Parents Area

Important Information for Parents

Info & Docs for Parents

Contract: the agreement to provide child care as well as the cost

Open a PDF file Contract.
Payment information
Termination procedures

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Policies: the rules that describe how the provider will care for the child.

Open a PDF file Policies.
Policies help clarify what the expectations are for you, the provider, and the families you serve.
Children’s Illnesses
Medical Records
Outdoor Play
Trips Outside the Child Care
Pick up the child

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Meals & Rest/Nap Time

Meals
Rest/Nap Time
Toilet Training
Diaper Changing

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Curriculum

Open a PDF file Early Learning and Development Standards.
Open a PDF file Development Of Infant And Toddler Early Learning.
Activities children participate in
Materials are available for the various ages
Daily schedule

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Contracts include the following components:

  1. Names and ages of the child(ren) to be cared for
  2. The parent(s)/guardian(s) contact information
  3. Payment information – to include:
    - When payment is due
    - Overtime rates, and late pick-up fees
    - Rates for holidays, vacations, and other absences of both the child and the provider (a calendar of closings can also be included)
    - Other charges (fees for field trips, etc)
    - Deposits (consider whether you will require a 2 week deposit be collected upon enrollment which covers the last two weeks of care provided)
  4. Termination procedures – to include:
    - The provider’s right to end the child care arrangement in a relatively short amount of time for any reason (e.g. two week notice)
    - A statement saying that parents/guardians must pay you during the termination period whether or not the child attends during that time
    - The provider’s right to terminate care without giving any notice when a parent is behind in making payments
  5. Open a PDF file Contract.

Policies help clarify what the expectations are for us, the provider, and the families we serve:

  1. Children’s Illnesses:
    - What will you as the provider do to reduce illness?
    - When is it appropriate for you to send a sick child home?
    - When do children need to be excluded from the program because of illness?
    - When are children allowed to return to child care after an illness?
    - What happens if the child is injured?
    - How are emergencies handled?
  2. Medical Records:
    - What type of records do you need to keep on file?
    - How often are these records updated?
  3. Outdoor Play:
    - How often are the children playing outside and where are they playing?
    - What are the safety rules for outdoor play equipment?
    - What weather related items should families supply for outdoor play? (e.g. bathing suit, towel, mittens, hats, snow pants, snow boots, etc.)
  4. Trips Outside the Child Care:
    - Will the provider ever transport children? To where? How frequently?
    - What vehicle will be used?
    - What car seats will be used and who supplies them?
    - What are the rules about seat belts, etc.?
    - Do you require the parent to sign a permission form?
  5. Pick up the child:
    - What happens if a parent knows in advance that they will be late to pick up their child?
    - Who else is authorized to pick up the child besides the parents?
    - What happens if no one is reachable and the child has not yet been picked up?
    - What are the fees for late pick ups with or with out notification?
  6. Open a PDF file Policies.

Meals & Rest/Nap Time

  1. Meals:
    - What are the mealtimes? How is the schedule modified for individual needs?
    - Who provides the food for each meal? Snacks?
    - How are dietary restrictions handled? Food allergies?
    - Does the provider participate in the Child and Adult Food Program?
  2. Rest/Nap Time:
    - What are the expectations for rest and nap time by age of child?
    - Where will children rest/nap?
    - Who supplies the bedding?
    - Who launders the bedding?
    - What comfort toys are allowed at rest/nap time?
  3. Toilet Training
    - What equipment is used for toilet learning?
    - What are the expectations for toilet learning?
    - Will any reward systems be used?
    - When will it be appropriate for the child to transition out of diapers into underwear? Are pull-ups allowed?
    - What terminology will be used to describe body parts and body functions?
  4. Diaper Changing:
    - Who supplies diapers and wipes?
    - How often are diapers changed?
    - Where are children changed?
    - What is the sanitizing procedure after diapering?
  5. Open a PDF file Policies.

Curriculum

  1. What activities will the children participate in?
  2. What materials are available for the various ages?
  3. What learning activities will the provider work on with each child?
  4. How can parents support the learning that happens at the family child care program?
  5. Supplies:
    - Who supplies spare clothes?
    - Who supplies consumable materials such as paper, crayons, etc.?
  6. Open a PDF file Early Learning and Development Standards.
  7. Open a PDF file Development Of Infant And Toddler Early Learning.

Things you need to know...
+Payment information


- When payment is due
- Overtime rates, and late pick-up fees
- Rates for holidays, vacations, and other absences of both the child and the provider (a calendar of closings can also be included)
- Other charges (fees for field trips, etc)
- Deposits (consider whether you will require a 2 week deposit be collected upon enrollment which covers the last two weeks of care provided)

+Termination procedures


- The provider’s right to end the child care arrangement in a relatively short amount of time for any reason (e.g. two week notice)
- A statement saying that parents/guardians must pay you during the termination period whether or not the child attends during that time
- The provider’s right to terminate care without giving any notice when a parent is behind in making payments

+Children’s Illnesses


- What will you as the provider do to reduce illness?
- When is it appropriate for you to send a sick child home?
- When do children need to be excluded from the program because of illness?
- When are children allowed to return to child care after an illness?
- What happens if the child is injured?
- How are emergencies handled?

+Medical Records


- What type of records do you need to keep on file?
- How often are these records updated?

+Pick up the child


- What happens if a parent knows in advance that they will be late to pick up their child?
- Who else is authorized to pick up the child besides the parents?
- What happens if no one is reachable and the child has not yet been picked up?
- What are the fees for late pick ups with or with out notification?

+Meals


- What are the mealtimes? How is the schedule modified for individual needs?
- Who provides the food for each meal? Snacks?
- How are dietary restrictions handled? Food allergies?
- Does the provider participate in the Child and Adult Food Program?

+Rest/Nap Time


- What are the expectations for rest and nap time by age of child?
- Where will children rest/nap?
- Who supplies the bedding?
- Who launders the bedding?
- What comfort toys are allowed at rest/nap time?

+Trips Outside the Child Care


- Will the provider ever transport children? To where? How frequently?
- What vehicle will be used?
- What car seats will be used and who supplies them?
- What are the rules about seat belts, etc.?
- Do you require the parent to sign a permission form?

+Curriculum


- What activities will the children participate in?
- What materials are available for the various ages?
- What learning activities will the provider work on with each child?
- How can parents support the learning that happens at the family child care program?
- Supplies:
1. Who supplies spare clothes?
2. Who supplies consumable materials such as paper, crayons, etc.?