Dear Parents,
Welcome to Teddy Bears' Learn & Play. We are a Type B small Family Child Care home. We are different than a Day Care Center because we limit the number of children that are enrolled. We only take up to six children between the ages of newborn - 5 years at one time. We will only take three children 2 and under at one time. By staying small we are able to provide the quality care and nurturing atmosphere that your child deserves.
Teddy Bears' Learn & Play is not a preschool, we do offer an informal theme based preschool program. Children participate in a full range of activities such as free play, cooking, outside play, stories, dramatic play, creative art, crafts, music, and much more.
Please read this handbook thoroughly, it covers very important policies and procedures that pertain to the care of your child and family. Thank you for your interest in Teddy Bears' Learn & Play and please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or if you need clarification on any of the policies in this handbook.
Before you leave your child the first day, it is wise to make a visit with the child during my regular day care hours (mornings are best, since quiet time is in the afternoon). This way your child gets to see what happens in day care and it gives him/her a chance to meet the other children and me. This visit is a good time to bring the supplies that will be left at day care and the necessary paperwork for admission. If you or your child is very uneasy about day care, at least two visits are recommended: the first during my off hours when your child will not be overwhelmed by the other children and the noise, and will have all the toys available to him/herself. During this time I will be able to give your child undivided attention. The second visit could be during regular day care hours. I can also give you some ideas on what you can do to make the transition as easy as possible for you and your child.
Again, welcome to Teddy Bears' Learn & Play, I look forward to getting to know you and your child!
Sincerely,
Tara M. Provider
These lists are included in my new client packages. Both are lists I found on various provider's web sites.
What a Parent Should Expect
When your child is cared for by a family child care provider in her home , you should be able to expect certain things.
1. Open communication. Providers should give you frequent and full updates on your child's progress and problems. They should welcome your questions and ask you questions about how they can help your child.
2. Open access to their home or center. Parents should be welcome to drop in any time. Providers should also allow parents to make a reasonable number of phone calls to check on their children's well being, in case of illness or if there's a special concern such as separation anxiety.
3. Safety for your child. Providers should take all possible precautions to keep children safe.
4. Honesty and confidence. Providers shouldn't make commitments that they can't or don't intend to keep. They shouldn't cover up problems or accidents that occur.
5. Acceptance of parent's wishes. Providers should abide by parent's wishes on matters such as discipline, TV watching and toilet training. If providers feel that they can't abide by parent's wishes, they need to tell parents before agreeing to care for the children and parents should look for other care.
6. Advance notice of any changes. Since it is often very difficult to find adequate care, providers should tell parents well in advance if they are going to change their hours or if they are going to stop or limit the time of caring for a child. Parents need adequate time if a provider is no longer going to care for a child. Parents should be given at least two weeks notice even if the provider won't be available for just one day, unless there is a personal emergency.
7. No interference in the child's family or family problems. Providers shouldn't talk to children about their family's problems, lifestyle or values. Likewise, the provider should be careful not to take sides in any family disputes, such as, custody battles.
8. No advice offered unless asked for and no judging of parenting practices. Providers shouldn't criticize or advise parents on child rearing unless their advice is asked for by parents. If the provider sees something that is seriously wrong with how parents are raising their children, such as abuse or signs of neglect, they should discuss the problem with the parents and, if needed, contact legal authorities.
9. Assurance that everyone in contact with the child is trustworthy and supervised. Providers must be responsible for everyone who enters & visits the home.
10. No surprises. This means that your family day care provider won't suddenly tell you that she is taking a job next week. Surprises are probably what parents fear most from their child care providers (and vice versa).
What Your Provider Expects
In the home of a family child care provider your provider should be able to expect certain things from you.
1. Open communication. Explain clearly and carefully your wishes and expectations about how your child will be cared for. Also provide updates on problems and progress that your child is making. Give the provider information about your child's routine, activities and preferences. Good communication helps parents and providers work together in the best interest of the children.
2. Agreement on terms or arrangements. You should fully understand the expectations of the provider and what you as a parent are agreeing to.
3. Honesty and trust. This includes being honest about how you believe the arrangement is working, whether your child is happy with the provider and whether you are. Although you need to be vigilant in order to safeguard your child, you should still trust your child care provider to do the best for your child.
4. Advance notice of and agreement to any changes. Providers have to earn a living too, so they deserve advance notice if you are going to stop using their services or take a vacation or leave that will affect their pay.
5. Pick up on time and follow through on all agreements. Providers have personal lives too, and they should be able to expect that you will pick up your child at the agreed upon time. If it takes you 15 minutes a day longer to get home than you expected or if you find it more convenient to stop at the grocery store before picking up your child which makes you 30 minutes late three times a week you need to work out a new agreement with the provider or find a way to abide by the original one.
6. Sick children. Agree with your child care provider in advance about when you can and cannot bring a sick child. Then abide by that agreement. My policy is if you do not call within 1/2 an hour of arrival time when your child is ill or going to be absent. You not only owe me the full day in pay. But also another 1/2 a days pay for not taking me into consideration. You must call of of work so I need you to please call me to call off your child.
7. Payment on time. Child care providers have to pay the rent and buy food, too, so make arrangements to see that they get their pay on time.
8. Respect. Realize that taking care of children is a job and the child care worker is a worker, just as you are. A child care provider is not "just a baby sitter." She is one of the most important people in your child's life and in yours, too.
9. Jealousy. Try not to be jealous of you child's attachment to child care providers. Children who spend hours every day with a day care worker come to love that person. That love, though, doesn't diminish the love your child feels for you. Don't feel that you have to compete with your child care provider for your child's affection. Be happy that they love and get loved in return.
10. No surprises. Your child care provider shouldn't learn on Friday that you have decided to take next week off from work. This is her livelihood and changes in her income should be given advance notice. Child care providers don't like surprises any better than parents do.
This is the contract I have the parents sign when they decide to enroll their child in Teddy Bears’ Learn & Play Family Child Care. Please feel free to use this form or any part of it. All I ask is that you let me know you found it useful by either signing my Guest Book or email me.
This contract is made between
________________________________________________ Mother/Legal Guardian
and
________________________________________________ Father/Legal Guardian
and
Tara
Teddy Bears' Learn & Play
for the care of:
________________________________________________
child's name
________________________________________________ child's name
Care to be provided for the following hours:
Child:______________________________
Monday ______am/pm to ______am/pm
Tuesday______am/pm to ______am/pm
Wednesday______am/pm to ______am/pm
Thursday______am/pm to ______am/pm
Friday______am/pm to ______am/pm
Child:______________________________
Monday______am/pm to ______am/pm
Tuesday______am/pm to ______am/pm
Wednesday______am/pm to ______am/pm
Thursday ______am/pm to ______am/pm
Friday______am/pm to ______am/pm
I agree to pay $____________ per week for the care of my child(ren), due the Monday prior to care or first day of care for the week if other than Monday. This fee will be charged for all contracted weeks regardless of holidays, sick days or other absences.
I agree to abide by the overtime policies and fees as set forth in the parent handbook.
I agree to pay a non refundable deposit for the final two weeks of care at an additional amount of $____________ per week for the first 8 weeks of care and to forfeit said deposit if 2 weeks written notice of termination of care is not given to provider.
A trial period of ten (10) calendar days will begin on ____________________ and end on ____________________. Two week written notice of termination is waived for both parties during above trial period.
I have received and read, understand and agree with the policies and procedures in the Teddy Bears' Learn & Play Family Child Care Parent Handbook.
________________________________________________ _____________ (Mother/Legal Guardian signature)
Date_______________
________________________________________________ _____________ (Father/Legal Guardian signature)
Date _______________
________________________________________________ _____________ (Provider signature)
Date_______________
Disclaimer:
I have taken some of the information for my handbook and forms from many
sources. If you find that I have used any of your information and would
like credit for it, please e-mail me and I will give you proper credit.
Thank you.
More Handbook
& Contracts - Page 2
Special thanks to:
for the graphics on this page. Animated Baby (c)
Kitty
Roach
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