Family Day Care - Please Read :D

[cho]

Hi Ladies,

:wave:I wasn't sure if this was the right place to post this, I was tossing up between the Working From Home and Child Care Options sections! :laughing:

Anyway, I am seriously considering becoming a family day carer. I have worked in child care centres for a few years and I have cert. III in children's services. I love working with children and I really believe in home based care.

The expenses of doing this include:

one off expences such as:
Cots,
mattreses,
saftey equipment (gates, cupboard latches etc)
highchairs
childrens kitchenware
toys
books


Annual expences such as:
insurance (around $500)
first aide
police and working with children check
toy libray fees (around $100?)

Weekly expences such as:
rent (we would need to rent a bigger place)
family day care scheme (around $100 pw)
food for children (around $100-120)
Petrol (for going on outings)
Supplies (FDC magazine, stationary, record keeping equipment)

I have worked out that I would need to charge $60 per day to make a decent income. (This would still result in my earning less than the $45,000 per annum the FDC website claims is the average earnings. This doesn't bother me though, I would be happy with $60 per day per child.)

The $60 is before the rebate.

I am wanting to hear from both parents and family day carers. I would really really apreciate some advice before I commit to doing this. Please answer any questions you can.

:wave:Parents:

Would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer?
This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), Morning Teas, Lunch and Desert, and Afternoon Teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.

How does $60 a day compare to your centre or FDC? (where your children are now)

Would the age of the carer bother you? (I am 21)

Would you be happy to provide nappies?

Would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excersions?

Why do you use family day care?

What do you like about your family day care?

:flowerz:Family Day Carers:

How much do you charge?

Do you charge a daily fee if child is in fulltime care?

Do you reduce fee if child is fulltime?

Do you charge if a child is absent?

What hours do you work? eg. 8am-5pm

What ages do you have?

Do you suply food? If so which meals and what sort of food? What is your weekly food budget?

Do you supply nappies? Which brand and how much do they cost you weekly? (or fortnightly etc)

Did you recieve any payments from the government to start your FDC? How much?

What did you buy to start with? Stollers, mattreses, cots, highchairs etc.

Do you take the children out of your house?

I have heard you can only have one or two children for 6 months to begin with, is this true?

What do you do when you are unwell?

Do you have theme weeks? What have you done?

Do you belong to a toy library?

What does family day care provide you with along the lines of forms and sleep charts?

And FINALLY :laughing:, Do you enjoy it?

I'm sorry for all the :ecomcity:, I just really want to get this all sorted out before I decide! If you got this far, thanks a million!

[KapowSchazam]

would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer?
This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), morning teas, lunch and desert, and afternoon teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.

for a full day, yes. Would you only take children on at full-day rates, or would you charge by the hour as well??? Would you offer a different rate if the parents supplied their own food? My step-mum used to do fdc, and most of the children brought their own food, she only supplied snacks. I personally would prefer to supply all of my own food, including snacks, but i'm weird :p

how does $60 a day compare to your centre or fdc? (where your children are now)

n/a have never used any cild care.

would the age of the carer bother you? (i am 21)

no

would you be happy to provide nappies?

n/a but when we used nappies, i used mcn, so i would obviously supply them. Would you be happy to use them?

would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excersions?

it would depend on the child/carer ratio, and the ages of the children going, as well as where they were going. I wouldn't for an indoor play centre. For something special, like museum, or local children's concert, i would.

why do you use family day care?

n/a but if i used cc, i'd prefer fdc due to the lower child/carer ratios, the in-home aspect of it, the continuity of care, etc. The only *major* con would be if the carer decided to go on holidays at short notice, or was sick, and i relied on the fdc for my work.

what do you like about your family day care?

n/a

Good luck with it! :D

[kezzaskids]

Wow . ok . I am a family day carer and i charge $48 per day. Im not sure how your figures work out.......is the $45 000 per year after expenses? I earnt around $42,000 in the last 10 months....before expenses and tax. However you dont need to pay tax because all of the expenses are tax deductible....My daily fee includes everything except nappies and formulas. There isnt a discout for 5 days care. I also pay for excursions, gymnastics and we go out for lunch on fridays. Lunch is a hot meal everyday.
I work 7.30 -5.30 5 days.
There is a govt start up grant of $1500. The scheme will fill all the forms in for you. They give you an equiptment list to help set up and it is extensive. It cost me about $10 000 to set up in total......but I have a huge set up indoors and out with climbing frames , sandpits, swings 5 x bikes and scooters and toddler bikes etc. I havent been unwell but I have taken time off for appointments and just tell the parents the kids cant come on that day.
I dont know whatr else......HTH a bit???

Kerrie

[Seekrit]

Parents:

Would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer?
This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), Morning Teas, Lunch and Desert, and Afternoon Teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.

I was paying from 60 - 70 a day at the centre, which provided most of this... FDC was to be a CHEAPER option for me, and I pay $5.20/hour (around $48ish for my 9 hour day) however she doesn't provide food...

How does $60 a day compare to your centre or FDC? (where your children are now)
As above, I pay around $48/day at FDC, the DCC he was going to was charging $65/day.

Would the age of the carer bother you? (I am 21)
Yes... I interviewed a carer who was my age (26) with a baby my age... I looked at her and thought.. "Hmmm, how long until you tell me you're on maternity leave." my new FDC mum has finished her family, has been happily married for 15 years and sent hubby off for the snip :laughing: But that's my ONLY issue with age!

Would you be happy to provide nappies?
I actually pay $5 for nappies/wipes... but I'm happy to provide them. However, at $60/day I'd want them supplied.

Would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excursions?
I'd rather not... FDC mum does take Cobes out but does so at either her own expense or only goes to free places (Museums, art galleries, FDC Association play group) I'd rather not shell out more for outings that she chooses.

Why do you use family day care?
The cheaper cost, the more experiences he'll have (she only has Cobes and her girl on fridays so they often go out then... especially on rainy weeks they just go to the shops) and the family atmosphere.

What do you like about your family day care?
I have a wonderful day care mum who cares for cobey and is honest, she has some regulations etc but I've found her more honest with me than the UTTERLY FANTASTIC Childcare centre he was going to... She knows him very well as well and her daughter adores him, he hasn't had a bad day yet! I also like that she can put him for a sleep whenever... this morning I dropped him off and said he didn't sleep much last night (late to bed, early to rise) so he might need an extra 30 min... sure enough as soon as I left she lay him in a cot and he slept - and the DCC they couldn't do that as the beds were mats on the ground... so yeah. :)


I'm going to answer some of these for my carer :p
:flowerz:Family Day Carers:

How much do you charge?
$5.20/hour between 8 - 6. $6/hour outside these times.

Do you charge a daily fee if child is in fulltime care?
No

Do you charge if a child is absent?
Yes

What hours do you work? eg. 8am-5pm
7.30 - 5

What ages do you have?
18 months, 2 and own daughter 2.8

Do you suply food? If so which meals and what sort of food? What is your weekly food budget?
If needed, charges $2 for lunch and breakfast, $1 for snacks.

Do you supply nappies? Which brand and how much do they cost you weekly? (or fortnightly etc)
Yes, aldi, charge $5/week


What did you buy to start with? Stollers, mattreses, cots, highchairs etc.
I know she bought portacots and got the money back on tax. She hires things (car seats etc) from her FDC scheme

Do you take the children out of your house?
Yes

I have heard you can only have one or two children for 6 months to begin with, is this true?
No, she had 3 in her care on her 2nd week (as well as her 2.8 year old)

What do you do when you are unwell?
She'll call me first and tell me and see if I want her to make arrangements to find another carer. If I do then they'll do their best to find one, if not then I'm not charged for that day.

Do you have theme weeks? What have you done?
These semester they're learning Spanish :p

Do you belong to a toy library?
The Family Day Care scheme she's with has a toy library thing.

:D

[cho]

Thank you Kapow, Kazzaskids and Seekrit! Thank you so much. I will definately use all this information. I didn't know you could claim things on tax. Sounds silly but I hadn't considered that. In that case I would think about lowering the fee. I like the idea of charging $5 a week for nappies and a few dollars for meals, I hadn't thought of that. It sounds too much. Thanks for your honesty ladies! I wasn't sure if anyone would be so kind as to attempt my masive question list! I will keep you up to date on progress! Anyone else who wants to contribute, please do! You dont have to answer all of them!!!!

Thanks agian, Cho

[punkbaby]

Keep in mind i havent used it for about 7 years i did with my oldest dd though :)

Would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer?
This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), Morning Teas, Lunch and Desert, and Afternoon Teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.
Around this figure yes, if meals are provided but i would rather provide my own so i can see what my childs eating.

How does $60 a day compare to your centre or FDC? (where your children are now)
The carer that used to watch my dd is now having my sisters son, she charges 50 a day, this includes meals (not nappies though)

Would the age of the carer bother you? (I am 21)
I think it really depends on the vibes i get, how my children react to you and my gut instinct as seekrit said older is good as you know the baby making days are over :) young is good too though but i worry that my child would get comfy and then you would want to change your career or have babies etc

Would you be happy to provide nappies?
yep my mcn, i would provide a bucket for you to put them in LOL so i could take them home to wash

Would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excersions?
These places can get pricey excursions that are education yes, but as for those centres, i think a park can be just as much fun so a maybe on this, if it was like every few weeks and not a regular thing i would be ok with it. As for excursions i guess you would just charge us travelling costs and entrance fees, i am ok with that as long as it wasntsending me broke :) plus i would rather i took my child to a big place like this so it can be a family day

Why do you use family day care?
The personal feel i got, dd still sees her fdc carer and sees her as an aunty shes such a lovely lady, i loved knowing dd was in a home environment and comfortable and less prone to getting all sorts of bugs from child care centres :)

What do you like about your family day care?
as above

[mum23girls]

Would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer?
This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), Morning Teas, Lunch and Desert, and Afternoon Teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.
Yes

How does $60 a day compare to your centre or FDC? (where your children are now)
I pay $60 a day at centre - I provide all food... this is charged as a 12hour day as most centres do

Would the age of the carer bother you? (I am 21) Nope, but it would depend on how we get along and what the place was like. I know mature 21 year olds and immature 21year olds!

Would you be happy to provide nappies? I do provide my own nappies, but she provides wipes (although now toilet trained, but uses a nappy for bed.

Would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excersions? I pay for our own, but prefer to have a bit of notice, not just we are going xx tomorrow it will cost yy

Why do you use family day care? We started with FDC as we moved and friends of ours was a FDCarer.

What do you like about your family day care? I prefer centre care:o
Family Day Carers: Will answer for her the ones I can

How much do you charge? She charges by the hour - i think like 5-50?
Do you charge a daily fee if child is in fulltime care?

Do you reduce fee if child is fulltime? nope

Do you charge if a child is absent? yes

What hours do you work? eg. 8am-5pm She works when needed. I have started my DD at 6-30am as I needed to be in town by 8 and will go till whenever we get there have picked her up at 6-30pm if hubby had to pick her up

What ages do you have? WIth her own 9 month old and 3 year old sons, she has two 2.5 yo's gilrs

Do you suply food? If so which meals and what sort of food? What is your weekly food budget? she doesn't

Do you supply nappies? Which brand and how much do they cost you weekly? (or fortnightly etc) we have to supply own

Did you recieve any payments from the government to start your FDC? How much?

What did you buy to start with? Stollers, mattreses, cots, highchairs etc. I gave her my own portacot to use... I wasn't using it. She provides her own car seats.. DD walks when they are out. She has a big children's table for them all to sit at

Do you take the children out of your house? They go out to anywhere. Shops, Dr's appts, her mums house

I have heard you can only have one or two children for 6 months to begin with, is this true?

What do you do when you are unwell? The children are supposed to be redirected to another carer.. however if there are no carers around that have any spaces left, tough. If they really wanted to though, I am sure the FDC office said that someone from the office can go to the carers house and work for them

Do you have theme weeks? What have you done? nope

Do you belong to a toy library? I think she does, but she buys a lot for her own children so just uses that and claims it all on tax.
What does family day care provide you with along the lines of forms and sleep charts?




I am taking DD out of FDC because her son is a special needs child without a diagnosis. He is needing to go into hospital for tests and she just doesn't have any other carer for DD to go to. I personally don't like DD going to someone else's house for a day here and there... an unfamiliar environment that would be so unsettling for her. I am also doing longer hours at uni this semester and will need the longer care, I feel bad putting her out for so long, and will find it easier to pick up all the girls (I have 2 at afterschool care) at the same place.

Good luck. I am sure the FDC offices won't mind you bending their ears!

ps. you may have to look at doing FDC in a rental... there are lots of structual modifications to be done to be complient... and landlords may not approve.

[SorenLorensen]

:wave:Parents:

Would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer?
This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), Morning Teas, Lunch and Desert, and Afternoon Teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.
maybe, i think cost depends on the area you are in, DC will cost me around $52 (well the place i may be sending DD1 is) with food where i am

How does $60 a day compare to your centre or FDC? (where your children are now)
FDC would cost more if it were $60 but as i said cost can change with different areas and i don't know the local rate for where you are


Would the age of the carer bother you? (I am 21)
TBH yes. i have the same issue as seekrit. other then that it woudl depend on the vibe i get from the carer

Would you be happy to provide nappies?
for $60 a day no

Would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excersions?
again for $60 probably not.

Why do you use family day care?
i am about to consider it becuase of the hourly rate

What do you like about your family day care?
i will tell you when i look into a bit more and if i fint THE one for DD1 :D

[amandaw]

Parents:

Would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer?
This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), Morning Teas, Lunch and Desert, and Afternoon Teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.

For a 12 hr day, yes I would rather pay by the hour as we don't use what is considered a full day (both teachers so only 8-4)

How does $60 a day compare to your centre or FDC? (where your children are now)

We pay $5 for standard hrs and 6 for non-standard

Would the age of the carer bother you? (I am 21)
Our carer has just turned 22...and last week I would have answered no...but now she's pregnant :laughing: She is fantastic with the kids though...and the actual age isn't the issue

Would you be happy to provide nappies?
We do

Would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excersions?

Happy to do excursions... have contributed extra for 2 excursions over 7 months which is okay, but wouldn't do it regularly

Why do you use family day care?
Like the idea of more personalised care

What do you like about your family day care? - well set up (split level house and downstairs is completely for FDC), enthusiatic, cares about DD and communicates regularly - obvious love of what she is doing (and only wants to take the min time off next year and the come back for my 2...told her to see what happens before she commits to that)
Family Day Carers:

How much do you charge? 5 per hr - 6 non standard - also has an overnight/emergency fee of $10. We also pay a standard $10 per child (up to 2 children) which I think covers her costs back to the council, and any 'hired' items from them

Do you charge a daily fee if child is in fulltime care? no - by the hr for all

Do you reduce fee if child is fulltime? no

Do you charge if a child is absent?yes - some carers onl charge 1/2 fees if child is on holidays, but ours is 100% to hold the place - sort of bad as teachers since we get more holidays

What hours do you work? eg. 8am-5pm 7.30-5.30 but can make requests for additional at her discretion

What ages do you have? 6months - 12 yrs

Do you suply food? If so which meals and what sort of food? What is your weekly food budget? no - we supply

Do you supply nappies? Which brand and how much do they cost you weekly? (or fortnightly etc) no we supply

Did you recieve any payments from the government to start your FDC? How much?

What did you buy to start with? Stollers, mattreses, cots, highchairs etc. - not sure hwat is hers already, but is the reason we pay the $10 fee each week

Do you take the children out of your house?Daily - walks up to the primary school for pick up, but regularly also does park and playgroup. has occassionally done other excursions

I have heard you can only have one or two children for 6 months to begin with, is this true?

What do you do when you are unwell? Give as much notice as possible - try to arrange other carer if neccesary

Do you have theme weeks? What have you done? yes - transport, fairies and make believe, under the sea, halloween, easter, animals, fresh foods (and the kids even planted a vege patch :yelclap:)

Do you belong to a toy library? - through the scheme...and also local library

What does family day care provide you with along the lines of forms and sleep charts?

And FINALLY , Do you enjoy it?

[patsmum]

Hi i am a family day carer, im about to close up as being pregnant and having a toddler is too much.Im registered for 24hr a day 7 days a week care.I have only been doing 7.30 till 6.30 at the latest so far.I provide food, but its a personal decision. There are pros and cons of both.I charge around $60 a day, i charged by the hour as block bookings werent working for me so for a standard hour its $8 per child. Plus im a member of a scheme so every week the family pays $11 levy.I charge if they are absent. Whether they receive ccb still depends on how many days they have used and whether its an approved absenseDo you supply nappies? Which brand and how much do they cost you weekly? (or fortnightly etcParents must pack spare clothes, hat, nappies, wipes, creams/powders, and for babies they always provided the bottles pre-prepared of formula or breast milk. Did you recieve any payments from the government to start your FDC? How much?Im rural so I received $5000. This was spent on my home reno's like the fence i needed and also new safety glass in the windows.What did you buy to start with? Stollers, mattreses, cots, highchairs etc.i had most stuff from my one year old. I had a lot of toys given to me by members of the community and i also asked parents i knew were done havign children if they wanted to get rid of any toys. I bought another cot but that was about it.Do you take the children out of your house?When parents enrol they sign an agreement which states they agree with me taking their children to the places stated in my enrolment form. Places like the playgroup, the shop the post office and also the park. Any other excursions you need to do excursion forms.I have heard you can only have one or two children for 6 months to begin with, is this true?Different states may have different reg's, but im in wa and am aloud 7 children under12 with only 4 being under 4 including my own.What do you do when you are unwell?This morning i turned away my client as my son had just a runny nappy ten minutes before she got there. If i had know before i could have sent him with his dad ect. Other wise you just take the day off.Do you have theme weeks? What have you done?I havent done this. you have to do programming though and its a learning experience to what activites suit the children you have in care.Do you belong to a toy library?My scheme has its own toy libary, i was going to join my shires toy libary but i havent needed to.What does family day care provide you with along the lines of forms and sleep charts. I havent had anything like this. As a family day carer you make up the rules along with the parents. If you are a member of a scheme you have their polices and procedures to follow.Do you enjoy it?it hasnt been all i though it would be but i also thought i would have a lot more customers. i live in a rural town and a lot of mums still live the their my children, i am house wife SAHM ect, which is what i am, thats why i started FDC.check out this site www.familydaycare.com.auand also check which area you are in and which scheme you would belong too, they are the best to give you the information you need.

[mum_I'm_hungry]

Would you pay $60 a day for a qualified and experienced carer? This includes healthy breakfasts (if required), Morning Teas, Lunch and Desert, and Afternoon Teas. Meals would be homemade. Plus trips to library, park etc.

I'd pay $60 for sure. It would be great for all the kids to be eating the same thing, I think. I'm not keen on trips out in the car, but would be fine with walking to the park etc. if it wasn't far, or along busy streets.

How does $60 a day compare to your centre or FDC? (where your children are now).

We currently pay $50 per day without any CCB. My son is moving to a Montessori centre soon (his FDC is finishing up) and that will be $70 per day (without food, sheets etc.). The enrolment fee was $650 :eek:

Would the age of the carer bother you? (I am 21)

I have to admit that it would. I'm a bit older than that :o . At the end of the day, though, it would be about gut feeling.

Would you be happy to provide nappies?

Yes. I provide nappies now.

Would you be happy to pay the entrance fee for excursions to places such as indoor play centres? Would you be happy for your children to go on excersions?

No, I wouldn't be keen. Not because of the cost, but four or five kids is a lot to take out on your own.

Why do you use family day care?

Because I think it's far, far nicer than long day-care. We have done both. It's very important to get the right carer, though.

What do you like about your family day care?

Our FDC mum is fantastic (a way better mum than me with a vege patch etc.! :o). She's just a lovely person and a great mum and we were so lucky she started up at the perfect time for us. I like that my little boy gets to make friends with a small group, rather than a large group in a long daycare centre. I like that he gets to sleep in his own little room in a cot, rather than on a mat on the floor. And I love that when I told her he was leaving, she cried (much more personal attachment!).