Anyone here run a daycare out of their home?

[C.Ann]

If so, what do you do when you want to go on vacation, when you're sick, when you want to run off to Disney World , etc.?

And do you charge more for infants than toddlers?

DD is kicking around this idea as her job is really starting to get to her and if she were able to work from home, the areas they're looking to buy a house in would expand greatly..

She loves kids and they love her, so I think she would be good at it.. People often refer to her as "The Pied Piper".. She can be in a store - not know a soul - and someones baby will start smiling from ear to ear and just reach out their arms to her to be picked up.. It's the strangest thing...

 

[Lewski709]

I don't, but can tell you how my daycare lady does it. She has a helper, so they are never closed for sick days. She has between 10 and 12 kids and there is a HUGE, HUGE room and HUGE yard with tons of toys. If you only have your actual house/living area....I wouldn't suggest it. This lady had a 2.5 car garage she converted to the daycare and then added another garage on the front of it. It's great.

She takes two weeks vacation a year in the summer, so she is closed. Vacations and holidays are posted at the beginning of the year. You have to give her 2wks notice of your vacation time. We are allowed to take one week away with out pay. She is closed for the regular holidays, but gets paid. It's a weekly fee and if the kid is their or not, they get paid.

She doesn't charge more for infants than toddlers. Toddlers are really more trouble.

My DH is like the childrens Pied Piper too. Kids flock to him. He looks harmless and is, which is a good thing, but as a parent it scares me to see how kids just will go with him. Not that he would ever do anything, you just know what I am saying.

 

[nancy679]

My friend has her own daycare in her home. She has a contract with each parent. She tells them how many vacation days and personal days she get a year. She lets them know well ahead of time when she wants to take vacation. She actually rarely takes any sick time. Some parents give her a hard time about having to pay her vacation time, but its in her contract.
I think she charges the same amount for babies and toddlers, she also gets some kids that come to her after school.
Hope this helps

 

[Lewski709]

We don't pay for her vacations and we don't have to pay the week our DS's aren't there. The other 49 weeks, we pay though.

 

[Meriweather]

I ran a home day care for 12 years.
It was a great way to stay home while my children were growning up.
I told parents as far in advance as I could when I was going on vacation.....it was up to them to find alternate care.
I did not charge when they weren't there.
I did charge the same amount for toddlers and infants.

 

[cgcw]

I have a daycare out of my home and wouldn't trade it for the world.

Each year, I work on a contract basis between me and my families. In that, I state I will be taking 3 unpaid weeks of vacation a year and 5 paid personal days. If one of my children are sick, I will use a personal day. If I need more time off than the 5 days, then it's unpaid time off. If the child does not show up for whatever reason, I am still paid for the day.

I always let my families know my vacation as soon as I know it. It gives them time to make other arrangements or to plan their own vacation at the same time. If needed, I will try to find another daycare provider to help them out.

I charge the same regardless of age. Sometimes, if it's an existing family with a new sibling joining our group, I will give them a slight break. It depends on the hours they are in my care.

There are many tax benefits I take advantage of. I have my license through the village I live in as well as the State of IL. I'm paid through the State to provide meals for the kids. I also carry private daycare insurance which I couldn't get without being licensed.

Feel free to PM me with any additional questions.

Cindy