April's Loving Care

**please note the handbook is subject to change and may not be update on the website as soon as a change is made. Please ask April for most recent handbook and to see if any changes have occured.**

 ENROLLMENT POLICY

The information in this handbook is extensive. Please read it over thoroughly and talk to me about any questions you may have. There are many forms that I must have completed and in my possession before I can assume the responsibility of caring for your child. You are required to keep me informed of any change in addresses, telephone numbers, and other pertinent information on these forms as they arise including notifying me of additional childhood immunizations.

OPEN DOOR POLICY

I maintain an open door policy for parents during your specific contracted childcare hours. I am asking to let me know of your presence before entering my home. Knock, and then enter. My front door is kept locked for the safety of the children. I would appreciate you taking into consideration my schedule when dropping in or calling, and remember that visitors (even parents) usually cause the children to react in an excited manner that does not normally occur when I am alone with them. I ask that drop offs, pick ups, and visits not be made during our daily Quiet Time.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Normal daytime hours of operation are Monday through Friday from

7:00 a.m.

To

5:30 p.m.

If you (or any of your designated drop off or pick up persons) drop off before or pick up after you’re contracted hours, you will be charged a late/early fee of $5 per child per every 10 minutes that you are late or early. Please respect my time and choose your drop off and pick up times carefully.

I require two weeks notice in writing if you need to change your enrollment hours. I reserve the right to terminate our child care arrangement if your new hours will not work well for my childcare business.

ARRIVALS -- DEPARTURES

It is normal for some children to have difficulty separating from parents in the morning or not wanting to leave when it's time to go home. Please be very brief (no more than 5 minutes is sufficient) during these transition times. The longer you prolong the departure the harder it gets. A smile, cheerful good-bye kiss, and a reassuring word that you will be back are all that is needed in the morning. In my experience, children are nearly always quick to get involved in play or activities as soon as parents are gone. During arrivals and departures, I expect parents to backup my rules (see House Rules). If you do not, I will remind the child that their behavior is inappropriate and take action to correct, if needed. Please be in control of your child during pick up times. Children are not permitted to go out to their car unattended at pick up times.

I will only release your child to you or someone else you designate. If someone else is to pickup your child, please notify me ahead of time. A verbal notice is fine on that day if this person is on the list of people who are authorized to pickup 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 designated to pick up your child, that if I do not know them, I will need to ask for photo identification. I will not let a child leave without a parent's verbal permission even if that person is listed as one of your designated pickup people including relatives.        

FEES

Payment is due no later than drop off time on your first contracted care day of each week. If this day is a holiday, a vacation or planned day off for the parent or the provider, payment is due the previous day. If you or your child is ill, your payment is expected unless other arrangements have been previously made. If I close the childcare due to my own illness or emergency, payment will be accepted on your first contracted day back to childcare. Payments may be made by check or cash. No post-dated checks will be accepted. There will be a late fee of $25 after the following Monday evening that payment is due. See Hours of Operation for early drop-off and late pick up fees. If your check is returned to me for insufficient funds, you will be billed $25 plus all bank fees I incur as a result. Please do not put me in the uncomfortable position of having to ask for my money, including late fees.

You will be given 30 days notice of any increases in your childcare fees.

DROP-IN CARE

For those families using drop-in care, I require a minimum of 48-hours notice if you would like to cancel time you've requested me to care for your child(ren) on a drop-in day. If this notice is not given, regular drop-in fees will still apply.      

MEALS

I participate in the West Coast Food Program. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack will be provided at no cost to the parents.

You are responsible for feeding your child if he/she will arrive at childcare after a mealtime. Infants are always fed on demand.

Except for special occasions and when requested, please do not send any food, drink (this includes a morning sippy cup), or candy with your child, unless they have their name permanently written on cup/bottle.

Children are offered a variety of foods, but are not forced to eat. I do encourage each child to try one or two bites of everything, and they must eat a little of everything before given seconds of anything. Sometimes they are surprised by what they like! If a child refuses to eat their meal, there will be no food served until the next designated meal/snack time.

I will not administer a modified diet to your child unless there is an allergy to a certain food.

HOUSE RULES -- DISCIPLINE

Discipline is used to teach a child, not as a punishment. I achieve this through love, consistency, and firmness. I stress two main patterns of behavior: respect for other people and respect for property. The children are explained the rules of the childcare home frequently, so they are all familiar with the guidelines.

*No hitting, pushing, biting, grabbing, kicking, spitting, or pinching others, including your parents.
*No standing or climbing on toys, chairs, tables, or furniture.
*No mistreatment of toys - i.e. standing on, throwing, bashing, hitting with.
Parents will be asked to pay for or replace toys if this occurs.
*No mistreatment of my belongings and home. Parents will be asked to pay for or replace items if this occurs.
*No name calling, teasing, swearing, bad language such as 'shut up', tattling, or potty talk.
*No gun or violent play allowed.
*No roughhousing, climbing or sitting on, pulling, or lifting/carrying other children.
*No going out the door or gate at pick up time without an adult.

The following methods of discipline will be used:

• Encourage children to solve problems themselves
• Intervention and discussion
• Re-direction to another play area
• Loss of privileges, logical consequences
• Time out

If I feel there is a chronic behavioral issue that needs attention, I will let you know so that you and I are handling it in the same way so there is continuity in discipline between our homes. These types of behaviors might include such things as biting, use of bad words, chronic hitting, etc. Together, we will try to find a solution

You may be called to remove your child if his/her behavior prevents me from being able to properly care for the other children. If the problem continues, other arrangements for the care of the child will have to be made, for the safety and well being of all.

As a childcare provider, I have a responsibility by law to recognize and report any evidence of child abuse (physical or emotional or neglect) to the proper authorities.

ILLNESS IN MY FAMILY

Although I will make every attempt to be available each day, there will be occasions when another family member or I are ill and I am unable to provide service. You will be notified as soon as possible if this occurs and I will credit your next week of care day by day. I strongly suggest that you have a family member, a friend, or a substitute provider lined up for the times I am closed due to illness or emergency. When I must be away for a short time (1 - 4 hours), backup care will be provided by one of my substitute providers. If I am unable to use one of my substitute providers then it will be necessary for me to close for half the day or the full day. My substitute providers are authorized to carry out the terms of this contract.

MEDICATIONS

Both nonprescription and prescription medications, ointments, and creams can be given to your child if needed. Parents are required to fill out the proper forms and to supply all medications in their original containers. All written instructions shall be valid for six months unless a shorter time period is designated by the physician, dentist, or parent. These must be labeled with the child's name. I may not exceed the manufacturer's recommended dosage unless with written physician's instructions when administering nonprescription medication. I may not administer nonprescription oral medication for longer than 3 consecutive days. I may not administer nonprescription topical ointments, creams, or lotions for longer than 14 consecutive days when used for skin irritations.

TOILET TRAINING

Children generally achieve toilet training between the ages of 2 1/2 to 3 years old. If potty training is begun when your child is ready, the task is easy and quick. It can often be achieved in one or two days. Some signs to look for include appropriate language skills to communicate the need to use the potty, staying dry for long periods of time, the ability to dress and undress self, and an interest in staying dry or clean. I take a very relaxed attitude towards potty training. Please realize this should be your child's accomplishment and not yours or mine. Children should not be compared to how others are doing. Children train easily when they are ready. Parents must begin the toileting process at home. If successful and I'm in agreement that your child is ready, I will follow up with toilet training here. During this time I require that children wear pull-ups for health and safety reasons in my childcare setting. 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 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 a few minutes beyond that announcement. We will need to go two full weeks with no accidents here before putting your child in big girl or big boy underpants at childcare.

While your child is learning to use the potty my rule is: A second set of spare clothing is required.