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As schools are set to resume in line with the gradual return to normal life, the need for standard, spacious and well-equipped daycare centers will definitely be on the rise. This makes having a daycare center a very lucrative business that will increase your finances.
So many families have couples who both need to go to work daily and are currently pressured to find a good daycare center to place their kids without having to worry about the state of their health and the kind of care they receive.
This means, different parents lookout for different criteria when picking a day is center. however, one factor common to all parents is the concern about the ability of daycare to care for their children in a safe environment that allows the kids to socialize with other children bearing in mind their individual needs.
Having known this, if you feel you can provide this basic need and more, plus you love kids and are not bothered by the noise, cries, and beautiful litter associated with kids, you could consider starting one.
Types of Day Care Centres
There are two types of daycare you can start depending on the facilities available and your financial goals.
a. Home Daycare
b. Commercial Daycare
Home Daycare: This type of daycare is usually small and is run from the home. The beauty of this model is that it offers children the beauty of playing and learning in a homelike environment.
Commercial Daycare: These are larger daycare centers built or run from larger spaces that accommodate more toddlers. These generate more income but they also require more manpower.
Now that you know this, where would you want to start out?
Deciding on where and how you want to start your daycare is crucial. Before you make the decision on which of the to types of daycare to you want, consider these important issues
1. There must be adequate space for the children you wish to care for in line with the health precautions in place.
2. Supposing your home is where you want to start from, it has to be fenced to prevent children from straying out.
3. There must be medical personnel on the ground or a clinic close by with which you have an affiliation
4. The bathroom must not be far from your assigned play area
5. A commercial daycare should have a kitchen, more bathrooms, and a larger space for play.
What Do You Need To Start A Day Care Centre
To start a daycare center, you need to understand what it takes to operate one. This is a MUST if you are considering increasing your finance by opening a daycare whether in your home or on a commercial level.
Below is a checklist of questions you may have to ask yourself to know if you have what is needed to start a daycare.
i. Can you handle the weight expectations that will come from parents who leave their kids in your care?
ii. Do you have a planned set of activities and learning experiences for the children that will be left in your care?
iii. If your answer to question (i) and (ii) is no, how do you intend to get through that, and if yes, how do you intend to implement them.
iv. Can you handle the adjustments that are necessary to make the home or commercial daycare safe for children?
v. Can you handle the emergencies that may arise as you work with children?
vi. Do you know how to give first aid or have CPR training?
vii. Are you willing to invent on getting the necessary training and taking classes on childcare?
This is especially important since this is a business that you will have to oversee. Hence, you will make all the major decisions like how the business will be promoted, your time management, how many staff hands you'll need, proper financial record keeping, and all other responsibilities that is required for the business. It is important that you check out the licensing requirement for your locality.
Licensing Requirement For Starting A Daycare Centre
There are different licensing requirements for home and commercial daycare centre and they vary from place to place. Do well to check out the requirements for your state or region.
While at it, keep these in mind
Your home or school will be inspected for safety and health compliance in line with the laws of your state.
. Your child to teacher ratio will also be checked. Every state has a stipulated number of children that a teacher/caregiver should attend to. If the ratio of kids to caregivers is high you must consider hiring more hands. However, since you are just starting, you may not have many kids to start with. But as the number increases, you will have to employ more caregivers
. You may be asked to show proof that you are qualified to handle children or have attended any course on managing children or running a daycare.
. You will be required to file all legal papers and pay a fee that goes with it. In Nigeria, you do this through the Corporate Affairs Commission.
To help your business and increase your income and finances, pay close attention to what parents look out for in a daycare.
Basic Things Parents Lookout For in a Daycare Centre
An environment that builds creativity: Create a safe haven that is fun, filled with bright colors, toys, books, and educational material that is age-appropriate. Consider setting up a section for kids who might want to sit quietly and read, and another as a changing area. Give healthy snacks, clean water, and keep your bathroom and environment clean and hygienic.
A clear schedule of operations: Draw up a clear and concise schedule of operations indicating how the time the children spend with you will be used.
Attention to the business: Give the business your utmost attention. Having fulfilled all the requirements, give your business the attention it deserves. Fix your fees, hire others if need be, fix a time for parents to drop off, and when they should pick them up. Parents want to be assured that you know what you are doing.
A listening ear: Talk with the parents as every parent has their own expectations. Get to know what they want so you can meet and if possible surpass them.
Open to new learning: Parents expect that you are fully attuned to child development. Take courses from time to time as you grow in the business to acquaint yourself with daycare best practices.
Instant connection: Parents want to see that you or your caregivers can connect with their kids. If not handled, this can be a deal-breaker any day.
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