Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Brown.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. I migrated to the United States in 1990. My passion for working with kids started when my older sister got married and started having kids.
I was never that girl that like to hang out outside, I was a homebody so I think my sister took advantage of me not wanting to hang out lol. I started working or volunteering at different childcare centers and nurseries throughout high school. I have worked with children of various ages, I worked with kids ranging from birth to high school kids with disabilities.
I graduated from Tesst College in 2008 and became a Medical Assistant. I started working as a Neurology physician in Columbia, Maryland but working at a doctor’s office wasn’t my passion. After I had my oldest daughter, I decided to be a stay-at-home mom but I like making my own money. That is where I became an entrepreneur.
In 2012, I open my own in-home childcare business. Kreative Kidz Family Childcare was a safe and trustworthy environment for parents to entrust Kreative Kidz with the care of their child(ren). I have been a licensed childcare provider for 9 years. I have multiple childcare safety training and in 2020, I graduated Cum Laude from CCBC with a degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Child Development.
In 2021, I started Kreative Kidz Babysitting Agency. The agency has qualified experience babysitters that provide service for parents or different organizations. I started this agency because I understood the need for reliable babysitters and I wanted to take away the stress for parents having to interview babysitters to help care of their child when they needed it the most. I love making memories with parents and their families. The best feeling is when parents contact me after their child is no longer in our program. Letting us know how their child is doing so well in school and it’s all because of our help and the way we learned and care for their child.
I love that feeling. Watching each child grow into their own personality. My husband Anthony Brown 3rd helps me a lot when he’s not managing his real estate properties throughout Baltimore City. He is my biggest supporter and we have four kids of our own. We use the fact that I am a mother and worked a 9-5 job. All the skills I learned throughout my years were the driving force between opening and operating successful childcare, agency, and real state business.
My goal is to open and operate my own childcare center in addition to owning the real estate the business is run from. Something I have been working towards for years and have my babysitting agency available to parents in need throughout the country.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting Kreative Kidz Family Childcare and Kreative Kidz Babysitting Agency, I faced many challenges. There was some days I wanted to give up but my dedication and husband wouldn’t allow it. Being licensed I had to fix my house so I could be approved by the office of childcare, the health department, the fire marshal, and each department had its own list of inspections and attitudes. I had a fire marshal who only wanted to approve me for 3 kids.
That was when I decided that it wasn’t worth my time and I wouldn’t be making any money. Luckily they changed their minds and I was approved for the max. Which are eight children for in-home childcare. When I first became licensed I didn’t have any kids for the first 2 months. When I enrolled my first set of kids, I worked from 3:30 pm to midnight Sunday-Saturday. I couldn’t get anything done because I was always working. My biggest mistake when I started my childcare business was not conducting business under my EIN number, and that cost me a lot of money.
My goal has always been to open a childcare center but I don’t have the money or the commercial building was already under contract. My real struggle started when I enrolled in College. It was a challenge being a wife, a mother, a college student, and an entrepreneur. When I graduate in 2020, I didn’t have a graduation ceremony because of COVID-19, but my husband build me a stage, ordered me a cap and gown, and held a graduation ceremony for me at home. That really lifted my spirits because I had worked so hard to obtain my degree and wasn’t able to celebrate it with my family and friends.
I mostly struggle with new kids and parents. Have you ever had to provide childcare for seven kids, while one child cried and screamed for most of the day cause their parents enrolled in childcare for the first time because they had to return to work or school? It’s not fun but you have to have patience when dealing with kids. Also having to deal with parents’ attitudes because they don’t want to follow our policy or have a problem with paying their child tuition. It can be very draining. Mentally and physically.
The struggle to open my babysitting agency was real. It’s hard finding candidates that wanted to work. I had to review over 30 applicants resume only to start out with one babysitter. I would schedule phone or in-person interviews and they just wouldn’t show up or answer their phone. It took me 3-4 months to obtain an authorization number to conduct a fingerprint because the fingerprinting department was asking for information that didn’t pertain to me.
During this time, it felt like I was hit with so much resistance. I would go to use the computer and the computer wouldn’t work or I would go to print an application and my printer wouldn’t work or I would leave out early to conduct an interview and be stuck in traffic. It was one problem after the other. Some days, I would just cry. Wondering why am I being faced with all these challenges. I would tell myself that this had to be a sign that I’m not supposed to be doing this. I started throwing everything away because I was so frustrated.
But no matter how much I wanted to give up, I couldn’t bring myself to. I kept pushing, and my husband and kids were a big help in keeping me from giving up.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Kreative Kidz Family Childcare and Kreative Kidz Babysitting Agency were created to help solve the problems parents face daily when it comes to childcare. My childcare business was created to give parents that piece of security. Knowing that their child is in a safe environment, that they are learning, they are cared for and loved. I am the owner and creator of both businesses.
I am very hands on with my business. I am a mother of four so I understand the need to ensure the safety of my children and I cooperate that in building a childcare business that parents can feel secure when leaving their child(ren). No parents want to worry about if the child is safe and being taking care off.
What set us apart is that “we care” we became a family. There are parents whose kids are no longer in our care that I still keep in contact with. Parents that I work out with, have dinner together or take our kids on playdates. I have kids that are now in high school that still come by to visit.
I want the readers to know our business is made by parents, for parents. I understand and get it! I also tell my parents “ Quality childcare isn’t pricey, it priceless.” When you find that childcare were child is thriving and coming into their own personality. Keep them! It’s not easy and most of this childcare are only in it to make money.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice to those just starting out. Don’t try to change who you are, your prices, or your values. Know you worth and stick with it. Don’t be afraid to let a client go. Remember… Not all money is good money. Stay organize!! That is going to help tremendously. And surround yourself with people who are going to motivate you and hold you accountable
There isn’t really anything I wish I know when I was starting out. I went through all the struggle and challenging to get where I am today.. And I use the information I obtain to help others not make the same mistake that I did.
Contact Info:
- Email: Kreativekidzagency@gmail.com and kreativekidz2012@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @Kreativekidzbabysittingagency
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kreative-Kidz-Babysitting-Agency-107626304965306/
