A Round Up of Daycare License Requirements
It can be difficult to generalize something like daycare license requirements because they vary from state to state but there are some generalizations you can make when it comes to what is expected of a licensed daycare center.
These particular daycare license requirements are fairly standard although it should be noted that they can still differ from state to state so make sure you contact your particular state child welfare department to make sure you are following all of the daycare license requirements in your state. It isn't just a matter of following the law; it is also a matter of providing proper care to children.
For the most part, a daycare center can be in someone's home as long as that home is a licensed child daycare facility. Your state will have the list of requirements, and the procedures to follow, to make sure your home is properly licensed if that is what you want to use as your daycare center.
Many reputable and fine daycare centers have started in someone's home so you should not be hesitant to open a daycare center in your home nor should you be hesitant to consider a daycare center that is run out of a private home. If they have their daycare license posted and it is for that address, as is part of the daycare license requirements, then the state approves them to be a daycare center.
It Is All About Proper Care
As part of their daycare license requirements all daycare centers need to display their licensing credentials where parents, and anyone else, can see them clearly. They also have all of the necessary health department approvals for that facility clearly posted if that is a requirement of the state. Each center should have a working telephone that rings to the building and not some answering service somewhere.
There should be a posting of all the emergency procedures the facility will follow and also a posting of the daily activities so parents dropping off their children can see what is planned for the day. It is also important that lunch menus, and dinner menus if appropriate, are posted so parents can review them. These all need to be posted as per daycare license requirements.
A very strict part of the normal daycare license requirements for any state is the ratio of licensed daycare workers to children being cared for. In most states there needs to be at least one daycare worker for every five babies or infants being cared for. Many daycare centers have been shut down for not following these daycare license requirements and that is because it is about caring for the children and not about profit.
