to the parents we discuss the size of my program and the fact that we are in a home. I send them to my website and social media page so they can browse the activities and curriculum we offer. I do tell them how many children we are licensed for and which ages we serve if they ask. There’s a video of our space as well. The families who come to us love that we are a home daycare that offers a preschool experience. Is there any specific content that you would find helpful? Best of luck to you!

[@elizabethcagle6289]

Thank you for the information. What curriculum do you use? The center I work for has preschool and Pre-K but we don’t have an actual curriculum. I am the lead preschool teacher and sometimes it makes it challenging without a curriculum. I too would like to offer a preschool program within my home daycare program. We are in the Downriver area and I am starting my research now. Our goal is within the next year to purchase a larger home specifically for the business and open our home Childcare Preschool.

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

@@elizabethcagle6289 ooo there are some really great start up grants available right now for new providers in Michigan. Go to mi strong start to find out more. The opening grant is 5,000.00 and there’s another grant once you’re open if the funding is still available. It might be a good idea to buy sooner if it’s an option for you. Our curriculum is child led - we follow the interests and the needs of the children in the program. Honestly you can get a lot of really great ideas from Pinterest - we plan about 5 things for the children each day in the following areas - literacy (story or songs / finger plays) math (anything to do with numbers, weight or volume and that sort of thing) Practical life skills (making orange juice, baking, hammering etc…) small world play (different play sets related to the children’s interests) Art - (any open ended art activity) plus LOTS of outdoor play. Our parents love it. We set up centers for the week for the children to explore.

[@sunnypatchpreschool]

@@elizabethcagle6289 also when you’re purchasing your home look for the option to get licensed for 14 and get the larger license even if you only want to do less until you get your stride. It doesn’t cost more and you will have options later on down the road.

[@elizabethcagle6289]

I can’t thank you enough for this information. I appreciate all your help. It was more information than I found in the last few days of searching the web. I will be looking at MI Strong after work today.

[@nertilamyftiu6903]

Hello I am in process to get my license, can you please give me a advise were to find the families and children is any app that you post or you just post on Instagram Thank you

[@farhataziz3320]

I found from my area’s daycare related Facebook page