SHOULD YOU REFER TO YOUR PROGRAM AS A CHILD CARE OR DAYCARE?
CREATING A HOME DAYCARE BUDGET
MARKETING YOUR HOME DAYCARE
4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO OPERATE A HOME DAYCARE
THREE GREAT MOTHER'S DAY CRAFT IDEAS
WHEN IT'S TOO COLD TO PLAY OUTSIDE
5 SIGNS YOUR DAYCARE NEEDS TO GET UNIFORMS
BABYSITTING/NANNYING CHILDREN OUTSIDE OF WORK
PLANNING A FIELD TRIP
CREATING A PARENT HANDBOOK
CREATING A STAFF HANDBOOK
NAMING YOUR CHILD CARE HOME OR CENTER
FREE ART MATERIALS
OH, BE CAREFUL LITTLE MOUTH WHAT YOU SAY
BITING, BITING, IS NO FUN
MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY: FOUR TIPS TO HELP YOU HANDLE SENSITIVE INFORMATION
6 TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN GIVING PARENTS BAD NEWS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S DAY
BABYSITTING/NANNYING CHILDREN OUTSIDE OF WORK

1. Know your employer's policies:
Some employer's have written policies prohibiting employees from working for any of the child care facility's clients. If this is the case, tell the parents you appreciate their offer, but company policy prohibits you from accepting the position/job. If this is the case, the policy is probably also included in a parent's handbook or policy book as well for them to review. If there is no written policy, you may want to check with your employer anyway and make sure they approve of the arrangement. Don't ever accept a position that would require you to quit your job at the daycare and cause your employer to lose a client.
2. Don't be offended:
You may consider yourself to be a child care professional and not a teen-aged "babysitter" who can be paid $5.00/hr. to watch someone's children while they spend a night on the town. Or you may be a 35-year old mother of four who has her own children to take care of after hours. Even if you find the offer insulting, politely thank the parents and tell them you are not available. Remember that they may not see a difference between what you do for your job during the week and babysitting on a weekend.
3. Don't play favorites
If you do decide to watch someone's children after hours, you will probably develop a stronger relationship with them than the rest of the children in your class. When you are working, remember not to play favorites and give extra attention to the children you watch after hours.
4. Set clear expectation ahead of time
If you are going to watch children after hours, make sure you sit down with the parents and set clear expectations. Discuss how much you expect to be paid, what the parents expect of you when you babysit, how this will affect your relationship when you see them at daycare, etc.
5. Know when it's time to quit babysitting/nannying
If the arrangement places a strain on your daytime job, you may need to quit. This may happen if:
- the parents are constantly asking you to watch their kids and you become exhausted
- the parents or children have difficulty maintaining separation between your daytime job and your babysitting job (the kids always want you to hold them when you are supposed to be running an entire classroom or the parents want to talk with you for an extended period of time when they drop off/pick up their kids at daycare, etc.)