Caring for Kids

Authored By Ginger Ravine

Copyright © Ginger Ravine

There are many business opportunities for stay at home moms that fit well with their busy and often irregular schedules. These business opportunities should be carefully thought through and studied before stay at home moms take them on, however.

One caution that is very important for stay at home moms to realize is that seldom do business opportunities and childcare go hand in hand. Small children need all a caregiver's attention to be safe and secure, while that business opportunity might well be demanding the same – especially if customers are involved. Stay at home moms embarking on business opportunities should assume that childcare is still going to be a necessary expense while they grow their business.

The one exception might be a childcare center in the home. Many stay at home moms succeed at this, enjoy their business and still have time for their children. There are stringent regulations for at home childcare centers, though, and these vary by state. Let's look at a few of the regulations for these business opportunities for stay at home moms.

The state of Texas has actually made this business opportunity impossible for a stay at home mom, stating that licensing is only given for child care centers outside of the owner's home.

In the state of California all stay at home moms or other caregivers who want to start a home childcare business opportunity must attend a state-run orientation. They must be licensed, with a few exceptions. Anyone who is watching only her or his own children and the children of only one other family in their home need not be licensed. A cooperative arrangement where each parent of some members of the group of children being cared for takes her or his turn watching the children does not require any licensing.

The only circumstances under which such a coop would require licensing is if one or more of the adults supervising the children was not a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or lawful guardian of at least one of the children; or if anyone is paid for the child care services; or if more than 12 children are being supervised.

California, as do many other states, requires that stay at home moms and others seeking home child care business opportunities attend several hours of emergency health care training including CPR, first aid for children, prevention and recognition of infectious disease, child nutrition, sanitary handling of food, emergency evacuation and recognition and reporting procedures if child abuse is suspected.

Childcare business opportunities for stay at home moms are plentiful but do require preparation and strict attention to the little ones in their care.

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