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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Help! I Feel Like My Rights Are Being Violated
RMoore0889 10:25 AM 08-03-2016
Hello, I am not sure if this forum is great for results, I have just randomly found it. I have currently been pressed with an issue in Pennsylvania, I was watching my cousins for 3 days a week during the day because I am a waitress for 2nd shift and my cousin and myself were raised more like sisters than cousins. I wanted to help her out to keep her kids with family and so she wasnt needing to spend tons of money. My room mate has a work from home job and thought it would be a way for her to make easy cash also and she started watching 2 of our neighbor children months later. A daycare that resides minutes away from us "turned us in" as if we were running some underground program. I have never looked into any type of childcare and I never even knew that there were rules and regulations in play. She is responsible for the two children she cares for, and I am responsible for my "cousins" We do not do any type of activities that are related to a daycare setting, we color and things at times but sometimes the neighbors kids are here for an hour or so and sometimes my cousins are only here for 4 or 5 hours, at times these kids dont even see each other. We do at times go to the park together and out to eat if we are both able to, there are many times she takes the kids places without myself and the two, as well as vice versa. They said that the PA CODE when a person from the state showed up, was that an individual was allowed to keep three children at a time, which wouldnt be the case, we are both individuals who live together, watching two children a piece, what law are we exactly breaking? As I said I was not familiar with these laws or limitations because this is nothing I have ever looked in to. I never thought it would be an issue for us to both babysit in the same residence as separate people. I can answer questions if that helps, im just looking for some sort of outlet and wondering why we are being told we are no longer allowed to.
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Blackcat31 10:37 AM 08-03-2016
Originally Posted by RMoore0889:
Hello, I am not sure if this forum is great for results, I have just randomly found it. I have currently been pressed with an issue in Pennsylvania, I was watching my cousins for 3 days a week during the day because I am a waitress for 2nd shift and my cousin and myself were raised more like sisters than cousins. I wanted to help her out to keep her kids with family and so she wasnt needing to spend tons of money. My room mate has a work from home job and thought it would be a way for her to make easy cash also and she started watching 2 of our neighbor children months later. A daycare that resides minutes away from us "turned us in" as if we were running some underground program. I have never looked into any type of childcare and I never even knew that there were rules and regulations in play. She is responsible for the two children she cares for, and I am responsible for my "cousins" We do not do any type of activities that are related to a daycare setting, we color and things at times but sometimes the neighbors kids are here for an hour or so and sometimes my cousins are only here for 4 or 5 hours, at times these kids dont even see each other. We do at times go to the park together and out to eat if we are both able to, there are many times she takes the kids places without myself and the two, as well as vice versa. They said that the PA CODE when a person from the state showed up, was that an individual was allowed to keep three children at a time, which wouldnt be the case, we are both individuals who live together, watching two children a piece, what law are we exactly breaking? As I said I was not familiar with these laws or limitations because this is nothing I have ever looked in to. I never thought it would be an issue for us to both babysit in the same residence as separate people. I can answer questions if that helps, im just looking for some sort of outlet and wondering why we are being told we are no longer allowed to.
I am unfamiliar with PA child care rules but my guess is that even though you are two separate adults, you are still BOTH providing care in the same residence. BOTH a physical location and a person are usually licensed so unless two adults are licensed together as one child care, you can't both operate at the same location.

I know there are some exclusions if the children are related but again I am unsure of your state's definitions of that.

You can read PA rules and regulations here: https://www.daycare.com/pennsylvania/
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RMoore0889 11:02 AM 08-03-2016
Thank you, I will check out that forum. I appreciate the lead. I guess wrapping my head around the fact that we would be considered an operation or need a license to basically babysit. I babysat my entire life without a single issue. Thank you again
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daycarediva 11:06 AM 08-03-2016
I believe it is the physical address you are providing care cannot have more than X number of children without a license. Look into related children. In my state you can care for as many children as you want unlicensed as long as they are related to you.
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jenboo 11:13 AM 08-03-2016
Originally Posted by RMoore0889:
Thank you, I will check out that forum. I appreciate the lead. I guess wrapping my head around the fact that we would be considered an operation or need a license to basically babysit. I babysat my entire life without a single issue. Thank you again
Another thing, babysitting is generally defined as watching a child in their home on occasion.
Daycare/childcare is usually watching children in your home regularly.

You should look up how PA defines them, though.
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laundrymom 11:17 AM 08-03-2016
Are you being paid? Here compensation plays into regs as well
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Cat Herder 11:21 AM 08-03-2016
Originally Posted by laundrymom:
Are you being paid? Here compensation plays into regs as well
Childcare for pay. Over three kids. One house. (number of adults irrelevant)

Many people try to claim they are somehow related to the kids to keep a few extra. The state will require proof.

They are not singling you out. It is simply the law of providing childcare as an adult.
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Play Care 11:32 AM 08-03-2016
Originally Posted by jenboo:
Another thing, babysitting is generally defined as watching a child in their home on occasion.
Daycare/childcare is usually watching children in your home regularly.

You should look up how PA defines them, though.
This.

Your story is why I cringe when well meaning friends tell someone struggling they should "babysit" in their home to make ends meet. You're not the first person whose been shocked to find out that the are doing something illegal.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:33 AM 08-03-2016
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
Childcare for pay. Over three kids. One house. (number of adults irrelevant)

Many people try to claim they are somehow related to the kids to keep a few extra. The state will require proof.

They are not singling you out. It is simply the law of providing childcare as an adult.
Bingo!

If you baby-sat them (meaning, if you went to their home to provide care) you wouldn't have the regulations.
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Second Home 12:12 PM 08-03-2016
Here in MD if you watch 1 unrelated child in your home ( for compensation)you must be licensed and are considered a child care, watch 5 in their home and you are a babysitter . It all has to do with where you are watching the children.
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sharlan 03:13 PM 08-03-2016
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Bingo!

If you baby-sat them (meaning, if you went to their home to provide care) you wouldn't have the regulations.
Can either you or your friend watch the kids in their homes?
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