H.W.
Hi Alice,
I run an in-home preschool here in Multnomah County. I checked online through Metro's Childcare Resource and Referral to find resources and took a great class which provided all the rules and regs for being a home-care provider and the requirements for licensure. This is a must for getting started, and has benefits: if you meet the requirements, Metro will list you in their Referral list for your area.
I have found it a challenge to negotiate having an adequate children's space within my home. I come from a daycare/preschool/nanny background, and so my home has the common spaces (living room, dining room, kitchen) as designated spaces for the preschool. I have spaces specified for designated activities (puzzle/small toys area, library area, housekeeping, block play, sensory bin, sharing table, cubbies, large school table, etc. ) which means that I have sacrified the couch and large dining room table; in short, my house looks like a preschool.
Some things to consider: the ages of the children you care for will factor into the requirements and certification you need. Kids 3 and up on a half-day program are exempt; if you have children younger than this, you will need a family care provider's license to cover your butt legally. In my case, although I am exempt, I started my business as an LLC, which is a firewall to being sued. (They can go after the business, but not you personally.) I also purchased a $1 million liability insurance policy through Thomco Finance, but you can also contact your homeowners agent to see what sort of plan you can come up with.
You will need to have written contracts explaining what you do and don't provide for clients ( breakfast? snacks? lunches?) , stating your hours of operation and things like rates, returned check fees, stating your style of discipline, exclusion policy for illness, late fees (both for late pickup and for late payments) and a liability waiver. This means that they understand that if their child is hurt in any way other than negligance on your part, you cannot be sued. (It's a formality, this, but a good one to have. I have this with both my clients and a mutual one with my own childcare provider, who is a friend and who watches my son in the afternoons.)
If you have children napping in your care, you need a space for their cots or porta-cribs. Preferrably, you will not be putting children in your child's own room. He *needs* to have his own room, his own toys, etc. So consider how much space you have and how the children will use it. I have space enough, but enroll a maximum of four children at a time, being sensitive to the fact that young children need space to move. You will also need adequate stools for handwashing/toilet use, and possibly potty seats, etc. You will need a table low enough and big enough to feed your whole crew at once; I cut the legs off a regular table and purchased stools for my group at Broadway Natural Furniture. If you look on the Community Playthings website, you can find guides which tell you the correct sizes for stools/chairs for the age group of the children you provide care for.
Lastly, you will need some sort of daily routine and curriculum. This means scheduled activities at certain times of the day and planning those activities in advance. The most effective daycare and preschool providers always have their snacks and lunches ready in advance (or have parents pack these for their children), as well as that day's activities. Understand that, when you have multiple children about, you must have all your supplies prepared, because the children need your presence constantly. Personally, my biggest challenge these days is prepping my preschool beforehand while my son is present.
Once again, check out the resources your county's Child Care Resource and Referral have to offer. It's the best place to start. Good luck!
