Want To Work From Home?
6 reasons to start a Family Day Care at your place.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Becoming a parent changes everything, and if you’re not sure you want to go back to your same old job, or are excited about starting something new, then family day care is a fantastic option!
Starting your own family day care isn’t as daunting as it might sound, and this business venture is a great way to make money doing what you love, where you live.
To see why family day care might be your best career move yet, let’s look at all the upsides, with expert input from Damon Somerfield at Family Day Care Australia.
1. You get to be your own boss.
Family day care gives you an exciting opportunity to run a business on your own terms, with the support of a family day care coordinator and approved service.
Being the boss of your own family day care means you get to choose the hours and days you work, the fees you charge, and the education and care you offer.
You can decide whether to make your business a full-time gig, with earnings to match, or keep things small, bringing in less money, but just as much job satisfaction.
Damon says, “There’s freedom to structure your business however you like,” and this calculator is a great way to estimate your earning potential, based on what works for you.
2. Family day care allows you to keep caring for your own child, while caring for others.
Returning to work usually means seeing less of your child, but if they attend your family day care, this isn’t the case!
Damon says, “Our educator-parents love the fact that they can invest in their child’s learning, watch them interact with other kids, and save money on childcare fees.”
If you have a couple of children in care, the savings multiply, though you do need to factor your own children into the educator to child ratio for family day care.
3. You can get started without prior experience.
It’s important that you want to work with children, educating and caring for them, but you don’t need to have actually done this before to launch into a family day care career.
Damon explains that, “Qualified educators often make the move from long day care to family day care, because they love the flexible hours and work-from-home convenience, and it’s easier than ever to start an approved Certificate III, or higher, qualification.”
Your family day care service will also give you all the induction and training you need to offer first-rate family day care, and Damon says, “They’ll also ensure that you have the first aid and working with children credentials required, along with a National Police Check.”
4. You get to make a real difference in children’s lives.
Family day care is an incredibly fulfilling job.
You’ll build real bonds with the pre-schoolers and/or primary schoolers in your care, and get to come up with individualised learning programs for each child, with their interests and potential in mind.
Damon says, “You’re welcome to incorporate your own interests as well, so if you particularly enjoy art and craft, respect a certain educational approach, like RIE, or want to make your family day care eco-friendly, you can.”
5. Family day care allows you to fill a need in your community.
You can start a family day care anywhere in Australia, and if you live in a childcare desert, where options are minimal or non-existent, starting a family day care is a very welcome way to provide the childcare you – and your fellow families – need.
The same goes for operating hours.
If there are lots of local parents requiring care outside the nine-to-five, or even overnight, it’s rewarding (emotionally and financially) to provide a solution in your suburb.
6. Age is no barrier, and neither is home ownership.
As long as you’re over the age of 18, you can run a family day care, and although this job is popular with mums and grannies, dads and non-parents can do it, too.
It’s also good to know that you don’t need to own your premises. As long as your landlord gives approval, you can run a family day care out of your rental property.
Damon says, “You don’t need to live in a huge house on sprawling grounds, either. You just need to be able to offer a clean, safe, engaging place for children. Your service will help you meet the environmental requirements.”
So, what do you think?
If the idea of working from home and working with children sounds appealing, you might like to register your interest in family day care.
This is the first step in the Family Day Care Australia recruitment process, and with their support, you could soon be joining the 10,000+ educators who’ve found their calling in family day care!
KindiCare can also set you on a great career path.
If you love the idea of an early learning career, KindiCare Jobs is the ideal place to see what opportunities are out there.
There are roles with Australia’s leading early learning providers on this search platform, and it’s easy to set up your job profile and find openings that suit.
We also have a whole range of articles to support your career aspirations, and whether you’re polishing a resume, preparing for an interview or seeking a sustainable work-life balance, KindiCare has content to help you shine!
We can also connect you with a fabulous family day care for your child. Simply search KindiCare >>>
