What program/philosophy works best in a inhome daycare?

Question

What program/philosophy works best in a inhome daycare?

Answer 1

I would say Maria Montessori, as this was basically developed in a home enviroment

The first "Childrens House" and those that followed were designed to provide a good environment for children to live and learn.

The Montessori programme - decentring the teacher. The teacher was the 'keeper' of the environment. While children got on with their activities the task was to observe and to intervene from the periphery. (Here there are a number of parallels with Dewey). The focus on self-realization through independent activity, the concern with attitude, and the focus on the educator as the keeper of the environment (and making use of their scientific powers of observation and reflection) - all have some echo in the work of informal educators. However, it is Maria Montessori's notion of the Children's House as a stimulating environment in which participants can learn to take responsibility that has a particular resonance.

Answer 2

Hi!  I have an in-home daycare and have found the Montessori teaching method works best for me and the children in my care.  I like the relaxed atmostphere and having children involved in every aspect of our day.  I also use the same method when raising my own children, so it just came naturally for my daycare to be run the same way.

My advice is to run your in-home daycare the way YOU are comfortable.  Don't try to be super organized and stick to a strict agenda if that is not your personality.  Same holds true ifi you try to have a super relaxed environment.  You'll go insane if your daycare does not reflect your personality.  Parents will (and should) choose you as their caregiver because you hold their same values and you offer what they are looking for in a caregiver.  Be true to yourself and your business will flourish!

Beast of luck!

Answer 3

Your own :-)

Seriously...you need to create a philosophy that works with you and your home.  There are so many eductional philosophies and I suggest you read up on them.  But, personally, I take a little from here and a little from there and have created my own.  

In general, a play-based program is so essential in early childhood.

Someone mentioned Montessori.  I like many aspects of montesorri but you know what...it's not practical for me, anyway, with an in home childcare... it's way to expensive.  I've looked into Montessori and the families have to pay an arm and a leg around here to have their child enrolled and therefor, for me, living in the country...it would not go over.  

Good luck in your decision making.

Answer 4

when i had my own home daycare i found it worked best to let the day unfold.  i had basic plans of what i wanted to accomplish during the day but i let the desire of the group decide when we did things.  if they were rowdy, we played outside, dug in the dirt, etc.  if they wanted to do art, we did art.  if they wanted to do music, that's what we did.  i don't believe in making kids do art when they don't want to.  all you'll get is a lot of quick scribbles.  of course there were times when we had to do certain things (eat, nap).  but anything else was really child directed.  i also believe that kids should be kids.  we did a lot of hands on things.  we planted vegetable and flower gardens, dug in the dirt, collected bugs, had a lemonade stand.  regular kids stuff.  i wanted their day at my house to be like a day at their house.  very low key, very normal.  not 'daycare' feeling.