Informal Home Day Care

[BecH]

Hi,

I am a Mum to 2 year old twins, and a 4 year old. We are moving to Toowoomba in January and I am considering registering with FDC. But I was hoping to perhaps to help out a family more informally.
I could only have 1-2 Children below school Age and maybe 1 of school age, as my 4 year old is in pre-prep 5 days a week.

I have a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and worked in C & K centres for 6 years prior to having my kids.

I am wondering whether as a parent you would consider utilising a less formal arrangment. I would still commit to the time frame you needed, and even happy to offer early mornings until dinner time. We could still have some kind of written contract to make it all secure. I normally do lots of stuff with my kids, like craft, painting, playdough, etc. So I thought it would be lovely to have an extra one, and get a bit of money as well. I am also a breastfeeding counsellor so pretty good with breastmilk stuff if a Mum was going to express.

My husband works occassional shift work so would sometimes be home, but has a blue card and is a Doctor at the local hospital.

Goodness me I rambled...... anyway what do you think?
:yes:Yes - informal,
:no:no I would only do it if it was a registered FDC

[whatwasithinking]

I wouldn't have a problem with that. However as you are not registered the parent will NOT get any child care benefits so they might not want this type of arrangments.

I've been down this path before myself (as the parent) and I was forking out between $1000 and $1200 a fortnight and getting nothing back. Just wasn't worth it in the end.

[KatiesMum]

I think you will struggle to get anyone to do this .... as family day care IS a more informal child care already - just with a bit of oversight as to peoples suitability, facilities, safety, first aid qualifications and basic requirements.

I would not put my child into the care of someone who was basically doing unregistered family day care.


As well as the point the previous poseter made - that the parents will not be able to claim either Child Care Benefit or the Child Care Rebate on their tax due to you being unregistered.

[BecH]

Thanks I guess that is what I was wondering. I suppose because I could only have one under school age I thought I would just charge say $60 so about what a day in childcare cost. But I completely understand what you are saying. Maybe later in the New Year I will get sorted with all the paperwork, and hopefully we can find a rental property that would suit.

Luckily for me I just had a friend approach me to have her little girl 2 days anyway so that might be enough for now. We just needed a little more money for all those odds and sods of having 3 children, like when the sock monster appears to have eaten one from every pair :p

Thanks ladies, and please still post and let me know what other people think.

[ohana]

:no:no I would only do it if it was a registered FDC

I am a FDCarer, and chose to go with the scheme as it covers YOU more if anything unfortunate ever happens. The FDC association has a good deal on Liability insurance, and the scheme helps you if you need anything ie extra cots etc free of charge. I also found my parents very happy with the fact even though they know I am a registered Teacher, and I have taught their older children, that I am still accountable to the scheme. I think that peace of mind helps parents :)