Weighing The Pros And Cons Of Starting A Home Child Care Business

If the thought of children receiving poor child-care sets your
blood to boiling, you clearly have a heart for kids, which is
the number one factor for creating a successful child care
business. But, the truth is, even if you have a passion for
children, running a day care center is a lot of work!

Like any home-based business, there are both pros and cons.
It's up to you to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons, or
vice-versa. Below is a list of some specific aspects of starting
a day care center, including the good and the bad about each one
Take them into consideration as you make the choice of whether
starting a Day Care Center is right for you.

THE KIDS

• The Good: Starting a day care would enable you to spend your
day doing what you enjoy doing—being around kids!

• The Bad: The kids aren't bad themselves, but their actions
can be. Kids are definitely challenging. If you struggle with
patience, anger, or get easily frustrated, child care may not be
the job for you.

CONVENIENCE

• The Good: The work comes to you. If you have kids yourself,
the start-up cost will be minimal, as toys probably abound in
your home anyway. If there's extra food to purchase, you can
just pick it up during your regular weekly grocery shopping. And
an added bonus: you can claim these items on your taxes at the
end of the year!

• The Bad: Your home may take a hit…the mess, stained
carpeting, sticky floors…it all comes with the job. If you are
someone who takes pride in your spotless home, you would be in
for a rude awakening. Besides that, you're pretty much stuck in
one place for an extended period of time. Not the most appealing
to those who like to be out and about during the day.

JOB SECURITY

• The Good: The demand for child care has never been so high.
There will likely never be a shortage of kids needing good care.

• The Bad: Especially with today's economy, you never know when
a parent will lose a job or need to pull their child out of day
care. You could have four kids one day, one the next.

INCOME

• The Good: The income potential is huge. Day care is not, nor
should it be, cheap. Depending on how many kids you decide to
take in, and the going-rate in your area, from a financial
standpoint, starting a day care is a great choice.

• The Bad: See Job Security (above). Consistent income for any
length of time may be hard to come by. As kids come and go, your
income will, too. Also, remember that you will not get any paid
sick days, vacation days or health benefits. If you or your
children are sick, you will basically lose a day or two of
income.

FLEXIBILITY

• The Good: Flexible Hours AND work load. You decide how many
hours you want to work. Maybe it's full-time, 8 to 6 every day.
Or two days per week. Maybe you prefer afternoons only. Or even
evenings, to accommodate second shift parents. It's completely
up to you! You also choose your own work load. Do you want to
take four kids or just one? The number of children you are
legally allowed to care for varies. Be sure to check your
particular state laws.

• The Bad: You might not be able to find the exact schedule you
want. Compromise just may be inevitable.

TECHNICAL STUFF

• The Good: There are a ton of tax write-offs for the licensed
day care provider. You might want to check out the following
link, which lists all kinds of helpful sites by State:

http://www.nccic.org/statedata/dirs/regoffic.html

• The Bad: The tax laws tend to be complex. There are lots of
ins and outs you'll need to learn. Permits and licenses to earn
and apply for. You'll need to consider whether this will be a
problem for you. And, if you have any children of your own, your
write-off allowance for toys and such will certainly be
affected.

This only gives a glimpse at some of the pros and cons to
starting a child care business in your home. If you find that
the benefits outweigh the negative aspects, this may just be the
job for you!

About The Author: Visit WahmZone, the ultimate community for
the Wahm and work at home mom. http://www.wahmzone.com or
http://www.wahmforums.com/

How to Hire a Nanny Legally to Take Care of Your Children

Many people who hire nannies seem to think that they are independent contractors and therefore they can be given a 1099 at the end of the year.

EDD (Employment Development Department) clearly states that all qualifying domestic employees are to be placed on payroll.

"Qualifying" means that if they are receiving a salary of at least $750 per calendar quarter, this qualifies the employee and employer to pay payroll taxes.

Although payroll taxes may seem exorbitant, there are a couple of savings that can be obtained by placing your nanny or housekeeper on payroll.

You can save taxes by putting up to $5,000 pre-tax per family per year into a Dependant Care Account if applicable and offered by your employer. Depending on your effective tax rate, this could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in taxes while you use this pre-tax money on eligible dependant care expenses, including paying your child-care provider.

Another form of savings is a Child Care Tax Credit that you may be eligible to claim under federal tax law. For 2005, this amount of credit, if applicable, allows you to receive a minimum of 20% for the first $3,000 in qualifying expenses for each of your first two children per year.

Finally, you will have peace of mind and sleep well at night knowing that you've done everything legally. You will never have to worry about getting caught and the consequences of hiring illegally.

The bottom line is that after calculating potential tax advantages, hiring a nanny legally typically adds approximately 4% to 5% to your cost. On a $20,000 annual salary, that's roughly an additional $800 -$1,000. Social Security, Medicare and state and federal unemployment taxes add approximately 9% of a worker's salary to a typical household employer's costs.

However, by making the most of tax advantages available to you, the true burden of hiring a nanny can be substantially less.

Apart from the very important issue that it is illegal when you do not put your nanny or housekeeper on payroll, there is another reason to think about doing the right thing.

The people who do this line of work usually expect their wages in cash due to the fact that most employers just don't want to be burdened. This actually throws off the wage curb for those of us who are paying our domestics properly. If you are offering $15/hr gross and your neighbor is offering $15/hr cash, which job do you think the employee would prefer?

We need to all get on the same page and pay our domestics properly. A person who pays on payroll often has to up the gross amount to equal what the employee wants net of taxes. If everyone offered their domestics salaries from a gross (before tax deduction) tax perspective, we would not have such problems with respect to salaries.

Employees should be informed of the advantages of being on payroll. For example, there is social security, worker's compensation, unemployment, and creating a credit history. What you may encounter is a disgruntled employee filing for help and reporting you at the same time.

Marta Perrone, author "Help! How to Find Hire Train and Maintain Household Help!"
Free report: "Top 10 Mistakes Household Employers Make When Recruiting Help.
http://www.domesticpublications.com - http://domestic-connections.com - http://martaperrone.com

Tips for Working as a Nanny

If you are thinking about working as a nanny, here are a few tips for you to think about before beginning your career. It isn't that simple to just get matched with a family and start a job. There are many nuances that you must learn so that you can avoid termination within the first 30 days of working as a nanny.

Here are five tips for you to consider:

1. Do not try to be your employer's best friend; hence crossing boundaries and turning your position as an employee into a nightmare for your employer. Always remain professional.

For example:

a) Do not delve into your employer's personal life and offer suggestions of how her marriage might repair itself if she followed your ideas,

b) Do not go into your employer's closet and decide that you need to borrow one of her dresses for a Friday night date - don't ask to borrow anything personal for that matter unless it is a tire iron to fix your car or something of that nature,

c) Do not break down and cry because of a problem with your boyfriend and expect complete consoling from your employer (keep your private life to yourself),

e) When the family needs privacy, give it to them and do not expect to be included in every moment of their lives, and finally

f) Do not ask for a loan under any circumstances.

2. Arrive on time every day without any excuses, especially the ones that entail how you fell out of bed and were sitting up to turn the alarm off and hit your head so hard that you passed out for a few hours.

Another excuse that is not looked upon favorably would be the one where you state the traffic flow was so bad that you decided to stop and have breakfast first. How about the one where you locked yourself out of the house with your car keys inside. Soon, you will simply run out of excuses. No employer of any type likes their employee to be late. When you are late, the working parents will be late. If this in effect causes problems for their job or career, you may find yourself out of a job rather quickly.

3. Be honest even when you know you did something grossly wrong and could get fired for it. Better to ask for forgiveness and explain that you understand what you did wrong and that it won't happen again, than to deny while your employer knows you are blatantly lying, For example, a nanny thought that she could win favor with a child by giving candy everyday in spite of the parent's strict rules of "NO SUGAR". The child has now grown accustomed to the treats and remnants of those sweets are found in clothing for the parent to discover. When the child is asked about it, the response is that the nanny gives it everyday and goes into great detail about it. You have just been nailed. Come clean and accept the consequences.

4. Do not use your cell phone while at work unless it is an emergency. You couldn't possibly be putting proper attention to a child while talking on the telephone. Even if you see mothers do it all the time. It is one thing to have a mother with coffee in hand, cell phone in the other while walking the dog and carrying a newborn baby - equally not smart, but certainly as a professional nanny, you should know better.

5. Keep your skills honed. Take child development courses whenever possible and constantly read magazines and books about raising children so that you are always on top of the latest ideas and methods of approaching child rearing. While learning, you can make suggestions, but always follow the mother's way of rearing. Do not decide that you are the mother of the child and absolutely know the better way of raising children. You should implement a new approach only if the parent agrees that you do so.

Marta Perrone, author "Help! How to Find Hire Train and Maintain Household Help!"
Free report: "Top 10 Mistakes Household Employers Make When Recruiting Help.
http://www.domesticpublications.com - http://domestic-connections.com - http://martaperrone.com

 

Get more tips on babysitting

"Nanny McPhee" - An Excellent Movie with Magic and a Message for Children

Bless yourself by renting "Nanny McPhee" and sharing it
with your children at home, not in the movie theater. Do
this because this film is all about home and your children
might relate better in the comfort of their own home. Nanny
McPhee is an excellent film with a wonderful message for
all children to recognize and understand.

In an entertainment world full of trashy and violent video
games with movies to match that dwell on murder, rape, sex,
drugs, alcohol, filthy language, broken relationships and
crummy morals, Nanny McPhee is everything good about movies
for children. You and your children can watch this film
without fear of unpleasant and unwanted garbage rooted in
sensationalism for ratings and greed.

When finished watching, you can thank the uncompromising
excellence of British actress Emma Thompson and British
director Kirk Jones for the incredible excellence of Nanny
McPhee. I watched this film and went to bed wondering if it
was as good as I thought it was. I watched it again the
next night and did not wonder again.

Thompson-who has won 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress
(Howards End in 1992) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Sense
and Sensibility in 1995), and 2 BAFTAs for Best Actress
(Howards End and Sense and Sensibility)-wrote the
screenplay for Nanny McPhee. BAFTA is the equivalent of the
American Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television
Arts.

Kirk Jones (not to be confused with the American rapper and
actor Kirk Jones) is a gifted writer and director with
great work that has not been properly recognized. Combine
Emma Thompson with Kirk Jones and you have the formula for
a winning production.

In 1998 Jones wrote and directed his first feature film
"Waking Ned Devine" with a budget of $3 million that
grossed $90 million worldwide. I believe Jones should have
two Oscars and probably would if it were not for the fact
that Hollywood's voters are too busy pawing each other and
posing for pictures to correct their near-sightedness.

Until a comedy is made that is better than Waking Ned
Devine it shall remain my favorite comedy of all time.

If it sounds like I am gushing over Nanny McPhee, I am.
There are so many good lines in this script I would not
dare to recount them here. Watch the movie and enjoy the
experience of listening carefully.

Nanny McPhee the movie is named for a governess (Emma
Thompson) who uses magic to rein in the behavior of 7
out-of-control children of recently widowed Mr. Brown
(Colin Firth).

Mr. Brown must answer to his Aunt Adelaide (Angela
Lansbury) who has been financing his family's livelihood
and now commands him to marry within the month or she will
cut off his sustenance. His bratty children have a genuine
fear of losing their father should he marry the widowed
Mrs. Quickly (Celia Imrie).

The children, who collectively have driven away 17
consecutive nannies, are led by their older brother Simon
(Thomas Sangster). All 6 of the younger children-Tora
(Eliza Bennett), Lily (Jennifer Rae Daykin), Eric (Raphael
Coleman), Sebastian (Samuel Honywood), Christianna (Holly
Gibbs) and Baby Agatha (Hebe Barnes and Zinnia Barnes)-face
the same fate as Simon.

Enter Nanny McPhee with her magic and old-fashioned
discipline that makes the children aware of their behavior,
and soon the children become models of what to do and when
to do it.

Beyond the obvious endearments, what makes this film
excellent is two huge but subtle elements.

One is the guts of the writer and actress Emma Thompson who
creates a character for herself that is repugnant upon
first sight. She has two huge warts on her face and an
enormous tooth cascading down over her lower lip. Nanny
McPhee will repel you upon first look. Thompson's acting
skills allow her to be perfectly relaxed and confident
despite her appearance. Her make-up was done by designer
Peter King.

The other element is the discovery by the children that
when they learn a major lesson, one of the warts
disappears, and eventually through model behavior by the
children, Nanny McPhee becomes better and better looking.

In many such films as this-the "Sound of Music" with Julie
Andrews comes to mind-the nanny only influences the
children. In Nanny McPhee, the children also become
powerful agents for positive change, empowering them in the
process. Never underestimate the insight and brilliance of
Emma Thompson, the writer or actress.

A tip of the hat to Angela Lansbury in her role as well.
Lansbury is a living legend who never goes out of character
as Aunt Adelaide. From Broadway to Hollywood to television
and back, Angela Lansbury is a British national treasure.

Nanny McPhee is based on the "Nurse Matilda" books by
Christianna Brand. Emma Thompson said it took her 9 years
to write the screenplay; it took her 5 years to write her
Oscar-winning Sense and Sensibility.

Trust me when I say that Nanny McPhee was worth the wait
and then some. Watch Nanny McPhee and learn with your
children some important lessons in human nature.

About the Author:

Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles with Analysis
and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, Movie Reviews,
Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing.
Read my 3-part series on "Secrets Men Don't Want Women to
Know" and reviews on the Broadway musicals "Camelot",
"Chicago" and "The Phantom of the Opera". These are all
excellent films. Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/MovieReviews.html

Shaken Baby Deaths and Injury - Can a Nanny Cam Prove Guilt or Innocence?

Depending on which report you believe, there are from 1400 - 3000 cases of shaken baby syndrome diagnosed each year, however, it is believed that about 30% of these cases are initially missed. Also, there is no nationwide database to capture all reported cases.

What is shaken baby syndrome? It is a term used to describe injuries resulting from a particular form of abuse. The most common serious injuries sustained as a result of shaken baby syndrome are subdural and/or subarachnoid hematomas, as well as retinal hemorrhages. These injuries occur when an infant, usually under the age of two, is severely shaken back and forth. Infants two or under have not fully developed neck muscles so what occurs is a violent whiplash. The brain bounces back and forth inside the skull and actually turns. The bruising and tearing of veins on the brain cause the hematomas and bleeding in the brain. Sometimes these innocents receive broken ribs because of the way in which they were held during the act. Fractured skulls also occur when the infants head strikes an object during the shaking.

About 1 out of 4 infants die as a result of shaken baby syndrome. Those that survive will suffer a lifetime of some sort of retardation and/or other major impairments.

What are the symptoms of shaken baby syndrome? They can range from mild cases of vomiting, lethargy, poor appetite, and irritability to much more serious symptoms such as seizures, breathing difficulty or coma. Of course the most severe cases result in death. If a child displays any of these symptoms they should receive immediate medical attention. The frightening part of this is that even in the most serious cases a proper diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is missed in many instances. If the child continues to display the above symptoms, parents or caregivers must insist on tests that will rule out shaken baby syndrome.

A huge percentage of caregivers and parents are not aware that shaking a baby can cause serious injury and even death.

This places the importance of an in depth interview with potential caregivers or nannies. Uncontrollable crying by a child due to colic appears to be the number one cause of shaken baby syndrome. Next is lack of toilet training, temper tantrums or refusing to eat. Although this is not infallible, nannies who have children of their own, may be more apt to take colic and dirty diapers in stride. Pointed questions regarding these situations need to be asked and reactions and answers should be seriously evaluated.

A shaken baby death case recently prosecuted in the county in which I live ended in a hung jury. The case will be retried but parties on both sides are adamant about who is or is not guilty. Naturally, the parents are outraged that the nanny was not convicted and the nanny, of course, proclaims her innocence.

Research into the so called "shaken baby syndrome" reveals massive conflict between "experts" in all aspects of this tragic and all too common occurrence. Experts cannot agree on the time frame of when the injury to the child occurred. Some experts claim injuries can occur in minutes while others believe it can take hours for the infants brain to swell. Because of this conflict, it can be very difficult to determine who was responsible for the injury. The injury could have occurred while the child was in the care of parents but discovered or manifested during the time when the child was being cared for by a nanny or other caregiver, placing suspicion on a possible innocent party. There is even disagreement on what is or is not shaken baby syndrome.

Can a nanny cam prove the guilt or innocence of an individual or individuals?

A nanny cam or hidden camera could be the deciding factor in the tragic event of a shaken baby case. It could provide evidence that the act occurred and by whom or show that it did not occur during a particular time frame. Thus, the focus of the investigation could be directed at other possible suspects.

If I employed a caregiver or nanny I would definitely have a hidden camera. And, if I was a nanny or caregiver I would welcome the presence of a hidden camera for my protection from false accusations. Whatever course one takes, the protection of your precious child must be the ultimate goal.

Rosalie Kimberlin, the author, spent almost 30 years on a large metropolitan police department, and is now the owner of RK Enterprises. In a continuing effort to protect the "good guys" she now offers self defense and surveillance products through http://peppersprayetc.com