DAYCARE OWNERS stories good or bad!!?

Question

im opening a preschool next year, as i am in the process of obtaining my CDA from a college in my state. i want to hear stories about maintaining a business in the preschool field. what troubles have u had? what are the rewards? do you love it or regret it? anything would be tremendously helpful!!!!

Answer 1

don't because you won't get any quiet time

Answer 2

Your best bet is to get your director's credential and work in that capacity for at least one year. There is so much to know and so much paperwork, and learning it while someone else is paying the bills is a smart move.

You will deal with parent issues, payment issues, staff turnover issues, child behavior issues, etc, etc, etc.

To decrease the number of issues you deal with, you will need to be committed to quality. People who are in it just to make a buck are the ones who can't maintain staff.

My website has several links about starting a child care center...

http://the-preschool-pages.com/Links

I also post weekly tips to help preschools increase quality...

http://the-preschool-pages.com/Tips

Be sure you talk to the local early learning coalition or resource and referral agency to find out about grants and scholarships available to you.

Answer 3

I worked in a daycare for three years and HATED it. I ran the preschool side and I loved doing the preschool but the daycare always seemed so unstructured and utter chaos. The children from the daycare would come to preschool and it was like their home - it was very hard to maintain control and order.  I now own my own preschool and LOVE it.  No daycare, strictly preschool which is obviously my first love.  I have two classes of 3 year olds that come twice a week and two classes of 4 year olds that come the other three days.  It works out beautifully.

Answer 4

I have never owned a preschool but have had day care in my home. (Many years ago.) I did things that I do now in my preschool class. I have worked both administration, as an assistant teacher and as a lead teacher for 22 plus years. It has been my experience and from the classes that I have taken that you should not be able to tell a difference from a preschool class and day care class. Both need some structure and some free time and plenty of flexibility.

Answer 5

It can be very rewarding or it can be very stressful. I often say that a daycare/preschool is only as good as the people/administrator :-)  I agree completely that you should see NO difference between the preschool side and the day care side.

I strongly suggest you take an administration course.  Very beneficial.