|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mon. |
07:30am - 05:00pm |
|
|
|
|
|
Tue. |
07:30am - 05:00pm |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed. |
07:30am - 05:00pm |
|
|
|
|
|
Thu. |
07:30am - 05:00pm |
|
|
|
|
|
Fri. |
07:30am - 05:00pm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sat. |
Closed |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun. |
Closed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |  | Backyard | | | Playground | | | Residential neighborhood | | | | Central A/C | | | Full kitchen | | | | Educational program | | | Experienced with children with special needs | | | Financial subsidies available | | | Government accreditation (license) | | | References available upon request | | | Services available at night | | | Services available in English | | | Services available in French | | | Services available on weekends | | | Services available part-time | | | Temporary care available |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Approximate location)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Family / home daycare,
dayhome |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nb. of openings |
Age group |
Starting |
Daily rate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| No available spaces / openings at this time ! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PARENT HANDBOOK
If you’re like me, you are terrified of leaving your child in the hands of someone else. This is the main reason I have decided to open my own daycare. I, like many mothers, feel like there is no one better suited to raise my child than me and I carry that philosophy over to how I would provide care for your child.
Objectives
• To provide a social setting for children where they can express themselves through play and creative activities.
• To provide play experiences which stimulate learning and intellectual development, which encourage independence and self-confidence.
• To provide supervision which sets the parameters of the children’s activity and encourages the children to stay within those limits.
• To provide a strong relationship between me, parents, and the children
• To provide learning experiences through activities such as crafts, games, music, and stories.
The Childcare Provider
Although I'm not their mother,
I care for them each day.
I cuddle, sing, and read to them,
And watch them as they play.
I see each new accomplishment,
and help them grow and learn,
I understand their language,
and I listen with concern.
They come to me for comfort,
And I kiss away their tears.
They proudly show their work to me,
I give the loudest cheers!
No, I am not their mother,
But my role is just as strong.
I nurture them and keep them safe,
Though maybe not for long.
I know someday the time may come,
When we will have to part,
But I know each child I've cared for
Is forever in my heart!
~author unknown
Schedules and Trial Period
Schedules are required to be given to me at least 2 weeks in advance. If you can give it to me earlier I greatly appreciate it. The first 2 weeks that your child attends are considered a trial period wherein either you or I can end the child care arrangements without the normally required 2 week notice period.
Rates and Payment
My rates are $20 a day if your child is over the age of 2, and $25 a day if your child is under the age of 2. For half days (anything under 4 hours) I charge $18 for under 2 and $13 for over 2. For part time children I have a 3 full day minimum policy, this means that you will be billed for a minimum of 3 full days per week (A total of $60/week for children over 2 and $75/week for children under 2). Bills will be issued weekly on Fridays. Payment will be expected within the following 7 days after billing. I will issue tax receipts at the end of the year. I can accept cash or personal checks (checks dated past the billing due date will not be accepted).
Additional Fees
LATE PAYMENT - If payment is made past the 7 day period a late fee will be added to your bill. You will be charged $2 per day that you are late.
LATE PICK-UP - If you are late picking up your child, from the time that you have indicated on your schedule, you will have a 15 minute grace period. After that you will be charged $1/ min. that you are late.
NSF CHECKS - In the event that a check bounces you will no longer be able to pay by check, only by cash, and you will have to pay an NSF check fee of $20.
Sick Days and Absences
You will be charged for the days that your child attends daycare. If your child is going to be absent on a day he/she was scheduled to be in I require 24 hours notice, if you fail to do so you will still be billed for that day. If you fail to notify me by phone that your child will be absent you will also be charged a No Show Fee of $15 in addition to your daily rate.
If your child is sick and you phone me ahead of time you will not be charged for that day but I would appreciate it if you would give me as much notice as possible. If your child attends daycare and has to be sent home due to illness you will still be charged for that day. A child who appears ill upon arrival shall not be admitted. I use a green light, yellow light, red light system to help you determine whether or not to bring your child that day:
Green Light: No problem, bring the child in - Child is acting well, eating and drinking and playing as usual, or is “cranky” or “sleepy” (with no fever)
Yellow light: Bring child in, child will be monitored throughout the day - Child has runny nose, dry cough (cough medicine will NOT be given), low grade fever (with no other symptoms), is sneezing, has “common cold”, or sore throat (mild)
Red Light: Child stays home until symptom free for 24 hours - Child is vomiting, has high fever (101 F.), hacking or continuous cough, rash, flu, diarrhea, yellow or green runny nose, sore throat (severe), or chills (This means if a child is sick throughout the night, the child CANNOT attend the daycare)
Obviously, it is not possible to prevent the spread of all illness. However, minimizing exposure and providing good hygienic practices in the daycare home are means by which I can limit the problem and the resulting inconvenience. Please remember that if your child has to stay home for a day it only affects you and I, but if I become ill due to an illness brought into my home then it affects everyone because I would have to close the daycare. I reserve the right to determine whether a child should remain in the home where illness is a consideration. Parents of children who become ill during the day will be promptly notified and are expected to arrange to pick up their child immediately. If the parent cannot be reached, the person designated as the emergency contact will be notified.
Withdrawal
Written notice of permanent withdrawal must be given two weeks prior to your child’s last day (The exception to this rule is if you are still in the 2 week trial period). If notice is not given, you will still be charged for your scheduled days for the 2 week period following your child’s last day. If you fail to inform me that your child will not be returning please be advised that you will also be charged the No Show Fee of $15 a day in addition to your scheduled daily rate until you notify me that your child will not be returning. I reserve the right to immediately end care for non-payment, behavior of the child (which is harmful to the physical or emotional well being of the other children), failure to respect me, my home, or my neighborhood, or failure to abide by my policies.
Holidays/Vacations
I will be closed on holidays. I will inform you in advance which days those will be. Generally speaking, they will be statutory holidays (Easter, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Years). I will take one vacation period at Christmas time and one in the summer, each will be 1 week in length (possibly 2 weeks, depending on the circumstances). The dates are as of yet undecided but I will inform you well in advance when I will be closed so that you may make other child care arrangements. I will not be billing you for these vacation days. If your vacation time coincides with mine you will not be charged. However, if it does NOT coincide with mine I will charge you for half price for the days your child would have normally attended. This will allow me to hold your child’s spot without losing my income.
Drop-off and Pick-up
I would appreciate it if your child is dropped off and picked up at the time you have indicated on your schedule, as indicated above there will be fees for late pick-up. If another person other than yourself is going to be picking up your child please let me know in advance. If the person picking up your child is not on your child’s pick up list I require written permission from you, telephone permission will not do! Please inform others that I will ask them for identification until I get to know who they are. For your child’s safety, I will never release them to an unidentified person.
Please do not leave your car running and unattended in the driveway and do not allow your child to play near the vehicles at any time. Your child must exit my home with you (or the designated pick-up person). I assume responsibility for your child only while he/she is on my property. If the person picking up the child appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, another authorized person will be called to pick-up both the child and the adult. Court Order: If there is a court order keeping one parent or guardian away from the child, I must have a written note from the custodial parent or guardian in my file to that effect. Otherwise, I cannot prevent the non- custodial parent from picking up the child.
Arrival
When your child arrives at daycare, please assist them in removing outerwear before you leave.
It is normal for your child to cry on arrival, especially for the first few weeks. Please make your goodbye brief and tell your child exactly when you will be returning. The crying usually stops within seconds of your departure. You are welcome to listen outside the door. Never leave without telling your child goodbye.
Please be in control of your child during drop off and pick up times. This is a time of testing when two different authority figures are present (parent and provider) and this situation will be tested at one time or another to see if the rules still apply. I will remind your child if inappropriate behaviors are being displayed. Children of all ages adjust to transitions from one activity to another differently. Most do not like to be too rushed and most do not like to wait too long once they are ready to depart.
Toys from Home
Please do NOT send any toys from home with your child. If your child needs a special toy or item for sleeping, it will be allowed, but it will remain set aside until Rest Time. I assume NO responsibility for lost, stolen, or broken toys from home.
Dress Code
Please dress your child appropriately and for the current weather. Your child is not required to wear footwear in the house. However, during colder weather the basement can be on the cool side and I recommend that you send your child with a pair of slippers for them to wear incase their feet get cold. The activities may be messy so please do not send your child in clothing that you do not want stained. In the summer sunscreen and bug spray will be provided for outdoor play. If your child requires special sunscreen please inform me and send it with your child so I can keep a bottle of it at daycare. You also need to supply a complete change of clothing in case of an accident, when toilet training it may be necessary to send more than one change of clothing. If the child has no spare clothing, the parent will be called to bring some.
Medications
No child will be given any medication, prescription or over the counter, unless written permission is given by the parent. Prescription medication shall have the child’s name, name of medication, Doctor’s name, name of pharmacy, prescription number, date, and directions for administering. The medication must be in the original container as dispensed by the pharmacy.
Meals and Snacks
Lunches are parent provided and is served at 11:15 a.m.; please send a healthy meal and a drink that your child will be able to feed him/herself. Lunch time can be very busy for me and I do not always have the time to sit with a child to feed them their lunch. I have a small fridge and microwave available if the meal needs to be refrigerated or heated. If you happen to forget to send a lunch with your child I will provide it and charge you an appropriate amount for the meal. I will provide pre-prepared snacks for all children, one in the morning (8:00 a.m.) and one in the afternoon (3:00 p.m.). They will consist of healthy foods (example: apple sauce, cut up fruit and vegetables, cheese, crackers, yogurt, muffins, cereal, toast, milk, 100% fruit juice, etc). If your child is on formula and requires bottles you must bring enough prepared bottles to last throughout the day. Snack time is an important part of daycare, providing energy for hungry tummies while teaching the importance of sitting together and enjoying good food. In an effort to teach the importance of nutritious foods and enjoyment of these foods, I request that parent provide healthy meals. This will help the children begin to identify healthy food choices and provide good fuel for their minds and bodies, making learning and participating in daycare more enjoyable.
If your child has an allergy to a specific food, please let me know. In the case that I do have children with allergies parents will be advised and that food will no longer be allowed in the daycare.
Backyard Play
I will try to spend at least some time of each day playing outside with the children. I believe getting outside and staying active is very important for growing minds. With your permission I will take the children on outings to the park or for short walks around the block. Almost all outdoor activity will take place in my backyard under my supervision.
Field Trips
You will be informed in advance if we are taking a field trip. Field Trips, weather permitting, will be within walking distance of the daycare (park, police station, fire hall, etc). If transportation is needed arrangements will be made in advance and a second permission slip regarding the field trip and transportation will be presented to the parents.
Pets
We have 2 cats and 2 dogs and they are friendly and loving animals. They have been certified as healthy by a veterinarian and are current on all immunizations. The children will be exposed to the animals in small amounts but daily aspects of care for the pets are not involved. The dogs will be kept on the upper level. However, the cats have free roam in the house.
Celebrating Holidays/Birthdays
I honor and celebrate major holidays and all children’s birthdays. If you would like to bring a special treat for the children please arrange this with me ahead of time so we can discuss any possibly food allergy issues.
Rest Period
All children under the age of 5 will have the opportunity to have a nap. No child is forced to sleep.
Older children, and those who wake early, will participate in a quiet activity until Rest Time is over.
Television
LIMITED television viewing includes channels such as Treehouse, The family channel, PBS, and CBC. Programs viewed on these channels will be age appropriate or educational programs. Programs containing violence are not allowed and will not be tolerated. Occasionally a child appropriate video chosen by me will be available to watch. Children are NEVER required to sit and watch TV, and TV is not offered in place of Free Play or Learning Activities.
Diapering
Diapers and diaper cream will be parent provided. You are welcome to leave a supply here and I will ensure they are only used for your child and inform you when they are running low. I will provide wipes and baby powder. If you are out of diapers and I must provide one for your child you will be charged $1 per diaper.
Toy Cleaning
For hygienic reasons, I will wash my toys on a regular basis. I will clean them with a solution of water and vinegar which is safe for your children.
Hand Washing
I am strict about bathroom hygiene and insist the children wash their hands often throughout the day. For the little ones, I have plenty of wet wipes on hand.
House Rules
1. No hitting, biting, pinching, throwing, pushing, hair pulling, or otherwise hurting yourself or others.
2. No intentionally breaking anything. Should the child deliberately destroy my toys or other property through misuse or willfulness, the parent will be required to replace it.
3. No running, jumping, wrestling, etc. in the house or on the furniture.
4. No picking up other children.
5. No leaving the house or yard without permission (no one is allowed outside without adult supervision, even when parents are here).
6. No name-calling, yelling, foul language or teasing—everyone deserves to be treated with respect.
7. All food and drink will remain in the eating area.
Child Abuse/Neglect
I am required by law to report any suspected signs of child abuse and/or neglect. This includes any form of physical punishment used by the parents in my home.
Contact Information
It is important that all family information be kept up to date: home and work phone numbers, emergency contacts, authorized release persons, etc. Please submit any changes to me immediately.
Emergencies
In the event that a child requires immediate medical attention, every effort will be made to contact the parent or guardian, or the emergency contact person of the child involved. If none of the listed can be reached, a taxi or an ambulance may be called to transport the child to the hospital. All expenses incurred will be billed to the parents or guardians. A parent or guardian is required to sign an ambulance waiver at the time of registration in the event that an ambulance is needed for a child during his/her time at daycare.
Incident Reports
An incident report is a document which records unusual incidents. An incident report may be filed for any of the following reasons: injury; aggressive or unusual behavior; illness; or, any other incident that is out of the ordinary.
Head Lice
As head lice is spread through close head to head contact or sharing personal items such as hats, it is essential I be informed of any cases to prevent the spread of lice between children. I recognize, that while embarrassing, contracting head lice has little to do with personal hygiene and is absolutely no reflection on a child or his/her family. When a case of head lice is discovered please contact me immediately. Personal information will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed to any other parent or child. Parents are responsible to seek proper medical treatment, which is available without a prescription at any local pharmacy. At least one round of treatment must be completed, followed by seven days before your child may return to daycare. Once a round of treatment has been completed, washing combs, brushes, hats, coats, sheets, and pillowcases, etc. may help prevent further infestation. Please ensure all nits have been removed from your child’s hair prior to their return to daycare. Parents will be notified so that they may watch for possible infection in their own children. If you have further questions regarding head lice you may contact Public Health at 239-3485.
Allergic Reactions
From time to time, children enrolled in the daycare may have allergies, including food allergies and insect allergies. Some types of allergic reactions can be very severe and require immediate intervention and medical attention. When a child with a severe allergy is enrolled in the daycare, a procedure specific to that child will be drafted, ensuring I am prepared for a child’s specific needs in the event of an emergency.
In the event of an accidental food allergy or insect sting, I will:
• Evaluate the situation, checking for signs of possible allergic reaction, including itchy throat, watery eyes, swollen lips, and difficulty breathing.
• Administer the medication (I am trained in the use of an Epi-Pen). Even if I am unsure whether an allergic reaction is occurring the medication should be administered, as it will not harm the child. It is better to be safe than sorry.
• Call 911 immediately
• Call the parent or the emergency contact person.
• Stay with the child, I will go to the hospital with them if it is possible
• If the child should ever arrive at daycare without an Epi-Pen, the child will not be permitted to stay.
Behavior Management
Young children can present challenging behaviors as they learn to act appropriately in a daycare setting. I adhere to the notion that behavior management is an important part of a child’s learning experience and should be understood from this viewpoint. I have a minimum of rules. Children are simply encouraged to treat others as they would like to be treated.
• A positive approach to discipline will be employed first. This includes offering praise for positive behavior and telling a child what to do instead of what not to do.
• When a child needs to stop an activity because he is not playing appropriately, the child will be redirected. This will allow the child a choice and will empower him/ her to feel in control of the situation.
• When a dispute arises: wait and observe the situation. Children are encouraged to settle minor problems themselves. Physical disputes between children will be stopped immediately.
• The child will be encouraged to talk about the incident, and their behavior, when he or she is ready.
• The idea of logical consequences will be employed.
• Time-out procedures may be used to manage a problem. This may involve sitting in a designated time-out place. The time-out will be limited to no more than one minute for each year of the child’s age. Any child put in time-out will be observed and talked to while in time-out and will not be left alone.
• Where behavior is causing concern, parents will be informed at an early stage and given an opportunity to discuss the situation. Parental support will be sought and further disciplinary action will be discussed. In extreme cases where the situation cannot be resolved and the behavior presents serious risk of injury to the child, other children enrolled in the daycare, and/or myself, the child’s withdrawal from the daycare may be required.
• All rules and behavior management strategies will be consistent and expectations will be clearly defined.
• I will interact with children in a positive, friendly, and supportive way modeling caring and respect for each other and the children.
• I will plan a safe and developmentally appropriate environment that supports positive behavior.
• No child will be subjected to insulting or demeaning comments and physical discipline will not be used.
PLAY TIME!
Importance of Free Play
Free play may seem like an ambiguous concept, but it is very much a planned activity. During this time, the child has the freedom to choose among many different activities in an atmosphere created by me. Studies indicate that early academic learning is not nearly as important as play. Play may include painting a picture, making friends, learning something new, reading a book, or creating a fantasy world. Children can play on their own or with others; their play may be boisterous and energetic, quiet and contemplative, lighthearted or serious. Free play is not time off for me. Instead, it is an opportunity for me to get to know each individual and to talk and play with him or her. I may use this time to involve a shy child in an activity, or expand another child’s interest field by introducing a new activity. Following are some examples of free play activity centers I will offer.
Dramatic Play Area
Research has shown that pretend play provides children with a way to imitate the real world and encourages them to take the skills they have learned and later apply them to life activities.
It is believed dramatic play offers the following benefits to children:
• It promotes abstract thinking. When a child uses a prop like a block to imitate a loaf of bread they are learning to think using symbols. Symbols are the basis of everything learned later in school such as numbers and the alphabet.
• It builds social and emotional skills when playing with other children. Through cooperative play, a child learns how to take turns, share responsibility, and problem-solve.
When your child pretends to be different characters, he has the experience of “walking in someone else’s shoes”, which helps teach the important moral developmental skill of empathy.
• Dramatic play helps build language skills. Pretend play helps your child understand the power of language. In addition, by pretend playing with others, she learns that words give him/her the means to reenact a story or organize play. This process helps your child to make the connection between spoken and written language - a skill that will later help him/her learn to read.
Book Centre
Play that involves books fosters a love of reading in the years to come. Children learn language skills from books. Whether they are looking at a book by themselves or being read to as part of a group, offering books as part of a young child’s day sets the stage for a lifelong interest in reading.
Puzzle Table
Puzzles provide children with many different opportunities for learning, such as visual discrimination, eye-hand co-ordination, social development, concentration, organization, spatial awareness and direction, and language. Central to the skills gained by children from working with puzzles is the development of problem solving strategies.
Manipulative Toys
Children enjoy playing with a variety of toys that helps develop their fine-motor skills. These toys include building blocks, large beads to thread, and stacking and nesting materials.
Cooperative Play
During the day, you should see children who are playing by themselves, but you should also see cooperative play, small groups or even the group as a whole working on a project. The amount of cooperative play increases as the children grow older. Some of this play may be child initiated, and some may be directed by me. Working together, whether it’s on a block building or planning a tea party, helps children to learn to respect the ideas of others. They develop social skills, and social competence which is an underlying goal of early education. Children in cooperative play learn to contribute to joint efforts and how to problem solve.
Paint/Art Centre
Art is important for children because of the way it makes them feel about themselves. Through creating simple art projects, that same child is not only learning to take pride in his accomplishments, but also to think and refine his hand-eye coordination and physical skills. Through art, children learn color identification, cause-and-effect, shapes, problem solving skills, sharing and cooperation, among many other skills. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
