FAQ
Common Questions
Answers to what most parents ask before enrolling. Don't see yours here? Reach out — we're happy to talk it through.
Updated August 2026
How many children do you care for at once?
Shahnaz Home Daycare is licensed for up to 12 children, ages 3 months to 5 years 11 months. Shahnaz and Mehwish are the two consistent caregivers your child sees every day — not a rotating staff.
Are you in South Riding or Chantilly?
Both, in a sense. The house is physically inside the South Riding community in Loudoun County, and ZIP code 20152 accepts either South Riding or Chantilly as the postal name. Our Virginia license record happens to read Chantilly, which is why you may see that name on official paperwork — it is the same address either way. Families in South Riding, Stone Ridge, Aldie, and Brambleton are all a short drive away.
What are your hours?
Shahnaz Home Daycare is open 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Monday–Friday. Drop-off can start as early as 7:00 AM and pickup runs until 5:30 PM, giving working parents a full day's coverage. We're closed on weekends and on the dates listed in the 2026 holiday schedule below — tuition is not prorated for those closures, and families are given the schedule well in advance so they can plan around it.
Do you provide meals and snacks?
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided daily as part of care, cooked at home — see the Programs page for a sample week's menu.
What is your policy if my child is sick?
Children need to stay home if they have a fever accompanied by behavior changes, vomiting, diarrhea, symptoms of a communicable illness, or an inability to comfortably take part in the normal day alongside the other children. If your child has had a fever, we require them to be fever-free without fever-reducing medication for a full 24 hours before returning to care. This protects every child and caregiver in the home, since illness spreads quickly in a small group setting — if you're ever unsure whether a symptom qualifies, call us and we'll talk through it together before you head out the door.
What happens if my child is picked up late?
We ask every family to pick up by our 5:30 PM closing time so the day can wind down on schedule for everyone in care. We understand traffic and last-minute meetings happen, so there's a short grace period before a late fee applies — but repeated late pickups affect Shahnaz and Mehwish's ability to close on time and start the next day fresh. Contact us directly for the exact fee and grace-period length, and always call ahead if you know you'll be running behind so we can plan for it.
What do I need to enroll?
As Virginia-licensed home-based child care (formerly called a Family Day Home), enrollment requires a current immunization record, an emergency contact and authorized-pickup form, and a physician's statement. We'll walk you through the full paperwork once you're ready to enroll — see the Contact page to get started.
Is the license current, and can I verify it myself?
Yes — the license, inspection history, and compliance record are public information maintained by the Virginia Department of Education's Office of Child Care Health and Safety. See the Licensing & Safety page for the license number and a direct link to the official state record.
What training do you and Mehwish have?
Both of us keep up with the annual training hours required under Virginia law for licensed home-based child care providers, on top of our CPR and First Aid certification — see the Licensing & Safety page for certification details.
What happens if one of you is sick or unavailable?
We don't take sick days lightly — if one of us genuinely needs to be out, the other covers so your child still has one of the same two familiar caregivers, not a stranger.
2026 Holiday Schedule
| Day | Date | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | January 19, 2026 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| Monday | February 16, 2026 | Presidents' Day |
| Friday | March 20, 2026 | Eid al-Fitr |
| Monday | May 25, 2026 | Memorial Day |
| Wednesday | May 27, 2026 (date may shift) | Eid al-Adha |
| Friday | June 19, 2026 | Juneteenth |
| Friday | July 3, 2026 (observed) | Independence Day |
| Monday | September 7, 2026 | Labor Day |
| Monday | October 12, 2026 | Columbus Day |
| Thu–Fri | November 26–27, 2026 | Thanksgiving |
| Mon–Fri | December 21–25, 2026 | Christmas Week |
| Thursday | December 31, 2026 | Closes at 1 PM |
| Friday | January 1, 2027 | New Year's Day |
Tuition is not prorated for holiday closures. The Eid al-Adha date follows the lunar calendar and may shift by a day — we confirm it with families in advance.