7 Day Care Books That Experts Recommend for Success

Discover 7 authoritative Day Care books authored by leading experts like Tom Copeland and Christine A Schmidt, offering practical guidance on contracts, leadership, business planning, and policy insights.

Updated on June 28, 2025
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What if the secret to running a thriving day care business is just a few well-chosen books away? Navigating the complex world of child care requires more than goodwill—it demands solid knowledge of legal contracts, business strategy, and developmental science. With increasing demand for quality care, understanding the nuances can make all the difference between struggling and succeeding.

These 7 books, authored by experienced professionals such as Tom Copeland and Christine A Schmidt, offer clear, grounded advice that cuts through theory. From managing parent relationships and staff leadership to rethinking early childhood policy, each title brings a unique perspective shaped by real-world experience and research.

While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific background, business model, or learning goals might consider creating a personalized Day Care book that builds on these insights to address your unique challenges and aspirations.

Best for managing family child care contracts
Tom Copeland, JD, is a recognized expert in family child care business issues nationwide. Awarded the Friend of NAFCC Award and Child Care Advocate of the Year, he draws on his legal background and consulting experience to offer this thorough guide. His expertise ensures that providers can confidently establish and enforce contracts, manage parent relationships, and address common challenges in family child care settings.
2018·184 pages·Day Care, Contracts, Policies, Parent Communication, Business Management

Tom Copeland, JD, brings his extensive legal and consulting experience directly to family child care providers in this updated guide to contracts and policies. You’ll find detailed guidance on crafting agreements that clarify expectations with parents, including chapters on part-time and extended care, vacation charges, and handling disputes over payments. The book also tackles contemporary issues like immunization policies and weather-related closures, offering practical approaches to enforce rules fairly. This is a solid reference if you manage or plan to start a family child care business and need to navigate the complexities of parent relationships and legal safeguards.

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Best for leading child care programs effectively
Christine A. Schmidt is the owner of 2 CR Solutions, Ltd., specializing in consulting and training for organizations serving children from birth to age 18. Her hands-on experience as a child care director and accreditation support staff informs this guide, designed to help you lead early childhood programs with confidence and real-world insight. Schmidt’s background in grant management and program leadership makes her uniquely qualified to address the day-to-day challenges of child care administration.
2017·192 pages·Child Care, Day Care, Management, Leadership, Staff Development

Drawing from her extensive experience as a child care director and consultant, Christine A. Schmidt offers a clear-eyed examination of what it takes to lead early childhood programs successfully today. You’ll find practical insights from interviews with 32 directors nationwide, combined with research and best practices that tackle everyday challenges in administration. For example, the book breaks down strategies to improve staff management, navigate accreditation, and enhance family engagement. If you’re stepping into or currently managing a child care program, this guide provides a grounded, realistic approach rather than idealized theories.

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Best for personal growth plans
This AI-created book on day care management is crafted specifically for your background, skill level, and interests. By sharing what you want to focus on and your goals, you receive a book that addresses exactly what you need to succeed. Personalization matters here because every day care business faces unique challenges, and a tailored guide helps you navigate those complexities with practical clarity. This approach ensures you get focused knowledge that directly supports your growth and management style.
2025·50-300 pages·Day Care, Day Care Management, Staff Leadership, Parent Communication, Financial Planning

This tailored book explores in-depth approaches to managing and growing day care businesses effectively, focusing on your interests and background. It covers essential topics such as operational management, staff leadership, financial planning, and parent engagement, all framed to suit your specific goals. By synthesizing expert knowledge into a personalized guide, it reveals how to balance regulatory compliance with nurturing environments and sustainable business growth. This personalized resource matches your unique challenges and aspirations, helping you navigate the complexities of day care leadership with clarity and confidence. You’ll gain insights into daily operations, team development, and strategic planning tailored just for your situation.

Tailored Guide
Operational Excellence
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for understanding early care policy
Dan Wuori is a respected bipartisan policy expert with over 30 years of leadership in early childhood education and policy. As founder and president of Early Childhood Policy Solutions LLC and strategic advisor at The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, he brings unparalleled expertise to this book. Wuori draws on his background as a kindergarten teacher and school administrator to connect public policy with cutting-edge science on early brain development, offering a fresh perspective on how America can transform its early childhood landscape.
2024·144 pages·Day Care, Early Education, Public Policy, Child Development, Brain Science

Dan Wuori’s extensive experience in early childhood education and policy informs this provocative examination of America’s approach to early care. The book challenges the long-held belief that child care and education are separate, revealing how this misconception has shaped ineffective policies that prioritize adult employment over children’s developmental needs. You’ll gain insight into the science of brain development and how it demands a unified view of early childhood policy. Through clear explanations and targeted recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and parents, it encourages rethinking and rebuilding systems to better serve children and society alike.

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Best for aspiring child care entrepreneurs
Marnie Forestieri brings a rare combination of hands-on childcare operation and business savvy to this guide. As CEO of Young Innovators Academy and a former VP of marketing, she leverages her diverse background to walk you through launching a child-care business with clarity and authority. Forestieri’s passion for innovative educational approaches fuels her practical advice, making this book a grounded resource for anyone ready to build their own childcare venture.
2020·112 pages·Child Care, Day Care, Business, Entrepreneurship, Business Planning

Marnie Forestieri’s extensive experience running large childcare centers and her entrepreneurial background shape this clear and focused guide to launching a child-care business. You’ll learn the nuts and bolts of planning, from crafting a comprehensive business plan to managing finances and day-to-day operations, with chapters dedicated to marketing strategies and quality control. The book offers practical insights whether you're starting a home-based program or joining a franchise, making it especially useful for aspiring childcare entrepreneurs. Its strength lies in breaking down complex business challenges into manageable steps, though it assumes you’re ready to dive into the operational details rather than just exploring the idea.

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Best for home-based day care startups
Shari Steelsmith and her husband are parents of three children, including teens and a launched adult. As a full-time mother and parentingpress.com columnist, Shari brings firsthand experience and writing expertise to this guide, making it a practical resource for anyone looking to start a day-care business from home.
2011·336 pages·Child Care, Day Care, Home-Based Business, Business, Licensing

What started as Shari Steelsmith balancing motherhood and writing evolved into a detailed guide for launching a home-based day-care business. Drawing from her experience as a full-time mother and columnist, she breaks down everything from licensing requirements to daily operations, offering practical insights into managing child care within a home setting. You’ll find chapters addressing financial planning, regulatory compliance, and creating a nurturing environment that appeals to parents and children alike. This book suits aspiring day-care entrepreneurs who want a realistic, hands-on approach without industry jargon or fluff.

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Best for rapid day care launch
This AI-created book on day care launch is tailored to your experience level and specific goals, making the complex process of starting a day care clearer and more approachable. By focusing on the areas you care about most—whether it’s licensing, staffing, or marketing—this book ensures you get exactly the guidance you need. Personalizing the content means you spend less time sorting through generic advice and more time building a day care that fits your vision and community needs.
2025·50-300 pages·Day Care, Day Care Fundamentals, Licensing Compliance, Business Planning, Staff Recruitment

This tailored book explores practical, step-by-step actions to launch a compliant and thriving day care within one month. It covers essential topics such as licensing requirements, business planning, staffing, safety protocols, and parent communication strategies. The content is personalized to match your background and specific goals, ensuring that each chapter focuses on the aspects most relevant to your situation. By weaving together expert knowledge with your unique needs, this book offers a clear pathway through the complexities of starting a day care business quickly and effectively. It reveals how to navigate regulations, organize daily operations, and foster a nurturing environment, all in a timeline designed for rapid launch.

Tailored Guide
Regulatory Navigation
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for adult day care business planning
Nat Chiaffarano MBA is an accomplished business strategist and author known for his expertise in developing comprehensive business plans. With a strong educational background and practical experience in entrepreneurship, he has helped numerous individuals launch successful businesses, particularly in the adult day care sector. This book reflects his deep understanding of what it takes to create a profitable adult day care business, offering you a smart, structured, and innovative approach to planning and growth.
2018·242 pages·Day Care, Business Planning, Marketing, Strategy, Financial Planning

Nat Chiaffarano MBA brings his business strategy expertise to the niche of adult day care entrepreneurship with this detailed guide. You gain not only a fill-in-the-blank business plan template but also creative growth ideas and marketing tactics tailored to this specialized service sector. The book dives into practical elements like competitive advantages, industry trends, and financing options, making it clear what it takes to stand out and succeed. If you're aiming to build or expand an adult day care business with structured planning and innovative strategies, this book serves as a focused resource to sharpen your approach and anticipate challenges.

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Best for streamlining payment record keeping
This book offers a practical solution for anyone running a daycare or childcare facility who needs to keep accurate records of payments. The receipt sheets are designed to meet the common need of parents requesting payment receipts while also helping providers maintain their own records efficiently. With a large 8.5x11 inch format and multiple receipts per page, it supports organized, clear documentation of child care payments, making it a useful tool for daycares, preschools, babysitters, and nannies alike. It addresses a specific administrative challenge in day care management by simplifying payment tracking and record keeping.
2023·121 pages·Day Care, Child Care, Payment Tracking, Receipt Management, Financial Records

The breakthrough moment came when Aitari Publishing recognized the need for simple, reliable documentation of child care payments, leading to this focused receipt book tailored for daycares and childcare providers. You learn how to efficiently track payments with clear, easy-to-use receipt sheets designed to meet parental demands and organizational record-keeping. This book benefits daycare directors, preschools, babysitters, and nannies who handle multiple transactions and require a straightforward system for managing payment receipts. Its layout, featuring three receipts per page with perforated edges, makes it practical for daily use while helping maintain transparent financial records.

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Conclusion

Together, these 7 books highlight three core themes: mastering the business side of child care, leading programs with practical know-how, and understanding how policy shapes early childhood experiences. If you're just starting a home-based day care, "How to Start a Home-Based Day-Care Business" and "Family Child Care Contracts & Policies" offer foundational guidance. For those managing larger centers, "The Child Care Director's Complete Guide" and "Progressive Business Plan for an Adult Day Care" provide actionable strategies.

If your focus is on policy and developmental science, "The Daycare Myth" challenges prevailing assumptions and encourages a fresh look at early care systems. For everyday administrative tasks, "Daycare Payment Receipt" simplifies financial record keeping, a critical but often overlooked area.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Day Care book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. These books can help you accelerate your learning journey and confidently navigate the complexities of day care management.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Family Child Care Contracts & Policies" if you're managing a family child care business, or "The Basics of Starting a Child-Care Business" if you're launching a new center. These books provide clear, practical foundations to build from.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Day Care?

Not at all. Several, like "How to Start a Home-Based Day-Care Business," are designed for beginners and explain concepts in an accessible way, making them great starting points.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with business basics and contracts, then move to leadership and policy insights. For example, start with "Family Child Care Contracts & Policies," then "The Child Care Director's Complete Guide," followed by "The Daycare Myth."

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your needs—business startups may focus on the entrepreneurship guides, while program managers might prioritize leadership books. Each offers distinct value tailored to different roles.

Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

"The Child Care Director's Complete Guide" provides practical, daily strategies for managing staff and engaging families, making it highly actionable for current child care leaders.

Can personalized Day Care books complement these expert titles?

Yes! While these books offer expert knowledge, personalized books tailor insights to your unique situation, helping you apply principles effectively. Consider creating your own Day Care book for focused guidance.

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