Basics

Business Hours 7:30 -5:30 Weekdays with minor variations.

I have and will continue to be as flexible as possible with special arrangements made in advance. PLEASE note that even though your child has left on time, sometimes I have 2-3 hours of related work to do. This make for a very LONG day.

Your Time is Scheduled Please do not bring your child more than 5 minutes before scheduled drop off time or take longer than 3-5 minutes for pickup. If there is something special you want to talk about, we can arrange a meeting or time for a phone call.

Late drop offs. Please call me if your running late. If I don’t hear from you, we will continue our day as planned.

Bad Weather Closings If Highway 10 Moorhead to Dilworth or interstate 94 is closed at 8 AM I am closed for the day. If either become closed during the day, PLEASE call me to see if you need to get your child.

If a single parent or both parents are any type of emergency personal, I will care for their child.

Openings and rates

$10 registration fee Per child

$50 deposit Per child

Daily Drop in (7:30-5:30) $30.

Fees  are based on a $25 day with a deduction for things.  If you need further information on how I based my fees, I will be happy to explain it to you in person. 

5    10 hour days 7:30-5:30,  $125 ($115 preschooler discount).

5   4.5 hour days 7:30-12, with lunch $75 

 

Payments

Please pay me on Monday or the first day of care for the week. Record your check number and fee amount on the right side of your sign in sheet. This makes it a great deal easier for both of us to keep track of your payments.

So far I have been BLESSED with out having to deal problems with late fees, fines and termination, but I will if I have to. Please talk to me and see if we can work together and avoid possible “situations”.

Non-payment by Wednesday morning means NO CARE and possible termination. If I need to terminate for lack of payment, a additional fee of the value of 2 weeks worth of care charged to your account. I will also be keeping your deposit to cover Monday and Tuesday. If the account is not brought up to date within 2 weeks the account will go to collection or small claims court.

I have a child care program on my computer to help keep track of payments and fees. If you would like invoices and statements on a regular basis, just ask. I usually do print "just of your information" every 2 or 3 months.

Money Programs

Dependent Care Plans - FLEXI will participate in any dependent care plan that is offered by your employer. You must keep me informed about the deadlines required by your plan. Often times formal forms are not needed, I can provided “official” receipts that will work.

If you haven’t spent all the money that you have set aside under the dependent care plan by the end of the plan year,please donate the unspent money to my program. This will directly help improve the quality of the child care that your child receives. The money would be considered a "bonus" as it is illegal to use the money for pre-payment.

Subsidy Payments - According to county regulations clients with subsidy payments are to be treated like clients that are not subsidized.

The client is responsible for paying the full amount of the fees , if the government agency does not pay the provider for any reason.

The county does not reimburse for late or extra fees. The client agrees to pay them.

Subsidized clients are required terminate under the same policies as non-subsidized

Holding a space

For more than one week includes a non-refundable fee of $25 fee plus another $25 that would be applied on a 00weekly bases when the child starts. Your first week of care, you would pay $100 (if your rate was $125), because you already paid $25.The first two weeks of care is an adjustment period. Open communication will get us through most of it. At sign up you paid a deposit and the first day of care you paid the week’s fees. This is un-refundable unless I decide it’s not going to work out. Both your child and I need some time to get to know each other.

If the provider believes the family followed the policies, but the child was not a good match for the daycare, a refund for the deposit and unused working fee might will be given. A refund will not be given if policies were not followed. It is up to the provider to decide if the family was attempting to follow the policies and should or should not get a refund. Each situation deserves being handled differently.

The provider may cancel the contract immediately, without written notice. This type of situation would come about from, but not limited to safety issues, disrespect, misunderstandings. A termination letter would explain the situation.

From that point on fees are expected at drop off on the first week of care, for that week

After the initial two weeks I require two weeks written notice to terminate services on the parents part. Included in the termination letter should be reasons for termination. Policy/payments will be enforced with or with out actual care of children.

If client goes to provider and explains why they are terminating, the provider has the right to waive/not to waive termination notice fees.

If there are any difficulties/issues concerning the safety of the child/children, unsolvable personal problems, policy conflicts termination may happen with out notice. This would only happen under extreme circumstances and for the safety of your child and others. Fees not used for that week would be refunded.

My hope would be to avoid this if at all possible, open friendly communication and RESPECT would be the key here.

I do reserve a right to terminate any family with out notice, but with written reasons explaining the termination.

Holidays and Vacations

Client Vacation days Unpaid vacations

For every 2 months in care, one day is accumulated for unpaid parent vacation days. A vacation requires 2 weeks notice. Don’t forget that my family vacations are UNPAID. If we can work together some of our vacations could fall on the same days, creating less need for back up care. PLEASE have back up care available.

During the Christmas Holiday I do take a week off for a break, where you pay ONLY for the Christmas Holiday.  For that reason any family that would like to schedule more time off, needs to notifiy at the end of October.  This will allow me time to make my own personal arrangements.

Provider

The provider gets FIVE paid emergency closings in a year per family. This may be due to (but not limited to) weather, illness, lice cleaning, lack of utilities (one year my water main broke out front). In the Spring of 2009, my area was evacuated during flooding. While we did not take on water, all furniture had to be brought up to main floor and than taken down again. This requires time. If more days are required they are unpaid.

The provider gets 10 paid National Holiday/Personal days during the year.

All registered clients must pay for the 10 National Holidays & Personal days. 

There is an option for families that are scheduled for fewer days.  They can pay extra or they can pay the same amount  as they normally do, but take one of their other days off.

The provider does take family vacations that are unpaid. Usually it's two weeks during the summer and one week for Christmas.  This varies a little.  For instance for the 2010 years I only took a couple four day weekends.  You will receive as much notices as possible.

Food and Nutrition

For the last18 years I’ve been working with The Child Care Choices, Child and Adult Care Food Program.

My goal is feeding children a variety of healthy foods. I prefer less convenience and more basic, healthy whole foods, but do have to “give in” a certain days. Lunch meals are a balance of hot and cold foods.

In order to belong to a food program in Minnesota, a daycare provider must be licensed.

They must attend classes in nutrition, serving size and general information.

As member of the food program we record the meals we serve and send that information into our program. In turn they check our meals to see if we are serving the proper food.

Two or three times a year a food program representative will make a surprise inspection of or meals/kitchen and paperwork. I provide formula according to the food program standards.

If your child needs a special diet I will try to work with you, but it is possible you will have to supply it.

PLEASE DO NOT bring into my home with out speaking to me. Please allow your child to finish eating in your car. The children in my care get plenty of food that well exceeds the guidelines set fourth by the state.

Often other children in my care are on special diets or have parents that are very concerned about the amount of sugar and fat. It is very difficult to explain to a child why he/she can’t eat the gum/candy that another child has given them.

I ‘d also like to mention that when it does slip by me, evidence can soon be found gummed up on my furniture and carpet. We limit sweets here. I try to tell you how much they’ve had. Some times it sounds silly counting out chocolate chips or m&m‘s, but there are parents that want to know this information.

Discipline

Truth be told I try to avoid “punishment” but have a STRONG structure that guides behavior. We have to have rules and the kids soon find out if someone is acting up it takes longer to get to the fun activities.

I always have a child talk to me and let them explain what happened I always explain why we can do something and try to help the children to understand what is acceptable.. I might have a child to “sit out” and count to 20, to calm themselves down if it‘s needed. I do not restrain children. If they are in a temper I let them calm themselves down, before trying to talk to them. I let them know I think they are a great kid and ask if something is bothering them, to make them so grumpy. I do what ever I can to help encourage a conversation that allows us to deal with the issue at hand.

90% of the time it’s redirecting the children or helping the children come to an understanding or removing an item from play. Prevention of problems is a big part of avoiding the need to correct behavior.

If I feel there is an issue or something going on I will keep you informed. Most of the time the child just misunderstands the situation, once things are explained and they understand, it's all good. 

Holiday Celebrations

It's VERY important that a Daycare does not “out do” or even compete in anyway with the parents. It's also important to keep in mind that some families treat certain holidays like any other day and do not celebrate. For this reason we keep all holidays  low key.

This is done by reading books, stories with the same holiday. It may also mean an art project, decoration or a making a gift for someone.

The children do not exchange gifts for Christmas, but they do give out valentines in February. Store bought or homemade is fine. This is a great time of the year for us to talk about letters and cards.

Birthdays are more of family celebration than a daycare one. Our goal is to make the child feel just a little extra special that day in simple ways. Children, may get to spread frosting on their muffin for snack. We might do special activities that are more party like. For instance blowing up balloons and have the kids hit them back and forth. The birthday child may find it's their turn be able to pick out their favorite stories to read at circle time. The fact that it's a child birthday is not stressed, but more of an effort of creating a great day for everyone.

Should I keep my child home?

If your child can not participate in child care activities or has a temperature please keep them at home.

Extreme tiredness IS a reason to keep your child home. It's very difficult to do activities when all a child wants to do is lay on the floor. It's very unfair to the other children.

Use your best judgment, please consider the health of the other children and my family.

If you repeatedly try to bring an obviously ill child to my program, it may be grounds for ending our contract. PLEASE HAVE YOUR OWN BACKUPS I am not responsible to find you alternative child care.

Children with common illnesses such as a simple cold (clear drainage) need not be excluded if common sense is used. If they have a drainage issue they must be taught how to deal with it (Kleenex) or will have to stay home. It’s very gross to see kids wiping their nose on their clothes, on my blankets, carpet and furniture. Of course I will help them, but I can NOT chase a child down and wipe their nose every 5-10 minutes. Green discharge IS a sign of infection.

Children also must be taught how to cough in their arm or use a bib around their neck, so as not to spread more germs. Both of us need to work together so the kids can be in daycare and not get sick.  Cotton bibs are great because they can be changed and a new one put on a few times during the day.

I also must know what the child’s actual condition is, the effects of exposure to the other children. I would like written medical recommendations and specific information whether the illness is contagious or is past that stage with antibiotics.

As a concerned provider, I need to notify parents whenever a child has been exposed to a contagious illness. I require that all parents inform me with in 24 hours of diagnosis of illnesses to anyone the child has been in contact with. If a child becomes ill under my care I will find a quiet place (away from the others) for the child to rest and if necessary take their temperature. I will notify the parent as soon as I determine if the child is ill. If the child is mildly ill it may not be necessary for the parent to come immediately, but I would like to inform the parent of their child’s condition. If in my opinion a child is too ill to remain in care, I expect you to be able to pick up a sick child within 30 minutes of being notified. YOU MUST to keep me informed as to your where you are, for the safety of your child.

Illness and Allergies.

I am allergic to many odors so my yard is a smoke free yard. Perfume is also discouraged or needs to be monitored. Often I may seem like I have a cold, but it’s an allergy reaction. After so many years with this medical condition I can tell the difference.

To keep your child healthy and safe.

Please let me know...

About any change in the child’s schedule, routine, or home environment. I will do the same for any changes in the child care business that affect the child.

About any allergies or other health issues that the child is experiencing.

About any special written instructions for the child as needed; for example, about eating, napping, toilet-training, allergies, etc.

The client must pay for all short-term illnesses when the child is sick and not in child care.

Administering Medication PLEASE READ

If you would like me to administer medicine to your child, you must sign a separate written authorization for each prescription. The medicine must be in its original container, labeled with the child’s name and the instructions for administering it. A note must also be taped on the bottle telling me when the last dosage was given and how much.

Over the counter medication may be brought with specific instructions in writing when to use it. An authorization and record of amounts and times given, for the last 24 hours is required. Medication given will be recorded.

Doctor’s written permission is required for any medication that does not follow the directions on the label.

As a licensee provider I reserve the right NOT to give a child medication, but would allow the parent to stop off at daycare and do so.

Lice-If your child has a case of head lice, the child must be treated and be free of nits before returning to care.

If a case of head lice is found in my program, I will notify all my clients and everyone in my home will be checked. Children must be treated and be free of nits before they will be allowed to return to care.

In case of lice I will have to close to clean house.

Closing for lice is considered an emergency closing.

Just for your information, so far we’ve been blessed with never getting lice. Just lucky, because it’s very common in public school and has nothing to do with being dirty or clean.

Immunizations-You are required to update my records of your child’s immunizations each year.

Here are some regulations from the state.

The provider shall notify the parent immediately when a child in care develops any of the following symptoms:

(1) underarm temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or over, or an oral temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or over;

(2) vomiting;

(3) diarrhea; or

(4) rash, other than mild diaper or heat related rash.

(5) lice

(6) Pink eye or other contagious illnesses

KEEP CHILDREN Home if they have any of these symptoms in the last 24 hours.

In order to stop the spread of germs, do NOT bring children when someone in the house is ill. If one child is ill, they ALL stay home. If either parent is ill, the children stay home. I understand this is difficult, but it also helps from spreading the germs.

Parents should notify the provider within 24 hours of the diagnosis of a serious contagious illness or parasitic infestation listed, so the provider may notify the parents of other children in care.

The provider shall inform a parent of each exposed child the same day the provider is notified a positive diagnosis has been made for any of the illnesses or parasitic infestations

Children should come with clothing that is designed for the weather inside the house and outside.

Walks - We have walked to Casey’s and the Regal Estates Park. Basically we stay in a 10 block radius when walking