You have decided to start a home business and because you love being with children and have a high level of patience and your home has plenty of room, you decide to start a Home Childcare. The first thing you did was to contact your city to discover what your city regulations are concerning home businesses. You had a talk with your accountant and understand what you need to do in regards to taxes. Now you wonder what to do next to be sure your home is safe for children and that you have all the paperwork you will need to open for business.
Here is a list of safety suggestions:
Purchase cabinet child locks for all your lower kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Keep all cleaners, and medicines in these locked cabinets.
Make sure you put outlet covers on all outlets.
Go around and secure all loose cords. If you have blinds or window treatments with cords make sure they are cut and not looped. Secure these by tying them up high.
Either lock all upper story windows or place bars on them to prevent small children from falling out of them.
Make sure you have a well-stocked first aid kit. Keep a first aid chart handy inside the kit, and another in the kitchen. Keep poison control, fire and police numbers by the phone.
Make a habit of getting down on your hands and knees and crawl around your home every morning to be sure there are no small object that a child could choke on.
Secure top and bottom of all stairs with a baby gate.
Take an infant/adult C.P.R. course and take the refresher course on a regular basis. A first aid course is also important to take.
If it has been a while since you have cared for small children, a trip to the local library may be a good idea to locate and read parenting and childcare books.
Examine your front and back yards to be sure there are no hazards, like holes, uncapped pipes, sharp objects, access to high traffic areas (fenced in yard would be great).
Examine all toys to be sure buttons are tight and there are no sharp or broken surfaces. Clean and disinfect all cleanable surfaces. Toys should be cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis.
Now that you have a good handle on making your home safe you can turn your attention to the necessary paperwork. This is what I used in my home childcare.
CLIPBOARD WITH DAILY SIGN-IN SHEET. The sign-in sheet had the following information on it.
Child’s Name/Person Dropping off and picking up/Drop off time/Pick up Time/Special notes about Child. You may wish to have the client sign the child in and sign the child out with times if you are paid by the hour.
DAILY ACTIVITY SHEET: This sheet had each child’s name at the top of it. I jotted down notes about each diaper change, and all foods/drinks/bottles consumed. I also jotted down naptimes, and any crafts, outside activities and play activities the child did that day. Also any special notes like first words, first steps, or signs of illness, crying bouts etc.
MEDICAL FORM: This is where the shot record copy is taped, or shots are recorded. Any allergies (medicine or food) are noted here, and any special care instructions. The pediatrician’s phone #, medical insurance and I always put a note of emergency treatment authorization and have the parents sign this on a yearly basis. I also put on here that the parents are responsible for updating this form when ever information changes. The parents work phone numbers and cell phone numbers are also recorded on this. If an emergency occurs I try to remember to grab this form, so that emergency personnel can have the child’s medical information available as well as the parents contact information.
CHILD DATA FORM: Each child has this filled out before I will care for them. This form lists the child’s name, any nick names, the parents names and work contact information, home address and home phone numbers.
This is also where I have the parents list a relative’s contact information for emergency contact in case the parents can not be reached.
Any persons that the parents will be authorizing to have them pick up the child has to be listed with current home address, and all phone numbers (work, cell, home). I note here that any one who picks up the child must bring a photo ID with them.
Then I have the parents record all important facts about the child here…normal meal times, nap times, favorite toys, favorite songs/stories/routines. Anything that will hep me get to know their child goes here.
CONTRACT: I never watch a child without having a contract with their parents that clearly outlines my responsibilities, the parents responsibilities, my fees, vacation, sick days. Here is a sample contract.
Childcare Contract
Name(s) of Client and relationship to child(dren): __________________________________________
__________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Name of Childcare Provider: _________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Social Security Number: __________________________________________
Number of children: ______
Names of children: ______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Start date:____________
Compensation and Benefits:
Taxes: Childcare Provider will provide Clients necessary information in order to claim childcare for tax purposes
____________________________________________________
Paid vacation: _____week(s) per year. Childcare Provider will give Client ____ weeks notice of any upcoming vacations.
Paid holidays: ______________________________________________________
Extras: ___________________________________________
Schedule:
Childcare Provider will work ____ hours a week. Client will pay $___ per week and $____/hour for any extra hours worked.
Childcare Provider work hours are between ____a.m./p.m. and ____a.m./p.m. from ___________________________
Days off: list days ___________________________
Sick days: ___days a year
Personal days: ___days a year.
Childcare Provider will give client _____ days notice for personal days taken, and will call by __ a.m. the first day of illness.
Duties: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Transportation:
Use of car to transport child: yes/no
Logistics:______________________________________________________
Parenting Philosophy:
Naptime method: ________________________________________________
Discipline: _____________________________________________________
Television: yes/no If yes, how many hours a day? _____ hours
Meals: _______________________________________________________
Hygiene: _____________________________________________________
Safety: _______________________________________________________
Authorization to release child:
Emergencies:
If a medical emergency arises, the nanny should
_______________________________________________________________.
______________________ ____________________
Mother’s Phone Number Cell Phone Number
______________________ ____________________
Father’s Phone Number Cell Phone
Reviews, Raises, and Grievance Procedures:
The client agrees to review the childcare provider every ____ months.
Cost-of-living raises will be given every (year/__ years/depending on review).
If childcare provider has a grievance, she can ___________________________________.
If client has a grievance they can _______________________________________.
Changes and Amendments:
In the event of the birth of another child, fees and conditions will be amended
______________________________________________________________
Contract can be changed or amended if both parties agree: yes/no
Notice of Termination:
The childcare provider must give __weeks’/months’ notice of termination in writing.
The Client must give childcare provider ___weeks/months notice if her services will no longer be required.
Should the childcare provider terminate the agreement, client agrees to pay all wages up to and including childcare provider’s last day of work. Yes/no
Signatures:
______________________ ____________________
Childcare Provider Date
______________________ ____________________
Parent Date
______________________ ____________________
Parent Date
Feel free to use this contract or make any changes to it you feel needed.
A contract protects both you as the childcare provider and your clients. A contract also helps to create a better understanding between you and your clients of the details of your childcare business. Should you ever have to take your clients to court for non-payment, having a signed contract will let a judge know what it is that you and your clients agreed to. Your daily sign-in sheets are proof of what days your client used your childcare. Perhaps you are seeing just how important paperwork is to the success of your childcare business.
Reference:
- Book: Start Your Own Childcare Business By Prentice Hall ISBN: 0136033253
