Should I Be A Child Care Provider?

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Wait, R. (1991). *Should I be a family day care provider?* (Family Day Care Facts series). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts.

What to Consider

There are many things to think about. You need to think about your feelings, your skills, and your hopes for the future. You also need to consider how other important people in your life feel about what you want to do. This fact sheet will help you decide if being a family day care provider is the job for you.

What You Can Expect

Is this really what you want to do?

1. You need to like children and to enjoy playing with them. It is okay to enjoy children of one age more than of another age.
2. You should be in good health. It takes lots of energy to care for children every day. People are depending on you, so you can not afford to get sick very often.
3. You should be willing to keep records. You should know where to go for help keeping your business in order.
4. Your house should be clean and organized. You should have food and supplies for the children.
5. You should be willing to try new activities with the children. You should be willing to learn more about how children grow.
6. You need to be honest with yourself. What do you really like and dislike? What are your skills?

Write why you would like to be a family day care provider.

Now Answer The Questions Below

[Answer YES, MAYBE, or NO to each of these questions.]

1. I enjoy young children very much.
2. I could work with children all day.
3. Children make noise, but their noise does not bother me.
4. During an emergency, I am calm.
5. I can keep business records.
6. Sometimes my house gets messy; but it does not bother me.
7. My family will move things around to make our home ready for a child care program.
8. My own children and other family members will not get upset if other children are in our home.
9. I will buy toys and supplies for the day care children.
10. I have a lot of energy.
11. I would like to talk with parents about their child.
12. I can discuss problems with others calmly.
13. I can discipline children without yelling.
14. I expect to care for my day care children for at least two years.

Count the number of "yes" answers. Count the number of "no" answers and the number of "maybe" answers. If you answered "yes" to most of the questions, you will probably enjoy providing family day care. If you had lots of "no" or "maybe" answers, you should talk to other day care providers before you start a day care program.