Finished With Family Day Care

Today is officially my last day as a day care mum. Serious. No regrets. I hope! =)

Had talked about this for a few months with husband already. A lot of regulatory changes and increasing amount of paperwork that led me to reconsider being a day care mum.

I find that children are being overly protected under the system and it is no longer feasible for me to still spend time with family if I were to continue with family day care.

Some changes and how it affects my family and myself :
1. Move to another government department - Education. There will be a change in focus in the children's learning experience in care.

2. New names - We are now called 'Educators', putting us on par with teachers and child care centre workers. This just meant more planning of activities,  observation and notes taking.

3. Compulsory handwashing upon arrival and departure - All families and children are to wash their hands when they come in and when they go home. Either with hand sanitisers or the soap in the bathroom. This also meant that all my visitors, be it friends or family, will be washing their hands at the door and when they go home. Which in turn meant that if I were to have a dinner or social gathering at my place, I'll be better off installing an anti-bacterial spray at the front door and spray clean everyone when they come and go.

4. Table top and Kitchen Bench to be clear of things - I live in an organised mess. Unfortunately, it is not 'presentable' when parents come and when validated. So, there is not to be anything on the work table or kitchen bench.

5. More child-proofing around the house - linen cupboard to be inaccessible to children. Ours is difficult enough to pull open for adults, much less children, but a safety latch is put in anyway. 1st Aid Kit to be child proofed. Either kept away from children, or are lockable.

6. Backyard is not enticing enough for children to play outside - no play equipment. Did they not consider the sand pit, tricycles, chalk drawing, water play, painting, stepping stools, bubbles, balls available? A park is just 5 mins away and children get enough swings and slides there.

7. Not enough shade and shelter - need more shelter for children to play outdoors when it rains. Maybe they can give me the money to do it.

8. Resources (toys, books, mattresses) to either be washed with warm soapy water or wiped down. Daily for toys, weekly for mattresses.

9. Spot checks and validation - at least 1 spot check a month from the co-ordinators. Once a year, we get a spot check from the State licensing unit. Random pick of carers. We also have a national accreditation spot check once a year. Carers are also picked at random.

So, with these reasons, we think that it is fair to not continue with family day care. I'm happy with the decision and thank the Lord for a wise and caring husband who would like to see me happy with my work and be able to spend more time with me.

Furthermore, with no annual leave and sick leave paid out to myself and having to contribute to my own superannuation funds, I'd be better off working in a child care centre as an assistant with my Cert III. I get my annual leave, sick leave, superannuation all paid by the employer and I don't have to do my own accounts.

What will happen now? I'll be babysitting my day care children and looking forward to the next pregnancy. Sphere: Related Content