Guns and Weapons
As a parent I want to inform you that we DO have guns/ weapons in our home. My husband as well as many south Dakotans is an avid hunter, thus they are present in our home for that reason. I would like to ensure you that all of these are locked in a portion of the house the children have no access to.
Number of Children in My Care
I follow the state of South Dakota regulations for a home family day care, which limits the total enrolment to 12 children being cared for in a personal residence at a time, to include my own children. For your children's benefit as well as mine I will only accept as many children as I feel that I can provide quality care for and with that in mind the number of children in my care may vary from time to time.
Assistant Providers
From time to time it will be necessary for me to have someone fill in when my children or I have various appointments. Instead of inconveniencing the families I care for every time something comes up I have a list of qualified assistants/helpers that can fill in for me a necessary. Due to the fact that I provide care 24 hours a day 7 days a week it is likely that my husband will also be assisting in caring for the children for short periods of time.
Supplies
You will be responsible for providing your child’s;
- Diapers- you may bring large packs for us to store.
- Diaper rash ointment
- Bottles, nipples and liners if required
- Infant formula or breast milk
- All prescriptions or over the counter medicines
- One full change of clothes appropriate for the season- to include socks!
- Tooth brush appropriate for child’s age
All other food and supplies will be provided by me, however donations of any thing you are unable to use are always welcome (i.e. - diapers that are too small for your child)
Your child may choose to bring their own toys and or bedding; however I cannot be responsible for damage or loss so I recommend that you discourage this option. One exception to this would be if your child has a lovely- a blankie, stuffed toy or object that calms, comforts or helps your child sleep. Lovely’s are always welcome in my home and can often assist your child in getting through a hard day.
If you and your child are contemplating bringing a toy please keep in mind that I do not allow play with guns, swords or any other toy that may be considered a weapon.
Naps
I will offer infants a morning nap, often around
All children will be expected to sleep or rest quietly during this time so that the children who need to sleep can do so. During nap times I will play soft music and stories to encourage children to fall asleep. Please do not ask for your child to be exempt from nap time. In a group care situation this would not be in your child’s best interest.
Each child will have their own regular sleeping space such as a “Pack and Play” or sleep mat and each child’s linens will be washed each week or as needed. I will also provide each child with all bedding including a pillow for the older children, but again if your child has a lovely please feel free to bring that.
Also please refrain from picking up or dropping your child off during the afternoon nap times as this has the potential to disrupt the entire group. I will attempt to accommodate occasional deviations from this policy such as emergencies, doctors appointments and other necessary events however I ask that you give me as much notification as possible.
Potty Training
The decision of when to assist your child with potty training is a personal one and should be made based on your child’s signs of emotional and physical readiness. Your child will need to remain in diapers or training pants (i.e. - pull ups) during daycare hours until he or she has shown the ability to remain accident free in your home for at least one week. This is for several reasons; Children often appear to be trained in a (calmer, quieter) home situation, but are not yet able to “listen” to their body’s signals when presented with the distractions of a group care environment.
Please do inform me of when you have decided to introduce your child to the potty and I will incorporate that into your child’s day while he or she is in my care and we can make this a team effort.
During potty training parents need to supply
- Three complete changes of clothing (socks included)
- Underwear (6-10 pairs)
- Plastic pants (optional)
- Diapers/ Pull ups for nap time
Meals And Snacks
I will provide all meals and snacks, with the exception of infant formula or breast milk. I don’t believe in serving kids junk food and will provide nutritious foods. After all they will have the rest of their lives to eat candy and fast food, let’s start them off right.
You are welcome to bring in a treat on your child's birthday or holiday but please try to limit the cookies and candies to very special occasions and if possible please notify me a day or two ahead of when you plan to bring food so that I am able to plan that into the day's menu. PLEASE do not bring any foods that contain nuts due to the possibilities of food allergies. The meal schedule I follow is listed below. Children who are here at these times will be served. An exception to this policy is for infants whom I believe in feeding on demand. If you child will be arriving after a scheduled meal time, please arrange to feed them prior to arrival. This allows me to focus on the other daily activities and eliminates the problems caused by children arriving with "happy meal" in hand. Please feel free to discuss your child's need for food outside these times, such as for medical reasons.
Our Meal Schedule: (for toddlers and older)
- Breakfast: Arrival - 8:30 am
- Lunch: 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
- Afternoon Snack: 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
- Dinner: 6:30pm
If your child has an allergy to any type of food PLEASE let me know. Due to my sons Dairy allergy I understand the difficulties in finding a care provider that is willing to deal with and trustworthy on what they give your child when it comes to allergies. If your child requires specialty food due to the allergy we can discuss your options on providing the food on a weekly basis or having me provide the food at an additional cost.
Dress
Some of the most valuable learning experiences we can offer children are also the messiest. With that in mind please dress your child in appropriate clothing for the daycare. If you have a special outfit you would like your child to wear somewhere after you pick them up- feel free to bring it and I will have them dressed when you arrive. Also please take note of the weather forecast and dress your child appropriately for the season!
Children who are underdressed would affect everyone's ability to get some fresh air outside. As I try my best to keep your children as clean as possible for you I also ask that your children arrive with clean clothes, hands and face for me. As we know the South Dakota wind as well as kids running around and playing can get crazy so I ask that children with long hair have it back in either a pony tail, headband etc. You may bring extra hair binders for me to store incase we need them.
Immunizations
Your child's immunizations must be up to date! Please make a copy of your child's most current immunization records for their file. These must be present in the child's file on the first day of attendance and updates are required as they occur.
Holidays, Vacation and Sick days
Although I will do my very best to be available every business day, it is conceivable that I may be forced to close occasionally due to vacation, illness or an emergency. If you cannot tolerate rare, but possible lapses in care, you should consider placing your child in a daycare center or make arrangements for backup care. I realize your need for reliable child care and will give as much notice as possible whenever I must close my home to care for any reason.
In order to spend quality time with my family, I will be closed on the following major holidays.
- Easter Weekend
- Memorial Weekend
- Mothers day weekend
- Fathers day weekend
- July 4th Weekend
- Labor day weekend
- Halloween night
- Thanksgiving Weekend
- Christmas Eve- Close at 5PM, Christmas Day
- New years day
I reserve the option for Two weeks of unpaid vacation and will give at least 3 weeks notice. Working with exposure to many families and children it is expected that myself or my family may become ill occasionally. When and only if it is extremely necessary will I close my home, in most cases I will give as much notice as possible to inform the families of the illness. At this point it would be your decision if you want to risk exposure to your child.
If I am forced to close my home your tuition for that week will be adjusted accordingly, however if you choose not to risk exposure to your child you will still be required to make the full tuition payment since I will still be available to care for your child.
