Square One explains how babysitting activities may actually be considered as daycare operations

VANCOUVER, Aug. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - 86 percent of Canadians with children rely on some form of childcare services on a regular basis. The monthly cost of these services averages $800 per child. And as many parents have experienced, securing childcare can be challenging. Part of the reason is that there are approximately 10,000 licensed daycares in BC and Ontario but they only have the capacity for 15 to 25 percent of children requiring childcare in those provinces. So, it's no surprise that other alternatives, like hiring a nanny or neighbour, to care for children are increasing in popularity.

Do you babysit children of family members, friends or neighbours? If you do, Square One warns that your babysitting activities may actually be considered daycare operations by both the provincial government and your home insurance provider. If you answer yes to the following two questions, you are likely operating a daycare:

1. Are you caring for children of others on a frequent and regular basis?
2. Are you receiving pay to care for the children of others?

For those operating a daycare, it's important you understand the requirements of your province. In some cases, you may need to be licensed. While the requirements in each province are different, the need to be licensed is dependent on the number of children under care. The table below indicates the maximum number of children, including your own, that can be cared for without a daycare license.

BC*	AB	SK	MB	ON	QC	NL	NB	NS	PE
2	6	8	5	5	6	4	6	6	5

*	In BC, the number does not include your own children.

"Whether your daycare operations need to be licensed or not, it's important that you understand how your home insurance may or may not respond," states Daniel Mirkovic, President at Square One Insurance. "If you don't disclose to your home insurance provider that you're caring for children of others in your home, your entire policy could be invalidated and any claims could be denied."

Home insurance providers are concerned about the additional risks faced when daycares are operated from a home. The two most notable risks are:

1. A greater likelihood that the home and its contents could sustain accidental damage caused by the children under care. Some home insurance policies will cover this damage if you've properly disclosed your daycare operations to your provider.
   
   
2. A chance that one of the children under care is accidentally injured while in the home. Most home insurance policies won't protect against accidental injury to children under care. For this, daycare operators need to secure separate insurance.

Some home insurance providers will not offer policies to those operating a daycare from their home. Others, like Square One, will offer policies to providers that are in full compliance with provincial daycare requirements and that hold active insurance policies to protect against their daycare exposures.

Anyone who thinks they are operating a daycare should take the necessary steps to find proper insurance. To learn more, speak with your insurance provider or call Square One at 1.855.331.6933. And for more home insurance tips, visit www.squareoneinsurance.ca.

Established in 2011 and based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Square One offers the only home insurance policy in Canada that can be personalized to your unique needs. That means you only pay for the protection you need. Square One is also one of the few providers to automatically include earthquake, sewer backup and broad water protection in its policies. Square One currently serves British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. For more information about Square One, or to get an online quote, visit www.squareoneinsurance.ca.

SOURCE Square One Insurance Services Inc.

Aneel Mattu, Square One Insurance Services Inc., Tel: [phone] ext. 127, Cel: 778.919.2096, [email protected]