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Fire RegulationsBe sure that your provider meets all requirements for fire safety. Do they have a fire alarm? Are there smoke detectors distributed throughout? Is there a clearly posted fire plan for staff and parents to refer to? Are the sleep mats and cot mattresses fire retardant? Do they conduct regular fire drills? Check out these as well as check with your local authority on any further regulations that should be met. Compare ProgramsDon’t settle on the first day care center you find. Try to check out several different programs in your area to see what is available, and then compare. Make sure the center you choose has enough staff members to serve the needs of all their children, that they have a positive and friendly attitude, and that they understand and enjoy watching children learn and grow! Records and CertificationsAlways check the records of a day care center with local and state authorities including local child care councils. The last thing you want to do is place your child in less-than-adequate care. You should also ask to see all certifications -- day care, first aid and CPR. Peer Pressure and Bad HabitsWhen your child begins imitating behaviour you do not like and identifies it with another child she learned it from, take care to not disparage the other child. Realize that your child probably admires this child, or a quality that this child has. Talk to your child about his friend, and make it clear that while you are sure his friend is really wonderful, that this behaviour is not. Point out that everyone has bad habits, and that we need to overcome them, not imitate them. Showing respectMost childcare providers and preschool teachers find it degrading to be referred to as babysitters. At this point in time many of them have acquired an education in their field and take pride in providing the children with a curriculum as well as tender loving care. To maintain a quality relationship with these very important people in your child's life, you may want to refer to them as preschool teachers, childcare providers or even daycare professional. What is Home Daycare?Home based daycare, also called family daycare, should provide all benefits of learning opportunities and safe environment that a child care center provides, but within a family home environment. It is often run by the parent or grandparent of a small child (children), and can be more relaxed and informal in its relationship with the parent(s). Often the schedule is also more flexible than that of a large center. Fun FairsMany commumities, and even stores such as Wal-Mart, host a day or weekend where there is face painting and more. Your parent’s group could request a booth to participate. These need not be complicated- we once did a booth where the kids made paper hats from newspaper and string, glitter, etc. The kids loved it, and it really raised our community profile. Dangerous ConditionsBefore making a final decision, take a tour of the day care facility and be on guard for dangerous conditions such as swimming pools, construction areas, and signs of animals including dogs and cats. If you are unsure about a certain situation, ask questions! Play ClothesDress your child appropriately for playground activities. This includes avoiding all clothing with drawstrings, ribbons, chains, or other hanging material that could result in accidental strangulation. (This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru) Be PositiveWhen preparing to leave your child, be positive. Make it part of your ordinary routine, and don’t keep issuing reminders as if it is a special occurrence. That will only serve to heighten your child’s anxiety. When dropping off your child, go in and say hello to the staff and children, then say goodbye. Don’t linger and prolong the parting, but don’t seem in a hurry to be away from your child either as you don’t wish to give him the feeling that you are running away. Observe the DaycareOne of the best ways to determine if a day care is right for your child is by observation. If possible, visit the site and watch the daily routine of the staff. Be sure there is a variety of interesting activities that encourage learning and that the facility is clean, safe and the equipment is up-to-date. Importance of SupportCommunity support for childcare is very important as funding and other issues are first handled at the local level. From the smallest home daycare provider, to the county sponsored daycare center, community support has an very important role to play. Be sure to check out my Community Awareness Activities for some fun ideas! Going on Field TripsOne good way to volunteer time at your child’s center is to go along on one of their field trips. Extra adults are often needed to help keep track of the excited children, and it is a wonderful way to spend an extra bit of time with your child. Just be aware that this is NOT just time for you to be with your child. You are volunteering to help manage a group, and each child requires equal attention or the time you spend is wasted. Arrange PlaydatesKids often get despondent because they feel bad that they can’t do something another child can, or think that the other children don’t like him. Take time to greet the other children when you drop off your child so that they begin to come up to you and your child to say hello. Arrange playdates with children from the center. The more involved your child becomes with her peers, the less likely she is to feel inferior and unliked. Minimum Legal Age to be Left Alone?The minimum legal age for a child to be left at home alone and unsupervised varies from state to state and can from county to county. You should note that I say at home alone, as the age minimum for a child watchng another child is often different yet again even if the other child is a sibling. The best way to find out what this age is for where you live is to contact your area’s social services department that deals with child care and get this information, as often friends and neighbors have erroneous or outdated information. You can also find out what supervisory conditions must be met, if any, i.e. does a neighbor need to be available, contact numbers available, or if the older child must have taken training of any kind. Listening Begins at HomeThere are a number of ways to teach kids to listen. Make stories interesting to listen to, and discuss them during and after they are read. Play Simon Says and other games that require attentive listening. Play telephone. Make up games finding rhyming words. Teach young children to use the real telephone on calls that are meaningful to them, such as chats with friends and grandparents. Teach older children (age 7 and above) how to take phone messages. (This tip submitted by Shirley Sullivan, Kid Guru) Foods and Meal TimesOne of the most important aspects of good daycare is nutrition for your child. Be sure the daycare you are selecting provides well-balanced, nutritional foods as per USDA guidelines. Ask to see a menu, note the times the meals are served (and whether snacks are provided), as well as provisions for special diets and/or food allergies. Daycare and the Disabled ChildWhen choosing a mainstream daycare situation for your child, you should ensure that all staff are trained in special education and are willing to learn about your child and her particular disability. Look around at all areas of the centre and see if they are all accessible and usable to your child. Questions to ask yourself include: Will your child be able to use the outdoor play area (many centres have sandy play areas which are not wheelchair friendly), are the walkways wide enough for your child to get through? Do they have appropriate toilet facilities? Strengthen Family BondsWhenever possible, volunteer at your child’s daycare center! Not only does this give you a chance to familiarize yourself with teachers, curriculum, and the center itself...but your child will beam with pride the second you step into their room! (This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru) Be StraightforwardWhen asking questions, be straightforward. The teachers should have some sort of communication log or daily report that is helpful. If not, suggest it. If they do, but it`s not enough for you, don`t be afraid to ask what you want to know. It`s their job to know and to let you know. Staff-to-Child RatioWhen interviewing a potential day care provider, you should ask about the staff-to-child ratio. Do they watch their own children in addition to others? And, if so, are those children included in their ratio? Sandbox Toys From Your KitchenDon’t toss those empty spice containers into the garbage! Peel off the labels and use them in the sandbox - kids love to watch the sand empty out from the containers. You can also use scoops from laundry detergent as small trowels or shovels. (This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru) Volunteer Your TimeIn many cases, you can volunteer "time" at a daycare center to help reduce your actual fees. By offering to help out one or two days a week, or by offering to take on outside responsibilities like shopping or doing the laundry for the center, you might be eligible for a discount. (If you work full-time, perhaps a grandparent would be able to assist instead.) (This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru) Choosing a NannyMany parents do not know the difference between a nanny and an au pair. So how to choose which may be right for your family? A nanny, can live in or live out, and is an experienced child care professional. They may have begun as au pairs, and received further experience in the child care field, or they may be formally trained. They generally do not do housework, except for cleaning up from the child care activities, and their main purpose is just that...they are dedicated to helping your child grow and develop on a one to one basis. Where Do I Find Home Daycare?To locate a home-based daycare, you can use either one of the childcare locator services I have linked to, a search engine, or best yet, contact your local child care lisencing agency. They should be listed in the phone book under state or local government. Ensure Values and Regulations are MetHome daycare is regulated, and you should ensure that all regulations as far as safety, registration, licensing, and child ratio to caregiver are met. Since it is within someone’s home, you will also wish to ensure that their values and any religious practices that they participate in while watching your child are agreeable to your family. Ask for references and be sure to check at least three, making sure to ask how they know them, etc. If they will be driving your child, check their driving record. Positive DisciplineChildren need and want rules. A truly nurturing adult earns children's respect by being firm and fair in a way that reminds children they are protected by a sturdy protective wall of reasonable limits that surrounds them and keeps them safe. What they don't need is anger and retaliation. Anger is frightening and can cause people to lose control of their actions. The nurturing adult is not hesitant to enforce appropriate rules fairly and firmly. (This tip submitted by Shirley Sullivan, Kid Guru) Health DiaryIn case of an emergency while your child is at daycare, be prepared with a health diary for each child. It should include: names and phone numbers of doctors and dentists; height and weight; immunization history (including adverse reactions); dates of developmental milestones; blood type; location and size of any distinguishing birthmarks; chronic conditions; childhood illnesses (already contracted); and, the names of all medications your child is taking (has taken). Update this as needed. This way, in case the unthinkable happens, your child’s care provider can give accurate information to emergency services. also include any pertinent religious preferences in regards to treatment options. (This tip submitted by Lisa Pinter, Newsletter Guru)
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