[silisili]

That I don't know exactly if it's just one on one, as I've not read up on it when it's a more personal relationship.

I do know that my own wife, who was home all day watching just one child, was open to taking on more for free, but regulations around it made it way more of a headache than it was worth. There are laws about how many kids you can watch, how long you can watch them, licensing, child to adult ratios, state visits, etc.

Basically, if you wanted to be open to watching 5 kids for a working day, doing so would be illegal in every state I've lived in.

Every state has regulations and laws that at face value most people would agree with, but together end up in a system where you have to pay thousands per month for a facility to watch a child.

[black6]

My wife had a very successful "farm school" in Mississippi by staying under the limit for required childcare licensing. At the time one could have six children (in addition to one's own) and not have to be a licensed childcare facility.

[inigyou]

Is it really illegal for your kid's friend to come over to visit every day, or do these regulations only apply if you're doing it commercially?

[BobaFloutist]

By the talk of "ratios", it sounds like it's fine if your kid's friend comes over every day, but if your kid's four friends come over every day you could get in trouble.