How to Start a Family Day Care: Building a Strong Community in Your Area

Building a strong and stable community is one of the most rewarding parts of starting a family day care business. Community helps children thrive, families feel supported, and educators gain confidence.

This connection to the local community is something we emphasise to educators in the Quest Family Day Care network, with resources and support to help them create a nurturing environment that extends beyond their homes.

Here’s what community really means in early education, and how to build one when you become a family day care educator.

What Is a Family Day Care Community?

In a family day care setting, “community” is more than your local area. It includes:

• The families who attend your service.
• Your fellow Quest educators.
• Local schools, health clinics, libraries, and businesses.
• Cultural and support organisations.
• Even your own family and neighbours.

The beauty of community in family day care is that it starts small, right in your home. From there, it grows naturally as you welcome new families, engage with local events and groups, and participate in professional development activities.

Why Community Matters in Family Day Care

For Children

A strong community helps children feel safe, valued, and connected. It supports their social and emotional development, encourages empathy, and builds their sense of belonging. In fact, the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) identifies this community connection as critical in early development. 

For Families

Being part of a welcoming, supportive network helps parents and carers feel empowered to play an active role in their child’s development. When they recognise the central role that early education plays in shaping those early years, they look at you as a partner in the journey, not a service provider. They’re also more likely to engage, offer feedback, and recommend your business to friends. 

For Educators

A strong local network reduces isolation and helps build a sustainable family day care business. You’ll gain connections, confidence, and even referrals through word of mouth.

Zooming out, it’s important to remember you’re also part of a professional network. You’re not in this business alone when you partner with Quest. There’s a community of educators who understand where you’re at in life and what you need to thrive.

How to Build A Community Around Your Family Day Care Business 

Start With Strong Family Partnerships

The relationships you build with parents and carers are the heart of your service. Parents, educators, and the learning environment all contribute to a child’s development. 

Here are some ways to work in harmony with parents every day:

• Use friendly greetings and meaningful check-ins at drop-off and pick-up.
• Share learning updates, photos, and celebrations through apps, newsletters, or a message board.
• Ask families about their culture, routines, and values, and incorporate them into your programming.
• Encourage children to share what they learned at home and get their parents’ perspective.

Small gestures like these create lasting partnerships and show families they’re part of something special.

Connect With Local Organisations

Family day care is uniquely placed to work closely with the wider community. You don’t need to leave your home to connect:

• Invite community leaders for a visit; firefighters, nurses, gardeners or wildlife experts are all stars in children’s eyes.
• Host a pen-pal program with a nearby aged care home, or schedule a visit.
• Arrange excursions to child-friendly events at your local library.
• Run a collaborative project with a community group, like a nature photography display with your local council.

We encourage Quest educators to link their learning programs to real-world experiences. These connections help children learn how the world works, and give them a sense of pride and place within it.

Participate in Community Events

Being part of the local scene doesn’t mean you need a big budget or a large team. Here are a few easy ways to get involved:

• Join in activities like Clean Up Australia Day or NAIDOC Week.
• Share children’s artwork at the local library or community centre.
• Create care packs for animal shelters, or foster a pet in your family day care.
• Host a book drive in partnership with your library.

These projects help children develop empathy, environmental awareness, and responsibility. Plus, they position your service as a trusted and valued member of your neighbourhood.

Build Connections With Other Educators

Running your own business from home can feel isolating at times. That’s why building peer support is just as important as connecting with families and kids.

As a Quest member, you’ll be invited to regular networking events, training days, and online groups where you can:

• Share ideas and activity inspiration.
• Talk through challenges and solutions.
• Swap resources or plan group activities.

These relationships are a lifeline, especially for new educators who are still finding their feet.

Learn more: How to Choose a Family Day Care Service.

Tools and Support From Quest to Help You Build Community

At Quest Family Day Care, we know how important it is to feel supported. That’s why we give every educator tools to build a community when starting a family day care business and continue growing it as the business flourishes.

Support and Mentoring

You’ll never feel like you’re doing it alone. From your first enquiry, our team is here to answer questions, solve problems, and cheer you on. Quest educators benefit from:

• A free, no-obligation home visit to check your space is ready and safe.
• Fortnightly one-on-one check-ins.
• Emergency after-hours contact lines.

Resources That Make It Easy

Your free membership includes access to:

• EYLF-linked learning frameworks and activity resources.
• Professional development sessions with other educators.
• Policy templates, forms, and compliance tools.
• Parent-friendly resources that reduce admin throughout the day.

Our industry-first Quest Portal is designed to enable educators and parents to collaborate, strengthening the community ties that help children thrive.

Events, Training, and Marketing Support

Quest hosts training sessions with qualified early childhood professionals covering topics like:

• How to build partnerships with families.
• Reflective practice for educators.
• Inclusion and cultural awareness.

We also provide marketing resources to help you grow your family day care business. You keep an eye out for community events and local groups, and we’ll help you make a positive impression.

Want To Learn More About the Quest Family Day Care Community?

By creating a space where children thrive, you’re doing more than starting a family day care business. You’re building something that matters.

If you’ve been exploring business ideas for mums, or want a flexible, family-friendly career that makes a difference, starting a family day care business could be the answer. At Quest, we help you turn your passion for caring and education into a business that benefits you, your local community, and the children in your care.

Book a free 1-on-1 consultation to find out how to start your business.