Parent Handbook
Update 03/2013
Available in print form.
Michele Bowers
40 Marshall Drive, Waukee
515.490.7361 or Text if messages full
Experience and Bio
I am a
graduate of Des Moines and I attended Iowa State University with emphasis in
business. Upon birth of my son in June,
1989, through July, 2000, I provided in-home day care and preschool program in
Coralville, Iowa.
Child Care and Preschool Activities
I
provide a fun but structured, learning environment designed for learning
readiness. Children will participate at
early ages. Children will, however,
start taking part in structured projects requiring detailed skills as early as
age 2. All children will be introduced
to daily activities such as calendar, songs, coloring pages, etc. Children at ages 2 – 2 ½ will start
participating in the readiness program.
Activities are designed for a 3 year period and the children will not do
the same activity more than once, however, the material content such as
letters, numbers, manners, etc. is repetitive.
Parents
need to be aware that we will celebrate American traditional holidays in the
preschool units and activities. I do not
teach religion.
Hours and Days Child Care Available 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
I
provide care from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Late fees of $1.00 per minute will occur
after 5:30. If you are late, please
extend a courtesy telephone call. All extended fees will be included in your
next payment. I understand that
emergencies and bad weather occur and I will be flexible in those
circumstances. Please do not take
advantage of my extended good faith.
Pick Up of Child(ren)
If
other than a parent will be picking up the child, please notify me ahead of
time. You and the party picking up your child will
be responsible for proper car seat arrangements.
Deposit
and Admission to pay in good faith.
Every family is provided with a print copy of my Handbook and agreement to sign. A two week deposit is required to secure your
position. This deposit will represent your first and last
weeks of day care/preschool with me upon terminating this agreement in the
future.
By starting your child(ren) with my daycare, you are agreeing to the terms in my Handbook and agree to pay in good faith. Additional family members will follow the same terms.
When
current clients are expecting a baby and wish for me to hold an upcoming
vacancy for your child, a deposit of the first week will be required to hold
the spot. Upon a family decision to
choose other arrangements such as stay home, grandparents, etc, and not bring
the infant to me, a two-week paid notice will be required in addition to the
deposit and the deposit becomes non-refundable.
Rates and Payment Date
Fee
structure is a full-time rate whether the child attends or not.
Full-time Weekly Rates Newborn to 1 years old $165.00
1 years to 5 years old $150.00
(all full-time rates include breakfast, AM snack, Lunch and PM snack)
(all full-time rates include breakfast, AM snack, Lunch and PM snack)
Part-time Daily Rates Per day $ 40.00
Position up 3 days/wk $100.00
Before and After School Weekly – I'm located at a $100.00
Payment
is due each Friday for the upcoming week services. There will be a $10 late fee assessed for
payments made after 6:00 p.m. each Friday.
Receipts will be available the next business day.
Returned Checks
All
returned checks will be a $35.00 NSF fee PLUS any late fees or bank charges I
accrue due to the returned check. There
will be a $10.00 per day charge until the issue is paid in full and
resolved. If it happens twice, the
clients will be required to pay by Cash or money order only.
Meals
First
and foremost, I have and serve peanut butter and nut items on premises. I cannot guarantee cross contamination with
other utensils or foods. Also, I serve
hotdogs at a minimum due to choking hazard.
Meals
served during the day will always include servings from the basic food groups
and the majority of my meals are homemade and prepared with fresh produce. I have a menu for each Season of the
year. This allows for the children to
experience foods from the current crops being produced. Also, the children will get an opportunity to
try foods from other countries. Each
month we studied a place and I will provide kid style dishes for them to
try. Parents will receive a copy of a six-week
rotating menu. Parents will need to be
required to supply formula and baby food for their child. I am always open to suggestion and recipes,
so please share. The below times are approximate. Accom-modations
will be made so every child gets to eat if arrives or leaves early. One child each day will be assigned as my
helper. They will help with a task that
is age appropriate such as placemats, cups etc. This always helps a child with pride of
accomplishment and responsibility.
Breakfast
8:00
AM Snack 9:45
AM Snack 9:45
Lunch 11:45-12:15
PM
Snack 3:45
Birthdays and Special Occasions
You may
bring a treat for us to share at snack time only if you would like to. No gum or candy due to the range of ages and
might not be appropriate for everyone. Best
treats are cookies and Rice Krispie treats.
Cupcakes are too messy. Prepackage or company package products are
acceptable.
Nap Time
All children will be required to nap or
rest. After lunch time is story time
and leads into nap time or quiet time for older children. Nap time is approximately 1 ½ to 2 hrs but
no more. Children will not sleep past
3:00 pm unless age appropriate such as infant to 1 year old will nap as
needed. I provide a nap mat, blanket and
pillow if they want one or playpen.
Children
scheduled to leave during nap time will nap separate from the other
children. Also, I will watch for the
parent due to the doorbell makes our dog bark.
This helps by allowing the other children not to be disturbed and get
proper rest/quiet time.
Sickness
I will
notify you immediately if your child is showing visible signs of being ill such
as vomiting, have uncontrollable diarrhea, or high temp (over 101.5 F). Children with an infectious condition can
return to day care/preschool after being symptom free or on antibiotics for 24
hr period. Parents are required to
notify me if you gave them feven/pain meds before coming to my home and if
their child is contagious so I may let the other parents beware of the illness
and look for oncoming symptoms. This is
very important with the croup as this affects small children and infants in
different ways and deadly for those with a breathing disorder like asthma.
Scheduled Days (Holidays and Vacation)
I will
provide each family with my days off for the entire year. Of course, throughout the year unexpected
things happen and require unscheduled leave.
Holidays
The
Holidays listed below are paid holidays and early closing times. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, I
will take the official observed either Friday or Monday. My yearly schedule will be noted.
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
4th of July, Federal Observance
Labor Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving and the day after
Christmas Eve, close at 4:00 pm
Christmas Day
New Years Eve, close at 4:00 pm
Christmas Eve, close at 4:00 pm
Christmas Day
New Years Eve, close at 4:00 pm
Personal Vacation
I will
have two weeks of paid vacation to be taken in one week increments but not
consecutively and will be noted at the beginning of the year. I will also have floating days additional personal
days that will be taken as needed throughout the year for personal days, funerals,
doctor appointments or if sick days etc. I will provide as much notice as I can due to
the nature of these incidents. My
individual days do not carry over.
Child Absent Days or Vacation
Parents
are responsible for payment even if the child is not here.
Back-Up Provider
In my
previous experience of 10 years, I only called in twice due to illness and once
was labor pains and the other the flu.
I know my future holds no more labor pains.
But
just in case, have a back-up provider or family member available or be flexible
with your own schedule.
Toilet Training
Parents
with children who are ready to begin the potty training process, should bring
3-4 changes of clothes per day-accidents will happen, it’s guaranteed. Do not dress children in bibs, suspenders,
zip and snap pants or one piece outfits.
This only hinders the full process of timing to get to the bathroom in
time. Sweat pants, leggings, or any
elastic waist clothing is appropriate.
It is
difficult to say when a child is ready to start potty training. There is no magical age that it
happens. Parents seem to be more ready
than the child most of the time. Some
signs would be the willingness to set on a potty chair, excited about big
boy/girl underwear, keeping dry during evening and nap time or some kids just
get interested cause the big kids do it.
Every child is different.
Please
remember, a fully, trained toddler does not have to be ask or reminded to use
the restroom. Unfortunately, I will not
be able to take the same child to the bathroom every 30 minutes and read books,
which is training me not them.
Extra Clothing
Please
provide 1 or 2 extra sets of clothes for your child that is seasonally
correct. Spring and Fall is difficult
because it is cool and warm at the same time.
We do projects and they will get messy.
Do not send your child in expensive clothing you wouldn’t want paint
on. If they have an appointment, I
would be more than happy to clean them up and change them for you.
Toys
I have
age appropriate toys for both boys and girls.
As I grow, I will accumulate more.
If I don’t have a toy or book, please feel free to make the
suggestion. I want your child’s
experience to be fun and learning. All
children will be encouraged to share.
Some items I will have duplicates of, but not everything. Indoors and outdoors will have both small
and large motor skill activities. It is
also best for children not to bring toys from home on a daily basis due to a
sharing issue.
Outdoor Play
Outdoor
plays is always weather permitting.
Most of the time we will be able to be outside from April to October. January and February we stay inside a lot due
to the bitter cold. For cold weather
play, everyone must bring appropriate clothing.
We will venture outside if above 40 degrees. For warm weather play, I will provide an SPF
sunscreen and venture outside if under 90 degrees temp or heat index. Even little ones can dehydrate quickly in
hot temperatures. When hot outside, I provide
water for a drink. I have a fenced in back yard. I have several large pieces of equipment to
climb on to promote and use their large motor skills and have several areas
that will require small motor skills and imagination play.
Field Trips
In
times of nice weather, we will take walks.
I do not transport children to or from preschool.
Discipline of Children
I use
positive reinforcement and I talk to the children at their level. I will not use or afflict physical,
emotional, or belittling punishments towards child. I will encouraging problem solving between
peers, intervention and discussion, and redirect to another play area, timeout,
or loss of use or privileges.
Medications
Before
I can administer any non-prescription medicines or prescription medications, a
permission must be given verbally or by a note signed by parent or
guardian. All medicines, sunscreens,
bug repellent, diaper ointments, lotions, etc. must be in the original
container and be correctly labeled.
Non-prescription items must be labeled with the child’s name and dosage
clearly indicated. Prescription
medication must be current date and in child’s name, and may not be used on or
for another child.
Emergency Plans
We will
practice monthly fire and tornado drills.
Tornado shelter will be downstairs.
Discrimination
I
cannot and will not discriminate against any child on the basis of sex, creed,
religion, or nationality. I will treat
each child with patience, respect, kindness and providing a nurturing, loving
environment.
Injuries
Parents
are to acknowledge that each stage of development is met by mishaps and
injuries. Parents are responsible for
providing medical insurance for their children. Injuries are bound to happen and are a
natural stage in the learning, growth and development stages. Whether learning to walk or racing to the
slide, injuries will happen and I cannot be everywhere at once.
Emergencies
In case
of a serious emergency, my policy is to call 9-1-1 for assistance and then
notify the parents. Any ambulance,
hospital or physician expenses are the responsibility of the parent or
guardian.
Otherwise,
minor incidents will be dealt with and band aids applied as needed and incident
report completed. Parents will be
notified of any injuries.
Abuse – Mandatory Reporting
As a
Mandatory Reporter, I am required by law to report to the local social service
office any suspected physical, emotional, sexual or suspected neglect of a
child.
Termination
This
contract between provider and parents/guardian may be terminated by either
party by providing a required two, full business-week notice. Your
one week prepaid deposit will be used towards the last week of child care
whether your child attends that period or not.
Prior to First Day
1. Signed contract agreement
2. Completed emergency form,
immunization form and other forms requiring a signature
First Day of Attendance
Please
bring the following with you your first day with me.
1.
Complete change of clothes for your cubby
2.
Bag
of diapers or pull-ups and wipes
3.
Formula
or baby food
4.
Non-prescription
medication, labeled as statement in the Handbook.
5.
Any
other necessities your child will require.
