What do I need to start a home daycare?

Question

Okay I am a mother of two so I know the basic answers to that question, but i am looking for experieced daycare providers or home babysitting moms to help me with all the things I could forget to prepare for. I am looking to start this in a few months so I have time to get children and to get supplies. And another question is how do you make your grocery shopping go further with babysitting and feeding the kids? Please only answer with serious answers and suggestions.

Answer 1

a good heart

Answer 2

You should make a policy book.  The policy book should include things like parents needing to call their child in when sick, if they still have to pay for days they are not in attendance, your fees and when you need to be paid by, consequesnces for not paying on time, daily routine, what parents need to supply for their children, you should give parents a meal plan, etc.  

it is hard to make the shopping go further.  One thing to think about is if you will supply formula and bottles or require parents to supply it.  Also remember that you will need to plan for feeding the children breakfast, snack, lunch, and another snack, and if you are open late enough dinner.  You will need to provide lots of fruit and veggies so stock up on canned items because they are cheaper.  Also remember that you will need to add in extra money to your fees to cover some of the food expenses.  So if you were planning on charging $100 a week you might want to up it by $25 to cover some food expenses.

As for supplies make sure you have the necessities like crayons, paper, markers.  Also think about that you might want paint, paintbrushes, construction paper, stickers, and lots of different things for crafts.  

These things are just off the top of my head so if you need more detail I have my daycare director booklet of what is expected so just contact me and I can look through it and email you with more stuff!