Daycare Staffing Needs

2008-05-19 11:17:18

( Business )



Basic Daycare Center Considerations

You have decided to open a daycare center, so you should consider several important factors. You need to determine whether you are babysitting only a few kids or whether you will have a full-service daycare and preschool educational facility.

You need to plan the layout of your daycare, which should have one to several classrooms, an office, reception area, bathrooms, kitchen and playground.

You also need to get daycare equipment for the classroom and playground areas. Having a computer and the appropriate management software in your office is also essential. You will also need kitchen, safety, and entertainment equipment.

Running a daycare center is quite a big responsibility, since you have to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your young wards. Hence, you need to select people to help you run the daycare center.

Key People in Your Daycare Center

Unless you will be the director of the center, you need to hire a very competent one. The director must have had training and experience in educational administration, especially in early childhood education. Since this will be the highest position in the center, the director should have strong leadership skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills in order to handle problems with the children or parents.

You will also need duly certified teachers and caregivers. Most states require that there should be one teacher for every fifteen to twenty children. Teachers must be able to formulate creative and effective activities. They should be well-trained in child psychology and have the expertise to handle all types of personalities and behavior. Most importantly, they should show a genuine love of children.

State laws require daycare centers to provide at least one full meal for the children. For this, you will need one or two kitchen personnel to prepare the food. Ideally, they should be knowledgeable in many types of dishes, especially those that are highly nutritious and appealing for children. They should also know the proper sanitary ways to handle and prepare food.

Lastly, you need a housekeeper to clean the areas after the day is done. You will also need a driver if you provide pick-up and drop-off service for your daycare center wards.

Other Daycare Personnel Qualifications

Knowledge and experience are not the only important qualities of your daycare staff.

Integrity is the biggest factor, as your daycare people will be working closely with the children. You must be able to trust them to perform their duties accordingly. You must also feel confident that the children who are entrusted to their care are safe, healthy and happy.

Your daycare staff must be courteous at all times towards you, the parents, the children, and among themselves. They should observe proper cleanliness and sanitary practices, and keep a healthy environment within the center. They should maintain positive and wholesome values, and be role models for the children to follow.


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