Start Your Own At-home Child Care Business

This guide provides a resource for those who would like to start a profitable child care program in their own home or apartment. Chapter 1 of the guide deals with general issues such as examining one's motives for the child care business, assessing one's aptitude as a caregiver, deciding whether to be self-employed or agency affiliated, and establishing professional contacts. Advertising the business is the focus of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 offers suggestions in setting fees, composing child care policy sheets, and record keeping. Chapter 4 addresses how to prepare and plan for various age groups. Health and safety concerns are discussed in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 gives suggestions on how to deal with a child's first day at the caretaker's home. Chapter 7 helps in building a good relationship with parents. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 offer sample daily activity plans, craft recipes, and play and learn activities. Chapter 11 discusses how to deal with common childcare problems, while chapter 12 talks about starting a mother's day out program. Nine appendices include lists of current state child care licensing offices, child care organizations, employer-sponsored child care programs, and field offices of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Also appended are sample state forms, information concerning equipment and audiovisual aids, and relevant journal, magazine, book, and newsletter titles. (AS)