Are you considering a career in childcare? Thinking of opening your own home daycare? Before you become licensed, it is important to understand the Maryland Requirements for Becoming a Home Daycare Provider. ChildCareEd is your one-stop for all of your home daycare training requirements!
In the state of Maryland, home daycare is referred to as Family Childcare. Family Childcare providers offer care in their own homes to one or more children who aren’t related to the provider. To ensure a safe environment, Maryland limits the number of children in a family childcare home:
Family Child Care Home – A provider may care for up to eight children with no more than two under the age of two. The provider’s own children under the age of six are counted within the group of eight.
Large Family Child Care Home – A provider may care for between nine and 12 children with no more than four under the age of two. The provider’s own children under the age of six are counted within the group of nine to 12.
For #Family_Child_Care Providers the following are Provider requirements from the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Licensing Manual.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Pass a health screening.
- Have a safe and well-equipped home.
- Sign a home daycare agreement with each child's parent or guardian.
- Have a current certificate indicating successful completion of training in the following areas:
- Child development: This training covers the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children from birth to age 12.
- Program curriculum: This training covers how to plan and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children.
- Child health and safety: This training covers topics such as nutrition, and preventing accidents.
- The care of children with disabilities: This training covers how to provide care for children with special needs.
- Provider professionalism: This training covers topics such as business management, parent relations, and child abuse prevention.
- Community resources: This training covers how to access community resources for children and families.
- Emergency and disaster planning: This training covers how to plan for and respond to emergencies and disasters.
In addition to these trainings, home daycare providers in Maryland must also complete the following:
- CPR and First Aid Certification: This certification is required for all home daycare providers, regardless of the age of the children they will be caring for.
- Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): This training covers how to comply with the ADA's requirements for accessibility and inclusion.
- Support for breastfeeding mothers: This training covers how to support breastfeeding mothers and their children.
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) training: This training covers how to prevent SIDS.
You can find more information about the requirements for becoming a home daycare provider in Maryland on the Maryland State Department of Education website: https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/family-child-care-providers
Register today for all of your required training with ChildCareEd. ChildCareEd offers all training requirements for those seeking to become a licensed #home_daycare provider in Maryland.