Parents want the best for their children, of course—-as they should. However, when the professional standards imposed on licensed daycare centers surpass (by a high, high margin) those expected in a more casual home setting, that can result in impossible expectations and serious problems for everyone involved.

Let's take a look at an example. If you're a parent, you might occasionally let a child play unsupervised, or nap in a swing.

If this happens in a professional daycare, bad things can happen. Recently, the suspension of Little Sunflower Daycare Center's license by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential highlighted the very real fact that daycares need to adhere to higher standards than those demanded of parents.

Daycare centers with questions about regulations or upcoming licensure challenges, reach out to the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team for the specific support you need to stay open. Call 888.535.3686 today, or fill out this brief form to tell us more about your case.

The Gap Between Parenting and Professional Care

Professional daycare settings require consistent supervision and rigorously maintained environments. That's more than what's expected at home, but that comes with the job.

For example:

• Many parents serve home-cooked meals to their children or children who are informally at their home. That's not okay in a professional environment, as it's difficult to tell whether home-cooked meals are as safe and nutritious as required for a daycare.
• Some parents may allow children to sleep in non-approved locations (swings, couches, floors) if it works for their situation. In a daycare setting, this could be dangerous.
• At home, administrative shortcuts might not constitute a big deal or result in negligible consequences. In a daycare operation serving several families, administrative shortcomings could spell disaster.

It may not seem fair that professional care centers are held to a higher standard. But it's in everyone's best interests that this is the case—-including the daycare operator.

For daycares, every minor lapse in judgment can lead to significant legal repercussions (and could even result in the loss of your facility license).

Navigating Licensing Challenges in Child Care

If what seemed like a minor lapse in judgment or a one-off mistake has escalated into wild accusations and scary hearings booked on your calendar, take a moment. Breathe. And know that you're in the right place.

The #1 thing you can do to work toward a successful outcome is get the knowledgeable support of the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team on your side. Our team can help you understand the complex daycare regulations in your state, decipher the allegations against you, negotiate directly with your state's licensing board, navigate the complex adjudication process, and more. We believe that every childcare provider deserves the chance to rectify misunderstandings and meet the required standards without risking their professional future.

Need our services? We're here to assist. Call 888.535.3686 or fill out this brief form immediately, and we'll be in touch.