Balancing Work and Personal Life in Home-based Childcare

July 18, 2024

Introduction

Running a home-based childcare business can be rewarding, as it allows you to be your own boss and work flexibly from home, which can be a great option if you have children. You will also play an essential role in children’s learning and development, and there is an increasing demand for high-quality childcare, meaning it can be a good earner if you market your business effectively.

While many rewards are associated with running a home-based childcare business, there can also be numerous challenges. The start-up and running costs can be significant, and you will be responsible for children’s health, safety and well-being while they are in your care. There are also legal requirements to get your head around, and it can be a demanding role.

According to a survey conducted by the Early Years Alliance, those in the childcare sector have experienced stress and mental health difficulties, with 61% feeling that they do not have a decent work-life balance. Therefore, it is vital to look after your well-being. If you want to become a home-based childcare provider, have just registered or already have a successful business, this blog aims to provide tips and strategies to help you effectively balance your work with your personal life.

Understanding the Unique Challenges

As a home-based childcare provider, you will face unique challenges, such as:

Registration and paperwork – you will typically have to register with Ofsted (in England) or an equivalent regulator, depending on where you are based, and you will be subject to background checks and inspections. There is usually a lot of paperwork and administration to comply with statutory requirements.
Isolation – the job can often be isolating due to spending long periods at home and away from other adults. Unlike working in a nursery, school or day centre, you do not have colleagues with you to share advice and experiences, which can be difficult.
Work-life balance difficulties – your workplace is also your home. Therefore, balancing personal life with work can be difficult, and boundaries can often blur, e.g. working weekends to catch up on paperwork or business items encroaching into non-business areas of the home.
Health, safety and safeguarding – your overall responsibility is ensuring children are healthy and safe while being cared for. Therefore, you must manage the risks, child-proof your home and maintain good hygiene. The responsibility can often be overwhelming.
Long hours – the role enables you to choose your own hours and be flexible. However, you may need to work long hours while the children’s parents are at work or if you are dropping them off or picking them up from their home or school.
Heavy workloads – you will be responsible for children while running your business and maintaining your home. As mentioned, there is also the administration side and maintenance of records, so your workload can be heavy, and you will have to juggle multiple demands.
Getting a decent client base – a successful childcare business needs clients. Therefore, you must effectively market your business and network to attract parents, which can increase your workload. The pay can also be low, especially when starting your business.

It can be hard looking after your own children (if applicable) and additionally demanding when caring for other people’s children in your own home, as you can face emotional and physical demands. Your role will involve closely supervising the children, providing various engaging and fun activities for them to do and cleaning up after them. You may have difficult children and even parents/guardians and can face unexpected situations and emergencies. You will also be juggling home life with professional childcare, and the role can be tiring and emotionally draining, especially when you face challenges.

Setting Boundaries and Establishing Routines

One of the challenges you can face is the blurring of boundaries when looking after children in your own home. It can lead to stress, mental health problems, miscommunication, misunderstandings, conflicts and even potential allegations. Therefore, it is essential to set clear boundaries between work and personal life, which you can achieve by:

Setting work hours

Clearly identify when your working day starts and ends, and adhere to these times as much as possible.
Inform parents/guardians about the days/hours you are available in person and on the telephone, and put it in writing where possible.
Avoid answering the phone or emails outside these hours unless it is an emergency.
Do not be afraid to say no to avoid stress and burnout.
Ensure you have days off and regular breaks to rest and recharge.

Having clear policies

As well as working times, you want to make it clear to parents/guardians about the drop-off and pick-up times, behavioural expectations and any other rules.
Communicate with parents/guardians about policies and procedures and give them copies where possible.
Be clear on the consequences if they break any rules, e.g. non-payment and regular late pick-ups.

Keeping a professional distance

While you want to foster trust and build relationships with children and their parents/guardians, it is crucial not to get too emotionally or personally involved.
Be mindful of any interactions, including on social media, and always maintain appropriate relationships.
Avoid accepting gifts or favours from parents/guardians, as it can create conflicts of interest.

Being consistent

Follow your policies, procedures, schedules and routines to be consistent.
You cannot expect children and parents/guardians to adhere to boundaries if you are not maintaining them yourself.
If you need to make any changes, inform people in advance.

Having your own boundaries in the house

Have your own private spaces/areas in the house away from where you provide childcare.
Avoid being tempted to take work into areas where you relax, i.e. doing paperwork while watching the television.

Maintaining confidentiality and privacy

Keep children’s and parent’s information private and confidential, as it is the law and the right thing to do.
Ensure your own privacy by not sharing your or your family’s personal information, including on social media, and make it clear about technology use.
Be careful of taking and sharing photos of children and your home.

As well as setting and maintaining boundaries, it is also vital to establish routines and schedules. They can help you become more organised, feel more in control and manage your time effectively, which will structure your working day and week. It will also help the children you care for, as they thrive on routine, and make them feel safe and secure. Your business is more likely to be effective and successful as a result.

Routines and schedules will also give your life balance so you can make time for yourself and your family and friends and maintain your physical and mental health and well-being. Predictability can reduce stress, as you will know what to expect and will give you the time you need to practice self-care.

While routines and schedules are important, try not to be too rigid, as you will likely face unexpected challenges and situations, such as emergencies, where you will need to make quick decisions and adjustments. Do not be afraid to adapt and be flexible where necessary.

Creating a Dedicated Workspace

A dedicated workspace within the home for childcare activities is essential, as it will enable you to keep your work away from your personal space and life and help you become more organised. It provides a physical barrier where work starts and ends, which will contribute to your well-being. It will also provide a space for children that is safe, nurturing and optimal for their learning and development.

Here are some tips for organising and optimising the childcare environment for safety, efficiency, and productivity:

Child-proof the environment – to prevent accidents, ill health and injuries. Look at anything that could cause harm (hazards) and remove them, e.g. loose items, unsecured furniture, objects at height, electrical goods, etc.
Declutter – to give the children plenty of room to play and move around freely. Remove any non-essential and personal items and keep the area tidy and clean. It will also help remove hazards, making children less likely to trip and fall. Less is often more, so try not to have too many toys and resources and choose quality over quantity.
Have appropriate storage – to keep the toys and resources for childcare organised and in their own area away from personal items. Use labelled boxes, as they can help you clear up at the end of the day and save time when preparing for the next day.
Maximise space – to give you and the children more room. Consider using foldable and stackable items such as chairs, tables and toys.
Create various zones – to provide children with different activities within a space, e.g. active zones for play and a quiet area for stories. It will help you to organise and provide children with various options to suit their needs and interests. Do not forget free play, as it is essential for their learning and development (UNICEF Parenting).
Utilise outdoor space – to allow children to explore in fresh air and keep them physically active. If you have a garden, you could set up a dedicated area with age-appropriate various toys and activities. You could also take them on outings to parks or other outdoor areas. However, always get permission from parents/guardians.

We have further information on setting up your home environment.

Time Management Strategies

Time management is about prioritising and controlling your time effectively to be more efficient and productive. It is important, as it will help you adhere to routines and schedules, meet your goals and reduce stress. It also looks professional to parents/guardians who use your service.

So, how do you manage your time effectively? Here are some strategies that may help:

Set specific goals and objectives to stay on track. You could make your goals SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) and separate short-term goals from long-term ones. Indeed UK has further information on setting SMART goals.
Break your tasks down into smaller, manageable chunks. It helps things seem more achievable, and you can tick off your tasks more quickly.
Prioritise important and urgent tasks. Not every task is urgent, so complete the most essential and urgent ones first.
Delegate where possible. You could delegate tasks within the home to family members or friends to help you focus on your childcare business. As your business grows, you may want to consider hiring an assistant.
Take short, regular breaks to maintain focus. You could step away for a few minutes, grab a drink and do some light exercises to re-energise.
Learn to say no. Focus on what you can do and not take on too much to overwhelm yourself.
Have an appointment system. You could have start and end times for childcare and other tasks, such as meetings with parents/guardians.
Organise your space. You should have a place for everything and declutter so things do not get lost. You can waste valuable time trying to find things.

There are numerous time management techniques and tools that you can use, and some examples are as follows:

To-do-lists

Simple and effective for organising your tasks.
Write them down or use your phone’s built-in features.
Rank your tasks in order of importance/urgency.

Action-priority and Eisenhower urgent-important matrices

Choose the tasks that need prioritising and eliminate and delegate others.
Use the grid to categorise your tasks based on urgency and importance, and prioritise the high-priority ones first.
The University of Hull has some examples. The page is for students, but it demonstrates how these matrices work.

Time blocking

Divide your day into blocks of time and allocate them to specific tasks.
Adhere to this schedule to stay on track but make adjustments where needed.
Use a timetable or planner to help, which you can create by hand, buy hard copy versions, or use software, e.g. Excel or apps.
Indeed UK has further information on time blocking.

Interruptions log

Log all interruptions to find the causes and prevent them from recurring and affecting your productivity.
There are many examples online that you can tailor to your business.

Apps

Use those built into your devices or download specific time management apps (if you have a Smartphone).
Search for time management in app stores. Some may be free, but others may have costs associated with certain features.

Pomodoro technique

Work in short, focused intervals.
Have short breaks after each interval, usually after 20-25 minutes.
Repeat to maintain focus.
You can use a timer to alert you when to have these breaks.

Find the right tools and techniques that meet your needs and childcare business.

Building a Support Network

Working from home can be isolating and lonely, even when looking after children. You will not have the support of colleagues like other childcarers, and it can be hard not having someone there to ask for advice and share ideas. Therefore, it is essential to build a support network, as having this kind of support system can promote your mental health and well-being, reduce stress, and enhance the quality of the childcare you provide.

Support networks can be individuals, groups of people or communities who can provide advice and assistance when needed, and can be formal and informal. Formal can consist of professionals, such as teachers, other childcarers, mental health experts, etc. Informal includes partners, older children, the wider family, friends, children’s parents/guardians and the community. They may provide physical, emotional, social and even financial support, offer advice and feedback and signpost you to resources that may help.

Here are some tips for seeking support, networking with other professionals, and accessing resources:

Use your existing contacts – reach out to old colleagues, friends, schoolmates or acquaintances. They may be able to provide support or point you in the right direction for further help and advice.

Build strong relationships with parents/guardians – fostering trust and openly communicating with parents and guardians can promote positive relationships. They may be able to give you advice and insights on their children so you can use this information during childcare.

Use social media – various platforms, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, can help you to engage with professionals and fellow childcarers and expand your network.

Attend events – there may be events where you can mix and meet with parents/guardians and professionals, e.g. school events and fairs, conferences, workshops and online webinars.

Volunteer – giving your free time to help others can open the doors to networking opportunities. You can look at various websites, such as Get Volunteering and GOV.UK, to see if there are any roles where you can meet others and develop childcare skills.

Attend community groups and partnerships – go to local community groups, such as baby and toddler groups, in village halls, shops, libraries, schools and other venues. Sign up for mailing lists and check social media for dates and times.

Look at childcare associations and forums – there may be membership costs and registration, but these associations may provide access to further information, resources, tips and advice from fellow childcarers, e.g.:

Access resources online – many websites provide resources you can use (some may require registration, and there may be a cost). Some examples include:

Get mental health support – if you are struggling with stress, anxiety, burnout or other mental health problems, there is plenty of support out there, such as:

Charities – may offer help, e.g. the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health UK, Mind, etc.
Counselling – you may want to go through your GP and be referred to a counsellor or seek treatment. There are also private counsellors.
NHS talking therapies – you can self-refer and do not need a diagnosed mental health problem.

Remember, you are not alone, and there is plenty of support to help you provide the best possible childcare, look after your well-being and have a successful business.

Self-Care Practices

Looking after children in your home, complying with the legal requirements and dealing with challenging behaviour and difficult parents/guardians can be stressful. You may work long hours or face unexpected challenges where you must make tough decisions. There can be a lot of pressure, so you must look after your physical and mental health and well-being, which you can achieve by practising self-care.

Self-care is:

“The practice of taking care of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life to promote health and wellness (Bottaro, 2023)”.

Self-care can involve any activity you enjoy and ensuring you take the time to do it. Perhaps you enjoy reading novels, having a pamper evening, watching a boxset or going for a coffee? Maybe you have neglected a hobby or feel like you have little time for it. Now is the time! Here are some practical self-care tips to help you look after yourself:

Eat a healthy and balanced diet – you can still eat well, even when busy, and it is vital to do so and not skip meals. It promotes good health and reduces the risk of chronic disease. You can plan your meals and prepare them in bulk or in advance to help save time. Also, remember to stay hydrated. There is further information and some tips on:

Adopt good sleep hygiene – ensure your sleeping environment and behaviour promote good sleep, i.e. your bed is comfortable, have a bedtime routine, start winding down before bed, avoid caffeine, alcohol, and looking at devices, and get up at fixed times. The NHS has further information on getting better sleep.

Regularly exercise – while the last thing you probably feel like is exercising when running a business, it is fantastic for your physical and mental health and well-being. It helps you become more energised and releases feel-good chemicals such as endorphins. Do not feel you have to do hours in the gym to reap the benefits; even gardening, walking, and household chores can count. YouTube also has numerous workouts you can try, but ensure you spend some time outdoors in nature.

Set aside time for relaxation – we all need to relax and wind down to recharge. Try and incorporate various techniques into your routine, such as meditation, mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, journaling, forest bathing, etc.

Make time for your hobbies – if you have hobbies, make time for them and perhaps try some different activities to find new ones.

Practising self-care will enable you to relax and recharge your batteries, meaning you can provide better quality care and boost your well-being while running a successful childcare business.

Managing Stress and Burnout

Mind defines stress as “how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened”. If you experience prolonged stress and do not manage it, it can lead to burnout, which is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion (Mental Health UK).

Signs and symptoms of stress can include:

Mental, e.g. constant worrying, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, forgetfulness, anxiety, low self-esteem, etc.
Physical, e.g. headaches, chest pain, dizziness, stomach problems, muscle tension, pain, etc.
Behavioural, e.g. irritability, too much/too little sleep, overeating or under-eating, drinking alcohol, smoking, becoming withdrawn, etc.

Signs and symptoms of burnout include:

Feeling constantly physically and mentally drained.
Blunt emotions.
Hopelessness and helplessness.
Poor concentration.
Irritability.
Procrastination.
Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.
Self-doubt.
Negativity, detachment or cynicism towards your job.
Less efficient, making mistakes, reduced performance and decline in work quality.
Physical symptoms, such as those similar to stress.
Using drugs and alcohol to cope.
Behavioural changes and inappropriate behaviour.

Stress and burnout can negatively impact your and your family’s physical and mental health and well-being and affect your ability to look after children safely. Therefore, it is essential to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress to manage it effectively and prevent burnout and other mental health issues. Here are some management strategies to adopt:

Monitor your emotions and behaviour – keep an eye on your emotional and physical well-being and recognise if you are feeling stressed or experiencing burnout symptoms. Ask your family and friends to let you know if they spot any differences.
Practice self-care – look after yourself, have regular breaks and make time for hobbies and activities you enjoy. Also, try relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness, to help with stress and explore your creative side, e.g. dance, music and art.
Disconnect from work – when you are not caring for other people’s children, ensure you have time for your personal life and do not let these boundaries blur. Everyone needs time off from work, so never feel guilty about taking breaks and having rest days.
Set realistic expectations – be realistic about what you can achieve in a day and set achievable goals. Also, recognise your limitations and constraints. Do not take too much on, and learn to say no.
Seek support when needed – if you think you have the signs and symptoms of stress and even burnout, it is vital to seek support from family, friends and professionals. You could contact fellow childcarers and share experiences, tips and advice. You could also consider therapy or counselling, which can help you find coping strategies.
Improve your knowledge and skills – sometimes, a lack of competency in certain areas can affect confidence and self-esteem, contributing to stress. Learning new skills, such as time management, and gaining more knowledge on childcare can help you with more challenging tasks.

For further information, see the following:

CPD Online College – How to prevent burnout – has further information on the signs, causes, effects and strategies.
NHS Keeping Well – Coping with stress and burnout – for health and care staff but has some good tips.
The Stress Management Society – has free resources and tips on de-stressing.

Communicating with Families

Openly communicating is vital with families, meaning expressing your ideas and thoughts freely and being honest and transparent when sharing information and during other interactions. It also means actively listening, adapting your communication style where necessary, accepting feedback and being culturally sensitive.

Open communication is crucial when communicating with families about boundaries, expectations, and scheduling, as you will want to make your policies and rules clear to avoid miscommunications and misunderstandings that could lead to disputes and conflicts. It also:

Fosters trust and builds positive relationships with families, as they will feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, suggestions and feelings.
Leads to increasing parental and family involvement, which can positively affect children’s learning and development.
Promotes collaboration and cooperation where you and the children’s families work and solve problems together and ensure everyone is on the same page.
Creates a safe and non-judgmental environment where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and can talk openly.
Ensures you uphold high standards and provide quality childcare, which can enhance your reputation.

Here are some tips for setting clear policies and procedures to streamline communication and reduce misunderstandings:

Ensure they cover the legal requirements, e.g. statutory policies such as complaints and safeguarding.
Start each document with a short and clear statement.
Do not over-complicate them, and keep them as simple as possible.
Try not to use jargon or technical terms; use clear language.
Make them specific to your childcare business and setting, and ensure they reflect your practices and services.
Write them down, as it helps to keep track of them, looks professional, and will make it easier during inspections.
Review them regularly and where there are any changes or feedback.
Be consistent and follow them yourself.
Share them with families and ask for their feedback, which can help when reviewing your documents.

Your local authority may be able to provide further advice and may even have example policies and templates you can use.

Further information

Flexibility and Adaptability

As a childcarer, you will face unforeseen situations and unexpected challenges. You may have parents/guardians who drop off or pick up their children later than agreed and want to change schedules at the last minute. Children’s temperaments/moods can quickly change and they may exhibit challenging behaviour. There are also emergencies, such as accidents and ill health, to deal with as they arise. You must be adaptable and flexible to handle these situations and may also need to adjust your approaches to meet children’s and parent’s needs.

Adaptability – the ability to adjust to a new environment or different conditions.
Flexibility – being willing to adjust to changes and new demands without changes in behaviour.

Some examples of strategies for handling unexpected changes and challenges with resilience are as follows:

Prepare for every eventuality – while there may be unexpected and unforeseen situations, there are those you can anticipate. Prepare for emergencies and have clear plans on what to do in various scenarios, including changing activities if children’s moods and needs change.
Accept there are things out of your control – develop a mindset of acceptance and realise that things do not always go according to plan. Focus on what you can control rather than worrying about what you cannot. It will help you be more resilient when more challenging situations arise.
Keep up to date – having the latest knowledge on the law and child safety and childcare techniques can help you stay informed and know what to do if something unexpected happens. You could also take some courses and workshops to enhance your skills, especially problem-solving and decision-making.
Be positive – see unexpected changes as opportunities for growth rather than challenges and problems, and consider whether any benefits can arise from the situation. Try not to focus on the negatives. Being positive and confident can help you cope better with stress and effectively deal with setbacks.
Learn from your mistakes – humans are not infallible, and everyone makes mistakes. If you make any mistakes, analyse why they occur and learn from them by putting things in place to avoid them recurring in the future.
Look after yourself – practice self-care and stress management techniques to remain calm under pressure. You should take breaks when needed and try relaxation techniques, such as meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercises and yoga. Also, break tasks down into manageable chunks to alleviate pressure.
Set and communicate boundaries – while you want to demonstrate professionalism, it does not mean you must cope with unacceptable behaviour from children or parents/guardians. Set boundaries and clarify your expectations.
Try new things – you could offer new services or provide different toys and activities for children. Not only will you learn new skills, but it may also make your business more attractive to parents/guardians.

Being open and embracing change can help you develop a flexible mindset and adapt where necessary. Also, do not be afraid to seek support from family, friends and professionals, as they may be able to offer guidance and encouragement if you have any issues.

Maintaining Professionalism

As your home-based childcare business is yours, you will want to attract and retain clients, have a solid reputation and get referrals. Therefore, it is vital to maintain professionalism in your setting. If you come across as professional, parents and guardians are more likely to trust that you can look after their children, meet their needs and ensure their safety, health, happiness and well-being while caring for them in your home. It also shows that you are reliable and committed to providing high-quality childcare.

To demonstrate and maintain professionalism, you must:

Set professional boundaries

These are guidelines that define what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
They are crucial, as they safeguard the children in your care and protect you from any disputes, conflicts or allegations.
Familiarise yourself with statutory requirements to help you set boundaries and seek advice where needed.
You must clearly communicate these boundaries to parents/guardians and ensure they are aware of the following:
Your working hours and schedules.
Your fees and payment deadlines.
Your preferred communication channels and limits, e.g. only calling out of hours in an emergency.
Your policies, procedures and rules.
Your services.
What actions you may take if they cross boundaries, e.g. non-payment?

Look professional

Treat your home-based childcare business like any other workplace, e.g. getting ready and being fully prepared before the first child arrives, dressing appropriately and not wearing nightclothes.
Avoid swearing and using inappropriate language around children and adults, and challenge others who break the rules.
Ensure your home looks organised, clean and tidy, especially where you meet and greet parents/guardians.
Remain calm and composed, even in stressful situations. Getting angry and looking like you cannot cope will look unprofessional.
If you make mistakes, be transparent and honest, which will demonstrate accountability.

Maintain privacy and confidentiality.

As you will handle the personal information of children and parents/guardians, you must keep it private and confidential.
You must never share the information with others and not gossip, especially on social media.
Inform parents/guardians of situations where you may need to break confidentiality, e.g. in an emergency or for safeguarding.
Do not take photos of the children and share them with anyone unless you get permission from parents/guardians.

Uphold high standards of care

Parents/guardians expect you to deliver high-quality care to their children, and the law and society also require this.
Follow applicable laws and statutory guidance that relate to your business.
Ensure you have the relevant training and competencies to undertake the role and responsibilities.
Undertake continuing professional development (CPD) to demonstrate your commitment to learning about children and childcare.

Conclusion

A home-based childcare business is rewarding, as you can earn an income flexibly and play a crucial role in children’s learning and development. However, it is not without challenges and can be isolating and lonely. The working hours can be long, there is a lot of paperwork, and parents/guardians and children can be difficult. Therefore, it is vital to understand the unique challenges to help you provide high-quality childcare and have a successful business.

Getting the right balance between work and your personal life is critical to your physical and mental health and well-being, the standard of care you provide to children and your reputation. You must set boundaries, establish routines, and prioritise and practice self-care to manage stress and prevent burnout. Also, create a dedicated workspace, adopt time management strategies that work for you and openly communicate with families to alleviate the pressure and provide the best possible care.

Being flexible and adaptable will help you build resilience and deal with any unexpected situations and challenges that come your way. Even if they arise, and they will, it is vital to maintain professionalism to demonstrate to parents/guardians that you can ensure the safety, health, happiness and well-being of their children. It will also help you maintain professional boundaries.

As a home-based childcare provider, you must always prioritise your well-being to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for the children in your care.