In BC, there are two basic categories of legal child care: ‘Licensed’ and ‘Licence Not Required’ (LNR), also known as ‘informal ‘child care. Whether or not a child care program needs a licence depends primarily on how many children a caregiver is looking after. In accordance with provincial legislation, caregivers who look after more than two children not related to them by blood or marriage must have a licence.

If you are considering caring for more than two children, you may access licensing information through the Fraser Health Authority, Community Care Facility Licensing at:

Tri-Cities Residents 604-949-7700
Burnaby/New Westminster Residents 604-918-7683

Staff will be qualified in Early Childhood Education, and may also be qualified in Infant/Toddler education. Current first aid is a requirement. Infant/Toddler Group Child Care Centres serve children from birth to 36 months of age, with a staff ratio of one staff person to four infants/toddlers. For children over 30 months of age to 5 years, the ratio is one staff person to eight children.

Preschools care for children from 30 months of age to school entry. Preschools are part-day programs (four hours maximum). Program schedules vary widely, but typically preschools operate on the school calendar.

Licensed Family Child Care
Licensed Family Child Care is offered in the caregiver’s own home. Maximum group size is seven children, including the caregiver’s own children. The children can range in age from birth to 12 years of age. Not more than five of the seven children may be five years old and under. Of that number, no more than three may be under three years old, and only one of the children under three may be less than 12 months of age. Caregivers must be a responsible adult (at least 19 years of age), must have current first aid, and must meet minimum licensing requirements.

Licence Not Required Family Child Care
Licence Not Required (LNR) Family Child Care is offered in the caregiver’s own home. The caregiver may care for up to two children (other than their own) at any given time. There are no restrictions on the ages the children can be.

LNR caregivers who are registered with a CCRR must meet CCRR membership requirements. Please contact our Outreach staff to discuss these requirements. Contact Us

For more information on licensing requirements or for information on ratios and staff qualifications, please visit the BC Ministry of Health Services.

As the words ‘family child care’ indicate, caring for children in your home involves the entire family. If you have a spouse and children, you should talk over your plans as a family before starting out, and consider how they will feel about you caring for other people’s children as well as your own.

You must be fully aware of what it will mean to both of you if you are to care for other children. Will your partner enjoy their presence and be a part of their activities when they are home? Does he or she have to work at night? If so, will sleep during the day be possible? Your entire activity schedule may change, and it is important for you and your partner to know what this means and how it will affect your daily lives.

And what about your own children? How will they feel and act if they have to share your attention, their toys and maybe even their bedroom with other children? If they become jealous, will you be able to help them handle their feelings? If you have teenage or college-age children, how will they feel with younger children in the house again? Will having the children around disturb their studies or make it difficult for them to invite friends home?

Being a caregiver in family child care is a big job. You must think of your own feelings before taking on the large responsibility of caring for other people’s children. How do you really feel about a parent who gives up their children for part of the day? Can you really give to other children the care and attention they need without depriving your own children? Will you be willing to care for children of all ages? It’s not unusual for a parent to seek care for children ranging from several months to twelve years of age. Such a parent may choose to have all of their children cared for in the same home. Before deciding to offer child care for children in your home, you should ask yourself a number of questions, to help determine if family child care is really for you:

·	Do I like and know enough about children?
·	Can I stay with children for long hours and still be able to give each child affection, security and nurture she/he needs?
·	Am I willing to participate in ongoing training to improve my skills as a child care provider?
·	Is there sufficient space to accommodate child care in my home?
·	Do we have a warm family life that would give children the feeling they are welcome, secure and cared for?
·	Is my own health and the health of my family good?
·	Caring for children is hard work, physically and emotionally: Do I have the physical strength and stamina that will be needed?
·	Can I handle accidents and emergencies calmly and efficiently?
·	Will I be able to work all day without adult co-workers?
·	Can I tolerate extra mess and clutter?
·	Can I be flexible enough to handle surprises that come when the children are around?
·	Do I have access to transportation to get myself and the children out for a change of scene?
·	Can I continue to offer my services long-term, or until the children and their families no longer need it?
·	What would I do for a substitute if I become ill or have an emergency? Can I make arrangements with a substitute, one who can get to know the children and the parents before I need her, one who will carry out the routine nearly the same as I would?
·	Can I be assertive when I have to be?
·	What kinds of satisfaction will being a family child care provider give me? Will it help me understand my own children better? Will it make me more secure to help support my family? Do I really want the responsibility of someone else’s child?
·	Can I accept differences in the clients’ lifestyles and attitudes?
·	Do we have enough income to cover start-up costs associated with any small business (e.g. age appropriate toys, equipment and safety devices? Do we have enough income to tide us over until I find child care clients and in the event of other fluctuations in my child care income?

If after carefully considering these questions and talking them over with your family, you decide that you would enjoy and benefit from the experience of providing care for children in your own home, then you can begin to plan to become a caregiver. Now, you will need to think about other things such as re-arranging your home, financial and legal matters – all of the things involved in running a business. You may also wish to consider completing a self-evaluation:

Caring for Children (pdf, 160k)

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Please contact us for more information on providing family child care.