Running a family child care program is more than just a job. Your family is often part of the care environment, and everyone in your home plays a role in its success. As a family business, an important question to consider:

• Is my family supportive of my plans to operate a Family Child Care Home, and are they willing to participate in all parts of the licensing process including criminal background checks and meet all the requirements of people (mainly adults) in the home?

By treating your family child care as a family business, you foster a sense of pride, ownership, and collaboration within your household. This approach creates a nurturing environment for the children you care for and strengthens the bonds within your own family. The result can be a thriving, supportive business that benefits everyone involved.

Here are expanded ways to treat your FCC as a family business:

• Involving Family Members:
• Assign specific roles to family members based on their strengths and availability. For example, teenagers can assist with simple tasks like setting up learning materials, while adults can help manage financial records or prepare meals.
• Create a rotation schedule for household members to help with cleaning, organizing, or other chores to maintain a professional and welcoming environment.

• Creating a Family-Friendly Space:
• Design areas in your home that reflect your family’s personality and values while being safe and engaging for children. Include elements like family-friendly artwork, comfortable furniture, and age-appropriate learning tools.
• Use outdoor spaces to provide enriching experiences like gardening, which can involve both your family and the children you care for.
• Educating Your Family:
• Hold regular family meetings to discuss updates on child care regulations, safety practices, and new activities planned for the children.
• Encourage older children or relatives to take part in first aid or child care workshops to develop skills that benefit your business.

• Balancing Work and Home Life:
• Clearly define physical boundaries within your home to separate work areas from private family spaces. For example, designate specific rooms or sections of the home for child care activities.  (Be sure to identify any/all indoor and outdoor areas that are off limits in the home drawing -Facility Sketch LIC 999A)
• Schedule regular family time to ensure everyone in the household feels valued and not overwhelmed by the demands of the business.
• Marketing Your Business:
• Share your family’s unique involvement as a selling point when marketing your child care program. Highlight your family’s teamwork, traditions, and the added warmth of a home-based setting.
• Use social media or local community boards to share positive testimonials from parents, showcasing how the family-centered approach enhances their child’s experience.
• Celebrating Together:
• Involve your family in organizing events like cultural celebrations, birthday parties, or end-of-year recitals for the children in your care.
• Build traditions within your business, such as an annual open house or holiday potluck, where families of enrolled children can meet your family and build stronger connections.
• Running the Business Side Together:
• Involve family members in the administrative side of the business. They can help with budgeting, creating schedules, or keeping records of expenses and income.
• Teach older family members about the basics of running a business, such as customer service and communication, to give them valuable life skills.

Conclusion

Getting and keeping a family child care license helps you provide a safe and caring place for kids. By following the rules, you can run a successful business and give families in Orange County the care they need.

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