Hours of Operation
Normal hours of operation are 6:30am to 5:30, Monday to Friday. Your specific needs will be discussed during the interview process, and, as long as I am kept reasonably updated, they will remain flexible within this time frame.
To assist with clarity in scheduling, I will be giving a monthly calendar to all parents, which you will receive with your monthly receipt for fees. I would appreciate if any scheduled days away, Pro D days, etc. could be indicated on this calendar and returned to me. This greatly enhances my ability to schedule and plan ahead for the children in my care.
Communication
Communication is of utmost importance to me. When I accept a new family into my home, I like to be sure that we can share openly any concerns or questions that may arise. I welcome questions, feedback, or discussions of any kind that are oriented towards a positive outcome for the child(ren). It is only through parent/provider interaction that the goal of quality, nurturing care can be achieved. Sensitive issues will be discussed in private, outside of our regular childcare hours either by telephone or conference.
Conferences will not be scheduled as a routine part of child’s care; however should you like to have a conference, you may request one at any time.
You are encouraged to call, text or email me at anytime. If you attempt to contact me during the day, please be aware that I may be busy with the children and not able to answer right away. If you leave a voicemail or text, I will call you back as soon as possible.
Open Door Policy
I maintain an “open door” policy for my parents. Parents are welcome to drop in or call anytime during regular childcare hours. My open door policy does not, however, mean that our doors will be kept unlocked.
Enrolment Policy
There are several forms that must be completed and in my possession before I can assume the responsibility of caring for your child. The forms are as follows:
Contract/ Handbook;
Child Profile/Information Sheet;
Authorization for Consent for Emergency Treatment; and
the Security Deposit.
Please keep me informed of any change in addresses, telephone numbers, and other pertinent information listed on any/all of the above forms. If you have any questions regarding the completion of these forms, please feel free to ask.
Security Deposit
Before your child is admitted into care, I require a security deposit. This deposit protects me from unexpected family departures from childcare. This deposit secures your child’s spot in my dayhome. Failure to pay the deposit upon enrolment will result in the spot being made available to someone else. This deposit will be credited towards your final childcare payment when you decide to leave my childcare. I say credited because your rates may be higher when you leave my childcare than when you initially enrolled, so you may still owe an undetermined amount when you leave my services. Your deposit will be equal to half of one month’s fees. If the security deposit is withheld or been discussed prior to attending, and you have verbally agreed to give 30 days notice and you do not give 30 days, the full fees can be collected in court, as this is a legal and binding contract. This fee is due within 15 days of withdrawl.
Your security deposit will not be refunded for the following reasons:
if you don’t provide a min. 4 weeks written notice of withdrawal, given by the first of the month;
if I immediately terminate our contract agreement due to repeated late payments/non-payment of childcare fees; or
if you enrol and then withdraw your child before your scheduled start date.
Explanation of Fees
I provide childcare as my career. I choose to provide childcare because I find satisfaction in making a difference in the life of a child; their first discoveries, their mastery of a new skill etc. However, like most people, I also work to support my family. Your fees are my entire income. Beyond that your fees pay for food, toys, equipment, art supplies and all of the other things your child will use during their time in my home. Most people work on average a 40-hour work week. Mine is well over that, and that does not include my preparation, bookkeeping, shopping and cleaning time. I hope that gives you a better idea of what your childcare dollars cover.
Rates
Full Time
$750 per month
Before / After School Care(part time)
$600 per month
Drop In
$40/day or $20/half day (4 hrs. or less for half day rate)
Payment Procedures
Payment is payable on the first day of each month for that month by pickup time, and a receipt will be issued at the end of the year.
LAte Pickup: My daycare is closed at 5:30 I know sometimes things happen and we are late, if i am notified I have no issue helping, but this is not a daily thing. I will charge a late fee of a dollar a minute after 5:30 until the child is picked up. I work long hours and I need time with my family, so this has to be a rule I stick to.
I choose to deal in cash, as I do not want to deal with issues of bounced cheques.
There are a limited number of spaces available, and a space has been reserved for your child that cannot always be filled on a short term basis. Therefore, my rates are not based on your child’s attendance. No refunds are given for late arrivals, early departures, exclusion due to illness or other.
Provider Vacation, Holidays and Absences
Each year my childcare will be closed for the following paid holidays:
New Years Day
Alberta Family Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Alberta Heritage Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Christmas eve
New years eve
If the holiday falls on a weekend, my childcare will be closed for a day in lieu on either the Friday before or the Monday after.
My childcare will also be closed for a week at a time for my vacations total amount I would take is two weeks , trying to split them over the course of the year. I try to do a week in the summer and one in the winter month, working with parents on schedules.
Notification of at least 3 weeks will be given prior to any closed days (however, I expect that I will have all my vacation days posted online by the end of January every year), with the exception of emergencies or illness. Fees are due in full for the month, regardless of my week off or not. I do not get vacation pay like most people in there jobs so this is how I am able to take my time for myself, and family. I try to plan my winter vacation around this time as to not set parents back to pay additional fees for an alternate.
Although I will make every effort to be available each day, there may be occasions when I am not able to provide service. You will be notified as soon as possible of any personal or family illness, funeral or emergency. It will be your responsibility to obtain substitute care on such occasions. I suggest you have a family member, or friend, or substitute provider lined up for times that childcare may be closed due to illness or emergency.
Parents are responsible for substitute care during provider absences.
Parent Vacation and Absences
I require you to give a minimum of three weeks’ notice of your vacation, and pay one half of your regular weekly fee for each week your child is absent from my care, to hold a spot for your child. If you don’t provide three weeks’ notice of your vacation I will require that you pay the full regular weekly fee for each week your child is absent, to hold a spot for your child. Although I appreciate notice that your child will be absent from care, I do not offer the discounted rate for vacation days taken sporadically. The ½ rate only applies on a weekly basis for a 1-2 week vacation.
Extended Leave
In cases of extended leave (children absent from my childcare for more than 10 days vacation, long term illness etc…) I will require you to pay one half of the regular rate for the time that your child is not in attendance in order to hold a spot for your child. I reserve the right to terminate the childcare agreement, should your child’s absenteeism exceed three weeks.
Trial Period and Giving Notice
All new children will be cared for, for a two week trial/settling in period beginning on your child‘s first day of care. During that time the parent or provider may terminate the childcare agreement with 24 hours notice.
After the trial period, a four week written notice is required by either party to terminate the agreement. Notice of termination must be given on the first day of the month when payment is due. If four weeks written notice is not given, the security deposit will not be credited towards your last two weeks of care.
I will also give a minimum notice if the child is to be terminated from care. If I give one month notice of termination and you decide withdraw your child from care before the month is over, you are still required to pay childcare fees for the entire month. Any abuse or violation of the rules/policies of the contract/handbook may be just cause for immediate termination, where no notice will be given.
Immediate termination can occur for behaviour problems, or dangerous parental situations. If I, for the above or any other reason to be at my discretion, give immediate termination, your deposit will be refunded. Immediate termination can also occur for late payment/non-payment of childcare fees. In this situation the security deposit will not be refunded.
Withdrawal
Parents may withdraw the child from my care by giving four weeks’ notice in writing. Please provide a written statement that includes the last date of care and the reasons for withdrawal. If four weeks’ notice is not given, you will not be credited your security deposit for the last two weeks of care. Absences of more than one week without notification and/or payment will result in an automatic withdrawal. Re-admittance will include all back pay including all late fees and a registration fee of $50.00.
Arrival and Departure
Please send your child clean, dressed for the day and fed (if your child does not receive breakfast at my home). Please make your goodbye brief (no longer than a couple of minutes). Children‘s separation anxiety will usually subside soon after you leave. Feel free to call after you’ve left or at any time to see how your child is. Never leave without telling your child goodbye.
Please be considerate and contact me if you are going to be early or late dropping off or picking up your child. We will still go ahead with the activities that have been planned for that day regardless of whether your child has shown up or not. As we do take field trips outside the house every few weeks, and often go outside for walks and trips to the park, if I do not know you are planning on arriving unscheduled, I can not ensure we are going to be there.
My normal procedure is to release the child only to his/her parents or someone the parents have designated. If someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, please notify me ahead of time. A verbal notice is fine on that day if the person is on the list of people authorized to pick up your child. If the person is not on that list I must have written permission to release your child. Please inform emergency contacts, or people authorized to pick up your child that if I do not know them, I would need to ask for photo identification. This is simply a measure taken for your child’s protection. I will not allow a child to leave without the parent’s verbal permission even if that person is listed as one of your designated pickup people.
The safety of the children is a main concern of mine. In the unlikely event that a parent or designated adult picking up a child is in a condition that could preclude the child from reaching home/destination safely, the following action will be taken:
call the parent or emergency contact
call the police
If there is a court order keeping one parent away from the child, I must have a written note from the custodial parent in my file to that effect. Otherwise I cannot prevent the non-custodial parent from picking up the child.
Health Matters
A parent must keep the child at home if the child is has:
conjunctivitis or pink eye, or any type of eye infection, eye discharge;
impetigo or any rash until it is identified as not being contagious by your doctor; diarrhea, loose or runny bowel movement that looks different and is more frequent than the child’s usual stool.
Please provide a doctor’s note if you feel your child’s diarrhea is due to teething. Diarrhea is otherwise highly contagious;
nausea and/or vomiting accompanied by abdominal pain;
fever of 38.3 Celsius or more - this is an indication that your child is fighting a bacterial or viral infection.
A fever is generally accompanied by other symptoms making a child too ill to participate in regular activities and attend care. Please do not mask fever with Tylenol and bring your child;
a severe cold with listlessness, fever, sore throat, coughing, eye drainage or constant thick coloured nasal drainage;
severe hacking cough or untreated wheezing; and/or
Severe itching usually caused by lice or scabies.
If your child is in my opinion too sick or unwell to participate in regular activities or becomes sick during the course of the day, the parents will be contacted to immediately pick them up. If I am unable to reach you when you child is sick I will contact one of your emergency contacts from your list.
I will administer Tylenol as needed for fever or pain only with a parent’s consent. Please do not leave Tylenol or any medication in your diaper bag. You may leave a bottle clearly labelled with your child’s name at my home, for use with your consent as needed.
With the following contagious diseases the child must be kept away from my childcare:
Measles
Chicken Pox
Mumps
Roseola
Scarlet Fever
If a doctor diagnoses an ear or throat infection and places the child on an antibiotic, the child must remain away until he/she has been on the medication for a minimum of 24 hours.
I will administer prescription drugs to the child, to do this I require that parents provide:
written authorization including dosage and time the drugs should be given; and
medication in the original container, clearly labelled with the child’s name, dosage, date of purchase, and instruction for storage and administration of the drug. Please put the medication in a plastic baggie with your child’s name labelled on it and hand it straight to me. Do not leave it in the diaper bag or backpack.
These guidelines are fair and standard practice among daycare associations, dayhomes, and schools. The health, safety and well being of ALL children in my care are my priority. I cannot realistically care for a sick child and give proper care to the other children in my group. These guidelines are made with the children’s best interests at mind.
Activities and Curriculum
Age appropriate activities are scheduled with flexibility allowed to respond to the needs of the individual child. The main goal of this childcare is to learn while having fun and promote growth of children‘s physical, emotional, intellectual and social skills. We will be utilizing a variety of activities to accomplish this goal.. I do however like to follow the children's interests and use the "teachable moment". We have; circle time consisting of calendar, weather, singing and dancing, discussion, and games, free play ( indoor and outdoor - weather permitting), story time/reading, crafts, games, baking, music/singing, dancing, pretend play, puzzles and occasionally educational computer games are just some of the activities we will be doing. We generally don’t watch TV, occasionally a rainy day movie or educational TV program is shown.
This is a general guideline only. Our schedule may vary due to children’s wishes, special activity days, school schedules etc.
Guidance and Discipline
I believe in a gentle and positive approach to guidance and discipline. I am kind, but firm when needed. Emphasis is placed on respect for self, others and property. The following developmentally appropriate guidance techniques will be used:
Positive Reinforcement: the child will be encouraged when he/she is demonstrating acceptable behaviour;
Redirection: the child is redirected to another activity and given an opportunity to try again at another time;
Shadowing: the child (generally toddler age) is shadowed, I will get down on the floor with them and show them how to communicate, play nicely, share, etc. This is very effective in curbing biting, hitting, hair pulling and other aggressive behaviour;
Time Out: the child is separated from the group for a short period of time appropriate to their age and development (not isolated or unsupervised). Depending on the child I may sit with them to offer some comfort. This technique is only used when the child is exhibiting tantrum type behaviour, or hurting self, others or property, or when the child is persistently refusing to follow the defined limits. When the child shows that he/she is ready to demonstrate acceptable behaviour, they are encouraged to join the rest of the group and try again. Time outs are not used as a punishment, but as tool to allow children to regain control of themselves and/or switch gears;
Conference: as a last resort when a child’s behaviour is continually upsetting or dangerous to others, or me, a conference will be called with the parents. If the situation cannot be resolved, arrangements will have to be made for the child to go elsewhere for care.
Absolutely NO abuse or corporal punishment in any form (spanking, swatting, hitting, grabbing, shaking, squeezing, humiliating, shaming and frightening a child) will ever be used in my childcare. I believe in a positive approach to guiding children.
Meals
The children are offered food, not forced to eat. Children who choose not to eat will not be served additional food until the next mealtime. Please do not send food (half-eaten breakfasts, candy, gum etc…). Please feel free to discuss your child’s need for additional food, such as for medical reasons. I will serve healthy meals and snacks based on the Canada Food Guide. I make and offer a lot of homemade, whole and organic foods. We eat morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. This is a general schedule of our daily meals and snacks:
morning snack ~ 9:00
lunch ~ 11:30
afternoon snack ~ 3-3:30pm
I do serve treats like cupcakes or ice cream on party days or special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, Easter etc. I will ask permission of parents of children under the age of 2.
Please keep our eating schedule in mind when dropping off your child for the day. Please ensure your child is fed as I will not make them a special meal or snack after the others have already eaten and I’ve cleaned up.
Infants are fed on demand and babies under the age of 12 months are fed baby food, breast milk/formula, etc… supplied by the parents. If a baby over the age of 12 months is not on table food, parents will be expected to supply their food.
Special Diets
If a child has a particular dietary need, I must be informed. If your child has food intolerances or allergies, substitute meals or snacks may then be brought from home. This is not a nut free home.
Potty Training
When you feel that your child is ready, I ask that you begin this teaching at home. I will follow through and encourage your child while in my care. Toilet training will be done in a relaxed manner with the cooperation of the family. When the child is showing readiness they must be kept in pull-ups at all times. Please keep in mind that the activity level here can distract your child from responding to an urge to use the potty, more so than at your home. Therefore, I will continue to use diapers or pull-ups until your child can and will announce that he/she must use the bathroom (not just at home, but here as well) and can control his/her bladder and bowels for more than a few seconds beyond that announcement. Parents need to supply training pants with plastic pants or pull-ups, plus a couple extra changes of clothes each day.
Diaper Changes
Diapers are checked and/or changed every two hours or more frequently if required.
Naps/Quiet Time
I offer toddlers naps generally as needed. Currently the toddlers in my home nap from 12:30 until around 2:30. Every effort will be made to ensure a proper rest time or at a minimum, a restful quiet time. If your child has a favourite blankie or comfort toy, you are certainly welcome to bring these.
Children who no longer nap will have quiet time in the playroom while the others nap. Quiet time activities may include puzzles, quiet games or toys, reading, colouring.
Infants will be put down for regular naps, and nap as often as they like.
I don’t use the “cry it out” method.
Supplies Needed
Parents are responsible for supplying baby food and formula/breastmilk, diapers, pull-ups or training pants, wipes, rash ointment, soothers (if you use them), all prescription and over the counter medications, fever/pain medications, weather appropriate change of clothes, sunscreen, bug spray (if you think it’s necessary), and a pair of non-slip slippers to be worn inside. A backpack is also recommended for bringing supplies in and artwork home. Please ensure that your child comes with all weather appropriate clothing for that day (ex. Rain coat, hats, mittens, winter boots, rubber boots etc…) and I will make every effort to go outside daily for playtime.
Revisions to Contract/Handbook
I reserve the right to revise the Childcare Contract/Handbook as needed. I reserve the right to make changes to rates and policies as deemed necessary. You will be notified in writing of any changes that occur.
Referrals
Referrals from parents are one of the greatest compliments I can receive. At times when taking on new children into my care, or upon your departure from my dayhome, I may ask your permission to use you as a reference or for a letter or recommendation.
I/We have read, understand and agree to comply with the provider’s contract.
Normal hours of operation are 6:30am to 5:30, Monday to Friday. Your specific needs will be discussed during the interview process, and, as long as I am kept reasonably updated, they will remain flexible within this time frame.
To assist with clarity in scheduling, I will be giving a monthly calendar to all parents, which you will receive with your monthly receipt for fees. I would appreciate if any scheduled days away, Pro D days, etc. could be indicated on this calendar and returned to me. This greatly enhances my ability to schedule and plan ahead for the children in my care.
Communication
Communication is of utmost importance to me. When I accept a new family into my home, I like to be sure that we can share openly any concerns or questions that may arise. I welcome questions, feedback, or discussions of any kind that are oriented towards a positive outcome for the child(ren). It is only through parent/provider interaction that the goal of quality, nurturing care can be achieved. Sensitive issues will be discussed in private, outside of our regular childcare hours either by telephone or conference.
Conferences will not be scheduled as a routine part of child’s care; however should you like to have a conference, you may request one at any time.
You are encouraged to call, text or email me at anytime. If you attempt to contact me during the day, please be aware that I may be busy with the children and not able to answer right away. If you leave a voicemail or text, I will call you back as soon as possible.
Open Door Policy
I maintain an “open door” policy for my parents. Parents are welcome to drop in or call anytime during regular childcare hours. My open door policy does not, however, mean that our doors will be kept unlocked.
Enrolment Policy
There are several forms that must be completed and in my possession before I can assume the responsibility of caring for your child. The forms are as follows:
Contract/ Handbook;
Child Profile/Information Sheet;
Authorization for Consent for Emergency Treatment; and
the Security Deposit.
Please keep me informed of any change in addresses, telephone numbers, and other pertinent information listed on any/all of the above forms. If you have any questions regarding the completion of these forms, please feel free to ask.
Security Deposit
Before your child is admitted into care, I require a security deposit. This deposit protects me from unexpected family departures from childcare. This deposit secures your child’s spot in my dayhome. Failure to pay the deposit upon enrolment will result in the spot being made available to someone else. This deposit will be credited towards your final childcare payment when you decide to leave my childcare. I say credited because your rates may be higher when you leave my childcare than when you initially enrolled, so you may still owe an undetermined amount when you leave my services. Your deposit will be equal to half of one month’s fees. If the security deposit is withheld or been discussed prior to attending, and you have verbally agreed to give 30 days notice and you do not give 30 days, the full fees can be collected in court, as this is a legal and binding contract. This fee is due within 15 days of withdrawl.
Your security deposit will not be refunded for the following reasons:
if you don’t provide a min. 4 weeks written notice of withdrawal, given by the first of the month;
if I immediately terminate our contract agreement due to repeated late payments/non-payment of childcare fees; or
if you enrol and then withdraw your child before your scheduled start date.
Explanation of Fees
I provide childcare as my career. I choose to provide childcare because I find satisfaction in making a difference in the life of a child; their first discoveries, their mastery of a new skill etc. However, like most people, I also work to support my family. Your fees are my entire income. Beyond that your fees pay for food, toys, equipment, art supplies and all of the other things your child will use during their time in my home. Most people work on average a 40-hour work week. Mine is well over that, and that does not include my preparation, bookkeeping, shopping and cleaning time. I hope that gives you a better idea of what your childcare dollars cover.
Rates
Full Time
$750 per month
Before / After School Care(part time)
$600 per month
Drop In
$40/day or $20/half day (4 hrs. or less for half day rate)
Payment Procedures
Payment is payable on the first day of each month for that month by pickup time, and a receipt will be issued at the end of the year.
LAte Pickup: My daycare is closed at 5:30 I know sometimes things happen and we are late, if i am notified I have no issue helping, but this is not a daily thing. I will charge a late fee of a dollar a minute after 5:30 until the child is picked up. I work long hours and I need time with my family, so this has to be a rule I stick to.
I choose to deal in cash, as I do not want to deal with issues of bounced cheques.
There are a limited number of spaces available, and a space has been reserved for your child that cannot always be filled on a short term basis. Therefore, my rates are not based on your child’s attendance. No refunds are given for late arrivals, early departures, exclusion due to illness or other.
Provider Vacation, Holidays and Absences
Each year my childcare will be closed for the following paid holidays:
New Years Day
Alberta Family Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Alberta Heritage Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Christmas eve
New years eve
If the holiday falls on a weekend, my childcare will be closed for a day in lieu on either the Friday before or the Monday after.
My childcare will also be closed for a week at a time for my vacations total amount I would take is two weeks , trying to split them over the course of the year. I try to do a week in the summer and one in the winter month, working with parents on schedules.
Notification of at least 3 weeks will be given prior to any closed days (however, I expect that I will have all my vacation days posted online by the end of January every year), with the exception of emergencies or illness. Fees are due in full for the month, regardless of my week off or not. I do not get vacation pay like most people in there jobs so this is how I am able to take my time for myself, and family. I try to plan my winter vacation around this time as to not set parents back to pay additional fees for an alternate.
Although I will make every effort to be available each day, there may be occasions when I am not able to provide service. You will be notified as soon as possible of any personal or family illness, funeral or emergency. It will be your responsibility to obtain substitute care on such occasions. I suggest you have a family member, or friend, or substitute provider lined up for times that childcare may be closed due to illness or emergency.
Parents are responsible for substitute care during provider absences.
Parent Vacation and Absences
I require you to give a minimum of three weeks’ notice of your vacation, and pay one half of your regular weekly fee for each week your child is absent from my care, to hold a spot for your child. If you don’t provide three weeks’ notice of your vacation I will require that you pay the full regular weekly fee for each week your child is absent, to hold a spot for your child. Although I appreciate notice that your child will be absent from care, I do not offer the discounted rate for vacation days taken sporadically. The ½ rate only applies on a weekly basis for a 1-2 week vacation.
Extended Leave
In cases of extended leave (children absent from my childcare for more than 10 days vacation, long term illness etc…) I will require you to pay one half of the regular rate for the time that your child is not in attendance in order to hold a spot for your child. I reserve the right to terminate the childcare agreement, should your child’s absenteeism exceed three weeks.
Trial Period and Giving Notice
All new children will be cared for, for a two week trial/settling in period beginning on your child‘s first day of care. During that time the parent or provider may terminate the childcare agreement with 24 hours notice.
After the trial period, a four week written notice is required by either party to terminate the agreement. Notice of termination must be given on the first day of the month when payment is due. If four weeks written notice is not given, the security deposit will not be credited towards your last two weeks of care.
I will also give a minimum notice if the child is to be terminated from care. If I give one month notice of termination and you decide withdraw your child from care before the month is over, you are still required to pay childcare fees for the entire month. Any abuse or violation of the rules/policies of the contract/handbook may be just cause for immediate termination, where no notice will be given.
Immediate termination can occur for behaviour problems, or dangerous parental situations. If I, for the above or any other reason to be at my discretion, give immediate termination, your deposit will be refunded. Immediate termination can also occur for late payment/non-payment of childcare fees. In this situation the security deposit will not be refunded.
Withdrawal
Parents may withdraw the child from my care by giving four weeks’ notice in writing. Please provide a written statement that includes the last date of care and the reasons for withdrawal. If four weeks’ notice is not given, you will not be credited your security deposit for the last two weeks of care. Absences of more than one week without notification and/or payment will result in an automatic withdrawal. Re-admittance will include all back pay including all late fees and a registration fee of $50.00.
Arrival and Departure
Please send your child clean, dressed for the day and fed (if your child does not receive breakfast at my home). Please make your goodbye brief (no longer than a couple of minutes). Children‘s separation anxiety will usually subside soon after you leave. Feel free to call after you’ve left or at any time to see how your child is. Never leave without telling your child goodbye.
Please be considerate and contact me if you are going to be early or late dropping off or picking up your child. We will still go ahead with the activities that have been planned for that day regardless of whether your child has shown up or not. As we do take field trips outside the house every few weeks, and often go outside for walks and trips to the park, if I do not know you are planning on arriving unscheduled, I can not ensure we are going to be there.
My normal procedure is to release the child only to his/her parents or someone the parents have designated. If someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, please notify me ahead of time. A verbal notice is fine on that day if the person is on the list of people authorized to pick up your child. If the person is not on that list I must have written permission to release your child. Please inform emergency contacts, or people authorized to pick up your child that if I do not know them, I would need to ask for photo identification. This is simply a measure taken for your child’s protection. I will not allow a child to leave without the parent’s verbal permission even if that person is listed as one of your designated pickup people.
The safety of the children is a main concern of mine. In the unlikely event that a parent or designated adult picking up a child is in a condition that could preclude the child from reaching home/destination safely, the following action will be taken:
call the parent or emergency contact
call the police
If there is a court order keeping one parent away from the child, I must have a written note from the custodial parent in my file to that effect. Otherwise I cannot prevent the non-custodial parent from picking up the child.
Health Matters
A parent must keep the child at home if the child is has:
conjunctivitis or pink eye, or any type of eye infection, eye discharge;
impetigo or any rash until it is identified as not being contagious by your doctor; diarrhea, loose or runny bowel movement that looks different and is more frequent than the child’s usual stool.
Please provide a doctor’s note if you feel your child’s diarrhea is due to teething. Diarrhea is otherwise highly contagious;
nausea and/or vomiting accompanied by abdominal pain;
fever of 38.3 Celsius or more - this is an indication that your child is fighting a bacterial or viral infection.
A fever is generally accompanied by other symptoms making a child too ill to participate in regular activities and attend care. Please do not mask fever with Tylenol and bring your child;
a severe cold with listlessness, fever, sore throat, coughing, eye drainage or constant thick coloured nasal drainage;
severe hacking cough or untreated wheezing; and/or
Severe itching usually caused by lice or scabies.
If your child is in my opinion too sick or unwell to participate in regular activities or becomes sick during the course of the day, the parents will be contacted to immediately pick them up. If I am unable to reach you when you child is sick I will contact one of your emergency contacts from your list.
I will administer Tylenol as needed for fever or pain only with a parent’s consent. Please do not leave Tylenol or any medication in your diaper bag. You may leave a bottle clearly labelled with your child’s name at my home, for use with your consent as needed.
With the following contagious diseases the child must be kept away from my childcare:
Measles
Chicken Pox
Mumps
Roseola
Scarlet Fever
If a doctor diagnoses an ear or throat infection and places the child on an antibiotic, the child must remain away until he/she has been on the medication for a minimum of 24 hours.
I will administer prescription drugs to the child, to do this I require that parents provide:
written authorization including dosage and time the drugs should be given; and
medication in the original container, clearly labelled with the child’s name, dosage, date of purchase, and instruction for storage and administration of the drug. Please put the medication in a plastic baggie with your child’s name labelled on it and hand it straight to me. Do not leave it in the diaper bag or backpack.
These guidelines are fair and standard practice among daycare associations, dayhomes, and schools. The health, safety and well being of ALL children in my care are my priority. I cannot realistically care for a sick child and give proper care to the other children in my group. These guidelines are made with the children’s best interests at mind.
Activities and Curriculum
Age appropriate activities are scheduled with flexibility allowed to respond to the needs of the individual child. The main goal of this childcare is to learn while having fun and promote growth of children‘s physical, emotional, intellectual and social skills. We will be utilizing a variety of activities to accomplish this goal.. I do however like to follow the children's interests and use the "teachable moment". We have; circle time consisting of calendar, weather, singing and dancing, discussion, and games, free play ( indoor and outdoor - weather permitting), story time/reading, crafts, games, baking, music/singing, dancing, pretend play, puzzles and occasionally educational computer games are just some of the activities we will be doing. We generally don’t watch TV, occasionally a rainy day movie or educational TV program is shown.
This is a general guideline only. Our schedule may vary due to children’s wishes, special activity days, school schedules etc.
Guidance and Discipline
I believe in a gentle and positive approach to guidance and discipline. I am kind, but firm when needed. Emphasis is placed on respect for self, others and property. The following developmentally appropriate guidance techniques will be used:
Positive Reinforcement: the child will be encouraged when he/she is demonstrating acceptable behaviour;
Redirection: the child is redirected to another activity and given an opportunity to try again at another time;
Shadowing: the child (generally toddler age) is shadowed, I will get down on the floor with them and show them how to communicate, play nicely, share, etc. This is very effective in curbing biting, hitting, hair pulling and other aggressive behaviour;
Time Out: the child is separated from the group for a short period of time appropriate to their age and development (not isolated or unsupervised). Depending on the child I may sit with them to offer some comfort. This technique is only used when the child is exhibiting tantrum type behaviour, or hurting self, others or property, or when the child is persistently refusing to follow the defined limits. When the child shows that he/she is ready to demonstrate acceptable behaviour, they are encouraged to join the rest of the group and try again. Time outs are not used as a punishment, but as tool to allow children to regain control of themselves and/or switch gears;
Conference: as a last resort when a child’s behaviour is continually upsetting or dangerous to others, or me, a conference will be called with the parents. If the situation cannot be resolved, arrangements will have to be made for the child to go elsewhere for care.
Absolutely NO abuse or corporal punishment in any form (spanking, swatting, hitting, grabbing, shaking, squeezing, humiliating, shaming and frightening a child) will ever be used in my childcare. I believe in a positive approach to guiding children.
Meals
The children are offered food, not forced to eat. Children who choose not to eat will not be served additional food until the next mealtime. Please do not send food (half-eaten breakfasts, candy, gum etc…). Please feel free to discuss your child’s need for additional food, such as for medical reasons. I will serve healthy meals and snacks based on the Canada Food Guide. I make and offer a lot of homemade, whole and organic foods. We eat morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. This is a general schedule of our daily meals and snacks:
morning snack ~ 9:00
lunch ~ 11:30
afternoon snack ~ 3-3:30pm
I do serve treats like cupcakes or ice cream on party days or special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, Easter etc. I will ask permission of parents of children under the age of 2.
Please keep our eating schedule in mind when dropping off your child for the day. Please ensure your child is fed as I will not make them a special meal or snack after the others have already eaten and I’ve cleaned up.
Infants are fed on demand and babies under the age of 12 months are fed baby food, breast milk/formula, etc… supplied by the parents. If a baby over the age of 12 months is not on table food, parents will be expected to supply their food.
Special Diets
If a child has a particular dietary need, I must be informed. If your child has food intolerances or allergies, substitute meals or snacks may then be brought from home. This is not a nut free home.
Potty Training
When you feel that your child is ready, I ask that you begin this teaching at home. I will follow through and encourage your child while in my care. Toilet training will be done in a relaxed manner with the cooperation of the family. When the child is showing readiness they must be kept in pull-ups at all times. Please keep in mind that the activity level here can distract your child from responding to an urge to use the potty, more so than at your home. Therefore, I will continue to use diapers or pull-ups until your child can and will announce that he/she must use the bathroom (not just at home, but here as well) and can control his/her bladder and bowels for more than a few seconds beyond that announcement. Parents need to supply training pants with plastic pants or pull-ups, plus a couple extra changes of clothes each day.
Diaper Changes
Diapers are checked and/or changed every two hours or more frequently if required.
Naps/Quiet Time
I offer toddlers naps generally as needed. Currently the toddlers in my home nap from 12:30 until around 2:30. Every effort will be made to ensure a proper rest time or at a minimum, a restful quiet time. If your child has a favourite blankie or comfort toy, you are certainly welcome to bring these.
Children who no longer nap will have quiet time in the playroom while the others nap. Quiet time activities may include puzzles, quiet games or toys, reading, colouring.
Infants will be put down for regular naps, and nap as often as they like.
I don’t use the “cry it out” method.
Supplies Needed
Parents are responsible for supplying baby food and formula/breastmilk, diapers, pull-ups or training pants, wipes, rash ointment, soothers (if you use them), all prescription and over the counter medications, fever/pain medications, weather appropriate change of clothes, sunscreen, bug spray (if you think it’s necessary), and a pair of non-slip slippers to be worn inside. A backpack is also recommended for bringing supplies in and artwork home. Please ensure that your child comes with all weather appropriate clothing for that day (ex. Rain coat, hats, mittens, winter boots, rubber boots etc…) and I will make every effort to go outside daily for playtime.
Revisions to Contract/Handbook
I reserve the right to revise the Childcare Contract/Handbook as needed. I reserve the right to make changes to rates and policies as deemed necessary. You will be notified in writing of any changes that occur.
Referrals
Referrals from parents are one of the greatest compliments I can receive. At times when taking on new children into my care, or upon your departure from my dayhome, I may ask your permission to use you as a reference or for a letter or recommendation.
I/We have read, understand and agree to comply with the provider’s contract.