Weaning Naps, Saying Goodbye, and Summer Plans in Family Child Care

Running a Legally Unlicensed Home Daycare

In this episode, Brandee interviews Courtney, a legally unlicensed home daycare provider in Wisconsin who has built a large following as a daycare content creator. They cover what legally unlicensed care actually means, screening families before interviews, and balancing daycare with family life. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this honest conversation will help you take yourself seriously as a business owner, licensed or not. Courtney shares how she runs a play-based program with contracts, handbooks, and a pre-interview questionnaire even though Wisconsin does not require her to be licensed. She also opens up about TikTok fame and burnout, brand partnerships, maternity leave planning, postpartum depression, and why she says no to families that are not a good fit. FOLLOW COURTNEY TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneyraspor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneyraspor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572110555265 KEY TAKEAWAYS - Legally unlicensed daycare in Wisconsin allows up to three unrelated children, with no state visits or food program requirements - A pre-interview questionnaire helps screen for families with a matching parenting style before you ever meet - Contracts and handbooks make you a professional business owner whether or not you are licensed - Planning a full 12-week maternity leave protects your mental health and the kids in your care - Don't be a pushover. Set your hours and policies and let the right families come to you CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Welcome and meet Courtney 00:00:17 A play-based, home away from home daycare 00:01:58 Balancing her own kids with daycare kids 00:04:19 How the daycare space is set up 00:05:39 What legally unlicensed means in Wisconsin 00:09:53 What her husband thinks about the daycare 00:13:08 Being a daycare TikTok creator 00:21:06 Maternity leave plans at 24 weeks 00:21:56 Postpartum depression and being honest about it 00:35:43 Screening families with a pre-interview questionnaire 00:39:22 Contracts and handbooks without a license 00:42:47 Social media burnout, ads, and free stuff 00:54:01 Daycare influencers vs. reality 01:05:08 Advice for new providers: be a business owner ABOUT DAYCARE SISTERS Brandee and Erin are sisters with over 30 years of combined home daycare experience. They share real, practical conversations for family child care providers. For easier ways to listen: https://www.TheDaycareSisters.com Subscribe for daycare operator tips, home daycare conversations, and real talk about child care. BUSINESS INQUIRIES Email: info@thedaycaresisters.com Website: https://www.TheDaycareSisters.com #homedaycare #familychildcare #daycaresisters #inhomedaycare #daycarelife #childcareprovider #parenting

Weaning Naps, Saying Goodbye, and Summer Plans in Family Child Care

In this episode we talk about what summer really looks like when you run a home daycare, from weaning kids off naps to saying goodbye to families and finding free things to do.If you run a home daycare, a family child care program, or you work with young children, this one will help you get through the end of the year and head into summer feeling a little less alone.KEY TAKEAWAYS- Summer in home daycare looks different for everyone, from closing completely to staying open with help, and there is no single right way to do it.- Kids often get bossier or act out in the months before kindergarten, and naming that pattern can help everyone stay patient through the goodbye season.- Nap weaning can be done slowly by trimming nap time in small steps, and a quiet show or supervised outdoor time can bridge the gap for kids who are ready to drop the nap.- Water tables and buckets are far more practical than full sprinkler setups, and letting kids play in their clothes until they dry saves a huge amount of work.- A sunscreen and sun hat routine, with mirrors by the door so kids can apply their own, builds a real life skill and saves time.- Libraries, park hopping, museum free family days, Kids Bowl Free, and store kids workshops are low cost ways to fill a summer.00:00:00 Intro and what this episode covers00:00:49 This week, end of school and decision fatigue00:03:25 Frisbee state tournament and kids starting jobs00:09:21 An upcoming surgery and feeling extra tired00:12:25 Working through the holidays vs taking a real day off00:17:03 Heading to the National Child Care Conference in Chicago00:21:54 How our summers look different, closing vs staying open00:26:18 End of school year big feelings in the daycare00:27:00 End of daycare goodbye gifts00:34:31 The school year, grades, and worrying about college00:39:53 Why kids get difficult right before kindergarten00:49:57 Summer naps and weaning kids off napping00:57:00 Summer water play that actually works00:59:00 Sunscreen, sun hats, and tick season01:00:50 Transitioning back to fall and curriculum01:05:50 Free and cheap summer activities we love01:10:59 Wrap upABOUT DAYCARE SISTERSDaycare Sisters is a podcast hosted by two sisters and business owners with over 30 years of combined home daycare experience. We share real talk, practical tips, and honest conversation for home daycare and family child care providers who often feel alone in the work they love.Subscribe for daycare operator tips, home daycare conversations, and real talk about child care.BUSINESS INQUIRIESEmail: info@thedaycaresisters.comWebsite: https://www.TheDaycareSisters.com#homedaycare #familychildcare #summeractivities #inhomedaycare #daycaresisters #childcareprovider #daycarelife

Reggio Emilia at Home: Why Kids Don't Know They're Learning

Brandee sits down with Krista, "Krista the babysitter," who left center work after years of burnout to run her own in-home daycare, where she now earns more and chooses her own families, hours, and rules. https://www.facebook.com/KristaTheBabysitterhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kristathebabysitterhttps://www.instagram.com/kristathebabysitter/If you run a home daycare or family child care program (or you're thinking about going independent), this conversation covers burnout, boundaries, interviewing families, nature-based learning, and how to stop feeling bad about enforcing your own policies.00:00:00 Intro & meet Krista (22 years in child care)00:00:15 From center burnout to her own home daycare00:03:57 Are school-agers easier or harder?00:05:38 Family life: Mr. Ross the garbage man00:07:37 The fairy tree & outdoor classroom00:10:47 What is Reggio Emilia? Nature-based learning00:14:58 Meditation, affirmations & sound baths at nap00:18:45 Gardening, puppies & pets in the daycare00:26:17 Burnout in child care & why it matters00:29:59 Interviewing families & spotting red flags00:31:05 Saying no & setting boundaries00:34:30 Payment systems & a wild contract story00:37:39 "Krista the babysitter" & the name debate00:40:16 Meet the pets: cats & dogs00:45:05 Where to find Krista & wrap-upKEY TAKEAWAYS- Going independent can mean better pay plus control over your families, hours, and rules- Burnout in child care is a safety issue, not just a wellness one- Interview families as much as they interview you, and trust your gut on red flags- "I don't think my care is a good fit for your family" is a complete, professional answer- Put recurring problems into your contract and handbook so they don't repeat- Automate payments (direct deposit or payment-app requests) so you're not chasing parentsWebsite: www.TheDaycareSisters.comSubscribe for daycare operator tips, home daycare conversations, and real talk about child care.BUSINESS INQUIRIESEmail: info@thedaycaresisters.com#homedaycare #daycaresisters #inhomedaycare #daycarelife #childcareprovider

The Mix That Multiplies Your Daycare Workload

We cover how to manage multi-age groups in a home daycare — infants, toddlers, and preschoolers all at once — including how to set up your space, plan around the babies, and teach different ages at the same table. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this one is honest about why multi-age is one of the hardest parts of the job, plus the real benefits of kids growing up together. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:16 Chatting About Our Week 00:02:19 Licensing Paperwork Before Summer 00:03:16 Surgery and Summer Scheduling 00:05:01 Surprise Licensing Visits 00:08:56 Daycare Rules and Open Hours 00:13:53 Updating Enrollment Paperwork 00:16:49 Working With a New Licenser 00:17:56 Strict vs Fair Licensers 00:19:25 Licenser and Provider as a Team 00:20:59 Managing Multi-Age Groups 00:22:20 Setting Up Your Daycare Space 00:23:56 Gates and Playyards for Safety 00:25:35 Separating Kids for Small Toys 00:28:46 Planning Around Infant Schedules 00:30:13 The Six-Month Turning Point 00:31:33 Teaching Kids Responsibility 00:32:30 Big Kids Teaching Younger Kids 00:33:50 When Kids Learn Bad Habits 00:35:50 Teaching Different Ages at Once 00:40:54 Multi-Age Overwhelm and Burnout 00:44:26 Exhaustion With New Infants 00:46:23 Benefits of Multi-Age Care 00:48:31 Kids Growing Up Like Siblings 00:50:01 Long-Term Bond With Providers 00:50:49 School Age Care Challenges 00:58:37 Home Daycare vs Centers 01:00:43 Being Honest With Families 01:01:25 Final Thoughts KEY TAKEAWAYS - Set up your space with gates, play-yards, and a "baby cage" so you can separate ages safely on the fly - Plan the day's activities around infant naps; schedules get more flexible with babies in the group - Teach the same activity at different levels (write name 3x vs. trace vs. first letter) so every age is included - The first 2-6 weeks with a new infant are the hardest; things ease up around 6 months - The biggest upside: older kids learn to help, teach, and care for the younger ones WATCH NEXT Full Episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXWb7mWcp-Y&list=PLXGI3C8PDyfgBzZbAYRuGwfJcHVLOcUFO ABOUT DAYCARE SISTERS We're two sisters and home daycare business owners with more than 30 years of combined experience, parenting nine kids between us. We talk real, practical home daycare — the kind of conversation you can have on in the background while you make lunch. Subscribe for home daycare tips, family child care conversations, and real talk about caring for kids. https://youtube.com/@thedaycaresisterspodcast Email: info@thedaycaresisters.com Website: www.TheDaycareSisters.com #homedaycare #inhomedaycare #daycaresisters #aldi #childcare

Australia vs. U.S. Home Daycare: Licensing, Rules & Daily Life

Brandee talks with Emily, a family daycare provider in Australia, about what home-based childcare looks like outside the United States.Emily shares how she started her family daycare, what licensing and provider support look like in Australia, how safety rules affect her home, and why she focuses on nature, community, preschool independence, excursions, and Christian values in her program. She also talks about the real costs of getting started, privacy rules around phones and devices, parent policies, finding clients, animals, cooking, gardening, and creating a family-like environment for children.If you run a home daycare, family child care program, preschool program, or you’re curious about childcare in different countries, this conversation gives a real-world look at how one Australian provider is building a meaningful program for young children.Key Takeaways-Australian family daycare can involve strict licensing, provider oversight, home safety upgrades, and regular support visits.-Emily’s program focuses on preschool independence, responsibility, nature, community, and Christian values.-Family daycare can feel more personal than a large center, but it also comes with real costs, policies, privacy rules, and business challenges.00:00 Intro00:30 Meet Emily: Australia Family Daycare01:27 Why She Left Daycare Centers02:52 Startup Costs and Home Renovations03:36 Licensing Process in Australia05:34 Provider Support vs US Licensing09:09 Minnesota Licensing: Once a Year12:00 Personal Device Rules in Australia13:31 Privacy vs Child Protection17:09 Using Licensing Rules With Parents19:15 Late Pickups and Daycare Policies21:07 Weekly Excursions and Scheduling21:48 Three Pillars: Nature, Community, Faith23:40 Beatitudes Behavior System25:22 Animals in Daycare: Chickens and Bees35:42 Finding Daycare Families Outside the City37:21 Running Daycare From Your Home39:28 Cost of Childcare Equipment42:54 Beatitudes Reward System Explained44:43 Party Day as Group Reward47:10 Teaching Kids Emotional Regulation51:28 Teaching Kids to Listen to Their Bodies52:32 Burnout Prevention in Home Daycare56:19 Teaching Communication: Try Again58:54 Being an Open Safe Space Parent61:31 Building Daycare Community in Australia63:54 Training Requirements in Australia66:41 TikTok Connecting Daycare Providers69:20 Kid Kitchen and Cooking Activities71:13 Where to Find Emily Online #inhomedaycare #homedaycare #daycarelife #childcareprovider #daycaresisters