Provider Resources Provider Resources Over the last couple of years I have run across some wonderful information that has helped me with my own children and now my business. I can't take credit for all the information provided here, i found it on the net and through an email list.
What a Provider can expect from a Parent
10 Top reasons why Parents choose a Provider
Why a Parent doesn't choose a Provider
Why a Provider doesn't accept a Family
"Biting Hurts"
What a Provider can expect from a Parent
1.Open communication. Explain clearly and carefully your wishes and expectations about how your child will be cared for. Also 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.
2.Agreement on terms or arrangements. You should fully understand the expectations of the provider and what you as a parent are agreeing to.
3.Honesty and trust. This includes being honest about how you believe 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 child care provider to do the best for your child.
4.Advance notice of and 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, take a vacation during which they will receive no pay.
5.Pick up on time and follow through on all agreements. Providers have personal lives, too, and they should be able to expect that you will pick up 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 it more convenient to stop at the grocery store before picking up your child which makes you 30 minutes late three times a week you need to work out a new agreement with the provider or find a way to abide by the original one.
6. Sick children. Agree with your child care provider in advance about when you can and cannot bring a sick child.
7.Payment on time. Child care providers have to pay the rent and buy food, too, so make arrangements to see that they get their pay on time.
8.Respect. Realize that taking care of children is a job and the child care provider is a worker, just as you are. A child care provider is not "just a baby sitter". She is one of the most important people in your child's life and in yours, too.
9.Jealousy. Try not to be jealous of your child's attachment to child care providers. Children who spend hours every day with a day care worker come to love that person. That love, though, doesn't diminish the love the child feels for you. Don't feel that you have to compete with your child care provider for your child's affection. Be happy that they love and get loved in return.
10.No surprises. Your Child Care Provider shouldn't learn on Friday that you have decided to take next week off from work, this is her livelihood and changes in her income should be given advance notice. Child care providers don't like surprises any better than parents do.
10 Top Reasons why Parents choose Providers
1. Location of the home. Parents prefer child care arrangements close to home.
2. Telephone Interview Skills. Be prepared. I keep a 3x5 card by the phone with all the information (like rate, what our day is like ect.) on it. Keep a smile in your voice. If a parent calls at all time when it is difficult for you to focus on them, it's OK to let them know you are interested, but you need to call them back shortly.
3. Exterior Appearance of the Provider's home and Surroundings: Homes need to be in good repair and the yard area surrounding the homes need to have "Curb Appeal!" **Remember you can write off the expense of flowers and plants at tax time**
4. Child Care Provider’s Grooming: It is critical for the provider to groom and dress for child care success everyday. I don't think that means wear your best top and slacks, just be clean and neat. Wear a little makeup if anything else it will make you feel pretty.
5. Cleanliness of a Provider's home: First impressions can make or break a business relationship. No matter how wonderful a provider is, if their home/center is not clean and organized, parents will be typically turned off.
6. Personal Interview Skills: Parents often do not know exactly what they are searching for when they start looking for child care. Providers must know what they have to offer and be able to promote their program to parents.
7. Personal and General Home organization: For Providers to really look and feel like they are professional in their business they need to be organized. No matter how great a provider is with children, if their business is in disarray, parent's will think they are not very professional or serious about their business.
8. Specific Organization of Child Care Space and Activities Offered: Parents want to be sure their children will have enough organized activities and age appropriate toys to play with during the day. Having a separate area in your home for the day care children to play is also a plus.
9. Written Financial Policies and Agreements to Clarify the Provider's Services: Providers need a written contract or agreement to be sure they have clarified rules and policies, which helps to eliminate misunderstandings with parents from the beginning. For hints on how to write a contract see Basic Contract Writing or My Handbook and Contract.
10. Professionalism: What is professionalism in child care? In short, it is the eagerness to constantly better ourselves. It is constantly updating training and skills, building new skills, and learning and sharing with fellow child care professional. Professionalism is constantly refreshing ourselves to offer our BEST!
Why a Parent doesn’t choose a Provider As a child care provider, have you ever had a parent call and come for an interview, and then you never hear from them again? Do you wonder what you did wrong? Wasn't your house clean enough? Was it something personal about you they didn't like? Is there something you can do differently to increase the likelihood parents will choose your day care?
Here is a list of reasons some parents have given for not choosing a specific child care home. Parents can use this as a check-list, and child care providers can use it as guide to help you to see yourself and your child care home from parents' perspectives.
The provider seems more interested in the money rather than the children.
The children are not offered a wide variety of activities and/or toys.
The house or yard is poorly maintained and/or cluttered.
The children are required to stay in one small area of the home.
The parent feels the provider cares for too many children.
The home smells of cigarette smoke.
The provider does not present her/himself in a professional manner.
The home does not have adequate napping space/equipment.
Any pets not properly restrained and/or controlled.
The provider has an unfriendly telephone manner.
The provider carried on a phone conversation with children crying in the background.
The provider lives near a busy street and does not have a fenced in yard.
The provider uses inappropriate language around the children.
Broken toys or other dangerous items are laying around.
The cleanliness of the provider and the children in her care does not meet standards of the parent.
The provider does not acknowledge the children during the interview.
The inside of the home is dark or dreary.
Children are not allowed on the furniture.
The contract and policies are not professionally written.
The children are left unattended outside.
Toys are not visible during the interview.
The provider has too many rules for young children.
The provider seems inflexible with behavioral management techniques, potty training schedule, napping schedule, etc.
The parents are not allowed to make unannounced visits during child care hours.
Other kids in the providers care are dirty during interview.
The provider's family does not seem supportive of her child care business.
Why a Provider doesn't accept a Family as a client Most child care providers are not in this business just to make money. This career is often chosen because they love working with children. Daycare providers usually work long hours for minimal pay, if you consider what other professionals would get paid for putting in a 12 hour day with little to no breaks. These days are made longer and harder if there are problems with the families they work with. With that in mind, it might be easier to understand the reasons for not accepting a family as a client.
Parent was rude or condescending during the interview.
Their child is unruly during the interview and the parent doesn't back you up when you ask the child to stop jumping on the couch."
The parent talks like they want their child to be the only one in your care.
If a parent tells me over and over again in an interview "well my other provider did it this way".
The parent objects to my personal rules of behavior.
A parent who does not seem to take me and my Contracts/policies professionally.
If parents do not want to hear about my program first they want to know how much I charge.
Parent seems unreasonable in what they would expect.
Parent is late or doesn't show up to interview.
Parent complains about price and is concerned that the cost is too high.
Parent complains about past providers without justification.
Parent has had many other providers without a good explanation.
Wants hours or days that I can not provide.
Does not want young child to nap.
Parent or child is afraid of or uncomfortable with my pets.
Parent is uncomfortable with my routine.
A parent that says they can't miss any work and they do not have ANY place for the child to go in case I'm ill or need a personal day.
A parent that is a close friend or relative if I think it might jeopardize our relationship.
The parents child rearing methods/beliefs were vastly different than mine.
The parent does not "parent" their child during the interview.
Our personalities do not "mesh".
The parents moral values were vastly different than mine.
The parents ask inappropriate questions about my personal life, which is separate from my professional life.
Parent isn't willing to give me her last provider(s) as references.
If the parent has a problem with her child being transported via car.
During initial interview parent tries to get Provider to change policies listed in contract to meet their own needs.
The parent seems OVERLY protective.
Parent does not want to interview you, they just want their child to start the next day.
The parents smoke and it can be smelt on them and the child.
The parents bring the kids to interview with dirty clothes, dirty faces, etc.
If the parent requests you to care for their children more than 10 hours per day, EVERY day.
The child doesn't have a reasonable amount of respect for adults.
Child seems overly "spoiled".
WHY CHILDREN BITE Biting is quite common among young children. It happens for different reasons with different children and under different circumstances. The first step in learning to control it is to look at why it may be happening.
EXPLORATION - Infants and toddlers learn by touching, smelling, hearing, and tasting. If you give an infant a toy, one of the first places it goes to is the mouth. Tasting or "mouthing" things is something that all children do. Children this age do not always understand the difference between gnawing on a toy and biting someone.
TEETHING - Children begin teething around the ages of 4 to 7 months. Swelling gums can be tender and can cause a great deal of discomfort. Infants sometimes find relief from this discomfort by chewing on something. Sometimes the object they chomp on is a real person! Children this age do not truly understand the difference between chewing on a person or a toy.
CAUSE AND EFFECT - Around the age of 12 months, infants become interested in finding out what happens when they do something. When they bang a spoon on the table, they discover that it makes a loud sound. When they drop a toy from their crib, they discover that it falls. They may also discover that when they bite someone, they get a loud scream of protest!
ATTENTION - Older toddlers may sometimes bite to get attention. When children are in situations where they are not receiving enough positive attention and daily interaction, they often find a way to make others sit up and take notice. Being ignored is not fun. Biting is a quick way to become the center of attention - even if it is negative attention.
IMITATION - Older toddlers love to imitate others. Watching others and trying to do what they do is a great way to learn things. Sometimes children see others bite and decide to try it out themselves. When an adult bites a child back in punishment, it generally does not stop the biting but teaches the child that biting is okay.
INDEPENDENCE - Toddlers are trying so hard to be independent. "Mine" and "Me do it" are favorite words. Learning to do things independently, making choices, and needing control over a situation are part of growing up. Biting is a powerful way to control others. If you want a toy or want a playmate to leave you alone or move out of your way, it is a quick way to get what you want.
FRUSTRATION - Young children experience a lot of frustration. Growing up is a real struggle. Drinking from a cup is great; yet nursing or sucking from a bottle is also wonderful. Sometimes it would be nice to remain a baby. Toddlers don't have good control over their bodies yet. A loving pat sometimes turns into a push. Toddlers cannot talk well. They have trouble asking for things or requesting help. They haven't learned yet how to play with others. At times, when they can't find words to express their feelings, they resort to hitting, pushing, or biting.
STRESS - A child's world can be stressful, too. A lack of daily routine, interesting things to do, or adult interaction are stressful situations for children. Children also experience stressful events like death, divorce, or a move to a new home. Biting is one way to express feelings and relieve tension.
WHAT CAREGIVERS CAN DO USE THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW METHOD TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. When did the biting occur? Who was involved? Where did it happen? What happened before or after? How was the situation handled?
TRY PREVENTION. If you determine that the biting occurs as the result of exploration or teething, you may want to provide the child with a cloth or teething ring to gnaw on.
If a child seems to bite when tired or hungry, you may want to look at your daily routine to be sure that he is getting enough sleep and nourishment.
If the biting occurs when two children are fighting over a toy telephone, you may want to purchase an extra toy telephone. It does not work to make very young children share. Toddlers don't have the skills to negotiate or understand another child's perspective.
If attention seems to be the main reason for biting, try to spend time with the child when she is doing more positive things. Snuggling up and reading a book together or rolling a ball back and forth is so much more fun than receiving a scolding.
If the child is experiencing a stressful family or care giving situation, you will want to make everyday life as supportive and normal as possible. Predictable meals and bedtimes and extra time with a loving adult can help. Often, experiences like rolling, squishing, and pounding play dough or relaxing and splashing in the bathtub are great ways to relieve tension. In painful situations like divorce, it takes time and patience for healing to occur.
TEACH NEW BEHAVIORS. When a child bites, show the biter with your voice and facial expression that biting is unacceptable. Speak firmly and look directly into the child's eyes. For example you might say, "No! Sara, it's not okay to bite. It hurts Jon when you bite him. He's crying. I won't let you bite Jon or another child." If the child is able to talk, you might also say, "You can tell Jon with your words that you need him to move instead of biting him. Say 'Move, Jon!'" You may also want the child to help wash, bandage, and comfort the victim. Making her a part of the comforting process is a good way to teach nurturing behavior. Whenever the child is out of control, you will need to restrain or isolate her until she calms down. Insist on a "time out" or "cooling off period." Wait a few minutes until things are under control, and then talk to the child about her behavior.
A FINAL NOTE Biting can be an uncomfortable issue for parents. Parents of a child who is bitten are often outraged and angry. Parents of the biter may feel embarrassed and frustrated. Sharing information about the causes of biting and your plans for controlling the situation can help parents to put things into perspective.
Writen by: Lesia Oesterreich, M.S. Family Life Extension Specialist Human Development and Family Studies Iowa State University
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