Providing Care Independently
In the Province of Ontario, home child care practitioners (not affiliated with a Licensed Home Child Care Agency) may provide care for up to 5 children under 10 years of age in addition to his/her own children at any given time in his/her own home.
As an independent caregiver, there is no restriction as to the ages of children you may care for under the age of 10 years (i.e.: you may care for any combination of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children) as long as you don’t exceed 5 children, in addition to your own, at any one time.
For safety and quality of care, we strongly recommend that you have no more than:
- two children under 2 years of age
- three children under 3 years of age
at any one time in your home.
Examples:
If you provide care for 3 children during the day, you may also provide after-school care for 2 school-age children in addition to your own.
If you provide care for 5 children during the day, you are at your maximum number of children and cannot care for any additional school-age children after school.
Should you wish to care for more than 5 children plus your own at any given time in your home, you would require to be licensed under the Ontario Day Nurseries Act and meet all of its regulations. For more information, contact a Program Advisor of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services at http://www.cafcc.on.ca/mcys.php
Home Child Care Practitioners are those who have chosen home child care as a career and strive to provide quality care in their homes.
Practitioners are encouraged to recognize the importance of:
- the early years of a child's life and providing a program which enhances the health, development and well-being of children in his/her care.
- the support of their own family while they provide child care in their home.
- participating in professional development and training on a regular basis to continually expand his/her knowledge and skills and keep up to date on emerging trends in the early learning and child care field.
- obtaining support and assistance from other caregivers, Caregiver Support Networking Groups and various community agencies to reduce the feeling of isolation.
- involving parents in their home child care business.
- being involved in community planning processes and other volunteer-related activities pertaining to child care.
- balancing her work, family and personal life.