Hi everyone! It's been about 9 years since I closed down my family daycare and stopped posting here. Wow! It's amazing to see so many familiar usernames from back then and I'm grateful this forum is still here.
:hug:
I'm reconsidering reopening again and could really use some honest input.
A new elementary school has opened just around the corner from me, within a very short walking distance, and I'm thinking of opening up for just after school care for up to 6 kids since the school doesn't offer that. They also don't offer before school care, but I don't think I want to do that. I definitely don't want to do infants and toddlers, at least not at first, and would rather focus on 1st through 6th graders so that means I would open from 3pm to 7 or 8.
Is it an unrealistic goal? Do you think it will be hard to fill my spots without offering care for younger siblings? Will it be hard to find kids who *just* need after school and not before school care? What about during school breaks (holidays, days off, etc)? Do I need to make myself available for them? I plan on opening this fall so summer care is far off in the distance and I won't worry about that yet.
Also, I wouldn't be offering any driving so no taking kids to various after school things. I would just walk over, collect my kiddos and they would stay here until someone picks them up. The only time I would drive is to pick them up during bad weather.
I'm curious if anyone else has made this work?
Am I crazy to be excited at the idea of getting back into this business ? Any input is greatly appreciated!
:hug:
I'm reconsidering reopening again and could really use some honest input.
A new elementary school has opened just around the corner from me, within a very short walking distance, and I'm thinking of opening up for just after school care for up to 6 kids since the school doesn't offer that. They also don't offer before school care, but I don't think I want to do that. I definitely don't want to do infants and toddlers, at least not at first, and would rather focus on 1st through 6th graders so that means I would open from 3pm to 7 or 8.
Is it an unrealistic goal? Do you think it will be hard to fill my spots without offering care for younger siblings? Will it be hard to find kids who *just* need after school and not before school care? What about during school breaks (holidays, days off, etc)? Do I need to make myself available for them? I plan on opening this fall so summer care is far off in the distance and I won't worry about that yet.
Also, I wouldn't be offering any driving so no taking kids to various after school things. I would just walk over, collect my kiddos and they would stay here until someone picks them up. The only time I would drive is to pick them up during bad weather.
I'm curious if anyone else has made this work?
Am I crazy to be excited at the idea of getting back into this business ? Any input is greatly appreciated!
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