How to Start a Day Care Center for Children in Lynchburg, VA
As our economy becomes increasingly demanding, the need for quality day care centers is stronger than ever. Many parents can no longer afford the luxury of staying home with their children, and most have fond memories of their own childhood experiences in day care. There is a growing niche in the market for those who can provide nurturing care, and this is an excellent opportunity to launch your own business. If you love contributing to the growth and development of children, starting your own day care center can be extremely rewarding.
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Learn the babysitting and childcare laws. In Lynchburg, a child day care center is defined as "a child day care program offered to (i) two or more children under the age of thirteen in a facility that is not the residence of the provider or of any of the children in care or (ii) thirteen or more children in a single location." The Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing Programs, otherwise known as the DOLP, processes licenses and conducts inspections of establish day care centers. They also offer helpful workshops to aid in the application process. If you've never operated a day care before, you will also need to undergo health and safety training. Just place a call to the DOLP and let them know you are interested in opening a day care facility; they can inform you of the next training sessions.
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Aside from helping children learn and grow, you also want to make sure your business is profitable. This cannot happen unless you begin with a sound business plan. Many child care centers have anywhere from 35 to 60 children regularly attending and barely manage to break even; this is often the result of state government regulations, which can rack up a lot of overhead. Most facilities charge $40 to $65 a week per child in order to make services affordable for parents. If you are not entering this business opportunity with substantial funding, it is important to not only abide by regulations, but also to enroll enough clientele to make more than you are spending on services. Make sure clients pay in advance, or you can quickly go under. Also, operating out of your own home will reduce overhead immensely. Once you can make a profit doing this, and have cultivated a reputation of good service, you can begin considering expanding your business outside of the home. If your business plan is solid (a representative at your local bank can help you with this), you may also seek financial backing or sponsorship from community organizations, such as a church or labor union.
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Once you have decided on a location and have children in your care, the real work begins. State law requires that you provide at least one hot meal a day per child (typically lunch), so depending on the number of children you have, you may want to consider hiring a cook. If parents don't have time to feed their children breakfast, an extra eight to twelve dollars a week is added to their billing. You will also be expecting to provide snacks, either in the mid-afternoon or mid-morning. Depending on current state regulations, each child may need a certain square footage of space, and a licensed teacher may be required for large groups. If you have a smaller group, it is important to provide plenty of activities that are age-appropriate and stimulate mental growth. Engage with the children as much as possible and foster relationships with each one.
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It is important to maintain a routine. The most successful child care facilities have an established curriculum for each day (having this planned out when you're presenting your business plan will also impress potential investors). Generally, the day begins with a play period, usually until about 9:00 a.m. From 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., a reading or storytelling time takes place, followed by either a mid-morning snack or nap for younger children. After this, a learning session takes place. This is a great opportunity to invite civic leaders in your community (such as firemen) to come and speak, or for future teachers at a local college to come and share their skills, such as painting or poetry writing. Lunch is almost always from noon to 1:00, followed by another learning session. At 3:00 p.m., either the mid-afternoon snack or nap takes place. The nap may not be appropriate for older children, so games or reading can occupy this time. Once, children begin to wake up, around 4:00 p.m., you can expect parents to begin arriving, so another session of playtime is ideal. Whenever possible, play periods for children should occur outdoors, and physical activity should be encouraged.
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Most importantly, safety must always be at the forefront of your mind. Not only do you want to ensure the well-being of the children in your care, but you must also protect yourself from liabilities. Following state codes and ordinances should take most of the danger out of your direct environment, but doing a little extra can save you a lot of grief. Keep numbers of parents and emergency care centers somewhere accessible, such as the front of the refrigerator. Know the health histories of each child to be aware of pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, or allergies, such as gluten. Perform fire drills routinely with the children. The DOLP can help construct an emergency plan if you ask.
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Tips & Warnings
Child care is an immensely rewarding occupation and can also be quite profitable. Any time throughout the process of establishing a facility that you feel confused or overwhelmed, simply contact the DOLP. They are here to help.
