Activities:
I try very hard to fill the children’s day with lots of meaningful and fun activities. Our day is likely to include a variety of experiences including arts & crafts, outdoor play, “school time”, dramatic play, music based activities, story time, water play, free play, and computer based activities. I am very involved with the children throughout the day to help cultivate a fun, exciting, and educational environment for them. You will receive daily oral reports on the day’s events and activities. My hope is that your child will be bursting at the seams to share his/her day with you. A typical daily schedule will look something like this:
7:30am Early birds awake, children arrive.
8:00am Breakfast is served.
9:00am School-time.
9:30am Child-directed activities.
10:00am Snack-time.
10:30am Small group activities.
12:00pm Lunch is served.
12:30pm Nap time/Quiet time activities
3:00pm Afternoon Snack
3:30pm Large Motor / Music Activities / Outdoor play
5:30pm Children are picked up for the day.
This is a VERY flexible schedule and is easily manipulated by the children’s developing interests and preferences, but generally this is how our day would progress.
Note: If your child arrives after 7:30am, they should be dressed and ready to participate in the day’s activities.
Nutrition:
I am not anti-sweets as you will soon learn, but I do limit the amount offered to the children throughout the day. Their meals will include a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You can expect your child to receive very nutritionally balanced meals while they are here. Children who are here by 8:00am will be offered breakfast. At about 10:00am we have a small snack, and lunch is at about 12:00pm followed by another snack at 3:00pm. These times are all flexible, but generally this is how our eating schedule will go. In addition to these scheduled meals there are always fruits and other healthy snacks available to the children if they are having an “eating” day. Please be sure to fill out the Preferences Section in your Admission Application, especially if there are definite liked and disliked foods.
Television:
I do allow the children to watch closely monitored television programs. (Monitored for content and length.) Some of my favorites are found on Nick Jr., and Playhouse Disney. I also have a variety of age appropriate videos. I do however prefer to keep the children involved in much more interactive play while they are here, consequently the television is rarely on in the summer if at all and kept to a minimum in the winter months. I have had problems in the past with children becoming upset because I won't allow them to "veg out" on the television, but in no time they come around to prefer the other activities offered here.
Computer Time:
This is definitely an area in my program that is growing. I am always amazed at how quickly even very young children can learn to control a mouse. I have a computer and a variety of educational games always available for the children's use and I hope to be able to continually upgrade this area as their interests grow.
Toilet Training:
As I am sure you know, toilet training cannot be accomplished if all parties involved are not actively training your child. If you feel it is time for your child to become toilet trained, I am more than willing to reinforce that training here. We can discuss your chosen methods, and begin whenever you and your child are ready. Pull-ups will be required during this time for ease in training and to ensure cleanliness for all the children.
Napping:
What can I say about napping? Blessed is the day someone walks up to me with a blanket and a teddy bear and says, "You look tired, why don't you go lay down and get some rest. I will wake you up in a couple of hours." If your child is too old for naps he/she will at least have an hour of resting time which can be spent reading books, doing puzzles, or some other quiet activity.
Items from Home:
The children are welcome to bring items from home with the understanding that they will be expected to share with the other children. I will do all I can to keep track of these things but please be aware that often items are misplaced, lost, or broken. I would not expect a child to share items of a personal nature like blankets, bottles, pacifiers, etc. I do however strongly discourage you from sending food items, especially morning sweets, unless you are able to provide for the entire group. Small children take it VERY personally when one child gets or is allowed to have something that the others are not. My own children are not offered any type of treat that is not available to all the kids. If your child must have cookies or candies in the morning please offer these things at home before they arrive for daycare.
Discipline:
I do utilize "time-out" when necessary as a means of discipline. I will not yell, threaten, or in any way try to scare a child into obedience. Accidents are just that...accidents.... and do not warrant any kind of disciplinary action. Certainly some discussion about paying attention, but never discipline. I do however remain firm on these rules 1) You will respect others and 2) You will respect me. I have not found anything that the children can do outside of these two rules that is anything more than just being a kid. Make no mistake about it, I am probably one of the strictest parents you will meet, but I also believe the greatest elements in the disciplinary process are love and grace. They will certainly be corrected, but then without hesitation be told how wonderful he/she is and that everyone makes mistakes.
Illness Prevention:
Unfortunately it is an inevitable fact in childcare that the kids will share their illnesses. The questions are How often?, How bad?, and How long will it last? We can keep these things to a minimum by observing the following practices:
1) One of the most effective ways to avoid illness is through hand washing. In a typical day, I can wash my hands as often as 20-30x. (I would however recommend the use of a good hand lotion after each washing to avoid chaffing and cracking of the skin. Hands with open sores carry as much bacteria as unwashed hands.)
2) The children NEVER share eating and drinking utensils and are strongly discouraged from sharing food with one another.
3) The children are taught, encouraged, and reminded to wash their hands and faces after meals and toileting to avoid the spread of germs.
Illness:
Now, let us take for granted that despite all the precautions taken, the inevitable happens and the children come down with a cold. I do not have a problem treating certain symptoms here. For instance, if your child has a mild to moderate fever (up to 101.0 F) but is still acting and feeling fine and Tylenol relieves his/her fever, I can administer the Tylenol throughout the day. If he/she has a runny nose that can be relieved with medication, I am also willing to administer that. (Be sure the medication treats "runny nose" not just "nasal
congestion".) If your child has a cough that can be relieved through medication, I can administer that. Pretty much if the symptom can be relieved by the appropriate medication, and your child is otherwise fine, I can treat him/her here. If the medication sent is or becomes ineffective (this can happen especially for severe symptoms) or your child is suffering from multiple symptoms, then he/she will not be admitted to care or you will get a phone call to come and pick up your child. I will not treat vomiting or diarrhea here under any circumstances. The children are too young to have the skills to prevent the spread of the virus usually associated with these symptoms. I would also ask that if your child develops any kind of unexplained rash that you keep him/her home until a cause for the rash can be determined, and we can be sure it is safe for the other children in my care. As for your school-aged children, if they are too sick to go to school, then they are too sick to be here. If you have any questions concerning this, please bring them to my attention.
It is my opinion that by utilizing the previous policies, the families I serve will be able to keep the amount of time lost from work and play to a minimum.
Administering Medication:
I must have written consent for the specific medication given, whether over-the-counter or prescription. Along with the medication itself, I will need a Medication Authorization Form filled out. I have these forms available for you as needed.
Pick-up and Drop-off Times:
Drop-off and pick-up times are prearranged at your time of admission. It is very important that the children be picked up on time. This policy MUST be respected to participate in this program. If friends or relatives will be picking up your child you must fill out the Pick-up Authorization Form in your Admission Application. Please be aware that I will not release a child to any individual who cannot show proper identification.
Parent Visits:
I welcome and encourage you to visit your children whenever possible. It is an exciting treat for them and makes them feel really special. I do however ask that during these visits and upon drop-off or pick-up that you follow a "knock first” rule. If I don't answer then feel free to come in. We are probably playing outside or having "school-time". I use this policy as a safety precaution so I am always aware of who is in my home. Additionally, I would ask that you all respect the other children in my care and understand that they may not be comfortable with your presence in my home. Please allow the children time and space to feel comfortable with your presence and do not assume they want you to hug or address them personally. Many young children are very shy or have been taught to stay away from strangers. Please respect that during your visits.
Parent Conferences:
If your child does not attend school, you will be asked to participate in a parent/teacher conference yearly to discuss your goals for your child’s development during his/her time here. I utilize a variety of techniques to document their successes and I am sure you will find them helpful in your assessment of your child needs developmentally. This is also a wonderful time for us to discuss your expectations of this facility outside of the hectic day-to-day pick-up/drop-off time.
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm
(Individual Hours are agreed upon at enrollment.)Saturday and Sunday By Appointment Only
and Extended HoursFees:
Full-time = Ages 3-5 5 days per week = $100.00 per week
Infants 0-2 5 days per week = $120.00 per weekPart-time = Ages 3-5 2-4 days per week = $25.00 per day
Infants 0-2 2--4 days per week = $30.00 per dayDrop-in = Ages 3-5 - 1 day per week = $30.00 per day
Infants 0-2 1 day per week = $35.00 per dayMultiple child discount of 10% is applied on a per day basis.
School Readiness Program = Ages 3-5 = $15.00 per day
Tues, Wed, Thurs 9am-3pm Note : No Multi Child Discount is Applied to This ProgramReturned Check Policy:
There will be a $30.00 fee for returned checks and all check writing privileges will be revoked.
Late Fees:
Because care is paid for in advance, I have no late payment fees. You do however run the risk of finding your children without child care if you are not on the schedule. I WILL NOT jepordize my family, or the other families I serve by losing my license due to overbooking. Please do not ask me to make an exception here, as much as I understand the possible urgency of your need, I can not and will not work outside the limits set by the State of California regarding this matter.
Payment and Scheduling:
Reservations for service are made and paid for on the Friday prior to the week of service. No refunds are given for reservations not kept. No exceptions.
Late Pick-Up Fees:
First Occurrence Per Calendar Year:
Up to 15 Minutes
$10.00 per Child Payable Immediately
15-30 Minutes
$10.00 per Child Payable Immediately plus
Two Week Notice of Termination of Service
More Than 30 Minutes
$10.00 per Child Payable Immediately plus
Immediate Termination of Service With No Refund of Prepaid Fees
Second Occurrence Per Calendar Year:
Up to 15 Minutes
$20.00 per Child Payable Immediately
15-30 Minutes
$20.00 per Child Payable Immediately plus
Two Weeks Notice of Termination of Service
More Than 30 Minutes
$20.00 per Child Payable Immediately plus
Immediate Termination of Service With No Refund of Prepaid Fees
Third Occurrence per Calendar Year:
Up to 15 Minutes
$30.00 per Child Payable Immediately plus
Two Weeks Notice of Termination of Service
More Than 15 Minutes
$30.00 per Child Payable Immediately plus
Immediate Termination of Service With No Refund of Prepaid Fees
No multiple child discount will be applied to Late Pick-Up fees.
Substitute Care:
I do not provide any substitute care so coverage on my days off is your responsibility. I do however, have caregivers available in case of an emergency who have been fingerprinted and cleared by the Department of Justice and Community Care Licensing to provide care to children.
Days Off:
I do not charge for the days that I don't have your children and because my space limits are strictly enforced, scheduling is critical. You will need to reserve care for the following week on each Friday. I will not expect your child on days that you have not made an appointment for and your spot will be filled by drop-in positions. As the demand for the services of this facility is high, this policy is critical to ensure childcare is available to you from one week to the next. Scheduling priority will be given to those who demonstrate dependability. (That is not to be confused with who shows up the most.)
Facility Closures:
This is my current facility closure schedule for the year 2010. I will provide everyone with two weeks notice of any change in my vacation schedule. You will be responsible to find a replacement during these dates, as I do not provide substitute care. Although changes may occur, this should prove to be fairly accurate:
April 2nd - 4th Vacation
May 15th -16thFrog Jump!
Frog Jump!May 26th Memorial Day Holiday
Memorial Day HolidayJune 30th - July 4th 4th of July Holiday
4th of July HolidayJuly 21-25th Summer Vacation
August 15th Vacation
VacationSeptember 1st Labor Day Holiday
Labor Day HolidayOctober 31st Halloween
HalloweenNov 10-11th Veteran's Day
Veteran's DayNov 27th - Nov 28th Thanksgiving Holiday
Thanksgiving HolidayDec 24th - 25th Christmas/New Year Holiday
Christmas/New Year Holiday End of Service:
Although it is customary to give a two-week advance notice before leaving a child care program, I do not require it. My feeling is that if you or your child are not satisfied with this program I am not going to require you to use my services when they are not wanted or needed. Likewise, I will always try to give a two-week notice before dismissal from this program but if your presence in this facility creates an undo hardship upon myself or the children in my care then your service will be terminated immediately.
Inclusion:
Joey’s House Family Child Care is available to all children. This childcare facility cannot and will not discriminate for reasons of race, color, national origin, sex, or physical ability. If you believe you have been discriminated against please call:
Community Care Licensing at 559-243-4588
Emergency Preparedness
Fire:
This facility conducts fire drills on a monthly basis. The children are taught and practice getting to our "meeting spot." They have responded very well and I am confident in the case of an emergency we will all be fine.
Earthquake:
We have in place an "Earthquake Kit" assembled. In it, we have all the supplies needed for a 72-hour time period. I encourage you to send a "hug from home" including a few small items to comfort your child in case an emergency warrants an overnight stay. Examples of some items could be a picture of your family, a special story, a note, etc.
State Wide Disaster:
Upon admission into this program, you will be given the name and number to an out of state contact in the event of a state wide emergency. In cases such as this, the in state phone lines are usually down but calls can still be made nation wide. This contact will have information for you in case we have been evacuated elsewhere by emergency personnel. You will also be given a local contact for information related to a more localized disaster such as a flood, hazardous spill, etc.
Medical Emergency:
I have been certified in CPR and First Aid for 15 years and am very comfortable with my ability to use these skills. We maintain a fully stocked First Aid kit and all emergency numbers are readily available. I feel that this facility is fully prepared in the event of a medical emergency.
