PARENT'S PAGE:
ABC's for Parents
A sk your child about the school day.
B egin your child's day with a nourishing breakfast.
C ongratulate your child for doing well.
D iscuss homework with your child.
E ncourage your child to read.
F ind a quiet place for your child to study.
G ive your child responsibility.
H ug your child to build self worth
I nclude your child in making simple familt decisions.
J oin a library with your child.
K eep your child on a schedule that includes exercise and sleep.
L imit TV viewing by selecting programs with your child.
M ake the time you spend with your child special.
N otice and discuss changes in your child's behavior.
O ffer to help your child organize school papers.
P rovide your child with good role models.
Q uestion your child about his/her school day.
R espect your child's right to have opinions different from yours.
S hare an interest or a hobby with your child.
T ake time to listen to your child.
U rge your child to always do their best.
V isit places of interest with your child.
W ork with your child to set up rules of behavior.
X erox and save records or articles that benefit your child.
Y ield results by encouraging your child to do better.
Z oom through these ABC's again and again!
What Your Provider Expects From You
OPEN COMMUNICATION - Explain carefully your wishes and expectations about how your child will be cared for and 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.
AGREEMENT ON TERMS AND ARRANGEMENTS - You should fully understand the expectation of the provider and what you as a parent are agreeing to.
HONESTY AND TRUST - This includes being honest about how you feel 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 childcare provider to do the best for your child.
ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE 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, reduce your hours, etc. If schedule changes give notice also.
PICK UP ON TIME AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON ALL AGREEMENT - Providers have personal lives too, and they should be able to expect that you will pick 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 more convenient to stop at the grocery store before picking up your child which makes you a few minutes late, you need to work out a new agreement with your provider or find a way to abide with the original one.
SICK CHILDREN - Agree with your provider in advance about when you can and can't bring a sick child.
PAYMENT ON TIME - Providers have to pay their bills and buy foo too, so make arrangements to see that they receive their pay on time.
RESPECT - Realize that taking care of children is a job and the provider is a worker, just as you are and that the provider is not just a "babysitter". She is one of the most important people in your child's life and in yours too.
JEALOUSY - Try not to be jealous of your child's attachment to the childcare provider. Children who spend hours each day with a childcare provider 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 childcare provider for your child's affection. Be happy that they love and get loved in returned
NO SURPRISES - Childcare providers don't like surprises any more than parent's do.
WHAT A PARENT CAN EXPECT
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. OPEN ACCESS TO THE HOME - Parents are welcome to drop in any time. Providers also should allow parents to make a reasonable number of calls to check on their children's well being, in case if illness or if there's a special problem such as separation anxiety. SAFETY FOR YOUR CHILD - Providers should take all possible precautions to keep children safe. 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. They shouldn't expect parents to help them avoid income taxes by slipping them money on the side.
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 inform parents before agreeong to care for the children.
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 should be given at least two weeks notice even if the provider won't be available just for one day, unless there is a personal emergency or illness.
NO INTERFERENCE IN THE CHILD'S FAMILY OR FAMILY PROBLEMS - Providers should not talk to children about their families problems, lifestyle or values. Likewise, providers should be careful not to take sides in any family disputes such as custody battles.
NO ADVICE OFFERED UNLESS ASKED FOR AND NO JUDING OF FAMILY PRACTICES - Providers shouldn't criticize or advise parents on child rearing unless their advice is asked for by the parents. If the provider sees something that is seriously wrong with how parents are raising their children, they should discuss the problem with the parents and if needed, contact legal authorities.
ASSURANCE THAT EVERYONE IN CONTACT WITH THE CHILD IS TRUSTWORTHY AND SUPERVISED - Providers must be responsible for everyone who enters and visits the home.
NO SURPRISES - This means that your family child care provider won't suddenly tell you that she is taking a job next week. Surprises are probably what parents fear the most from their child care providers. (And visa versa)
My Job Description For The Family Child Care Provider
PROXY / SURROGATE PARENT: Maintain an environment similar to that of the children's home.
FIRST AID TECHNICIAN: Giving care to physical complaints, illnesses and minor injuries of children. Maintaining a safe environment at all times. Keeping children free from danger, injury, and the threat of harm.
COOK / CHEF: Sees that children receive nutritous meals meeting their daily requirements.
TEACHER: Helps children learn and followinstructions by prepared planning. Sets up the environment so that children are encourage to learn.
DISCIPLINARIAN: Helps children learn through limits. Allows children to develop and maintain good problem solving skills.
REFEREE: Maintain far and orderly control. Helps children learn to deal with conflicts in an appropriate manner.
LAUNDRESS: Maintains clean materials and equipment, ie. blankets, towels, etc.
FINANCE MANAGER: Maintains good business records in a professional manner.
PURCHASING AGENT: Maintaining a steady flow of materials and equipment in an organized fashion.
DIRECTOR: The maintenance of the program and all aspects within that program are handled providing an appropriate schedule that addresses the needs of the whole child.
ACTIVITY ORGANIZER: Plans of daily activities that stimulate the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children.
MENTOR: Professional consultant to parents, providers and children.
CONFIDANT: A good listener who is trusted by both parents and children and their individual concerns.
GARDENER: Maintains a constant surveillance of the surrounding outdoor encironment.
CONSERVATIONIST: Encourages children to respect nature and have a high regard for our earth.
STUDENT: Constantly improving on the development and growth of oneself.
Toy recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission back to 1975.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.Html
Infant/Child Product Recalls (not including toys) from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/child.html
