In-Home Child Care

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. The most important thing to look for in a provider is a personal connection. No matter how lovely the facility or how well everything looks on paper, if you don't feel comfortable talking to your provider about your concerns, you will be more likely to move your child to another location if trouble arises. This is hard on the child and does your provider a disservice by not letting her know what she can do to improve her services.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. How do providers treat naptime. Sleep is the most important thing an infant/toddler needs, so is the child given the freedom and quiet to get a full nap? Are they wakened to pick up others from school?

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. My childcare is a very child-centered space. My focus is to provide a security and playfulness that allows the children to explore to the limit of their capability. This builds self-confidence and imagination. Children aren't free to use imagination without first feeling completely safe and secure in their environment. This is my top priority.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love watching the children grow into little individuals. I love the freedom to allow the children to achieve, and watch their faces light up when they accomplish something they have never done before. I love knowing that I am providing a space where imagination and play abound.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How long have I been in business? Over 7 years.
I have been in business for 7 years, and have very little turnover, so I have watched two sets of children grow from infancy to school-age. The average length of time a client is with me is around 4 years, although I still have my original client's youngest, so she has been with me for 7 years.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I have many stories, none that I could specify as a favorite. I do love that even the kids that have moved on to school still come to visit. I love to hear that the children talk about the friends they have here when they are at home. I love to hear that the kids love my cooking!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I wish customers understood the complete lack of education required for most in-home providers. I wish parents had a desire to see their childcare professionals trained in whatever way they can be.

I want my clients to know that I strive to be the best I can be, and that included getting the state permits required of center directors, as well as going back to school to study Early Childhood Education, and eventually to get my Master's Degree in Education.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I have a Bachelor's in business, a Master's in Education, and a Site Supervisor permit issued by the State of California.