631 Beyond Babysitting: Professionalism in Family Child Care

Send us Fan MailFamily child care is not babysitting, and this conversation makes that impossible to ignore. Erica Saccoccio and Dacia Dumas unpack how home-based providers can lead with warmth and operate like the professionals and business owners they are, without apologizing for policies, tuition, or boundaries. Erica opens with the reality so many providers live every day: families may come through your door because of the love and personal connection, but that does not mean your program runs on chaos or goodwill alone. Dacia, known as Coach D, brings 22 years of family child care experience and shares how she went from seeing child care as a passion to realizing it was a business that needed structure, standards, and a stronger professional identity. You’ll discover why a strong parent handbook can transform difficult conversations, how to set boundaries around late arrivals and communication, the difference between being homey and being unprofessional, and why branding, environment, and language shape how parents value your program. If you’re a family child care provider who feels overextended, underpaid, or misunderstood, this episode is a reset. It’s a reminder that your program is a licensed learning environment, your work is essential, and your standards deserve respect.Support the showThe Child Care Director's Chair Podcast is proudly powered by WatchMeGrow, our premier podcast sponsor and a trusted partner in early childhood education.WatchMeGrow helps child care programs strengthen family engagement through secure live-streaming, classroom video access, and communication tools that build transparency, trust, and peace of mind for families. Their innovative technology empowers programs to enhance safety, strengthen relationships, and showcase the incredible learning happening in their classrooms every day.To learn more about how WatchMeGrow can support your program, visit www.watchmegrow.com.Thank you to WatchMeGrow for supporting our mission to inspire, equip, and empower child care leaders around the world.