1. Open communication. Providers should give you frequent and full updates on your child’s progress and problems.  They should welcome your questions and ask you questions about how they can help your child.  If they let you know what is happening with your child during the day, you can develop ways to deal with problems and to build on activities and accomplishments of the day.

2.      Open access to their home or center. Parents must be welcome to drop in any time, even without calling.  Providers should also allow parents to make a reasonable number of phone calls to check on their children’s well-being, in case of illness or if there’s a special problem such as separation anxiety.  You and the provider should work out the best times for such phone calls and determine how many calls are reasonable.

3.      Safety for your child.  Providers should take all possible precautions to keep children safe.  This includes plugging light sockets, putting away knifes and other sharp objects, closing off stairways, and using only safe and well-maintained equipment, among other basic safety measures.  It also includes always using child safety seats and seat belts when transporting children in cars.

4.      Honesty and confidentiality.  Providers shouldn’t make commitments that they can’t or don’t intend to keep.  They shouldn’t cover up problems or accidents that occur.  They also shouldn’t gossip about your child or your family to friends or other clients.

5.      Acceptance of parents’ wishes.  Parents have the ultimate responsibility for their children. Providers should abide by parents’ wishes on matters that affect the safety and well being of the child.   If providers feel that they can’t abide by parents’ wishes, they need to tell parents before agreeing to care for the children.

                                    

6.      Advance notice of any changes.  Since it is often very difficult to find adequate care, providers should tell parents well in advance if they are going to change their hours or rates or if they are going to stop or limit the time of caring for a child.  Parents need at least a month, or better yet, six weeks’ notice if a provider is no longer going to care for a child.  Except in the case of an emergency, parents should be given at least two weeks notice, even if the provider won’t be available for just one day.

 

7.      No interference in the child’s family or family problems. Providers shouldn’t talk to children about their families’ problems, lifestyle, or values.  Likewise, the provider should be careful not to take sides in any family disputes, such as custody battles.  Providers should not try to impose their religious or other beliefs on the children for whom they care. 

 

8.      No advice offered unless asked for and no judging of parenting practices.  Providers shouldn’t criticize or advise parents on child rearing unless their advice is asked for by the parents.  They shouldn’t set themselves up as experts on parenting.  If parents ask for advice, providers should offer it in a non-critical way.  However, if providers see something that is seriously wrong with how parents are raising their children (if they find symptoms of child abuse or neglect), they should discuss the problem with the parents and, if needed, contact appropriate authorities.

 

9.      Assurance that everyone in contact with the child is trustworthy and properly trained and supervised. Providers must be responsible for everyone who enters, visits, and works at their home or center.  This includes screening custodial help, not admitting strangers to the home, seeing that all transportation workers are properly trained, and that all visitors, including friends or relatives of the provider, are trustworthy and supervised and will not harm the child.

 

10.  No surprises.  This means that your family child care provider shouldn’t suddenly tell you that she has taken a part time job, that her teenage daughter will watch your child three afternoons a week, or that your child’s favorite teacher at the center is leaving without warning or comment.  Surprises are probably what parents fear the most from their child care providers.

And just as you have expectations of your provider, providers have expectations of their clients as well...

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 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. A written agreement between the provider and parents is usually helpful for both parties. If something is unclear, be sure to fully understand the policy before signing the contract. The provider should be able to enforce contracted policies with no questions asked once the contract is signed.



3. Honesty and trust. Be 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. Show your trust by asking questions rather than jumping to conclusions when apparent problems develop.



4. Advance notice of and agreement to any changes. Providers have to earn a living, too. They deserve advance notice of any change in service ~ including, but not limited to change of hours, termination of service, schedule changes, etc.



5. Pick up on time and follow through on all agreements. Child care providers are working people. Providers have personal lives. They should be able to expect that you will pick up your child at the agreed upon time. Late fees should be paid without question. Late pick ups should always be preceded by a phone call with the provider. Never assume your provider can work longer than the contracted time.



6. Bring children to child care only when they can fully participate in activities. Agree with your child care provider in advance about a sickness policy. Never bring a child whom you know is not feeling well enough to be away from home and family. Likewise you shouldn't expect your child care provider to cope with a child who has not had breakfast (unless your provider offers) or who went to bed four hours late last night.



7. Payment in full and 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, often a working parent, just as you are. Understand that the child care provider is not your employee, rather a person from whom you are contracting services. Recognize also that this is not an easy job. 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. No jealousy. Try not to be jealous of your child's attachment to child care providers. Children who spend hours every day with a provider 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.



10. No surprises. Your provider shouldn't learn on Friday that you have decided to take change your work hours effective Monday. Your child care provider should not learn that you expect her to provide services in the absence of another (i.e. provide transprotation to school). Child care providers don't like surprises any better than parents do. ~Source unknown