Brainstorming becoming a Consultant

An idea I’ve floated around a lot after a number of different parents have suggested I do so, over the years has been to hand my shingle as a consultant to parents of early childhood topics, especially around early learning & care.  Now that I am in a stable part-time position, it seems a good time to take a bit of a risk, while also gainfully employed doing something I love.

For those who don’t know I have a background that includes a BA in Psychology/English; Early Childhood Education, and now a Bachelor of Social Work.  I’ve worked in many different areas of early learning & care including both program delivery as a classroom teacher/supervisor to administration as Director of family resource centres; preschools; child care centres in all age groups from infant through to school-age; women & children’s transition house; and more.

I welcome feedback and ideas.

Following are a non-exhaustive list of some of the services I might provide as an Early Childhood consultant.

Early Childhood / Family Consulting Services:

• Helping families find quality child care: licensed/group; home-based; “nannies”
• Helping child care providers get started: home-based and licensed group care
• Helping child care providers assess their programs
• Navigating systems (government – community services; family/child care; school boards; etc.)
• Accessing resources
• Design & development of Early Childhood programs
• Development of Early Childhood program policies & Procedures
• Coordination of professional development opportunities for early childhood professionals and parents
• Toy/Equipment/Resource (EC books, videos, etc.) lending library ??? – later – will take some overhead
• Improving Early Childhood programs
• Acting as the catalyst for change in Early Childhood programs
• Advocating with/for children, parents, families, early childhood professionals

Some other areas I know I’d need to plan prior to putting myself out there:
1)Fees: hourly?; packages: retainer – # hours/month for a set retainer monthly
2)Brochure
3)Plans for a newsletter
4)Templates for reports; communication; newsletter, etc.