Child Care Service Owners

Experience working at a day care center or caring for younger siblings is highly recommended for aspiring child care service owners.

Obviously, a love for children and a concern for their care and safety are most important. Child care comes naturally to most of those who run child care services. You should be very patient and capable of teaching children in many different stages of development. Because young children look up to adults and learn by example, it is important that a child care worker be a good role model. You should treat the children with respect and kindness, while also maintaining order and control. You must also be good at communicating with the parents and other stakeholders, such as state regulators and professional associations, capable of addressing their concerns, and keeping them informed as to children's progress in your care and maintaining best practices in the field.

You should also be able to evaluate personnel and financial information to determine if your child care center's educational activities, processes, and teaching comply with local and state laws, regulations, and standards. In addition, as a child care owner you should have managerial experience and skills supervising teachers, administrative staff, and managers, in person, by phone, and by e-mail.