Tips for Organizing an In-Home Daycare Space

Tips for Organizing an In-Home Daycare Space

Would you like to open a childcare service in your own home? This is an excellent idea, but is your house equipped for this exciting adventure? And more importantly, how can you create a kid-friendly space that won’t inconvenience the residents?

 

Here is some advice to get you off to a great start!

Understand Government Standards

First of all, it is important to follow specific rules if you want to open a childcare service. Every detail must be examined and scrutinized!

For instance, the room in which the service will be offered must have at least one window and adequate ventilation. You will have to decide if you want to provide care to infants or only to children over 18 months of age. This will impact how you organize your daycare space. For example, babies need safe beds, highchairs for eating snacks and lunch, and toys adapted to their age group.

To ensure you follow government standards, read the Guide pour l’aménagement d’une installation où sont fournis des services de garde (a PDF document you can easily find online). It contains all relevant information about which steps you must follow to open a childcare service and how you should run your establishment. 

Where to Set Up in the Home?

If you have a spacious residence, the best solution is to entirely devote your basement or a group of rooms to the daycare. Indeed, if you turn your whole house into a playground for little ones, it won’t feel like your home when you clock out.

If you can’t restrict your business to a single room, choose equipment—like furniture on wheels, large storage containers to hide toys or screens to conceals components—that can be easily moved and removed. You will then be able to effortlessly restore your private space at the end of the workday.

Make the Space Dynamic and Practical

For a fun and lively home childcare environment, add bright colours with bold furniture. Make sure you have plenty of storage cubbies and toy chests, and don’t forget to protect your couch with a slipcover. Opt for dark fabric to hide those stains that won’t wash out.

Moreover, nesting tables and stackable highchairs don’t take up much space and so are perfect for a home childcare service. Everything in the daycare’s room or rooms should be easy to keep clean, such as glazed cotton curtains, plastic furniture and wall paint in an eggshell finish.

Create Several Zones

Don’t forget that your service must foremost be comfortable and safe. The children under your care must feel at ease in your home and thrive. You must provide a play and educational program all while ensuring their physical and psychological wellbeing. Therefore, it is a good idea to delineate specific zones for each type of activity by creating distinct areas for preparing and eating meals, sleeping, reading, crafting, etc. The right-angled corners of furnishings should be covered with plastic protectors to avoid injuries. Of course, if you have a ceramic tile floor, cover it with carpeting. 

Furthermore, the children will be spending time outside. If you have a backyard, you can buy play sets in addition to having the perimeter fully fenced for safety. You could equally take your charges to the local playground, near your home. 

These tips will undoubtedly help you achieve your goals regarding the setup of your in-home childcare service. Feel free to personalize the space, keeping in mind that it is normal for your home daycare environment to have a different look and atmosphere from what one might find in a professional private childcare centre. 

For more information on opening a home daycare, visit the Quebec government website here.

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

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