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Your Daycare NamePolicy HandbookParent’s GuideLicense # Your lic NumberYour Daycare Name | Your Street Address| Your City, Your State | Your Zip | Your Phone Number1Your Daycare Name Policy HandbookParent's Guide? date - by Your Name ~ Your Daycare NameYour Name Your Daycare NameVisit my web site at Web Page/Last updated -2Table of Contents About Us ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Non Discrimination .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Childcare Philosophy ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Mission cament .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Licensed Childcare ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Provider Training ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Enrollment ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Waiting List ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Admission .................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Supplies ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Trial Period ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Hours, Services & Fees ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Daycare Hours ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Security Deposit ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Tuition ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Accepted Forms of Payment .................................................................................................................................. 10 Billing caments ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Late Payments ......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Holding Fee ............................................................................................................................................................. 11 Returned Checks ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 Late Pick-Up Early Drop-off Fees ............................................................................................................................ 11 Homeowners Association Fees ............................................................................................................................... 12 Unpaid Tuition ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 General Information .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Services ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Optional Services ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 Arrival & Departure ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Releasing a Child .................................................................................................................................................... 15 Parking ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Noise ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Referrals .................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Privacy Policy .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Rights ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Substitutes & Employees......................................................................................................................................... 17 Policy Revisions ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 The Program ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 Infant & Toddler Curriculum ................................................................................................................................... 19 Nap/Quiet Time ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 Field Trips & Outings .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Our Pets ................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Attendance .................................................................................................................................................................. 213Full & Part Time Attendance .................................................................................................................................. 21 Provider Sick Days ................................................................................................................................................... 21 Vacations ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Extended Absences ................................................................................................................................................. 21 Professional Development ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Holidays ................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Supplies & Food .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Supplies & Replenishment ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Forgotten Supplies ................................................................................................................................................. 24 Meals & Snacks ...................................................................................................................................................... 24 Food from Home ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 Infants ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Older Children .......................................................................................................................................................... 25 Beverage Provisions ................................................................................................................................................ 25 Donations ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Health & Safety ............................................................................................................................................................ 27 Sick Policy ................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Universal Health Precautions .................................................................................................................................. 28 Medication .............................................................................................................................................................. 28 Hygiene ................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Immunizations ......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Cleaning & Disinfecting ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Smoking ................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Emergency Contacts ................................................................................................................................................ 29 Emergency Policy .................................................................................................................................................... 29 Emergency Supplies ................................................................................................................................................ 30 Child Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 31 Toilet Training ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Daycare Rules .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Adequate Clothing................................................................................................................................................... 31 Personal Property .................................................................................................................................................... 31 Behavior Policy ........................................................................................................................................................ 32 Guidance (Discipline) .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Damages .................................................................................................................................................................. 34 Termination ................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Parent Withdrawal ................................................................................................................................................. 35 Provider Termination .............................................................................................................................................. 354About Us“Being a childcare provider isn't always glamorous but it is extremely rewarding. In my "office" we go on adventures through reading, we aspire to have heroic careers during pretend play and learn values, morals, manners, tolerance and acceptance.One of the important elements in home childcare is mutual respect between the parent and the provider. We both have a great responsibility for the health, care and the teaching of your child. You of course are the primary nurturer for your child but during the times that your child is in my care I will love, nurture and protect your child. Therefore it is only reasonable that you respect me as a professional childcare provider not just as a "babysitter". If you promise not to refer to me as a babysitter I promise not to sit on your baby.Please remember that, as a child care provider, I own my own business and provide a service. I set my own guidelines, policies and choose which services to offer. You, as a parent, must decide whether the services that I offer meet your needs. “Your Name ~ Child care ProviderYour Daycare Name is a group family child care home and does not have sufficient and properly trained staff to provide individualized care.5Non Discrimination Your Daycare Name does not discriminate against children or parents from admission regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, sex or religious or spiritual beliefs. We celebrate all Christian and secular holidays and learn about other religions, spiritual beliefs and cultures.Currently the daycare does not have experience with and is not trained or certified for care of special needs children; however a child with special needs may be accepted based on the ability and of the child care provider to meet the child’s needs.Accommodations can be made to the childcare home within reasonable limits to allow for the enrollment of a special needs child as long as the child can participate in daily activities without the need of additional staff and major equipment and/or major remodeling of the childcare home.Childcare Philosophy Your Daycare Name believes that children should be free to explore their own interests in a safe, fun, educational and challenging environment. Mission Statement - The goal at Your Daycare Name is to allow children to develop their body, mind and natural sense of curiosity while they play by providing educational activities, materials and equipment. We have a developmental approach programCHAPTER 1which strives to prepare your younger children for school by including activities where children's minds, bodies, emotions, and personalities can unfold according to each child's developmental timetable.Licensed Childcare Currently Your Daycare Name is licensed by the state of California and must comply with strict licensing regulations. These standards relate to the home, health, safety procedures, nutrition, child ratios and record keeping. We are currently licensed to care for a total of 8 children at any given time.Mandated Reporter Because of regular contact with children, as a child care provider, Helping Hands Daycare is required to report any suspected physical, sexual or other types of abuse to our licensing office and to any other necessary authorities.Provider Training - Training in the early childhood development is very important here at Your Daycare Name and so the child care provider continuously takes courses, trainings and workshops whenever possible to become more informed in early childhood development and to receive certifications in this field.6These are a few of the trainings that the child care provider has completed:- Adult Infant & Child CPR, STATE Child care FirstAid - How to Evaluate Children’s InteractiveTechnology Tools and Media - The CDA Credentialing Process & The Roleof ECE Directors - Protective Urges - Behavior Management - Building a Multicultural Multilingual Community in Your Early Childhood Program - Culture, Family & Providers - Partnering with Parents - Understanding Children’s Behavior - Sesame Street Healthy Habits for Life - Infant Toddler Symposium - Reflective Approach to Curriculum forInfants & Toddlers - Magda Gerber’s Educating Approach - STATE Infant/Toddler Learning & DevelopmentSystem - Learning Centers - caring for Children in Your Home -Child Growth and DevelopmentEnrollmentWaiting List If a spot which suits a family’s needs is not immediately available, the family can be placed on our waiting list. When an opening becomes available the spot will then be offered to those on the waiting list.Priority - Priority for available spots is given first to families already enrolled however having priority does not guarantee that space will be available when needed. If space is still available and none of our enrolled families or families on our waiting list show interest we will then openly advertise in a n attempt to fill that spot.Priority is given in the following order: Full- time clients, part-time clients, drop-in clients requesting the most hours and finally families on our waiting list.It is our goal to have the highest amount of regular Full and part-time clients possible therefore we strive to fill all of our openings with these types of clients first. However we are also loyal to our current drop-in clients and in situations where an un- enrolled family is interested in a full or part- time position that a current drop-in client has, every effort will first be made to offer our drop-in client the opportunity to secure their space by upgrading to the full or part- time position.7Admission Before a child is enrolled and can attend in the daycare the following are required to be completed and returned to the childcare provider. Services will not be provided until the following are received:A completed application Identification and Emergency Information (LIC700) Notification of Parent’s Rights form (LIC995A) Consent for Emergency Medical Treatment form (LIC627) Personal Right’s form (LIC 613A) STATE School Immunization Record (PM286b) Full payment for the first week of child care. Security deposit equal to the amount of 2 weeks’ worth of child care (drop-in clients are not required to give a security deposit) A copy of any court order regarding child custody/visitation arrangements.CHAPTER 2Supplies The child care provider supplies most of equipment and supplies that the children will need at daycare. The only supplies that parents are required to provide are the following:Infants will need2-3 complete changes of clothing. Frozen breast milk or formula. Two plastic bottles with nipples. One large package of diapers. (If cloth diapering a full days’ supply of clean pocket diapers and a wet-bag is required). 1 large plastic container of wipes. 1 light blanket.Toddler & Pre-School Supplies1-2 complete changes of clothing. Diapers or training pants and a large plastic container of wipes, if still in diapers. Any security objects.All items must be marked with your child’s name. Any items without the child’s name on them will be written on them by the child care provider. The daycare will help keep track of when these items need to be replaced.8Trial Period - The first two-weeks that your child attends will be a trial period to ensure that the child can adjust properly. Either party may cancel this agreement at any time during the initial trial period without written notice.Hours, Services & FeesDaycare Hours - The daycare’s regular business hours are Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. however, these hours are not necessarily the hours that a client is allotted to bring their child. Unless a client is a drop- in client, hours for care will be discussed and a schedule will be set which includes a fair amount of commuting time and this will become the child’s "scheduled hours" care will be provided for children only during their contracted hours.Any changes to a child’s full or part-time schedule of hours must be discussed and re- assessed and will depend on the ability for the childcare provider to meet the child’s new needs. Each time that changes to a child’s full or part time schedule need to be made a new contract must signed.Office hours (hours that a parent may call) are from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If a parent calls during hours when children are present, the child care provider may not always be able to answer. If this is the case, a parent can simply leave a message and the call will be returned as soon as possible. Phone calls, e-mails and texts made on weekends sometimes may not be returned until Monday.Security Deposit A security deposit is required for each child in the amount of two full weeks of care whether or not the family qualifies for subsidy.If paying the security deposit in full creates a hardship then $100 of the security deposit can be paid upon enrollment and weekly payments of $50 can be paid until the security deposit is paid in full.If not on subsidy the deposit will serve as payment for a child’s final two weeks of care, provided that appropriate notice is given in writing. If proper notice of termination is not given then the deposit will be forfeited and payment for the final two- weeks of care will still be owed.If on subsidy, the security deposit will be refunded once the final subsidy payment is received by the daycare providing that proper notice of termination has been given and if no other outstanding fees are owed. If proper notice is not given the deposit is forfeited and will not be refunded. If fees are owed then the amount of those fees will be deducted from the deposit and the remaining balance, if any, will be refunded to the parent. If there is still an outstanding balance owed after applying the balance of the security deposit to pay fees owed then the remaining balance is still owed and payable immediately to the provider.Tuition All full and part-time tuition payments are to be made in advance of care and are to be made payable on Fridays no later than 6:00 p.m. to cover the following week of child care. If a child is not present on this day tuition is still due. When the Friday of a tuition payment falls on a Holiday, the9CHAPTER 3payment is due on the business day before the closure. Tuition fees are due 52 weeks per year regardless of attendance, unless otherwise stated. Rates may be increased periodically but not more than once a year.Accepted Forms of Payment cash, personal checks, electronic payments, credit cards, debit cards, subsidy and dependent care accounts are all forms of accepted payment.Receipts for all payments are created online through and are available for parents to print at any time. Upon enrollment the child care provider will set up an account through for all families on . Each family will be given a login name and temporary password. The first time that a parent logs into their account they will be asked to choose a new password.Once these steps are completed parents will be able to view and print current and past invoices and receipts. Payments will be recorded by the child care provider upon payment and the receipt can be printed by the parent online at their convenience.Cash - Cash payments must be made in the exact amount that is owed. The child care provider carries no change and cash payments will not be refunded. Payment will be entered in the full amount given and extra money will be credited towards the parent’s next invoice.10Checks - Checks must be made out to Your Name and must be written for the exact amount. Checks are immediately deposited electronically at daycare with remote check deposit feature on the child care provider’s smart phone. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that there sufficient funds are available at the time that the check is given.Electronic Payments - To make an electronic payment parents must login to and enter their bank information. Parents can then choose the invoice they wish to pay and follow the easy instructions. This is the same safe, secure technology that banks use.Credit & Debit card Payments Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover cards can be processed at the daycare or over the phone using card reader and the child care provider’s smart phone.Child care Assistance Payments - The daycare accepts all forms of childcare assistance (CDR, CHS etc.). Proof of qualification must be provided such as a copy of a recent notice of action or acceptance letter. The client must pay all fees until the first subsidy payment is received (usually after two months). The daycare provider will then reimburse the parent in the form of a check.Many times child care assistance does not cover the full cost of tuition. It is the client’s responsibility to immediately pay any part of tuition that is not covered by the child care assistance program.In addition, any fees incurred by a family (late payment fees, late pick-up fees, NSF check fees etc.) must be paid by the client.No childcare assistance program covers these fees therefore these will be the sole responsibility of the client. Payment of these fees will be due the same day at pick-up.Dependent Care Account Payments - To use a dependent care account (also known as flex pay) as payment the client must first privately pay the tuition and then submit a form and the receipt to their employer. They will then reimburse the client.Billing StatementsOnce every two weeks clients will receive billing statements which will be attached to the child’s sign-in/out log located in the daycare folder. The statement will reflect charges for the upcoming two weeks.Clients may choose to pay for the entire two weeks or one week at a time. Clients may also request billing statements for additional weeks if they choose to pay for additional weeks of childcare. To do this the client simply requests this from the child care provider.Late PaymentsThere is a late payment fee of $5.00 per day for full and part-time clients if tuition is not paid by Friday at 6:00 p.m.If payment is not made by Monday at 6:00 p.m. the child will not be accepted into care until payment is received in full, including all late payment fees.Holding FeeIf there is an opening, a spot may be held for a child if that child will not be starting within two weeks. A spot will be held only if the deposit is paid and a $100.00 holding fee per child for each month, or part of, needed to be held is paid. This fee is exactly that, a holding fee for a spot. It is non-refundable and is not credit towards future child care. If for any reason the child fails to start when expected, the deposit will be forfeited as will the holding spot.Returned ChecksThere is a $35.00 charge for all returned NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) or SP (Stopped Payment) checks. If any additional bank fees are incurred that amount will be added to the client’s account. This includes, but is not limited to, fees charged to the provider's account from any checks bouncing or overdraft charges from debit card usage as a result of a non-sufficient check.If an NSF or SP is issued the tuition amount as well as fees will be due immediately and in cash and checks will no longer be accepted from the family. The child will not be cared for until tuition and fees are paid in full and payment will still be due if the child misses any days because of this.Late Pick-Up Early Drop-off FeesLate Pick-Up FeeIf a child is picked up later that the expected time without advance notice the child care provider may not be present and it will then be the responsibility of the client to either go to the child care provider’s location to pick the child up or wait until the child care provider arrives. A $5.00 fee per child will be added to the clients account for every fifteen minutes, or portion thereof, that the child is late in being picked up when past the contracted pick-up. This fee is due immediately at the time of pick-up or late payment charges may apply.Early Pick-Up FeeThere is an extra $5.00 fee per child for every fifteen minutes, or portion thereof, that a child is dropped off earlier than the contracted drop-off time without prior approval. Ask in advance if a child ever needs an earlier drop-off than the regular contracted time to make sure that this can be accommodated.Homeowners Association FeesBeing that the daycare home is a condo the home is required to follow certain homeowner association rules (HOA). It is important that clients understand that the homeowners association policies and rules apply to the daycare clients and their authorized persons until they have left Your Daycare.These rules have been added to the daycare’s policies. In the case that the child care provider incurs any fees from the homeowners association due to failure to follow these policies either by a child, parent or authorized person etc., then the contracted client will be responsible for payment of these fees. This payment will be due immediately.“Loaner” ItemsThe daycare has some “loaner” clothing items and shoes. Should a child wear a “loaner” item home and it is not returned by the next business day, the client will be subject to a $2.00 fee per pair of socks, $5.00 fee per any other article of clothing and $20.00 fee per pair of shoes.Unpaid Tuition & Fee’sIf a period of one week (seven days including weekends) passes and payment still has not been received, the contract may be terminated and the position filled.The client will be responsible for any payments owed up to this point, any late fees that accrue and also for the time of the child’s required two week notice even if the child has not been present in the daycare.The client will also forfeit the security deposit.Attempts to collect monies owed, if not successfully collected, will be sent to court and reported to collections should it be necessary. The client will also be responsible for any fees and costs incurred during this process including, but not limited to, court, attorney and collection agency fees.The client’s account will also be reported to ProviderWatch, a national child care credit reporting agency catered for child care providers to run checks on clients. Many child care providers use ProviderWatch to screen potential clients for past due accounts or to check if they have trouble paying their childcare obligations. 866-267-3691.12CHAPTER 4General InformationServicesThe daycare provides many services. The needs of clients will be assessed and the rate will be determined based on those needs and the type of service needed.Full-Time Child CareThe rate for full-time childcare covers up to 50 hours a week and is based on enrollment, not on attendance. Full-time clients have a guaranteed spot in the daycare whether the child attends all 50 hours or not. Any additional time over 50 hours is charged at the hourly full-time ratePart-Time Child CareThe rate for part-time childcare covers up to 29 hours a week and is based on enrollment, not on attendance. Part-time clients have a guaranteed spot in the daycare whether the child attends all 29 hours or not. Any additional time over 29 hours is charged at the hourly part-time rate.Optional ServicesDrop-In, After/Before Hours care and Weekend care are also provided and require a reservation which must be prearranged. A spot is not guaranteed for these types of childcare and depends upon availability and the ability for the childcare provider to meet the client’s needs.Drop-In CareDrop-in care is offered both to drop-in only and full or part-time clients within the normal business hours of Monday throughFriday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Drop-in care is charged by the full day or hourly. The full day rate covers 10 hours. Any hours extending past 10 hours or less than 8 hours is charged the hourly rate. Hourly drop-in services have a paid minimum of 4 hours.For example, if a part-time client is contracted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and needs care for a full day (ten hours) on aTuesday, the client will pay for a full day of drop-in care for this day in addition to the client’s weekly tuition. If the same client needs four hours of care on a Tuesday then the client can pay the hourly rate instead of a full day.After/Before Hours CareAny time that childcare is provided before the hours of 6:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday it is considered to be after/before hours care and will be charged as such.Weekend CareChild care provided on Saturdays and Sundays is considered weekend care and is only available at an hourly rate and has a minimum of 4 paid hours of care. Since weekend care is during non-business hours the regular daycare routine will not apply. We will still have a meal and sleep routine like a normal day; however the children will participate in family activities if any are planned.Making a ReservationTo make a reservation a client must request the specific date and time period that will be needed. All reservations must be made in writing and must be approved by the childcare provider. Email and texts are accepted as a form of written notice of reservation for drop-in childcare.Because drop-in care is available on a “first- come-first-serve” basis, the first client to pay for the reservation will be given priority.Once a reservation for drop-in childcare has been paid for and confirmed the client is required to adhere to the reserved time slot.Late arrivals do not allow for late pick-ups and the confirmed pick-up time will still apply even of the child is dropped off late.If payment for childcare is not made before or upon arrival, childcare will not be provided.All payments for drop-in reservations are non-refundable.Modifying a ReservationIf changes to a scheduled reservation must be made they must be made in writing with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice from the start-time of the reservation. If less than 24 hours’ notice is given when modifying a reservation a fee of $5.00 per child will be added.Rescheduling a reservation to a different date can only be done once otherwise payment is lost. If it is past the scheduled reservation time rescheduling the reservation will not be allowed and payment will be lost.Email and texts are accepted as a form of written notice of changes or modifications to a reservation for drop-in childcare.All changes and modifications to a reservation require approval by the childcare provider and are subject to availability.Canceling a ReservationIf a client is a “no show” (does not show upto a reservation) payment for the reservationis lost and will not be refunded.The daycare allows a reservation to bechanged once per reservation therefore norefunds will be given for cancellations. Thisprevents frequent canceling of reservations.Many times a spot is requested by multipleclients and if a reservation is canceled manytimes the other clients have made alternatearrangements. This makes scheduling verydifficult for the child care provider andcreates a hardship due to loss of income.Arrival & DepartureClients must use the front door entrancewhen dropping off or picking up children.The daycare is responsible for the childrenfrom the time that the adult leaves thedaycare and only until the adult arrives topick the child up. Once the adult arrivesresponsibility over that child is turned awayfrom the childcare provider. Adults must befirm and in control. The less confusion aboutwho is in charge, the more comfortableeveryone will be. Keep in mind that childrentend to act out when an adult is here.Sign-in/OutParents are required to escort their child inand out of the home daily and to sign theirchild in and out each day of attendance. Donot allow your child to enter or exit thedaycare without you. The daycare clockwill be used to determine arrival anddeparture times.14Late ArrivalsAll clients must adhere to their scheduleddrop-offs. The child care provider must benotified a child will arrive more than 15minutes past their scheduled arrival time. Ifa child is more than 15 minutes late withoutnotice it can be assumed that the child willnot be present and the child’s spot may befilled and no credit will be given for themissed day.Clients with scheduled arrival times of 7:30a.m. or earlier are required to give notice nolater than the 7:00 p.m. of the previousbusiness day if their child will arrive laterthan their scheduled arrival time. Manytimes clients with these early arrival timesare the day’s first arrivals and the child careprovider wakes up according to her client’sarrival times. Advance notice allows theprovider to plan for a later start of her day.Late arrivals do not allow for late pickups.If a client arrives later than their scheduledarrival time they are still required to pick-upat their normal scheduled pick-up time.Smooth SeparationWhen a parent departs, the child may cryand protest. This is what psychologists callseparation distress. It is part of the normaldevelopmental process of establishingindependence and autonomy. The intensityof a child’s distress seems to depend mainlyon the child’s personality and temperament.It also depends on the way parents handlethe anxiety and the way in which they leave.Through experience the child care providerhas found that it is in the child's best interestif, when arriving, the child is given a quickfarewell hug and kiss, reminded that theparent will return and then followed by aquick exit. While there may be some tears,prolonging the departure only creates morestress on the child. While sometimes astressful departure cannot be avoided,parents can however make it shorter.Children are resilient and adapt very quicklyafter a parent has gone and usually withinminutes have begun to play.Prepared for the DayChildren are to arrive clean and dressed.Infants and children must arrive in a freshdiaper. Children are to arrive fed unless thechild arrives before meal or snack times.Releasing a ChildChildren will be released only to aparent/legal guardian and to those adultslisted in writing on the emergency contactlist as authorized to pick the child up.At no time will a child be released toANYONE, including a parent/guardian, if itappears that the adult is under the influenceof drugs or alcohol. If a parent arrives at thedaycare and appears to be under theinfluence of drugs or alcohol, the parent willbe asked to call an alternative adult to pickboth the parent and the child up. If therequest is refused the provider will be forcedto call the authorities. The child careprovider will turn the child over to theauthorities and it will be up to theirdiscretion to decide who they release thechild to.If an authorized adult arrives and appears tobe under the influence of drugs or alcoholthe adult will not be allowed into the homeand the client will be called immediately.That person will no longer be accepted to15pick the child up and another adult will haveto be added to the list instead.Child CustodyThe child care provider cannot legallyrestrict a non-custodial parent from visitingthe child at daycare, reviewing the child’srecords, or picking the child up unless thedaycare has been provided with a copy of acurrent child custody order.ParkingThe daycare has a designated parking spaceadjacent to the daycare which is labeled withthe daycares address number (1225). Spacefor parking is limited and so to facilitate thepick-up and drop-off process all clients mustbe considerate and cannot stay in the unit’sdesignated parking space longer than 5minutes. Clients needing more time mustpark on Ramelli Street so that other clientswith quick drop-offs and pick-ups can parkin the designated parking spot. At no timeis parking in or blocking neighboringdriveways, neighboring parking spaces orred curbs allowed.NoisePlease be respectful to our neighbors andkeep loud music and excess noise to aminimum when dropping off or picking upchildren. We ask that you not honk yourhorn to announce your arrival or slam yourdoors at any time, especially during earlymorning hours.ReferralsReferrals from current clients are the biggestcompliments that we can receive. As a thankyou we offer families a discount of $50.00off of a week’s tuition payment for eachreferral that enrolls as a regular full or part-time client. The amount will be deductedfrom the next payment due after the referredchild has attended for four consecutiveweeks.Privacy PolicyHelping Hands Childcare will do all it can toprotect the privacy of the families that we dobusiness with. Records and informationabout the children and family’s will be keptprivate and confidential unless we haveconsent. In return we require that clientsrespect the privacy of the provider's familyby not sharing any information about thefamily and by not discussing specificcontract arrangements and rates with otherdaycare families without permission.RightsChildren’s RightsEach child has a right to be treated withdignity and to be in a safe, healthy andcomfortable environment.Corporal Punishment: Verbal or physicalpunishment of any kind will never be usedon any child even at the parent's request.It is the provider'slawful and moral duty to report suspectedabuse or neglect performed towards a child.Children's Protection Services and the PoliceDepartment Authorities will be notified if itappears that a child is being physically,sexually or emotionally abused, neglected orexploited.Child Abuse/Neglect:Parent’s RightsThe door is always open to our daycarefamilies during regular business hourshowever keep in mind that “open door” does16not mean unlocked. For our safety the dooris frequently locked. Regular clients with asteady schedule receive their own code tothe front door’s keyless entry system whichwill work according to the scheduled hours.These clients are welcome to come right in;other clients may have to knock.Also take into consideration that childrentend to “act out” in front of parents. Anyvisits should be kept at a maximum of 15minutes and never during nap/quiet time.Be aware that the child whose parent arrivesto check-in on things doesn’t understand thatthis is only a visit and expects to go homewith the parent. Please be mindful of thisand be prepared to take your child homeshould the child become extremely upset atthe time of your departure.Provider’s RightsAccess into the day care home may bedenied to any adult whose behavior presentsa risk such as aggressiveness, intoxication,behavior resembling that of someone who isunder the influence of drugs etc.Substitutes & EmployeesAt some point a substitute for the daycaremay be required or additional employeesmay be hired. All substitutes and employeesworking with the children will follow andmeet all requirements made by the licensingboard and will have the same responsibilitiesas the daycare provider.Policy RevisionsRevisions to policies in the parent/providercontract or in this handbook will be donewith a minimum of two weeks' notice unlessit is a new state regulation in which thesechanges will take place immediately.1718CHAPTER5TheProgramInfant & Toddler CurriculumWe provide infants and toddlers with thenecessary components of trust throughinteractions with warm, responsive andencouraging caregivers. We will provideinfants and toddlers experiences that helplearning through their environment withactivities that allow manipulation, imitationand through play that encourages them toparticipate. We will encourage positivesocial skills by providing the model andoffering guidance.Infants need to develop a basic securerelationship and trust in their caregivers andin their own ability. We will do this withfrequentphysicalcontact,sensitiveresponses to the infant’s signals (cries andsmiles), enthusiasm and providing routinesand experiences that teach consequences tothe child’s actions and provide for masteryover their environment.We will alsoprovide them with opportunities to makechoices and follow their own interests.Nap/Quiet TimeAll children are required to participate ineither nap time or quiet time from 12:00p.m. to 2:00 p.m. if they are in care duringthis time. If the child is under the age of fivethey will have an opportunity to participatein nap time. If the child is the age of five orolder then they will participate in quietactivities.At no time will a child be forced to sleepduring this time just as no child will beforced to stay awake. If a client chooses tohave their child not participate in sleep/quiettime and the child is under the age of fivethen the child should not be present duringthis time. This time is used by the provideras a chance to clean-up, eat, take a muchneeded break and prepare for the afternoon'sactivities.Field Trips & OutingsFrequently the children will be taken out foroutings to parks, schools or eventsthroughout the year. Client’s may choose toexclude their child from these outings butwill then be responsible for finding andfunding alternate care for these days.Vehicle TransportationOutings are sometimes planned where avehicle must be used. Child seats andboosters will be used to ensure the safety ofevery child.PetsWe are a pet friendly family and thereforemay have pets living in the home. Thechildren are required to respect these pets asany other member of the family.1920CHAPTER6AttendanceFull & Part Time AttendanceFull and part-time care is charged on a flatweekly rate which is based on enrollmentnot attendance. Any days that a child isabsent due to sickness, appointments, etc.will not be deducted. Clients must callbetween 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. if theirchild will be absent for the day. This allowsus to plan appropriately.If care for a child has variable andinconsistent hours and/or days, the daycaremust have the schedule two weeks inadvance. We reserve the right to denyservice if the schedule is not received ontime and tuition will still be due.Provider Sick DaysThe provider reserves five (5) paidsick/personal days in a calendar year. In thesituation that the provider becomes ill andcannot care for the children the daycare willbe closed and immediate notice will begiven. It is the parent’s responsibility tofind and fund alternate care for their child.VacationsA minimum of two weeks written noticeis required by either the client or theprovider before taking a vacation.Provider VacationThe provider is allotted 5 days of paidvacation at the normal weekly rate. Anyadditional days taken for vacation within thesame calendar year will not requirepayment. It is the client's responsibility tofind and fund alternative care during thistime. The provider's vacation is availablefor use immediately after the contractsigning. The provider’s vacation is paidregardless of any other term in the contractand the client is required to pay for theprovider’s vacation if the client terminatesthe child care contract and the child careprovider has not yet taken her vacationduring the current calendar year.Client VacationFull and part-time clients are allottedvacation time equal to that of the number ofdays per week that the child attends care,within a calendar year and payment is notexpected.For example: a part-time family that isprovided care 3 days per week will receive 3days of vacation per year.A second offering of vacation time withinthe same calendar year is also given at halfof the regular rate. Any vacation oradditional time taken after that will besubject to the normal rate. Vacation time forclients is available for their use after 6months of continuous care is provided oneither a full or part-time contract.It is encouraged that a client use theirvacation time, if they have any, during thetime that the provider goes on vacation(usually in the summer during the month ofJuly).Extended AbsencesIn cases of a child’s absence of fourconsecutive weeks or more, half of theamount of your fees will be required for theentire time of that absence to hold the child'sposition. Payment for this time must be21given in advance to cover the entire time ofleave and the provider must receive at least aone month advance written notice of theexact dates that the child will be away.Professional DevelopmentContinuous education in Child Developmentand other daycare related subjects may betaken some of which are required byCommunity Care Licensing and the daycaremay be closed. An effort to schedule theseprograms during nonoperational hours willbe made but is not always possible. Paymentfor these days will be expected as these willdirectly benefit your childHolidaysThe daycare will be closed on the followingholidays.These are PAID holidaystherefore full tuition will still be requiredand no credit will be given for these days. Ifany of the holidays stated below fall on aSaturday the holiday will be observed on theprevious Friday. If any holidays fall on aSunday, the holiday will be observed on thefollowing Monday. If a holiday falls on aSaturday or Sunday and the daycare isalready closed on the corresponding Fridayor Monday, then the holiday will beobserved on a corresponding Thursday orTuesday.For example, if Christmas Eve falls on aFriday and Christmas falls on a Saturday thedaycare will observe Christmas on theThursday before Christmas Eve and closethat day because the daycare will already beclosed on Friday.The client is responsible for finding andfunding alternate child care if care is neededon days when the daycare is closed for thefollowing holidays:???????????New Year's DayMartin Luther King Jr. DayPresident's DayMemorial DayIndependence DayLabor DayThanksgiving DayDay after ThanksgivingChristmas EveChristmas DayNew Year's Eve22CHAPTER7Supplies&FoodSupplies & ReplenishmentAll supplies brought from home must bemarked with the child’s name to preventmistaking them for another child’s’.The child care provider will help parentskeep track of when supplies need to bereplenished.ClothingChildren sometimes soil or dirty theirclothing which is normal during play. It isimportant to provide 2-3 complete changesof clothing for infants and 1-2 completechanges of clothing for toddlers and pre-school age children. This way a child can bechanged into clean clothing if needed.A complete set of clothing consists of ashirt/onsie, pants/shorts, socks, and a jacketor sweater. Instead of two piece outfits aone piece jumper can be left. Please bemindful of the current weather conditions.If a child is not toilet trained please makesure that the child’s clothing is easy toremove.Overalls, for example, areextremely troublesome.A child that becomes very dirty will bechanged and the dirty clothing will bewashed at daycare and placed back into thechild’s cubby so as to not deplete thedaycare’s supply. If clothing is soiled withfeces, the clothing will be placed in a plasticbag and returned to the parent at the end ofthe day. Due to licensing regulations thedaycare cannot wash or rinse the soiledclothing if it has feces on it.FootwearFootwear is required for all mobile children,even crawlers. Crawlers can wear softbooties or shoes and mittens or gloves. Thechildren often play outdoors on hard orrough surfaces and it is important to protecttheir hands and feet.Walking children are required to wearclosed toe footwear. Shoes must fit properlyto prevent the child from having anydiscomfort and to avoid unnecessary fallsfrom ill-fitting shoes. Shoes must be easy toput on such as those with Velcro straps orslip on shoes. Children must not wear shoeswith laces unless the child can tie their shoeswithout assistance. Remember that we carefor multiple children and it is very timeconsuming to tie shoes with laces thatcontinuously become untied during play.Bottles & CupsWe supply all cups here at daycare. Theonly exception is bottles which should beprovided by the parents. Parents can alwaysopt to provide their own cup if they choose.These cups must be labeled with the child’sname. Cups brought from home will berinsed out and returned to the parent daily.Diapering SuppliesA good amount of disposable diapers andwipes must be supplied. The provider willnotify the parents when supplies run low.Cloth DiapersThe daycare also provides cloth diaperingservices. All cloth diapering supplies mustbe provided by the client. Only pocket23diapers can be used and a wet bag largeenough for the day’s soiled diapers must beprovided daily. It is a good idea to providethe daycare with back-up disposable diapersjust in case we run out of cloth diapers.Because of health & safety licensingregulations, soiled cloth diapers cannot berinsed or washed at the daycare. Werecommend the use of flushable liners forthe cloth diapers so that the liner catchesmost of the excrement. We will remove theliner and flush it and the soiled cloth diaperswill be placed in the wet bag and returned tothe parent at the end of the day.Blankets & PillowsPillows are not used in the daycare. Ablanket will be provided by the daycare foreach child. These will washed on a weeklybasis unless they are dirtied, in which casethey will immediately be washed.Security ObjectsAny security objects that the child has anattachment to such as a pacifier or stuffedanimals should also be brought. Theseobjects make the child feel safe and secure.Stuffed animals with eyes/accessories sewnon that can easily fall or be pulled off andswallowed should be checked frequently oravoided as it presents a choking hazard.Forgotten SuppliesShould a parent forget a needed supply oritem and it is on hand, the daycare willprovide it. In the case that the needed supplyor item is not on hand, it will be purchasedfor the parent. In either case the parent willbe required to reimburse the daycare for thecost of the item.The daycare has some “loaner” clothing andshoes which we may be able to use should aparent forget to provide these for their child.In most cases the child will be changed intothe “loaners” and their clothing washedduring the day then changed back into theiroriginal clothes.If there is insufficient time to wash and drydirty clothes or if clothing is soiled withfeces, the child will be changed into“loaner” clothing and the child’s dirtyclothing will be placed into a plastic bag andreturned to the parent. The child will beallowed to wear the daycare’s “loaner”clothing home but it will need to be returnedthe next day. This applies to shoes as well.If “loaner” clothing or shoes are not returneda fee will be applied to the client’s nexttuition payment. It is not necessary to washthe “loaner” items, just to return them.Meals & SnacksNutritionally balanced meals and snacks areprovided to all children at no additional costto the client. Breakfast, lunch, supper andtwo snacks will be served throughout theday at scheduled times. Children must arrivebefore these times to participate.NO EXCEPTIONS.Meal Schedule:Breakfast:7:00 - 7:20 a.m.Snack:9:00 - 9:15 a.m.Lunch:11:40 - 12:00 p.m.Snack:2:00 - 2:15 p.m.Supper:4:00 - 4:20 p.m.24Food from HomeWe do not offer specialized menus. If achild has special dietary needs (vegetarian,allergies etc.) food can be provided fromhome for the child and served at the daycare.Chips, soda, sweets or gum are not allowed.InfantsInfants are fed on demand. A feedingschedule will not be followed at daycareunless for medical reasons and if an infant’sfeeding schedule is provided by the child’sphysician.Breastmilk & FormulaIf an infant is fed breast milk parents canprovide the breastmilk either fresh or frozen.Let the provider know at drop-off so that itcan be refrigerated and/or frozen.The daycare provides Kirkland formula atno additional cost to the parents. A parentcan provide their own choice of infantformula if they wish. If this is the case, theparent must supply an un-opened can offormula. This can of formula must belabeled with the child’s name and left at thedaycare.Breast milk and prepared formula will beplaced in the daycare’s refrigerator and/orfreezer. All bottles and containers of breastmilk and formula must be labeled with yourchild’s name; this is a requirement of ourlicense.First FoodsIf a child eats first foods parents must supplythis food. This food must be commerciallyprepared and packaged (such as jarred food)and labeled with the child’s name. Once thechild turns 2 parents will no longer berequired to supply their child’s food unlessthey wish to continue their child to eat first-foods.Older ChildrenToddlers, pre-school age children and schoolage children will be served age and dietappropriate meals and snacks in accordanceto the USDA food program guidelines.Beverage ProvisionsWhenever milk is served, the daycare willonly serve low-fat (one percent) or nonfatmilk to children two years of age or older.Other children drinking dairy milk will beserved whole milk.Juice is very rarely served in daycare as aspecial treat. The daycare serves fruit themajority of the time and when juice isserved the daycare limits juice to not morethan one serving per day. The daycare alsodoes not serve beverages with addedsweeteners (natural or artificial). Freshfiltered drinking water is available andaccessible to the children throughout theday.DonationsDonations are not required but greatlyappreciated. They help keep our costs down.2526CHAPTER8Health&SafetyWe like to be prepared for the worst ratherthan be caught unprepared in a difficultsituation. We have preventative safetypolicies in case of an emergency or medicaldisaster.Sick PolicyWe understand that all children have minorillnesses from time to time that do notprevent them from participating in daycare;however, there are certain circumstanceswhere children should not attend.Please understand that although it is aninconvenience for a parent to take time offof work when a child cannot attend daycare,there are reasons for the exclusion.Many times an ill child doesn’t feel wellenough to participate comfortably inactivities and the ill child requires more carethan the provider is able to provide withoutcompromising the health and safety of theother children.Symptoms for ExclusionKeep your children home if they exhibit anyof the listed symptoms. Children must beexcluded for 24 hours after the symptoms ofthe illness have subsided without the aid ofmedication. Do not confuse this with 24hours after the onset of symptoms. If a childis sent home sick, a minimum of 48 hoursexclusion will be required.Keep in mind that fever reducers and painrelievers do not cure illnesses, they simplymask symptoms. Do not send a sick child todaycare by giving a fever/pain reducer tomask the symptom. The effects of themedication will eventually wear off (usuallybetween 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. if given inthe morning) and it will be obvious to thechild care provider that the child was givenmedication.A child will not be able to attend daycare ifhe/she exhibits any symptoms for exclusion.Those include, but are not limited to:?Severe sore throat/coughing/colds or strepthroat.Fever of 100° or above.FGreen/yellow discharge from nose or eyes.Ear discharge.Head lice, nits or scabies.Three or more watery stools within 24 hours.Two or more occasions of vomiting within 24hours.Severe diaper rash.Chicken pox.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).Mumps, measles, influenza, pertussis(whooping cough), coupe, impetigo,tuberculosis, rubella, rosella, etc.Any type of body rash.Intestinal worms, ringworms, pin worms etc.Anything contagious and transmittable.If the child is too tired or fussy to participatein normal activities.??????????????It is at the discretion of the child careprovider to determine whether or not achild can attend daycare. If the childcareprovider deems that the child is not wellenough to attend the child is to be takenhome.If a child becomes ill the parent’s will becontacted and the child will need to bepicked up within one hour. During the time27spent waiting the ill child will be separatedfrom the other children, comforted andgiven the opportunity to rest.If a child becomes ill at home please call thedaycare provider so that she can look out forsigns of any illnesses that could spreadthroughout the daycare.Universal Health PrecautionsStaff and children's hands are washed beforepreparing, handling or eating food, aftertoileting or diapering and after contact withblood and anytime that hands become dirty.MedicationThe child care provider will not administerany type of medications at daycare. Thisincludes prescription and non-prescriptionmedications. If a child needs medications ofany kind a dosage schedule must be set upthat does not include the hours that the childis in care. Parents must notify the child careprovider if their child is on any type ofmedication so that the child care providercan be watchful of possible reactions to themedication.If a child is given any kind of pain relieveror fever reducer at home the child is unableto attend daycare for 24 hours after the lastdosage was ical products such as lotion, diaper rashointment, sunscreen, children’s toothpaste,etc. are the only exception but requirewritten consent. Topical products must beprovided by the parents in unopened andoriginal containers and labeled with thechild’s name.HygieneChildren are to arrive clean and bathed.Children still in diapers must arrive in afresh and clean diaper.Children will be encouraged to learn goodhygiene habits. Children will be guided towash their hands with soap and water beforeand after meals and snacks, after using thetoilet, and before engaging in any cookingactivity or water play.ImmunizationsA copy every child's immunization recordsmust be kept in each child's file. If for anyreason a parent chooses not to have the childimmunized, a "Personal Beliefs Affidavit"must be completed and kept in the child'sfile instead.Children are required to stay home for aminimum of 48 hours after beingimmunized. Children exhibiting symptomsfor exclusion due to immunizations muststill stay home 24 hours past the time thatthe symptoms subside.It is recommended that a child’simmunizations be scheduled on Fridayafternoons to minimize the time that a parentmust take off from work. This way thechild’s required recovery time can passduring the weekend.Cleaning & DisinfectingThe home is not always spotless as the mainconcern is the care of the children. Childrenare children after all and the home maycommonly have toys lying around but a28standard of cleanliness must be maintained.All toys will be cleaned and disinfected on aregular basis and time will be taken to cleanand disinfect the daycare home during non-operational hours and nap-times.SmokingThe daycare home has always been a non-smoking environment and so smoking isprohibited on the property at all times.Please be courteous to the provider and tothe children and not smoke near anyentrances or windows so that smoke doesnot come into the home.Emergency ContactsEach client must have on file a list of namesand phone numbers of emergency contacts.The emergency contacts are persons in thearea who are authorized by the parent(s) topick up and/or care for the child in case ofillness or emergency when the parent cannotbe reached.Please be sure the persons whose names aregiven are aware that they have been listedfor this purpose and that the daycare will askfor identification of any person with whomthey are not familiar. If a parent won’t be atthe number which they have listed duringthe child’s day at daycare, they must leave anote with the child care provider and/or onthe sign-in sheet with the number at whichthey can be reached. It is the parent’sresponsibility to update the child’s records.Written authorization is required for changesin this respect. Children will only bereleased to persons whose name is listedas an authorized person.Emergency PolicyBumps and scratches are inevitable eventhough every effort is made to keep thechildren safe through supervision and child-proofing. Please expect that children mayexperience a minor scrape or bruise fromchild play.Emergency plans are easily accessible at alltimes in the unlikely event that anemergency takes place. You are free toreview the emergency policies at any time.Minor InjuriesIf a minor accident occurs, first aid will beapplied. Cuts and scrapes will be washedwith soap and water and a bandage applied.If the injury is not life-threatening, butrequires further treatment, the parent will becontacted first, then the emergency contactin the event that the parent cannot bereached.An incident report will be completed for allaccidents that leave a mark or involve a hardfall and a copy will be given to the child'sparent upon arrival.Medical EmergenciesIf an emergency injury occurs, emergencypersonnel will be called first and parent willbe called next. If a parent cannot be reached,calls will be made to the individuals listedon the child's emergency contact form. Allemergency personnel recommendations willbe followed. If necessary a child may betransported by ambulance to the nearesthospital. A substitute will be called to staywith the remaining children and thechildcare provider will accompany theinjured child to the hospital and wait withthe child until either the parent or29emergency contact person arrives. Anincident report will be completed and a copywill be given to the child's parent. Theincident will be reported to the licensingoffice by the childcare provider. Parents areresponsible for costs involved in medicaltreatment including any transportationrequired.FireThere is a fire extinguisher located in theliving room closet as well as smokedetectors on each level of our home. If thereis a fire that cannot be extinguished quickly,the children will be evacuated immediatelybefore calling 911.Utility OutagesIn case of a situation when the power, heator water is turned off in the daycare homewhich lasts more than 2 hours the providerwill call each parent and the children willneed to be picked up and taken home for theremainder of the day. This is a requirementof our license.Evacuation ProceduresAn evacuation for emergencies may occurwhen there is a loss of power, heat or water,or in the case of a fire or natural disaster.In the case of a fire or natural disasterevacuation will occur in accordance with thelocal Fire Department's recommendations asidentified in the emergency policy. Thedaycare provider will retrieve the portablefirst-aid kit and daycare binder. The childrenwill then be accounted for based on the day'sattendance sheet then led out of the daycarehome to the designated evacuation meetingplace. The childcare provider will againaccount for all children.Fire Evacuation DrillsFire drills will be conducted monthly asdetermined by the childcare provider inaccordance with local Fire Departmentguidelines. All fire evacuation drills will bedocumented in the Fire Drill Log Form andkept in the daycare binder.The emergency evacuation meeting area willbe the residence listed under a). If that areais deemed to be unsafe or unavailable at thetime of evacuation then the meeting areawill be that listed under b).1) Your Street AddressYour City, State and Zip2) Open grassy area on the corner ofYour cross-streetEmergency SuppliesThe daycare home is equipped withemergency supplies for an unlikely eventthat there is an emergency. The followingitems are included in the emergencysupplies:3 day emergency food supply for eachchild.Flashlights with extra batteries.Sealed water.Change of clothes for each child.Hygiene supplies.Emergency blankets.First Aid Supplies..30CHAPTER9ChildPracticesToilet TrainingAssistance with toilet training will beprovided with the understanding that it isexactly that, assistance. The child careprovider will assist with toilet training whilethe major part of toilet training is done athome.Toilet training must first begin at homewhen the child shows signs of readiness.After toilet training has been introduced athome and once the child shows signs ofinterest and can notify the child careprovider that he/she must use the toilet thentraining will begin here as well.Toilet training at daycare will begin intraining diapers and will continue to be useduntil the child can use the toilet successfullyand unassisted. When the child canaccomplish this for two-weeks without anaccident the child is ready to use children'sunderwear at daycare. If the child has anaccident in underwear the child will go backto training diapers until another two weekshave gone by without an accident. If anotheraccident occurs the two week period willstart over. Once the child can successfullyuse the toilet unassisted for two weeks, pottytraining can be considered successfulDaycare RulesThe following rules are to be followed byeveryone at the daycare.Helping HandsListening EarsRespectful VoicesLooking EyesWalking FeetBasis of the RulesThere are three principals that the daycarerules are based on:You may not hurt yourselfYou may not hurt othersYou may not hurt thingsWe will teach all of the children that we useour hands constructively to help each otherand to use gentle touches. We listen to eachother and especially to the provider. Wespeak respectfully, ask politely for thingsand speak with calm indoor voices when weare inside.We pay attention to oursurroundings and to the provider. Andfinally, we walk in the house at all times.Adequate ClothingChildren must arrive in comfortable clothingsuitable for the current weather conditionsand temperature. We will be participating indaily outdoor activities as weather permits.New clothes are not necessary and suggestedagainst. We will do our best to prevent yourchild from getting dirty but it is not alwaysavoidable. In the case that a child's clothingbecome soiled or damaged, the childcareprovider will not be held responsible.Personal PropertyToys, materials and equipment are providedfor the children by Helping HandsChildcare. It highly recommended againstallowing children to bring personal toys orbelongings from home as they may break,may pose a safety or choking hazard, or may31not be suitable for all ages of the children incare. The daycare will not be responsiblefor a children’s lost or broken personalproperty.Behavior PolicyIt is Helping Hands Childcare's policy toencouragepositivebehavior.Anyunacceptable behavior will be dealt withonly after considering the child's age, stageof development and level of understanding.The children will be allowed time to practiceobeying new rules before guiding them. Werealize that young children have limitedmemories and may not recall a new rulewithout plenty of practice.Guidance (Discipline)Children are never punished for lapses intoilet training or for accidents such as spilleddrinks or food for example.Please keep in mind that there will bedisagreements between children. Youngchildrenwhoarenotadeptatcommunication have a hard time expressingtheir feelings. Sometimes they hit, pinch orthrow toys etc. This is normal behavior inmost cases, however this is stillunacceptable behavior in group care and westrive to teach the children about appropriatebehavior.To guide a child we will implementdevelopmentally appropriate techniquessuch as positive reinforcement, forestalling,redirection, active listening, and calm-downtime. We like to use strategies to engagechildren in their own problem solving.If a negative behavior becomes a consistentproblem, the client will be notified of thesituation. If a child remains unruly, theclient will be called to remove the child forthe remainder of the day. Please keep inmind there is more than one child to care forand if all energy is spent on any one childthat misbehaves or acts difficult, theprovider would not be able to give the kindof care that the other children require.If inappropriate behavior or something of amore serious nature occurs that is a threat tothe safety of the child or other children,these matters will be discussed with theclient of the offending child so that a plan ofaction can be made. If the problem cannotbe resolved within a reasonable amount oftime then arrangements may need to bemade for the child to receive care elsewhere.Verbal AltercationsIf a child is involved in a verbal altercationwith another child an opportunity for thechildren to express sentiments will be madeand they will be asked to reach a consensus.Both children will then be redirected todifferent activities.Physical AltercationsWhen a child physically hurts another childit is upsetting to all involved including thechildren, parents and the provider. Childrenwho are aggressive are more likely to berejected as playmates and will oftencontinue to have problems getting along asthey get older. Therefore, it is important towork with the child and to teach moreacceptable behavior as early as possible.It is not unusual for young children to push,hit or grab to get attention. They have notyet developed the skills to make their needsknown.Children with limited motorcontrol, verbal and social skills are likely toexperience frustration and may resort to32physical means. Other reasons that maycause a child to act out may includeboredom, tiredness, illness, hunger, over-stimulation, transitions and major changes inthe child’s life that may cause stress (newsibling, new home, parent separation, etc.).With consistent messages from adults at homeand at daycare, young children will learn theskills they need to solve problems withouthurting other children.If a child is involved in a physicalaltercation an opportunity for the children toexpress sentiments will be made and theywill be asked to reach a consensus. Clearlimits will be set and the offending child willbe told, “You are not allowed to hurt anotherchild here, this is a safe place and I can’t letyou hurt others.” A younger child withlimited language skills will simply be told“No hit” or “No hurt”.The childcare provider will try to help thechild understand how the hurt child feels bydiscussing how nobody likes to be hurt.Both children will then be redirected todifferent activities.BitingBiting causes more upset feelings than anyother behavior in child care programs. It isimportant for the provider and parents toaddress this behavior when it occurs.Children may bite for many differentreasons therefore a child that has shown thedesire to bite will be watched carefully to tryand determine any “triggers”.When a child bites (or intends to bite)another child the daycare provider willquickly but calmly intervene. The childcareprovider will briefly talk to the offendingchild about how biting is not acceptable.For a child with limited language the childwill simply told “No bite”.The provider will then point out how thebiter’s behavior affected the other child.“You hurt him and he’s crying.” The bittenchild will be encouraged to tell the biter howhe/she feels and will be comforted. If theskin is broken, the wound will be washedwith mild soap and water, bandaged andthen an ice pack will be applied to preventswelling. The biter will be encouraged tohelp the other child by getting the ice pack,etc.The parents of both the bitten child and thechild who bit will be called and notified.The provider will tell what happened butwill not name or label the child who bit.A plan of action will be made with theparents of the child that bit on how toprevent and handle future biting. If bitingcontinues a meeting with the parents of thechild who is biting will be made to plan amore concentrated plan of action. The childwho bit will be closely “shadowed”.When the child bites, the child will beremoved from the area or activity where thebiting took place and the child will beredirected to another activity. If a child stillcontinues to bite or does not seem to mindthe consequences, the parent will berecommended of the possibility that thechild may need an environment with fewer33children or one with more one-on-one adultattention.DamagesPlease respect the childcare provider, herprofession, home and family. A certainamount of normal wear and tear is expectedwhere children are concerned however; wewould not want to have the home"destroyed".Intentional DamagesWe believe children are responsible for theiractions and we teach them to respect otherpeoples' property. If a child intentionallydamages the home, toys, furnishings,equipment, or other property the parent willbe responsible for paying for or replacingthe damaged item(s). The amount fordamaged item(s) will be assessed andresearched by the provider and will includeonly the cost of replacing the item, orsimilar item if an exact replacement cannotbe found, and any fees such as tax, shipping,delivery etc. if applicable.34CHAPTER10TerminationAlthough it's sad to see a child go from ourdaycare sometimes it is a necessary thing.Family's move, family's home situationschange and children all start schoolsomeday. It is sad to say goodbye and tomake this transition easier for everyone thedaycare has put termination policies inplace.Parent WithdrawalTwo full weeks of advanced notice arerequired in writing to cancel a client’scontract.Termination notices will only be acceptedon Fridays and notices cannot be given ondays that the daycare is closed such asholidays or during the provider's vacation.The child’s final two-weeks of child carecannot overlap onto the child care provider'svacation time. If this occurs, the time thatthe child care provider is on vacation willnot count towards the child’s final twoweeks and payment for the child careprovider's vacation will still be required.For example:If a client gives their two week notice ofwithdrawal one week before the child careprovider is to go on vacation then thefollowing week will count as one weektowards the child’s final two weeks of careand the second week of the child’s final twoweeks of care will begin again the weekafter the child care provider returns from hervacation.Payment for the child’s final two weeks ofcare is required regardless of whether or notthe child attends daycare during that time.Payment for the child care provider’svacation will also be due if the client isterminating care before the child careprovider has had the opportunity to take herpaid vacation time.The security deposit will be used towardspaying for the child’s final two weeks ofcare providing that a proper written twoweeks' notice was given and that there areno outstanding fees owed.If there are outstanding fees owed, thesecurity deposit will be used to pay theoutstanding fees. If a balance of the securitydeposit remains it will then be used towardspayment of the final two weeks of childcare. If there is no security deposit balanceand moneys are still owed, the client willstill be financially responsible for payingthose moneys owed including the final twoweeks of care.If proper notice of termination is not giventhe security deposit is forfeited and anyoutstanding fees, tuition fees, child careprovider’s vacation time and late paymentfees as well as the final two weeks of carewill still be owed by the client.Provider TerminationThe Provider has the right to terminate theparent/provider contract at any time without35notice. In most cases the child care providerwill give a two weeks’ notice in writing.The Provider, however, reserves the right toterminate service immediately under anycircumstances including, but not limited to:Failure to comply with the policies set forthin this handbook or contract.Contesting and/or attempting to negotiatethe contract and/or policies.Scheduling conflicts.Failure to complete required forms by theirrequired due date.Disruptive or hurtful behavior of a child thatpersists.Disruptive or hurtful behavior of a child thatpersists due to lack of cooperation byparent.Intentionally and frequently bringing an illchild to the daycare.Intentionally bringing an ill child to thedaycare and masking the illness withmedication.Non-payment of childcare fees orpersistently late and/or recurring latepayment fees.Failure to bring child for five days in a rowwithout any communication.Helping Hands Childcare's inability to meetthe child's needs without additional staff,equipment and/or remodeling of thechildcare home.Blatant deliberate disrespect or damage tothe provider's home, family, furnishings orother belongings by a child, parent or otherperson which picks the child up.Any behavior by a parent that poses apossible risk to the other children in caresuch as (but not limited to) being under theinfluence of alcohol and/or drugsOther erratic behavior deemed unsafe ordisrespectful by the child care provider.36 ................
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