How to Get Certified to Run a Home Daycare

Running a Home Daycare gives you a wonderful oppurtunity to work from home.

There are many options to begin your own business or work from home. If you have children, one of the best options may be to open your own in-home daycare. Not only will your children have the benefits of having a parent stay home with them all day, they will also learn social skills early on. If you aren't legally certified to run a daycare, however, you can be headed for a heap of trouble.

Things You'll Need

• Immunization records
• Negative tuberculosis test
• First aid and CPR credentials

Instructions

1. Contact your state's welfare department for all the rules to become certified in your county. Though the basics are the same all over, certain states may have more regulations than others.

2. Go to your doctor and get a physical, along with a note stating you are healthy enough and able to care for children safely. If you do not already have them, get a copy of your immunization records from your doctor while you are there, along with a tuberculosis test.

3. Get professional and personal references in the form of letters, complete with phone numbers at which the writers can be reached. The letters should state that you have experience with children and are good with them.

4. Take classes in first aid and CPR. Be sure you obtain copies of your certifications after successfully taking these classes.

5. Childproof your home. This means having baby gates at all staircases, electrical outlets covered, child-proof locks on doors, access to the kitchen blocked off and child-friendly books, toys and activities available. If you run across anything and are not sure if it is safe or not, assume it is not and fix it.

6. Bring your health, CPR, first aid and reference documents to your state certifying agency. They may have more for you to do and will want to do an in-home inspection to ensure it is safe for children. If you have followed all their regulations and rules, you will be awarded a certificate stating you can run a daycare in your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Though in some states it is not required, it is helpful to take child development classes before opening a daycare.

References

• The Dabbling Mum: Start, Run, Operate Home Day Care
• Edubook: How to Become a Certified Home Daycare