GETTING YOUR OWN CHILDREN’S COOPERATION
You started your family childcare business with a vision of the childcare you wanted to create. You put a lot of thought into your philosophy, environment, curriculum, daily schedule, developmentally appropriate materials, activities, safety and nutrition. But have you considered how your childcare business can affect your own children? You are asking your children to share their home, toys, beds, clothes, food and most of all you. Here are some tips to help your children adjust to your new business and to get their cooperation.
Regularly identify the changes that occur in each child’s life that are directly related to your childcare business. Here are some ways your childcare business might affect their lives:
Your child could have issues with having to share you with other children. Your child may be used to you taking care of their needs immediately. However, during childcare hours, you are working, and your child may have to wait for you to finish with another child before you tend to their needs.
Your child may have problems seeing other children play with their toys. Older children may have a problem if their possessions are broken or misplaced. Our children often have special possession that they want to keep just for themselves.
Your children might not be able to invite their friends over after school when your program is fully enrolled.
Your children may resent always having to make sure they close gates and keep stairs free from clutter.
They might miss out on fun activities when you are unable to take them to games, practices, and friends houses after school.
After you have identified the changes think about the mutual goals and benefits your childcare business might offer each one of your own children. Here are some benefits to consider:
TEENAGERS
The older the child is, the more they may resent the intrusion of children in their home. However, especially teenagers are old enough to understand what it can mean to have the family’s income increased.
For example: Your childcare business may now be able to pay for the guitar lessons they have wanted. The income could be for a special family vacation or pay for expensive sports equipment. They may need to understand that the income pays for needed household expenses for all to live comfortably.
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
Talk to your school age children and help them to understand that your childcare business allows them to come home after school as opposed to going to some form of childcare.
YOUNG CHILDREN
While young children may have a hard time understanding why they need to share you with other children, you can have the peace of mind knowing that you can be there for your own children during the day. You also know that they are learning important social skills by spending time with other children. Skills such as taking turns, are important for their development.
SOLUTIONS
Depending on the age of the children, hold family meetings. Prepare ahead of time with solutions to objections you know your children may have.
For example: Your eight-year-old son is upset because his toys are being broken, offer to get him a storage box that locks. Encourage him to personize the box with stickers etc. Give him one key and you keep the other. Encourage your son to put anything special into the box so it will be safe.
Keep Your children aware of the progress that is being made towards a family goal.
For example, if your family is saving for a special vacation, keep a chart measuring money saved for the trip.
Praise your family members on the help and cooperation they are giving toward the childcare business. Let them know how much you appreciate it.