Little Angels Handbook
This daycare handbook explains what we should expect from each other as a team. From you the parent and myself as the child care provider we can make this the best experience it can be for your child or children.
Nena Haan is the provider and owner of Little Angels Family Daycare Home.
It was established in January 2001.
My
experiences in the child care field:
I started to baby-sit when I was 13 for my three cousins and continued until I was 18. I started attending Sauk Valley Community College in Early Childhood courses in 1993 and I am still attending to achieve my associate’s degree in Early childhood education. I have @ 42 credits and I need 64 to graduate. I do have 2 CDA’s credentials. One is Preschool, which qualifies me to teach in a daycare center. I achieved this one in Dec.1995. My second CDA is Infant/Toddler, which I received in Sept.1999. I am very proud of these achievements. I do attend continuing education workshops to keep me informed on new things, and ideas. I am also certified in first aid and CPR. I will continue taking college classes to further my education in Early Childhood Education.
I have worked at 4 daycare centers in the past 8 years. Also I did child care in my home in 1997 for about 6 months. I am a mother of two children Meagan age 7 and Matthew age 4. I believe I have a lot of experience and education to care for all ages of children.
What you can expect from me:
I
will provide a loving and safe, healthy environment. Your child will be exposed
to new experiences as well as fun to prepare him/her for school in the years to
come. By experiences I mean but not limited to:
·
being
read to
·
Being
hugged and feel loved by me
·
Playing
with art supplies (playdoh, cutting with scissors (age3), and coloring with
markers or crayons, painting and etc.) and a variety of toys, games and other
activities we may do.
I am an honest, reliable and a caring person able to care of your most
precious prized possessions. I
believe that family childcare offers children the opportunity to learn and grow
with siblings and other children of mixed ages in a supportive, family-like
atmosphere. They can learn from each other by helping each other and being
friends.
I value the opportunity to work closely with your child and your family
for many years. I sincerely believe that small group setting offers continuity
and stability for each child and allows me to better nurture and support each
child as they grow and develop.
I will communicate with you with any concerns about your child. I will keep complete confidentiality on each child
and family. Anything you tell me about your child or your family doesn’t
leave my home.
I take pride in my profession of being in Family Child Care. My chosen
career in childcare has given me fun and wonderful work and an income to help
out my family. Parents sometimes forget that my services are much like any other
business because I work from my home. If you fail to pick your children up on
time, I have less time to spend with my own family. If you fail to pay your bill
on time, I may find it impossible to pay mine.
I ask that you be respectful of my needs, as I am of yours and your family, so that I can continue to provide the highest quality of childcare for your children.
My
Policies:
Parents Visiting:
Parents are welcome to come by or call anytime except naptime.
I also prefer no pickups during naptime because it might disrupt the children
resting. Please call if you need to come early due to unavoidable
appointments, etc. This is a quiet time the children need and I also need to do
paperwork during this short time. The parent should understand when you visit
since I am not expecting you I may not answer the door or phone right away due
the daily activities we do during the day in daycare.
As A childcare professional, I am a mandatory reporter that means if I suspect any form of physical, sexual, or emotional child abuse or neglect of a child in my care. I will have to report it to DCFS or I may be neglect and lose my license to run this childcare program.
Enrollment procedure:
I
will not allow any child to stay in my care without these forms in your child’s
file. I must comply with Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Regulations
-DCFS Application and Enrollment form
-Consent
forms signed
-Physical
and immunizations
-Contract
signed
-Child’s
interests paper
-Child
Care Choice Pamphlet signed
-Food
program enrollment
The
forms may have to be replaced yearly or when needed according to Illinois
licensing standards.
Please
let me know of any changes in address, phone number, workplace etc.
Hours:
Monday through Friday
6:30am-5: 30pm
Fees: I will charge according to your contract and each family’s needs.
Early arrival (before contracted time) will be billed a charge of $5 per 15 minutes. Late pickup without prior notice will be A $5 late fee per 15 minutes as well. I would appreciate a phone call to let me of changes in your schedule
Absences: Please call if your child is not attending so I can adjust my plans for the day. You will be billed whether your child is here or not. Only deductions from weekly charges will be if I am sick or if I am not able to provide care for sickness, Dr.’s appt.
Registration Fee:
You will be charged a $15 non refundable registration fee every year to help
with the cost of paperwork needed for your child to attend Little Angels Family
Daycare Home.
Healthy
Practices:
The children will wash their hands after using the bathroom,
before meals, and after playing
outside. We use paper towels for
drying hands, so children do not have to use the same towel. I
wash the toys weekly unless there is sickness going around then I will wash them
daily.
Clothing:
Children should arrive dressed for the day and for play. We like to have fun!
Having fun involves outdoor play and sometimes-messy activities, so make sure
that your child is dressed appropriately. I will provide an art smock for your
child (most likely an old oversized T-shirt which will be used only by your
child and washed weekly, or when soiled) to protect clothes from paint or other
art materials. I will also provide bibs to keep food stains to a minimum.
House Rules:
The
children are not allowed to climb on furniture.
We
will use indoor voices; saving loud voices for outdoor time.
We will respect each other, respect others feelings, the toys will be treated nicely.
No
food or drink allowed in the living room.
No
hitting, biting, pinching, yelling from anyone is allowed.
We
will use our words to work out problems with our friends.
If something is damaged by your child that belongs to the daycare home the parent will be responsible to replace the item(s). Toys that are the daycare home’s will be replaced or fixed when showing need from normal play and wear and tear. I won’t be responsible for things brought by the child from home. That is why I ask that nothing be brought from home except for things noted in the handbook.
Pets: We have an 8-year-old beagle mix named Maggie. She is current with her shots. She is friendly but barks a lot. She loves kids except when they pull on her ears or rough with her. I will explain to the children how to be nice to Maggie but the parents should explain to their child as well.
Emergency Plan: If
an emergency arises where I have to leave unexpectedly. One of these people will be
calling you to come get your children from my home. They will be the one caring
for your child until you or someone you authorize comes. These people are Kenne
Hampton, my mother, Boots Livingston, my grandmother or my husband Russell.
Things that your child may need for the day here:
Infants:
-
Diapers and wipes, ointment,
-
Pacifier if needed
-
Pre-made bottles labeled with child’s name
-
Extra outfits
Children need:
-
Extra clothes, Clothes must be season appropriate
-
If toilet training you will need to provide 2-3 extra outfits
- Blanket to rest with and a special toy to rest with (if needed)
Holidays:
I will close on these holidays and they will be paid if they fall on a weekday.
New
Years Eve, New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I will also
take the week between Christmas and
New Years off as time to spend with my family. You will not be charged for
those days just Christmas Eve and Christmas if they fall on a weekday.
Vacation:
I may take up to two weeks
(not taken together) in the summer for vacation. I will tell you a month in
advance when these two weeks will be. You will be responsible for finding a
substitute provider during these times. I charge half rate for the weeks I am on
vacation. Your child is entitled to take one week of vacation (5 days
consecutively) every 6 months at half rate to hold his spot. Please give me notice of your vacation in writing. Anything over one
week will be full payment for the week. My business will be open if you child
attends or not.
I may also need to have a day off for a child provider conference or special training which I will give you notice of that, as soon as I know the date(s).
Discipline:
I will use no other method of disciplining except time out 1minute to every year
of the child age and/or redirection to another activity from the one which
caused the problem. This means I will remove the child from the situation for
time out then he/she may return to the activity again. If I keep having problems
with a child not following our rules or being abusive this is terms of having
the child care contract terminated. In an infant/toddler child where they don’t
understand, I will redirect them, no time out for under age two. Any questions
please ask.
Transportation
Policy: I will try and let you know in
advance of any special field trips, but local trips (to the store) will be made
from time to time without notice. All
children will be buckled securely, or in an approved car seat, if needed.
If your child still requires a car seat, please be sure that I have one
here when you drop off your child.
Day Schedule: I will try to follow this routine everyday but the children and I may to decide to do something that they ask to do instead of a scheduled activity. I do like reading to the children so that is something that I will do often. I will play and interact with the children on their level. I enjoy watching children grow and learn. I will also teach how to share and be friends and how to work out problems by using words. I will teach the children how to use good manners. We are a Christian family. I enjoy reading bible stories or singing bible songs with the children. We will occasionally watch a bible video such as the Donut Man. If you have any questions feel free to ask me at any time.
Meals:
I will provide healthy meals and snacks if your child is here at a schedule
meal. I
participate in the 4-C USDA Child Food
program. I will provide baby food only for infants’ .You will provide formula.
It will be your responsibly to feed
your child before you come if coming after a scheduled meal. Please no food
is allowed to brought in except for treats for birthday or holidays parties with
approval from me. The children could get hurt feelings by watching another child
eat. You can bring in something for ALL the children but again please consult me
first.
Authorized pick up list:
Only the people you have listed on the
emergency section of the enrollment form can
be authorized to pick up your children. Without a written note from the
parent I can not let someone not on the
list take your child. I will ask to see ID for your protection and mine.
Sick Policy: This is what I expect your child to be: free of any symptoms of sickness (a cold is fine) in order to stay in my care or I will call you to come pick up your child if these symptoms appear; due to DCFS regulations.
-
over
100 temp under arm temperature
-
vomiting
-
diarrhea
-
Contagious
disease such as but not limited to: severe coughing, sore throat with swollen
glands, bronchitis, pink eye, rash, and the child must be symptom free for 24
hours before returning to my care. May need Drs slip to return in some cases.
-
Lice
-
Continuous
crying for long periods of time, to prevent me from caring for other children
properly.
If I am ill I will call you and you will be responsible for alternative childcare.
If
My children are ill, I will call and you have the choice to bring your children
or not. If one of my children are very ill I will have to close for the day .You
will be responsible for other child care arrangements.
Medications: I will give your child prescribed medications as directed on the bottle ONLY when a medicine sheet is filled out. Please give these medications to me don’t leave them in cubby or diaper bag for the children's safety. I will administer over the counter products only if you fill out the medicine slip. That follows for prescriptions as well.
Custody Rights: If there are custody issues, I will need a copy of court records for your child’s file.
Naptime: a 2-hour rest time is required by DCFS. INFANTS ARE ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THEIR OWN SCHEDULE.
Toilet Training: I
will help potty-train your child only if you have been trying at home and the
child is showing signs of being ready.
Two-Week Trial: Each child will be on trial basis for the first two weeks. Either the parent or the provider can terminate the contract without notice. The parent is responsible for paying for days care is provided for.
Termination
Policy: You
must give me a 2-week notice if your child will be leaving my care. I have the
right to terminate your child care contract if one of the following happens
·
Repeat
lateness of payment , I will give one warning
·
Child
and I are having problems ( I don’t foresee anything like this happening)
·
No
show /no call, twice in a month.
My expenses are necessary to run this business. This would be like you as
a parent not getting a paycheck. Would you stay at that job without an income to
help to pay your expenses?
I hope this a good experience for you and your child. I want to welcome you and your child.
