#88: Turn Your Living Room Into a Thriving Preschool with Joy Anderson
From Kitchen Table to Classroom Dreams
You know that feeling—you’re sitting in yet another staff meeting, your to-do list is a mile long, and you can’t stop thinking, There has to be a better way to teach and still be there for my family.
If you’ve ever daydreamed about quitting your classroom job but still wanted to teach, this episode is your permission slip.
Joy Anderson sat on a park bench 15 years ago, terrified and unsure of what came next. A stay-at-home mom with no income and three young kids, she faced an impossible choice: start a daycare she didn’t want or get a job that would take her away from her kids. But then… she remembered something simple: the co-op preschool she once did with a few neighborhood moms.
That spark became her solution—and it just might be yours too.
Because believe it or not, your living room holds more potential than you think.
What It Really Takes to Start a Preschool at Home
Starting a preschool might sound intimidating, especially if you’ve only ever taught in a traditional classroom. But as Joy shares, your home doesn’t have to be perfect—and neither do you.
Here’s the truth: You can launch a preschool with nothing more than your living room, your kitchen table, and a heart for kids. You don’t need a new degree, expensive materials, or even a separate room.
What you do need is:
- A willingness to try something new.
- A vision for flexibility and freedom.
- The courage to take one small step (even when you’re scared).
Joy built her first preschool with 6 students and a handful of toys. Fast forward to today, she’s helped thousands of women do the same—with no business background required.
How to Turn Your Living Room into a Thriving Preschool: Step-by-Step
Ready to picture your space in a whole new way? Here’s how to transform your home into a preschool that works for you:
1. Start with What You Have
You don’t need fancy furniture or Pinterest-perfect shelves. Joy started with:
- Her own kids’ toys (separated from personal favorites)
- Circle time on the living room floor
- Crafts at the kitchen table
- Posters she slid under the couch when class was done
Your preschool can show up and disappear each day—it doesn’t have to take over your home.
2. Pick a Schedule That Fits Your Life
Want to teach just mornings? Only two days a week? You can. One of the biggest perks of a home preschool is the flexibility. You decide:
- How many classes to offer
- What days you teach
- How many students you enroll (many cap it at 10–12)
3. Name It & Claim It
Choose a preschool name that reflects your values or teaching style. Then create a simple logo (there are free tools for this like Canva) and set up a Facebook page. You’ll use this for your first marketing push—more on that next.
4. Post One Simple Message That Changes Everything
Joy teaches a method called “Seven Students in Seven Days.” It’s a short, heartfelt Facebook post with your logo that offers a discount for your “founding families.” And guess what? Many new preschool owners fill all their spots from that one post.
5. Keep Your Why Front and Center
This isn’t just about money (though many preschool owners replace or exceed their classroom salary). It’s about reclaiming your time, your energy, and your purpose.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- How Joy turned fear into a preschool that served 1,000+ students
- What your first few steps should look like if you’re brand new to business
- Why most teachers don’t need more credentials—they just need confidence
- The biggest mistake women make when starting a preschool (and how to avoid it)
- How to market your preschool without spending a dime on ads
Bringing It All Together
You don’t need to quit teaching—you just need to redefine what it looks like.
By turning your living room into a thriving preschool, you can keep doing the work you love… on your own terms. It’s time to leave behind burnout, step into possibility, and believe that yes—this can work for you too.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
If you’re dreaming of building a research-backed preschool that prioritizes early literacy and proven strategies, we’d love to help. Our membership guides you through everything from setting up your space to choosing the right science-aligned reading materials.
👉 Click here to join The Science of Reading Formula
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