After 15 Years in Child Care Centers, She Turned Her Townhouse Basement Into a Daycare

Leave us a voicemail at 651-300-2277. We will weigh in on the podcast, and so will the community. Your question could help thousands of providers. Rebekah spent 15 years in child care centers, most recently as a director, then opened a home daycare in the basement of her Maryland townhouse. She and Brandee get into small-space setup, running mixed ages from 14 months to 7 years, homeschooling her own daughter during nap time, quiet time boxes, and the 4:30 closing time that keeps burnout away. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this one covers starting up, daily structure, and protecting your energy. CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Rebekah: center director to home daycare 02:03 Themes and planning without a purchased curriculum 04:44 Her own kids and homeschooling while running daycare 13:16 Making a townhouse work for daycare 15:57 Maryland licensing and ratios 18:04 Subs: husband, Oma, and summer help 20:55 Field trips in a minivan 31:47 Running a mixed-age group 36:26 Nap time and quiet time boxes 43:01 Structured vs play-based 48:41 Burnout and the car-ride-home reset 55:15 Advice for new providers: free programs and Maryland EXCELS 01:00:08 Wrap-up KEY TAKEAWAYS A townhouse or condo can work for family child care if you are strategic with layout and furniture Plan activities for the oldest kids, then simplify the same activity for the younger ones Quiet time boxes keep school-age kids busy during nap so you still get your midday break Free local child care association programs and state quality ratings like Maryland EXCELS can pay providers real money Closing at 4:30 protects your evening, and families who fit your program will still enroll RESOURCES MENTIONED Brickit (the brick pile scanning app): https://brickit.app FOLLOW REBEKAH Instagram:   / dailydoseofbek   Instagram:   / beebrightcare   CONNECT Website: https://www.TheDaycareSisters.com Email: [email protected] Subscribe for real conversations for home daycare and family child care providers. #daycareprovider #daycarelife #homedaycare #momlife #childcareproviders #inhomedaycare #daycaresisters