As part of our Interviews with Daycare Business Owners series, we interviewed Sarah Taylor of Bayside Montessori Home Daycare in Ontario, Canada.
OwnADaycare: Please describe your childcare business. When and why did you start your daycare/childcare business?
Sarah Taylor: I currently run a home daycare called Bayside Montessori Home Daycare. I had worked in a local Montessori School for 5-6 years and had 2 children of my own (then a 2.5 year old girl and an infant boy). After having my second I decided it would be best to stay at home and get my Montessori education while running a home daycare. I have been doing Montessori out of my home for the past 2 years but have expanded my classroom just recently when my family purchased our own home. I am hoping soon to have enough demand to move the center out of my home and be more formalized and be able to provide care to more families interested in the Montessori philosophy. I am still a work in progress and need some Montessori materials but what I have now is sufficient enough to teach the amount of children under my care.
OwnADaycare: What is the best bit of advice that you can give a new child care business owner?
Sarah Taylor: My best advice is to know what you are getting into (hours, income, laws/guidelines in your city/province/state), advertise like crazy, and during peak times in the year….1-2 months before summer vacation, 1-2 months before back to school, and right before Christmas break is over. These are natural transition periods that people look for care. Have a Parent Handbook that outlines all of your policies and expectations that way parents know what to expect from you and you know what to expect from them and it is all in writing.
Also, use resources that are around you to help you family resource centers, gyms, libraries. It is a lot of work but it is worth it, these are children that are going to learn from you, love you and be happy!
OwnADaycare: What are the best and worst aspects of owning a daycare business?
Sarah Taylor: Best ~ I am my own boss, my children can come to work with me for no cost, parents talk to me about things not to someone else then me, I get to do what I love doing being a teacher!
Worst ~ Pay depends on amount of children in care and what days they come, it’s in my home so it is sometimes hard to separate work and home, all the responsibility is on me so if something is great YAY for me but if something is not going great then it is all on me!
OwnADaycare: Please explain and comment on the Montessori philosophy.
Sarah Taylor: Dr. Maria Montessori developed the Montessori Method based on her understanding of children’s natural learning tendencies (or planes of development) as they unfold in the classrooms that are prepared environments for multi-age groups (0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14). In the Montessori classroom the child is encouraged to focus his/her attention on one particular quality, the child works at his/her own optimum level – in an environment where beauty and orderliness are emphasized and appreciated. A spontaneous love of “work” is revealed as the child is given the freedom (within boundaries) to make her own choices. The materials invite children to engage in learning activities of their own individual choice. Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. There are 5 main areas in a Montessori classroom they are: Practical Life, Sensorial, Cultural & Science (which include geography, history, botany & zoology), Mathematics, and Language.
I currently teach ages 3-6 but I also have an infant/toddler section in my home daycare. I love that the children chose what they learn and that they actually DO learn and I am not preaching to them to memorize something.
OwnADaycare: Do you have children of your own? If so, how do you feel your business affects them?
Sarah Taylor: I do have children of my own currently ages 5 and 2.5 years old. It affects them greatly both positively and negatively as with any career choice….they have Mommy home but they also have to share her with 5 other children during the day. I think that it is extremely positive for me to be with my children and to be there for them but I also need to provide an income for my family. I am so happy that I chose a career path that is now suiting my family perfectly.
Bio: Sarah Taylor grew up in Ontario, Canada and did a high school placement at a local Montessori School and instantly fell in love with the philosophy which led her to take Early Childhood Education and then later her Montessori Diploma. Sarah has 2 children ages 5 and 2.5 years. Sarah started doing childcare in her home when her youngest was 8 months old. Her goal is to one day have her own center with 24 full time students.
No related posts.
