| In America today, it takes two incomes in most | | | | how many children you keep. Childcare costs are |
| cases to live a regular middle class lifestyle. This is | | | | high in some areas of the country, while other |
| due to rising costs of necessities such as housing, | | | | parts are relatively low. |
| power, and insurance and Americans are seeing | | | | Many parents prefer home daycares to regular |
| many non-necessities as needs such as cell | | | | daycares because their children get more |
| phones, cable, and video games. | | | | attention, they have the same sitter everyday, |
| A few generations ago, one income would | | | | and it costs less than regular daycare. You could |
| support a family. Dad would work and Mom would | | | | also just be a regular babysitter, but many |
| stay at home and play homemaker. Most people | | | | parents feel better knowing their childcare |
| raising families in those generations were much | | | | provider is licensed by the state. Plus, if you are |
| more frugal and children were not spoiled. Many of | | | | licensed you are allowed to keep more children. |
| the things we pay for today on a monthly basis | | | | Before you start a home daycare, you will need |
| didn't even exist then. How much do you pay for | | | | to do some planning and it will take time before |
| internet, cable/satellite, cell phone plans, big | | | | you are officially open for business. You will need |
| birthdays, name brand clothes, video game | | | | to get a license, your home will be inspected, you |
| systems and video games? If these things | | | | will need to child proof your home if it isn't |
| existed back then, most families could not afford | | | | already, and get some extra toys and baby |
| them. | | | | equipment and decide on meal and snacks |
| A major problem for single parents is childcare. | | | | everyday. |
| Unfortunately many single mothers can not even | | | | Then you will need to decide what you will charge, |
| afford to work, because childcare would cost | | | | draw up contracts which parents will sign and |
| more than what they would bring home in a | | | | begin marketing. Put up fliers, get business cards, |
| paycheck, leaving them stuck between a rock | | | | tell your friends and family to spread the word, |
| and a hard place. | | | | and put an ad in the paper. Some home daycares |
| The answer for homemakers wanting to help | | | | are filled up soon after opening, while others will |
| their husbands bring in some money or for single | | | | take time to get established. |
| mothers who can not afford child care | | | | An example of one successful home daycare |
| themselves may be a pretty basic idea: Start | | | | owner is a single mother who could not afford to |
| your own home daycare. | | | | put her own children in daycare. So, she decided |
| As long as mothers are working, childcare will | | | | to open up a home daycare and is now making |
| always be a service in demand. This could be an | | | | $1,600 a month gross, with the benefit of being |
| ideal solution for a mother with children who | | | | able to raise her children herself and be with them |
| wants to stay home with them and bring in an | | | | everyday. She could earn more money because |
| income. Watch other children along with your own | | | | she is able to watch more children, but has |
| children. Your children will have playmates and you | | | | decided to limit her business to watching 4 other |
| will get paid. | | | | children and they are charged $100 a week. |
| There are basically two things you need to make | | | | However, if she wants, she has options on |
| sure you have before you start a home daycare: | | | | earning more money from her business. |
| 1) Patience and love for children. | | | | If she worked outside the home, she'd be only |
| 2) A suitable place to keep them. | | | | making about $300 per week and would be |
| This is written under the assumption that you | | | | paying $300 per week for her two children to be |
| know that watching children all day is hard work! | | | | in regular daycare, meaning she'd make nothing |
| If you live in a cramped apartment, this isn't a | | | | for working hard all week. Now, she makes $400 |
| good idea until you move to a better place. | | | | per week, doesn't have to pay a penny to put |
| Parents would like to place their children in a home | | | | her kids in childcare and gets to spend tons of |
| that has plenty of room and a place outside to | | | | quality time with them. With her home daycare |
| play. | | | | income and child support, she is doing well for |
| What you earn depends on where you live and | | | | herself. |