How to Start a Daycare Center in Nigeria
The population of the country has practically doubled in the last twenty five years thereabout and with this is a rising number of children and mothers. The rise in population also means a rise in the needs of the basic family as well as exposure. Globalization has finally caught up with us and several women have a desire now more than ever to be achievers and thus venture into a career.
Also Read: Daycare Business Plan in Nigeria
This situation has in turn yielded a major need as most women have to go to work on a daily basis, their working class status means that even when they are nursing kids they have to create a balance with their day jobs. Where do they drop their kids when out to work? This challenge gave rise to what we know as crèche or daycare centers.
Presently there is a decline in the number of housewives, in fact the economic situation of the country has caused several women to look for ways to support their husbands by taking career jobs. As a result of this there is a major need for the services of crèche or daycare centers, and on a daily basis more and more centers are springing up in several parts of the country. It is quite an exciting venture to indulge in especially if one has a flair for little children, it is also a venture that can be run from the convenience of one’s home. It is a very lucrative business presently that anyone who has the means and the desire should be involved in.
Also Read: Nursery and Primary School Business Plan in Nigeria
What is a Daycare Service?
Daycares are also known as crèches or nurseries and they are basically a place where care is given to babies and toddlers on a daily basis while their parents are away. It is also the term given the daily care provided by a person who is not the parent of a child to the child when the parent is away. You might be wondering if that is not the same thing as babysitting, there is a marked difference. Babysitting involves giving the care to the child in the parent’s home, while daycare involves taking the child to a different location asides the parent’s home. The children are usually within the ages of six months to six years old and the services provided range from just taking the children to providing preschool and child development classes.
The Reason for a Rise in Daycare Services
Most Nigerian and indeed African cities are fast becoming urbanized meaning that there will be an increased need for daycare services. Statistics show that about 500 million Africans are now residents of urban cities and another 400 million is expected to join them within the next two decades. This rapid urbanization of our cities has created a vacuum for service providers of several kinds, on f which is the daycare service providers. Here are a few reasons why daycares are continually growing and thriving in our economy:
- More mothers are assuming working class status. With the encouragement of education of the female folk, more women have gotten and are getting educated, this means that they will most likely be working at a paid job even before they are pregnant with their kids. As a result of this, women who would have ordinarily stayed at home to take care of their kids from birth to preschool stage now have a short while after delivery to care for their infants before returning to work. In additionally, the economic condition of most countries, especially in Africa has made it imperative for both parents to be of working class status so as to handle the ever growing family needs. These reasons have been a source of business to others as the mothers have no choice than seeking someone who will take care of their children when they are away, more business for the daycares.
- High birth rate. Africa has the highest birth rate in the world presently and Nigeria contributes a huge number to that number. It is projected that within the next 40 years, all things being equal, Africa’s population will have grown to 2.3 billion. This means that there will be need for more daycare centers to handle this amazing rise in children population.
- An increased appreciation of preschool education. More parents are becoming aware of the benefits of preschool education. Research shows that children who have preschool care have more tendency to develop better language and learning skills during the first years of their life which will definitely play a major part in their later development. The structure of the daycare system allows for the child to not just develop fast physically, psychologically and physiologically but also plays a major part in the transition of the child into nursery and primary school. There are a lot of things to be learnt at the stage, so most parents believe that even if they are not going to work it is still best to indulge the services of a crèche to give their kids a better platform for the education they will gain in the nearest future. Most parents thus prefer a well-structured daycare center to and unstructured one as it tends to provide most of the services necessary for the child to develop their knowledge base really fast.
Steps in Starting Your Own Daycare Center
When you take a critical look at the requirements to be fulfilled in starting a daycare center it is evident that it is not a business for everyone, asides having the capital to start up you must also have a heart for kids. You must have the energy to deal with infant and toddler troubles, you cannot be a person quick to anger, you must be full of patience and you must be able to pass knowledge efficiently. In this section of this article we will taking a look at the steps to be followed in setting up your daycare business, the steps come in no particular order and note that this is just a guideline.
Study the Niche Intently. Before venturing into this business it is expedient that you take a deep study into what it entails and how it can be run. You will need to visit as many crèche centers as possible, find out the way they are run and what you need to set in place to run yours. This will help you when making a plan for your own center. You should also study the laws of your country and state binding daycare centers. Many countries have several laws that regulate the running of daycare centers, including several licenses that should be acquired by the owners of the business. In fact in some countries, the daycare center has to be inspected by health and safety officials to certify that the place is healthy enough to raise children. This means you need to find out what should be found in your surrounding and what should not be found there. You should also find out the minimum number of staff required, the required size of the space, the kind of toys allowed, the necessary documentation and so on. Not adhering to these laid down regulations may result in being shut down by the authorities and being fined as well, you do not want that kind of drama for your business.
Have a Plan. It is necessary to have a business plan for your daycare center just as it is for any business. It will help you know what you want to achieve in the nearest future and it will also serve as a guide for you and associates to grow the business. It will help you attract investors and get a loan if required. If you do not have the skill to write a daycare center business plan for yourself, you can buy our daycare center business plan in Nigeria.
To place order, pay N10,000 to:
BANK NAME: FIRST BANK PLC
ACCOUNT NAME: CHIBUZOR TOCHI ONYEMENAM
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 3066880122
After payment, text your full name, email address and title (daycare center business plan pdf) to 07033378184. Your business plan will be sent to your email within 15 minutes.
Get a Good Location. The right location for your business can be the difference between success and failure. For a daycare, you should target an area that has clean surroundings which also easily accessible to parents while having maximum security. In all ensure that the location of your business brings to the barest minimum any form of dangers, you are responsible for several children and you do not want any harm to come their way. The facility should be equipped with all the necessary accessories to ensure the needs of the children are properly met, some of these include plumbing, electricity, kitchen, toilets, outdoor playground, toys, etc. Make sure that the atmosphere of your crèche is welcoming to the parents and accommodating for the children.
Hire Qualified Staff. The reputation and qualification of your staff will go a long way to determine how well your business will thrive. Asides having a friendly environment you need qualified staff to ensure that your daycare grows. The qualification of daycare staff is somewhat dicey because it does not just depend on the educational aspect, it also lies in the other characteristics of the staff. Some of the major characteristics required of daycare staff include, patience, empathy, sensitivity, love and innate energy to deal with the children. Asides hiring the workers, you should also organize on the job training for your staff. Find out properly the number of staff and the classes of staff you need so you do not waste too much time with your recruitment process.
Develop a Workable Curriculum and Routine. It is normal that value is expected for money paid. This means that the curriculum you are offering should be highly qualitative, create a routine that will develop the children emotionally, mentally, physically and otherwise. Study the acceptable curriculum in the country and tweak it to make it attractive enough and more exciting for the children. Asides study materials and audio visuals, get the right kind of games and structures in place for the children to properly developed.
Develop a Strong and Efficient Records System. It is imperative that you should have a well-developed records system that will contain the records of the clients and suppliers alike. Vital information to be included in the records are the children names, ages, names of parents or guardians, parent’s contact details, medical history, allergies (if any), diet preferences and restrictions, etc. Also make it a habit to take daily notes of children’s behaviors and activities. Also ensure you keep track of your expenses and income, it will help you check the advancement of your business.
Things Needed in a Creche
Baby Gear (Cribs, diaper changing tables,High chairs for feeding,Baby entertainment toys,Large strollers)
Toys (indoor & outdoor toys) – (balls, climbing toys, games, dolls, dress-up clothes,puzzles,small slides, playhouses and ride-on toys)
First Aid & Safety – bandages, first-aid cream, shields for CPR breathing,medical tape, gauze, scissors, disposable gloves, cold packs and tweezers.
Furniture – Bookshelves, toy storage shelves, cabinets, Desks and chairs.
Feeding Supplies – refrigerators, cooking utensils and pans, Tables and chairs, plates and child-safe eating utensils.
Challenges of Starting Up a Daycare Center in Nigeria
The major challenges faced by crèche owners in Nigeria is that of raising capital to startup the business. To achieve the necessary standard required of daycare centers, a substantial amount of money is required. The economic situation of the country makes a little difficult to raise capital for the business.
Another challenge faced is that of getting qualified staff who have a mind for the business. Most people who take up daycare jobs only do so because they feel there is nothing better to do and they want to pass time till a better offer comes along.
In conclusion, starting up a daycare is a great venture to indulge in and it is really profitable in our country. I hope this article has been quite helpful and educative for you.
Hurry now and get your own daycare center business plan! To place order, Pay N10,000 to:
BANK NAME: GUARANTY TRUST BANK (GTB)
ACCOUNT NAME: CHIBUZOR TOCHI ONYEMENAM
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0044056891
OR
BANK NAME: FIRST BANK PLC
ACCOUNT NAME: CHIBUZOR TOCHI ONYEMENAM
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 3066880122
After payment, send your full name, email address and topic (i.e. Daycare Center Business Plan pdf) to 07033378184. Your business plan will be sent to your email within 15 minutes.
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