Education Biz-Services14 Comments

The number of full-time housewives in Africa’s urban areas in on a rapid decline. Unlike anytime in its history, more African women are working at paid jobs or running their own small businesses. As a result of this trend, there is a growing opportunity for services like crèche and daycare Center businesses. More middle class families can now afford these services and appreciate the value it brings to their children’s early mental and emotional development.

The crèche and daycare center service business is a venture that can be run from your home. It is an exciting and fulfilling prospect for anyone with a passion and natural energy for children. This article explores everything you need to know to get your daycare center business in Nigeria off the ground.

What exactly is a Crèche/ Daycare Service

For those who do not know, crèches (or nurseries) are facilities where care is given to babies, toddlers and young children. Daycare center (also referred to as ‘child care’ or ‘preschool’) is where care is given to a child. The center can be run during the day (or night) by a person who is not their parent. Babysitting is done in the child’s home. Daycare services require the child to be taken to a different location during specific periods. This service is render especially when the parents are at work or traveled.

SEE ALSO: How To Start Private (Nursery And Primary) School In Nigeria

Children between the ages of one and six are popular candidates for these services. Daycare center services can range from simple babysitting to a more formal structure that includes preschool education, child development, discipline and excursions.

Why the Demand for Creche and Daycare Center

The demand for crèche and daycare center is growing across Nigeria because people living in urban areas need the services. As the size and number of Africa’s cities grow, convenience services like daycare will continue to flourish. Over 500 million Africans now live in cities and 400 million more are expected over the next 20 years. Africa’s rapid urbanization is creating a lot of opportunities for convenience service providers (like daycare centers, laundry/dry cleaning services, etc) who help to reduce the burden on the busy and complex lives of growing families in the cities.

Providing day care for children is a big and serious responsibility. A crèche and daycare service provides entrepreneurs with an opportunity to pursue a socially conscious, challenging and fulfilling business. Follow these steps to get started.

Step by Step Guide to Start a Crèche and Daycare Center

In this section, we shall take a close look at all the things you’ll need to transform this idea into a real-life, profitable business.

Step 1: Find out what the Law Requires

Some African countries may have laws which regulate crèches and day care services. These laws may require day care operators to be licensed or certified by the authority or professional association. Most of these laws and regulations have become necessary to discourage and punish any form of child abuse. As a result, the strict guidelines may often increase the cost of running a daycare center business. Some of these regulations specify the minimum space and staffing requirements, the maximum number of children that can be admitted (depending on space), types of toys, mandatory documentation and many other things.

These strict regulations are responsible for the low profit margins experienced by daycare businesses in many countries. It’s very important that you check with the authority to understand what the law requires from day care operators in your area. Getting shut down by the authorities after you have opened for business may cost you a lot of money and your reputation.

In Nigeria however, much regulation is not required. You can get your daycare center started before seeking approval where necessary.

Step 2: Get a Good location

Getting the right location for your crèche/daycare center can often mean the difference between success and failure. The ideal location for a daycare center is safe, clean, accessible and close to the homes or offices of the parents. Although a day care operation can be home-based or in a dedicated facility around shopping malls, industrial and office areas, it’s important to ensure that all the potential dangers that could affect your business can be avoided.

In addition to a good location, the building or space used for a crèche should have all the necessary facilities. A few of these include: kitchen, toilets, bathrooms, beds, blankets, toys and outdoor playgrounds. While designing or modeling your crèche, you must always keep in mind that you need to create an atmosphere that appeals to parents and makes children happy and comfortable. If parents do not like the feel of your crèche, they may not use or recommend it to others.

Step 3: Hire the Right Type of Staff

Apart from good location and full facilities, the people who run the daycare center will be key to the success. It’s essential that your staff is empathetic, sensitive, patient, and have a natural energy and love for children. Above all, your staff must have the success of your business at heart all times. This means building and maintaining good reputation which is essential for daycare center business. Your reputation is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to advertise your services and get new customers.

Training in basic care giving and first aid is very important for your staff. Negligence and ignorance can often lead to avoidable accidents and mishaps at the Center (which you don’t want). If you have the passion and some of the qualities we talked about above, you could run the crèche yourself or hire someone to do it for you. An experienced nanny, a middle-aged or retired nanny

Step 4: Develop a Valuable Curriculum and Routine

Parents always expect good value for the fees you charge for your day care services. If parents can see an improvement in the mental, emotional and physical development of their kids, they will continue to hire your services and gladly recommend you to family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.

To help the kids develop mentally, work out a routine that encourages and engages their curiosity. Teaching simple rhymes, songs, numbers and alphabets helps to develop the memory of children and aids their language learning ability. Puzzles and games are very popular with young kids and helps them to learn shapes and colors. Dancing is another great way to hold their attention while they learn. An interesting day care experience allows kids to bond, make friends and look forward to coming back the next day. You’re very likely to retain the parent’s interest if their children are interested.

Attention to Children is Important

Proper attention, affection, order and discipline are critical to the emotional development of children. It’s important that the kids under your care learn good manners and are able to interact well with their peers. Physical health is also as important in your crèche. You must ensure that high standard of hygiene is maintained if decide to serve meals. The food has to be nourishing, tasty and contain a well-balanced diet that will support child growth. And should a child contract a contagious illness (like chicken pox, cough etc.), it’s important that you stop them from attending the crèche until they are fully recovered.

I recommend that you go through these article if you’re really interested in pursuing this business idea. I would love to hear from you about your successes, challenges, advice and questions. Do not forget to leave a comment in the section below and share this opportunity with your friends! Also, make sure you follow Wealth Result on Twitter for more articles like this.

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14 Comments

  • Anonymous June 27, 2014

    well written and arranged article…keep doing what you know best sis…K

    • KIPHUNI March 7, 2016

      I am very interested to you genuine experience and knowledge regarding Daycare or Creche.

  • Aramide September 12, 2017

    Love ur article on day care services. I am really interested in the business. My husband and I were discussing about it the other day. Will like to start but on a small scale. Like how much will it cost to start on a small scale

    • Darlinton Omeh September 12, 2017

      That will depend on what you have and what you will be paying for. Are you going to be renting an apartment or you already have one? Where will be the location of your business? These are factors that may drive up or down your cost of starting.

      One million budget won’t be out of place. But you need to answer the above questions first and use your answers to evaluate your cost.

    • Clara Nnadi September 12, 2019

      Really love your write up but would love to know what the law of Nigerian require for the exterblishment of creches and day care centres, also WHO or which arm of government regulates their activities?

  • Stanley September 21, 2017

    Love your article on Day Care Service . Please,i would like to know how much it will cost me to start this service. Also, i will like to know the requirements for starting a Day Care Service in Nigeria . Though i have two plots of land at Agbara ,Lagos.

  • Peace April 2, 2018

    Thanks so much for ur guide. It’s so easy to understand. Please do I need any formal education or training apart from the passion n love for children to start?. I already have up to Masters’ degree on something else not education though. God bless u.

  • Olajumoke Aweda May 14, 2018

    Am impressed about your article on creche. It’s encourages me to plan for my retirement. I love to care for kids. God bless you

  • Lucy May 29, 2018

    A job well done. God bless you.

  • Oyebanjo Adejoke June 17, 2018

    Thanks alot. How can I start a creche of my own. I have the apartment already. I noticed that there is no creche around me. What do I need to look out for and how much do I need to start on a small scale.

  • Olagunju goodness November 20, 2018

    Thanks alot for this article. I’m planning on starting a creche soon but for a start, I want to make use of a room in my house. As time goes on, when I get alot of kids, I can think of getting a space specially for the kids and even grow it to a nursery level. I hope that’s ok?

  • Ruth oroko December 10, 2018

    I’m impressed about your article on creche, I love taking care of children but I don’t know how to start it up. I have OND in social work. Pls Ineed ur advice.thanks

  • Ezinne Victoria AKwuruoha April 24, 2019

    I love this article well written and encouraging. I have a plan of starting this daycare business and I am a certified teacher and I also have passion for kids. My question is what type of licence do I need and how much will be required to start up this business in a small scale? I intend renting a place. Thanks soo much

  • babatunde n s December 7, 2019

    A well planned article, more of it I hope from you.

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