[jcrudele1]

I am looking to start up a business out of my home, and am wondering what you think of what I'm planning to offer, and how much you'd be willing to pay for it.

I would like to offer a reading/storytime for preschoolers out of my home. I would spend an hour with a group of 6 - 8 children. We would read a story, talk about the story, and then do some sort of a project/craft based on the story. Typically, the books chosen would teach something about the world around us (science, social studies, morals). I would focus on both oral comprehension and expression, as these are the basis of reading comprehension, and school success.

While the children are working with me, the moms (or dads) could sit down in my dining room, where there would be coffee, tea, and cookies. They could relax and socialize, knowing that their children are learning in the room just next door.

I am a certified teacher, and hold both a Bachelors and a Masters degree. I have about 10 years experience working with children.

Would you be interested in this service? If so, what would you be willing to pay for it? Keep in mind that you could come once a week, biweekly, or on a call-ahead, drop-in basis.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer this!

[RogerAnthony]

Don't most public libraries offer something similar for free?

[AntonioR]

Public schools also offer an education for free and yet, private schools remain quite popular within a certain segment of the population, even in places where the public schools are great.

[jcrudele1]

The library in my town does offer something similar. It is offered 2 mornings a week (when many children this age are in preschool), and 1 afternoon.

The 3 main differences between what the library offers and what I would offer are:
1. I would offer several afternoon sessions to choose from, making scheduling easier.
2. It would be a much smaller group of children, giving each child much more attention. (I would only have 6 - 8 children, where the library may have as many as 20.)
3. With me, the parents get a break, which I'm viewing as big selling point in my town of many stay-at-home moms. They will be near their children, so they're available if necessary, but they get an hour to drink coffee and chat with other moms.

[JayCT]

Don't most preschoolers take naps in the afternoon? That is why libraries have morning sessions for young children. Jay

[KH02]

I don't think it would interest me....but I LIKE to read to my child! Why pay someone else to do it?

[andthentherewere3]

I think you'd have better success doing something like a "mom's morning out" for a few morning hours. Allow the parents to shop/run errands while you read and play with their children. You would probably have to meet certain codes with the state, but I just can't see much of a demand for your current idea.

[JViello]

No. Sorry.

[stan4]

No. Not if they have to sit in the next room. That doesn't 'free them up' for anything.

If I have a free hour, I'll just do what you propose with my kid myself (one-on-one). Not sit and sip coffee with a bunch of strangers in a tarted up waiting room.

I really like your idea, but I think if you want to attract more business, it's got to last more than an hour and it's got to free up the parent to go do something. Our public library system has TONS of these programs, too.

And I spent a great deal of my college career doing literary criticism...I could do the same thing with my kid without having to pack them up and drive them somewhere. Though I don't think you need formal education to read a book, discuss it, and create a project.
If I am going to pack up the kid and drive him somewhere and then wait around, it's for him to learn something I can't teach him.

[KAYLINDA]

My worry about your idea would be that the parents would not sit around waiting, and that you'd become a babysitting service. I think you'd find the parents would drop the kids off, and who knows how long before they'd return.