The developing issue- COVID-19

[Kelley]

I run a home daycare in Nepean, ON and would love to hear more during such an uncertain time. I have been running my daycare for 21yrs now! I'm a 47yr old woman and only in the last couple of years have I really started to stand my ground on daycare policies. I think this is such a crucial time to stand our ground and do our best to protect everyone involved including the kiddos, ourselves and all connected families. I have been up to my eyeballs in the latest COVID-19 news and trying to seek as much advice as possible. Something I have wanted to add to my contract even prior to this was something explaining to parents how our hours work as home daycare providers, and subsequently what exactly parents are paying for. I have too often had parents resentful when I send sick children home, or asked for an occasional 20min early pick up. I've realized how truly unseen/understood we are. I offer care Mon-Friday 7:30-5PM almost All families use max hours, average 9hrs per day. We as Home Daycare Providers work longer hours than pretty much Any parent. Unlike in a school or daycare centre we have no one to cover for us to go on break or to take over the shift at the 6 or 8hr mark. If ever there was work that required good mental health it is this one, Looking after parents most precious beings. Yet somehow I feel all too often taken advantage of or somehow thought less than. The hired help so to speak. What parents don't understand is the are not paying us on an hourly basis, or even on a daily basis, the agreed daycare rate is the rate paid to hold a child's daycare spot. One of only 5 daycare spaces we have available. It Is never an intention to have children at max hours. I see parents home all the time, and still send their children full hours. Our hours are set to accommodate as many families as possible.
Phew.. little rant there! 😁 Now the COVID-19 and home daycare:
This is what I am going to be putting forward to parents:
I have already sent out a letter addressing what our public heath administrator has advised all schools and daycare; vigilant hand washing ✔ teaching kids not to touch their faces ✔ ** Keep your children home when they are sick... and gave them a copy of my sick kids policy. That was Monday. Soooo much has developed since then. Ladies this is where we need to protect ourselves and our livelyhoods!! I am sending a child home today with a cough and cold symptoms newly developed. I'm telling her that under this unusually high risk circumstances she needs to keep her son home. No fever Yet, however children are typically carriers not the ones with high fever etc.. even if not COVID-19, if we all now come down with upper respiratory illness, lower our immunities we will be at even higher risk when the Big Bug hits. 😣 So scary!! We need to be EXtRa Vigilant!! When parents are asked to stay at home to isolate and lessen the spread of illness, I am ready to stand my ground and tell them they need to also keep their children home. We need to lower risk people!! Sending their children to daycare and put Everyone else at risk when they are not working??? So (this is where my rant has relevance) this is when the big question about pay will ofcourse come in. Yes indeed in order to hold your childs spot you will continue to pay unless it's a lay off situation. If parents aren't getting paid and we can't negotiate something, I will still ask to have children at home, and try to hold their spot regardless of pay.
We have to act on behalf of all families involved. Keep our environment as healthy as possible. If parents continue to work I will continue to provide care as long as possible. Crazy hand washing, disposable gloves, masks when necessary. I'm scared people. I am pretty healthy and fit, but I had a terrible case of pneumonia last year. I have 3 wonderful boys 16, 18 & 24.. all living at home. I'm scared, but we can do this!!! ❤❤❤