Licensed or Unlicensed ( in Home Childcare)

I am a SAHM and I watch another little boy along with my two kids. We go on outings, I make a menu of food for the week as well as a schedule of the week. I am not licensed and don't plan on being licensed. I think you have to be careful of who is licensed as well- there is one home daycare in the city that had a child die at it and 6 months later, changed their name and got another license to watch kids. You definitely need references, which I had. It is definitely the quality of care that you give a child and you should do careful.

I go with licenced as there are rules to follow and they are regulated by DCFS and the state. There are too many women that watch children that go without the licencing and then want to be paid what licenced providers get. I have always gone through licenced providers and found ALL of them through Action for Children. They are a great resource. Take it from a Early Childhood Major.

Licensing standards vary per state. Here is the information for Indiana:
http://www.daycare.com/indiana

The Indiana Association for Child Care Resource & Referral would probably be easier to get a hold of and more pleasent to talk to:
http://www.iaccrr.org/index.php

Hope this helps you out! :)

I was unlicensed, then a nosey neighbor called DCFS to report me, so I got my license. Other than it being a pain , it is really not a big deal getting the license. Just takes time!! I started out through the DCFS dept. in Round Lake. They have a meeting and give you packets to begin filling out. Good info there. The great thing about getting a license is that at tax time, you can claim just about everything from groceries to electric bill, to new bikes, etc! Just to be on the safe side, I would get that license incase you too have a nosey neighbor with nothing better to do than to call on you too.

I agree for the most part with what some of the moms have said. I am a Licensed Childcare Provider, and although it is hectic with the paperwork needed out of the year (fire/tornado drills, immunization records etc.) I feel the sense of accountability and know that I provide an honest service. (staying organized is the key) The 15 hours of Continued Education that is required out of the year is very resourceful, it applies to the daycare setting/children as well as my own kids. I know that as a non- licensed childcare provider you are technically only allowed to care for 3 children at a time, in your home including your children. Howevever check with your local DCFS Rep for info. I know of many SAHM in my subdivision whom are not licensed, and although I think it is unfair considering what the Licensed providers have to go through (background check, finger printing, unannounced visits etc.), to each is own. Prior to me doing childcare I would only want my children with a licensed childcare provider/facility.

I am in need of childcare while I am on bedrest with my pregnancy for little girls ages almost 2, almost 5, 6 and 8. Are you interested? We live in Pekin. I'd be interested in talking with you. My name is Kate and you can email me at ____@____.com

Licensed or unlicensed what?
Childcare provider?

I used a lady who was unlicensed but had all the references that any one would need.
Ask for references. Make sure they have proper insurance and are certified in CPR. Make sure they have no more than a couple children in her home at the same time as your child. An older person is the best in my eyes.
Licensed just means they have been checked out by the state and went to some classes but I found that it was less expensive to go with an unlicensed child care provider and she was great. A Grandmother type of lady.

Good Luck,
S.

I am licensed. It's nice for the parents to know you are licensed because of the guidelines you need to adhere to. On the other hand licensing can be a pain in the way of busy work. I found that alot of what I already do as a mom is required through licensing with the exception that it must all be documented and though I read excessively about child development there are so many hours of continuing education (from approved lists) that must be provided.

Childcare is not your typical 8 hour day...it's usually much longer than that. When the kids leave the day is not over, you have to prepare for the next day as well as be a mommy. Some of the paperwork is mindless space taken up in my opinion. I will actually be going without my license if I open again solely due to this. Also, as a side note, my neighbor does daycare and is not licensed though she was an early childhood/special ed. teacher. She's great. What is boils down to is quality not the quantity of the busy work needed to be done. I also know of licensed providers that were able to use their license as a "smokescreen", they had no business watching kids, but their paperwork was up to par.

The best resource you can look into for licensing is your DCFS branch...they are in charge and will send you a booklet on how to do it and what needs to done for it.

J.