As a parent, I know that plans can change very quickly, so I don’t feel it fair to require a contract defining a specific amount of time of service. That said, I also know, as a parent, that moving a child from one child care service to another too frequently is very taxing on a child and will cause unnecessary stress for them. Children deserve as much stability and happiness as possible, so all that I ask is that you take their needs into consideration before making a move from my service to another. If you feel like there is a conflict with my service, please address it with me before moving your child. I can assure you I will do everything I can to create harmony in my relationship with you and happiness for your child.
If after discussing any reasons for leaving with me, and you still decide to move your child to another service, or if you have unexpected changes in your family, I require 2 weeks notice, as this is my job and a means for providing for my family.
I will take the liberty of ending our contract if you are unable to follow the rules outlined.
**Any changes made to this contract will be presented to you in writing as those changes are made.
Showing posts with label Policies and Procedures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Policies and Procedures. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
Hours of Service
My hours of business are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. This is, of course, flexible according to your work schedule. You and I will sit down and set a specific time for drop off and pick up. I will expect you to be punctual when picking up your child. If you are late without notice, you will be charged an additional $5 per half hour. If it becomes a habit (happens consistently for two weeks), I will automatically increase your rates and change your pickup time.
If your schedule falls outside of my hours of business I will work with you. Depending on how many hours you are working, I may need to adjust your rates.
I choose not to accept children into my home on Saturdays and Sundays. Saturdays are used to prepare for the following week and Sundays are dedicated to my family. If you have a need for day care, I will consider watching your children for $5 per hour per child. You will also need to sign a transportation permission form as I spend most of the day Saturday running errands. This rule does not apply for Sundays. No business will be done on Sundays.
I will not be able to provide child care on the following days:
New Years Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve.
If I have a family vacation, I will let you know two weeks in advance so you will have time to find a backup.
If your schedule falls outside of my hours of business I will work with you. Depending on how many hours you are working, I may need to adjust your rates.
I choose not to accept children into my home on Saturdays and Sundays. Saturdays are used to prepare for the following week and Sundays are dedicated to my family. If you have a need for day care, I will consider watching your children for $5 per hour per child. You will also need to sign a transportation permission form as I spend most of the day Saturday running errands. This rule does not apply for Sundays. No business will be done on Sundays.
I will not be able to provide child care on the following days:
New Years Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve.
If I have a family vacation, I will let you know two weeks in advance so you will have time to find a backup.
Payment of Services
My rates are $5 an hour up to 4 hours, then it is $20 for a full time day.
As I am licensed, I do accept state subsidized funds to help with your child care expenses, if you qualify. However, any difference in payment and/or copayment will be expected at each pay period.
Payment will be expected on the Friday preceding the week of service. If your child is unable to attend the daycare 3 or more days of the week that has been paid, I will take that off of the following week.
I will not be able to accept your child if payment has not been received for the week of their arrival. The exception to this rule would be if payment is received on the Monday morning of that week, however a $15 late charge will be added to the total payment unless the reason for late payment is a sick child who was unable to attend the previous Friday.
If you pay with a check and that check bounces, you will still be responsible for the total in full as well as a $25 bounced check fee via cash or money order. Only cash or money orders will be accepted after one occurrence of a bounced check. If you are unable to pay the total in full for more than 2 weeks, our contract will be terminated.
I will provide you with a receipt of the end of each year showing how much you have paid throughout the year for tax purposes.
A finder’s fee (one day free day care) will be offered to each parent who refers my day care to a new client who enrolls their child(ren).
I will be taking children in the following age groups: Infants (0-11 months), Toddlers (12-36 months), and Preschoolers (3-5 year olds). I will not be taking school age children to maintain consistency amongst the children throughout the year. I am limited to one infant, up to three toddlers and up to 5 preschoolers. In total, I will only take in 5 children at a time (not including my two children).
As I am licensed, I do accept state subsidized funds to help with your child care expenses, if you qualify. However, any difference in payment and/or copayment will be expected at each pay period.
Payment will be expected on the Friday preceding the week of service. If your child is unable to attend the daycare 3 or more days of the week that has been paid, I will take that off of the following week.
I will not be able to accept your child if payment has not been received for the week of their arrival. The exception to this rule would be if payment is received on the Monday morning of that week, however a $15 late charge will be added to the total payment unless the reason for late payment is a sick child who was unable to attend the previous Friday.
If you pay with a check and that check bounces, you will still be responsible for the total in full as well as a $25 bounced check fee via cash or money order. Only cash or money orders will be accepted after one occurrence of a bounced check. If you are unable to pay the total in full for more than 2 weeks, our contract will be terminated.
I will provide you with a receipt of the end of each year showing how much you have paid throughout the year for tax purposes.
A finder’s fee (one day free day care) will be offered to each parent who refers my day care to a new client who enrolls their child(ren).
I will be taking children in the following age groups: Infants (0-11 months), Toddlers (12-36 months), and Preschoolers (3-5 year olds). I will not be taking school age children to maintain consistency amongst the children throughout the year. I am limited to one infant, up to three toddlers and up to 5 preschoolers. In total, I will only take in 5 children at a time (not including my two children).
Supplies Provided by Parents
Each child needs to come with a change of clothes for me to have on hand that are appropriate for the season and that fit the child comfortably. If you fail to provide the clothing, I will purchase it and add the reimbursement charge onto your bill for the following week.
Please also send each child with a favorite stuffed animal for comfort and a blanket that they enjoy sleeping with. Children always sleep better away from home when they have their own blanket that smells like home and that they can associate with the comforts of home. I will be sure to label each item that you send with your children with a removable label to ensure that it will make it home with them when the time comes.
A picture of your family would also be helpful. The state has asked that each licensed provider provide an emergency kit for each child and I would like to include a picture in each child’s kit.
If your child is in diapers, you will need to provide them. It may be easier to send a box of diapers and wipes with your child at the beginning of their time here. That way you won’t have to worry about packing up a diaper bag every morning. I will inform you when these supplies should run low so that you have enough time to bring more to me. Should you fail to provide diapers and wipes for your child, I will purchase them and provide a bill for you on your next day care payment.
Bottles and sippy cups also need to be provided by the parent. I would be happy to keep them here for you, so you won’t have to cart them back and forth every day. I will also keep these well labeled for you.
The food program provides formula for infants. If you choose not to use the brand that I use, you will need to provide the formula for your child.
Please also send each child with a favorite stuffed animal for comfort and a blanket that they enjoy sleeping with. Children always sleep better away from home when they have their own blanket that smells like home and that they can associate with the comforts of home. I will be sure to label each item that you send with your children with a removable label to ensure that it will make it home with them when the time comes.
A picture of your family would also be helpful. The state has asked that each licensed provider provide an emergency kit for each child and I would like to include a picture in each child’s kit.
If your child is in diapers, you will need to provide them. It may be easier to send a box of diapers and wipes with your child at the beginning of their time here. That way you won’t have to worry about packing up a diaper bag every morning. I will inform you when these supplies should run low so that you have enough time to bring more to me. Should you fail to provide diapers and wipes for your child, I will purchase them and provide a bill for you on your next day care payment.
Bottles and sippy cups also need to be provided by the parent. I would be happy to keep them here for you, so you won’t have to cart them back and forth every day. I will also keep these well labeled for you.
The food program provides formula for infants. If you choose not to use the brand that I use, you will need to provide the formula for your child.
Curriculum and Daily Schedule
I will provide a preschool curriculum to children 3 and older. Children under 3 will participate with activities that are appropriate for their age. Themes will change on a weekly basis and you will be informed on the Friday of each week of what we will be doing the following week.
A rough outline of our day follows:
7:30 a.m. – Drop Off/Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – Free Play
9 a.m. – Good Morning Time (talk about theme and weather, etc.)
9:30 a.m. – Songs and Stories
10 a.m. – Snack Time
10:30 a.m. - Outside Play if weather permits (Rainy Day activity if bad weather)
11:00 a.m. – Craft Time
11:30 a.m. – Free Play
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Nap/Quiet Time
3:00 p.m. – Snack Time
3:30 p.m. – Outside Play
4:00 p.m. – Art Time
4:30 p.m. - Special Activity of the Day
5:30 p.m. – Pick up
This schedule will change according to the day’s activities and parents' schedules.
A rough outline of our day follows:
7:30 a.m. – Drop Off/Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – Free Play
9 a.m. – Good Morning Time (talk about theme and weather, etc.)
9:30 a.m. – Songs and Stories
10 a.m. – Snack Time
10:30 a.m. - Outside Play if weather permits (Rainy Day activity if bad weather)
11:00 a.m. – Craft Time
11:30 a.m. – Free Play
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Nap/Quiet Time
3:00 p.m. – Snack Time
3:30 p.m. – Outside Play
4:00 p.m. – Art Time
4:30 p.m. - Special Activity of the Day
5:30 p.m. – Pick up
This schedule will change according to the day’s activities and parents' schedules.
Meals and Naps
I am on the state food program, so all meals will be served by their requirements.
I will provide breakfast, lunch, and two healthy snacks each day. I will work with your child’s dietary needs and/or food allergies when planning meals. A menu will be provided to you each week, so you may see what we are eating. You are welcome to send your own food along with your child for their meals if you like. If you do so, please label the food specifically for your child.
There will be a two hour allotment of time for naps. Infants will sleep on their own schedules. If your child no longer naps, they will have quiet play time during nap time.
I will provide breakfast, lunch, and two healthy snacks each day. I will work with your child’s dietary needs and/or food allergies when planning meals. A menu will be provided to you each week, so you may see what we are eating. You are welcome to send your own food along with your child for their meals if you like. If you do so, please label the food specifically for your child.
There will be a two hour allotment of time for naps. Infants will sleep on their own schedules. If your child no longer naps, they will have quiet play time during nap time.
Supervision and Protection of Children
I do the following to ensure the direct supervision and protection of children at all times:
I will be with the children (on the same floor, in the same room, supervising activities) at all times, with the exception of an occasional trip to another room, but will not be away from the children for longer than a five minute period of time and will never be out of earshot. Should I need to go far enough to not hear their activity, I will keep the baby monitor with me so I can hear them. Again, they will not be alone for longer than a five minute period of time.
In addition, I do the following to ensure the direct supervision and protection of children:
When they are sleeping:
• Infants under the age of 12 months will be checked up on every 15 minutes.
• Children over the age of 12 months will have a baby monitor in their room. I will have the other end of the device with me at all times during nap time. I will also check in on them periodically during naps.
When they are outdoors:
• Children will never be outdoors without my supervision. If the need should arise for me to run inside, it will be for a minimal amount of time and will run no longer than 5 minutes.
I do the following to keep track of each child’s whereabouts:
Children will never be unsupervised. We will have set activities throughout the day, whether it be a structured activity or casual play time, I will be with all of the children all of the time, with the exception of the five minute time limit mentioned above.
I will be with the children (on the same floor, in the same room, supervising activities) at all times, with the exception of an occasional trip to another room, but will not be away from the children for longer than a five minute period of time and will never be out of earshot. Should I need to go far enough to not hear their activity, I will keep the baby monitor with me so I can hear them. Again, they will not be alone for longer than a five minute period of time.
In addition, I do the following to ensure the direct supervision and protection of children:
When they are sleeping:
• Infants under the age of 12 months will be checked up on every 15 minutes.
• Children over the age of 12 months will have a baby monitor in their room. I will have the other end of the device with me at all times during nap time. I will also check in on them periodically during naps.
When they are outdoors:
• Children will never be outdoors without my supervision. If the need should arise for me to run inside, it will be for a minimal amount of time and will run no longer than 5 minutes.
I do the following to keep track of each child’s whereabouts:
Children will never be unsupervised. We will have set activities throughout the day, whether it be a structured activity or casual play time, I will be with all of the children all of the time, with the exception of the five minute time limit mentioned above.
Sick Children
My policy regarding sick children, including:
• Whether or not sick children are allowed to be in child care, and
• At what point I consider a child to be too sick to be in care:
The best place for a sick child is at home. Bringing a sick child to day care will not only prolong their illness, but cause the illness to spread to the other children as well as myself, causing even greater risk for your child to get sick again or lead to the day care closing for a few days, should I get sick. This being said, sick children will not be permitted in the day care.
My rule of thumb is that if your child has a temperature of 101 degrees or above they are sick. If they have had this fever and it has broken, please keep your child home for 24 hours to ensure that the fever is gone. If your child appears under the weather when (s)he arrives at my home, I will take their temperature before you leave. If they have a fever, you will have to take them home. If they develop a fever while in my care, I will contact you and you will need to make arrangements for their care for the remainder of the day.
My policy when my own children are sick:
Should my children become ill my husband will stay home with them in an isolated part of the house and they will have no interaction with the children in the day care until they are better. If he is unable to do this, we will close the day care for the day. This would be a last resort.
Please have a backup plan for these instances and please keep in mind the importance of keeping your children home while they are ill. It is important that all parents are considerate of the other children in the day care. Your consideration will, in the end, benefit your child(ren).
Please also note that I need proof of immunization for each child before care at my home begins. I also need notice from the parent of any allergies and/or medical conditions that your child(ren) may have so that I may better meet their needs. Should your child(ren) require daily medication while in my care, I will need written information regarding the medication and how to administer it provided by the parent as well as daily portions of the medication.
• Whether or not sick children are allowed to be in child care, and
• At what point I consider a child to be too sick to be in care:
The best place for a sick child is at home. Bringing a sick child to day care will not only prolong their illness, but cause the illness to spread to the other children as well as myself, causing even greater risk for your child to get sick again or lead to the day care closing for a few days, should I get sick. This being said, sick children will not be permitted in the day care.
My rule of thumb is that if your child has a temperature of 101 degrees or above they are sick. If they have had this fever and it has broken, please keep your child home for 24 hours to ensure that the fever is gone. If your child appears under the weather when (s)he arrives at my home, I will take their temperature before you leave. If they have a fever, you will have to take them home. If they develop a fever while in my care, I will contact you and you will need to make arrangements for their care for the remainder of the day.
My policy when my own children are sick:
Should my children become ill my husband will stay home with them in an isolated part of the house and they will have no interaction with the children in the day care until they are better. If he is unable to do this, we will close the day care for the day. This would be a last resort.
Please have a backup plan for these instances and please keep in mind the importance of keeping your children home while they are ill. It is important that all parents are considerate of the other children in the day care. Your consideration will, in the end, benefit your child(ren).
Please also note that I need proof of immunization for each child before care at my home begins. I also need notice from the parent of any allergies and/or medical conditions that your child(ren) may have so that I may better meet their needs. Should your child(ren) require daily medication while in my care, I will need written information regarding the medication and how to administer it provided by the parent as well as daily portions of the medication.
Cleanliness
I will keep my home clean and safe for your children and will sanitize toys on a weekly basis. I will also instruct the children in proper hand washing to insure the health and happiness of all of the children in my care. Please be sure that your children are clean and have clean hair and clothes upon arrival to my home.
I will keep a close eye on the toys during play time and any toys that any child may put in their mouths will be removed and sanitized that day.
Each child will have their own hand towel for hand drying and blankets, pillowcases, sheets, etc. These items will be cleaned weekly. If you would like to take your own blankets home to launder, please let me know and they will be returned to you each Friday.
I will keep a close eye on the toys during play time and any toys that any child may put in their mouths will be removed and sanitized that day.
Each child will have their own hand towel for hand drying and blankets, pillowcases, sheets, etc. These items will be cleaned weekly. If you would like to take your own blankets home to launder, please let me know and they will be returned to you each Friday.
Behavioral Expectations and Discipline of Children
Infants: Ages Birth through 11 Months:
Behavioral Expectations:
• They cry when under stress, expressing a need, or trying to communicate.
• They may cry when dropped off because they have separation anxiety.
• They put everything in their mouth because they explore through taste.
• They feel and touch everything because they learn and explore by using their five senses.
• They like to be held because it makes them feel secure.
• They become attached to family and caregivers because they trust them.
• They show pleasure when learning new skills because they enjoy praise.
• They become bored if they do not receive adequate attention or stimulation.
Discipline Methods Used:
• Infants need to be attended to when they are crying. This is because stress in infants releases a chemical called cortisol in their brain. Cortisol makes the brain vulnerable to a process that destroys brain cells and reduces the number of connections between brain cells.
• Infants in stress can be calmed by picking them up, singing to them or talking to them in a calm voice, using their name.
• Infants are not able to understand or benefit from time out.
• Redirecting infants to another activity, including by placing them in a different area if needed, is useful when there is a behavioral issue.
Toddlers: Ages 12 Months to 24 Months, and Two-Year-Olds
Behavioral Expectations:
Toddlers:
• They put everything in their mouth because they explore through taste.
• They feel and touch everything because they learn and explore by using their five senses.
• They may cry, hit, or bite to get their way, express emotions, or to communicate with others (they do not yet have the verbal skills to communicate their frustrations by talking).
• They may show signs of anxiety during change, and when their parents leave. This is demonstrated by withdrawing, crying, clinging, and wanting to be held.
• They enjoy exploring objects with others because they want to establish relationships.
Two-Year-Olds:
• They are discovering and learning to assert their independence, so they often say, “No!”
• They frequently use the word “mine” and are not yet able to share well. They want to play with others, but do not yet know how.
• They exhibit mood swings and are not yet able to manage their emotions.
• They enjoy peer play and joint exploration.
Discipline Methods Used
• For toddlers and twos, redirection is more effective than time out. Redirection means calmly redirecting children’s attention or moving children away from a problem area or activity to a new area or activity.
• If behavior problems persist, I will evaluate the environment to see if children are being over stimulated or if there is not enough space for the children. I will also check to see if more toys of the same kind are needed, because toddlers and twos are not old enough to understand sharing and taking turns with toys.
• Praise and positive reinforcement can also work very well with this age group.
• Another good way to help toddlers and two year olds learn how to play appropriately with other is for adults to model appropriate behavior.
Preschoolers: 3-5 Year-Olds
Behavioral Expectations:
• They have a desire to please adults.
• They are learning to take turns and share.
• They may have outbursts of emotions.
• They are independent, and do well when given choices.
• They often tell on others, to prove that they know the rule and because they want others to know they know the rules.
• They are learning social skills, like sharing and taking turns. They like to play in small groups, but may need some guidance doing this as they learn social skills.
• They have difficulty waiting very long, regardless of the promised outcome.
• They exhibit negative and positive behavior in order to get attention.
Discipline Methods Used:
• Preschoolers benefit from having a few simple classroom rules. For example:
o Walk inside.
o Take care of toys.
o Use words when there is a problem.
• When a behavior problem arises, adults can use this a teaching opportunity and calmly remind children of classroom rules.
• Positive reinforcement and redirection also works well with this age group. For example, if a preschooler is throwing blocks, even after being reminded of the rule, he or she can be required to leave the block area and choose a different activity for now.
I believe that children need a loving environment that helps build their self confidence in order to thrive. I understand of the limits that come with their ages as well as the understanding of themselves that they develop as they grow older.
Behavioral Expectations:
• They cry when under stress, expressing a need, or trying to communicate.
• They may cry when dropped off because they have separation anxiety.
• They put everything in their mouth because they explore through taste.
• They feel and touch everything because they learn and explore by using their five senses.
• They like to be held because it makes them feel secure.
• They become attached to family and caregivers because they trust them.
• They show pleasure when learning new skills because they enjoy praise.
• They become bored if they do not receive adequate attention or stimulation.
Discipline Methods Used:
• Infants need to be attended to when they are crying. This is because stress in infants releases a chemical called cortisol in their brain. Cortisol makes the brain vulnerable to a process that destroys brain cells and reduces the number of connections between brain cells.
• Infants in stress can be calmed by picking them up, singing to them or talking to them in a calm voice, using their name.
• Infants are not able to understand or benefit from time out.
• Redirecting infants to another activity, including by placing them in a different area if needed, is useful when there is a behavioral issue.
Toddlers: Ages 12 Months to 24 Months, and Two-Year-Olds
Behavioral Expectations:
Toddlers:
• They put everything in their mouth because they explore through taste.
• They feel and touch everything because they learn and explore by using their five senses.
• They may cry, hit, or bite to get their way, express emotions, or to communicate with others (they do not yet have the verbal skills to communicate their frustrations by talking).
• They may show signs of anxiety during change, and when their parents leave. This is demonstrated by withdrawing, crying, clinging, and wanting to be held.
• They enjoy exploring objects with others because they want to establish relationships.
Two-Year-Olds:
• They are discovering and learning to assert their independence, so they often say, “No!”
• They frequently use the word “mine” and are not yet able to share well. They want to play with others, but do not yet know how.
• They exhibit mood swings and are not yet able to manage their emotions.
• They enjoy peer play and joint exploration.
Discipline Methods Used
• For toddlers and twos, redirection is more effective than time out. Redirection means calmly redirecting children’s attention or moving children away from a problem area or activity to a new area or activity.
• If behavior problems persist, I will evaluate the environment to see if children are being over stimulated or if there is not enough space for the children. I will also check to see if more toys of the same kind are needed, because toddlers and twos are not old enough to understand sharing and taking turns with toys.
• Praise and positive reinforcement can also work very well with this age group.
• Another good way to help toddlers and two year olds learn how to play appropriately with other is for adults to model appropriate behavior.
Preschoolers: 3-5 Year-Olds
Behavioral Expectations:
• They have a desire to please adults.
• They are learning to take turns and share.
• They may have outbursts of emotions.
• They are independent, and do well when given choices.
• They often tell on others, to prove that they know the rule and because they want others to know they know the rules.
• They are learning social skills, like sharing and taking turns. They like to play in small groups, but may need some guidance doing this as they learn social skills.
• They have difficulty waiting very long, regardless of the promised outcome.
• They exhibit negative and positive behavior in order to get attention.
Discipline Methods Used:
• Preschoolers benefit from having a few simple classroom rules. For example:
o Walk inside.
o Take care of toys.
o Use words when there is a problem.
• When a behavior problem arises, adults can use this a teaching opportunity and calmly remind children of classroom rules.
• Positive reinforcement and redirection also works well with this age group. For example, if a preschooler is throwing blocks, even after being reminded of the rule, he or she can be required to leave the block area and choose a different activity for now.
I believe that children need a loving environment that helps build their self confidence in order to thrive. I understand of the limits that come with their ages as well as the understanding of themselves that they develop as they grow older.
Pets
We own one cat named Gandalf. He is up to date on his vaccinations and is completely harmless. In fact, he usually just sleeps through the entire day. We also have a small puppy named Chu Chu. He is also completely up to date on his vaccinations and is the sweetest, most gentle dog imaginable. He absolutely loves children.
Transportation of Children
At this point in my child care business, I choose not to provide transportation for the children. As time goes by, this may change. You will be informed when that change occurs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
