If you are wondering how to start a daycare in Florida, there are several resources that you can use to find out all of the requirements needed.
Doing online research or contacting your state or local licensing department is a good place to start.
The adult to child ratio varies greatly in commercialized daycare facilities and in-home daycares in the state of Florida.
The ratio for infants in a center-based facility is 4:1, whereas in an in-home daycare, if the children are between birth and 24 months, the ratio is 8:2.
The numbers increase as the age of the children progress.
There is a long list of health related requirements in Florida that must be strictly followed.
These range from the amount of individual napping space required between children (at least 18 inches) to the rule that all animals, from rodents to dogs must be fully immunized and deemed safe.
Hygiene and sanitation are important elements when running a daycare facility.
Wiping down all tables, chairs, surfaces, toys and cubbies several times a day will limit the amount of transferable germs, keeping your daycare children as healthy as possible and will lessen the chance of them passing sicknesses onto other members in the daycare.
An important thing to note is that it is important to set guidelines to the parents that if a child is obviously not feeling well, if they have head lice, if they are running a fever or if they are contagious in any way, they will not be allowed at the daycare until they have a clean bill of health.
An adult accessible first aid kit is required and should be readily available for any emergency mishaps that may happen.
This kit should include bandages, tweezers, adhesive tape, gauze, syrup of ipecac (for vomit inducement from accidental poisoning), disposable gloves, scissors and an up-to-date guide to first aid and CPR.
It is also required by Florida State that all daycare workers must be certified in first aid and CPR.
In an in-home daycare facility, Florida State requires that a minimum of 35 square feet be readily available for the children to play in.
Storage units, shelves and toy boxes can be considered part of that square footage.
Furniture should be child friendly and sharp corners from fireplaces and coffee tables must be padded to avoid injury.
A minimum of 270 square feet of outdoor living space is required for those over the age of 12 months.
It is also necessary to have a fenced in yard (higher than 4 feet).
These are just some of the many suggestions and requirements in how to start a daycare in Florida.
Doing more research, getting certified and fully licensed is the first place that you should start so you can get on your way to this new, successful career opportunity.
Doing online research or contacting your state or local licensing department is a good place to start.
The adult to child ratio varies greatly in commercialized daycare facilities and in-home daycares in the state of Florida.
The ratio for infants in a center-based facility is 4:1, whereas in an in-home daycare, if the children are between birth and 24 months, the ratio is 8:2.
The numbers increase as the age of the children progress.
There is a long list of health related requirements in Florida that must be strictly followed.
These range from the amount of individual napping space required between children (at least 18 inches) to the rule that all animals, from rodents to dogs must be fully immunized and deemed safe.
Hygiene and sanitation are important elements when running a daycare facility.
Wiping down all tables, chairs, surfaces, toys and cubbies several times a day will limit the amount of transferable germs, keeping your daycare children as healthy as possible and will lessen the chance of them passing sicknesses onto other members in the daycare.
An important thing to note is that it is important to set guidelines to the parents that if a child is obviously not feeling well, if they have head lice, if they are running a fever or if they are contagious in any way, they will not be allowed at the daycare until they have a clean bill of health.
An adult accessible first aid kit is required and should be readily available for any emergency mishaps that may happen.
This kit should include bandages, tweezers, adhesive tape, gauze, syrup of ipecac (for vomit inducement from accidental poisoning), disposable gloves, scissors and an up-to-date guide to first aid and CPR.
It is also required by Florida State that all daycare workers must be certified in first aid and CPR.
In an in-home daycare facility, Florida State requires that a minimum of 35 square feet be readily available for the children to play in.
Storage units, shelves and toy boxes can be considered part of that square footage.
Furniture should be child friendly and sharp corners from fireplaces and coffee tables must be padded to avoid injury.
A minimum of 270 square feet of outdoor living space is required for those over the age of 12 months.
It is also necessary to have a fenced in yard (higher than 4 feet).
These are just some of the many suggestions and requirements in how to start a daycare in Florida.
Doing more research, getting certified and fully licensed is the first place that you should start so you can get on your way to this new, successful career opportunity.