Insha’Allah, this will be the first in a series of 5 posts about earning money while still being able to stay home with your children.
Sometimes it’s a necessity that we need to earn money to support ourselves, or to help support our family. Or maybe we just want to make some extra money on the side for ourselves, special items we would like to purchase, or a trip we would like to take. There was a time when I was a single mom for several years and I was the sole source of financial support for my children.   I was not comfortable putting my children in daycare for various reasons, plus with several children the price of that would not be feasible anyway. So I had to start thinking of ways I can earn money, stay home and continue to homeschool my children.  If I could do something that was halal and I enjoyed doing would be a great bonus!
Here is the first of 5 jobs that I have done over the years that have allowed me to earn money all while staying at home with my kids!

Home Daycare

This was by far my favorite and probably most lucrative job I had while being a stay at home mom. When I first started I had 3 children ages 5, 3, and 1. Prior to this I was teaching at the local Islamic School, and my children were being looked after in the schools onsite childcare center, where I previously had worked as a caregiver as well. Alhamdulilah, I enjoyed the work and I felt okay about leaving my kids in the daycare…but mostly I just wanted to be with my kids full time. So I decided I will start my own daycare. Being a mom of 3 kids already I had pretty much all the toys and activities that were needed to start watching other children, so it was a pretty easy transition to make. Plus I love children and love being around them, so it was kind of a no brainer for me.

Tips to start your own daycare.

Don’t overdo it on the toys. Get the basics. Art supplies, blocks/legos, cars, some stuffed animals or baby dolls, play cookware, games, and books…lots of books. Go with less is more. It will make clean-up a lot easier, plus what kids want most is our attention. Clean, tidy, and spacious with a few select toys makes a better impression with clients than a space that is cluttered with toys filling up every available nook and cranny.

Utilize Dollar Tree, Craigslist and thrift stores for as much as you can. I rarely buy anything brand new and have found amazing deals using these resources.

Make some business cards for yourself, even if they are just home-made…(my mom made my first business cards for me). Give them to friends, acquaintances, and new people you meet. Even if they are not looking for daycare, it’s likely there will come a time when they might need it, or know somebody who does.

Create a flyer and post at your local Masjid if able. Alhamdulilah, I was able to have an all Muslim clientele, through advertising at the Masjid and through word of mouth.

Advertise on Craigslist. You can be specific about the age range or genders you prefer. Consider offering a variety of times and services as well. Such as short notice availability, date nights, overnights, early morning drop-offs/ late pick-ups.  The more options you offer, the larger pool of clientele you will have to choose from.

Check your states/ cities regulations. Usually when operating a small daycare with just a couple of children from your home there is not much required from you in terms of regulations. But be sure to check to make sure you are complying with all the laws.

Get your CPR certification. It’s great to have on your bio that you are CPR certified. Parents really appreciate this. A quick search online will direct you how to do that in your area. Usually it’s a pretty quick and inexpensive process.

Decide whether or not you want to include meals with your service.  I always included meals and snacks with my services and just calculated that into my fees.

So these are just some quick tips to get you started and thinking about the possibility. There are bunch of resources online you can check out as well. Just google “starting a home daycare”.  But I do caution you not to overthink it and get discouraged. If you have a safe home, love being around children…home daycare might be a great fit!

Overall, starting a daycare was a great experience for me. I was able to start right away. Investment was very minimal. I got to be home with my children, as well as give them new friends and playmates. I was able to support my family financially and be there for my children when they needed me. May Allah grant you barakah in your endeavors!