By
eHow Careers & Work Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Step1
Know the local regulations pertaining to child care including the amount of area, inside and out, that you must provide per child. There are also teacher-to-child ratios, health codes and cleanliness regulations in most areas.
Step2
Decide early on where the primary care areas will be, both inside and out, and what areas will be kept private. Have a way to secure the areas of your house that you wish to be kept private, to prevent entry from children or the public.
Step3
Put together a fenced safe play area outdoors. Small ride-on toys, push toys like a bubble mower and big soft balls are fun outdoor activities that are safe for young kids.
Step4
Arrange for a back-up care provider to stand in for you during emergencies. If a child is hurt or you become sick, you will need someone to provide the care for the children that you have already agreed to provide.
Step5
Decide on your daily care hours, realizing that your days will be long. Usually day cares stay open from early morning until after the normal close of business to allow working parents to drop off their kids before work and pick them up after.
Step6
Be prepared to offer a hot meal at lunch. Many states and municipalities require that schools and day cares provide a hot meal for the children in their care. Be sure that you follow local health code regulations for cooking as well as safety regulations about children near a professional kitchen.
Step7
Deal with parents. Sometimes parents will forget to pay fees and tuition. Some will refuse to hear that their child is causing problems, while other parents may be chronically late to pick up their children. Expect these situations and develop a plan for dealing with them such as penalty fees.
