Parent/Provider Contract and Policies Handbook page 2
18) Holidays
The following holidays this daycare home will be closed:
New Years Day........Labor Day........Christmas Eve- opt. payment
Memorial Day........Thanksgiving Day......... Christmas Day
4th of July........... Day after Thanksgiving-opt. payment
These holidays are paid holidays. If a holiday falls on a weekend (Sat. or Sun) I will take the Friday before or the Monday after as a paid holiday. Any other days I take off are unpaid. (I have Christmas Eve and the day after Thanksgiving as paid holidays because I am open on MLK day, Columbus Day, Easter Monday, and other holidays.)
19) Field Trips
Field trips may be taken on occasion. All children under 4 years of age MUST have a carseat provided by the parent. Older children will wear seatbelts. No child will go without parent consent. No child will remain in the vehicle unattended.
20) Outdoor Play
When weather permits, we will try to play outside at least a 1/2 hour a day or go for a walk. You will need to dress your child appropriately every day, including wintertime. Please send boots, hats, and gloves in the winter and proper running shoes in the other seasons. NO Sandals! Infants will also be outdoors, so please send shoes because their feet touch the ground if they are in the walkers. I also prefer that all children wear socks indoors at all times except for nap if they choose not to. Bare feet are not allowed outdoors because of glass, insects, dog do-do, or other objects. Swimming time is the only exception and even then, water shoes would be a safer choice.
21) Lake
Because we live near the lake, there may be some concern from parents. When playing outside, the children will always be supervised very carefully. They learn from a very young age to not go near the water. It becomes a habit to go straight to the back yard and stay there until it's time to go in.
22) Emergency Plans
We practice monthly fire and tornado drills. This information is logged and available for you to view upon request.
23) Abuse
I am required by law to report to the local social service office any suspected physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or suspected neglect.
24) Discipline
I use positive discipline techniques; including Love & Logic ideals. With Love and Logic children basically make most of their own choices and learn to live with the consequences. Physical and emotional punishments will not be used. Age appropriate "Time-out" spots and loss of privileges are also used. A complete copy of the MN statutes 9502.0315-9502.0445 is available to view upon request.
25) Medications
Prior to administration of non-prescription or prescription meds, a slip must be filled out and signed by the parent. All meds, sunscreens, bug repellent, diaper lotion, etc. must be in the original container and be correctly labeled. Non-prescription items must be labeled with your child's name and the dosage clearly marked. Prescription meds prescribed to one child, may not be used on another child even if you bring it and say to use it.
26) Pick-up
If someone other than the parent will be picking up your child, I need a written notice or face to face notice ahead of time. This cannot always be known ahead of time, but a phone call must then be made to me by you, not the person picking up the child. If I haven't met this person, or if your child can't recognize this person, they will need to show me some form of ID. If your child is under 4 years old, this person must have a car seat for your child.
27) Pets
I have the following pets in my home and they have had all the updated necessary shots. _____________________________
28) Discrimination
I cannot and will not discriminate against any child on the basis of sex, creed, religion, or nationality.
29) Emergency
In case of an emergency, my policy is to call 9-1-1 and then notify the parents. Ambulance and hosptial expenses are the parents' responsibility.
30) Insurance
At this time I do carry the recommended daycare insurance rider on my homeowners insurance.
31) Leave of Absence
There are no longer any "leave of absences" for families. If you no longer need care, a 2 week notice must be given. If you need to change your contract and give up a day or two each week, you may do so with my approval, but you will be taking the chance that those days may not be available if or when you need them again. I will always be trying to fill empty spots, which in turn keeps everyone else's weekly fees from rising.
32) Termination
This contract may be terminated by the parent or myself by giving a full two-weeks notice. Your pre-paid deposit will be used towards the last two weeks of care whether your child attends after the notice or not and with no refunds for unused vacation time. Example: March 31 is your child's last day so a two week notice must be given on or before March 17th.
The provider may terminate this contract with no notice if payments are not made or if checks are returned often. Your deposit will then be forfeitted. Late fees will still be added on until all the payments are made.
The provider has the right to terminate by giving a two-week notice for any purpose such as child not getting along with others, physical harm to others, disrespectful to provider and providers property, etc. The previously paid deposit will be used for those last two weeks.
33) Back - up Care
Unavoidable emergencies do come up, so to ensure care for your child, you should have a back-up caregiver. This person(s) should be someone who will care for your child on a short notice. If I provide a back-up, it will normally be my husband, Mark Smieja.
34) Toilet Training
Parents with children who are ready for potty training, please bring 3-4 extra underclothes and pants. Also please do not have them wear suspenders, overalls, or one piece outfits during this time. They just ask for failure since they take too long to undo. Jeans, sweats or anything elastic waisted is best. It is hard to say when a child will be "ready" to be trained, but some signs are willingness to sit on the toilet, excited about real underwear, and dry during naps and/or nighttime. A fully trained child doesn't have to be asked or reminded to use the bathroom. YOU are the one who is trained if you have to tell them to go. In my opinion, Pull-ups are the same as a diaper and don't really do much other than make "accidents" easier on the parent as far as clean up. Once your child has spent the whole weekend at home with no accidents (urine and BM), then you may send him/her to child care in underwear.
35) Extra Clothes
Extra clothes (underwear, shirt, pants, and socks) are needed for EACH child. Food, paint spills and accidents happen to the best of us!! Do not ever send your child in real good clothes. Kids love to get dirty and I won't be responsible to watch that their clothes don't.
36) Summer
In the summer, please bring a swimsuit and beach towel that can be left here the whole summer. (and labeled, please) We often use the sprinklers and pools on the spur of the moment. Then your child will never be left out if a suit is forgotten at home. Extra clothes will not be used for swim suits.
37) First Day - Please bring
1) Complete change of clothes to be left here with name or initials labeled inside each item.
2) Bag of diapers, if applicable (wipes are provided)
3) Signed contract agreement
4) Completed emergency form, immunization form, and other forms that I need back and signed
5) Labeled blanket for rest time (to be sent home each Friday)
6) Swimsuit and labeled towel (if it's nearing summer time)
7) Sunscreen and/or bug repellent (lotion is best over spray) if needed.
38) My Kids’ Sports and Activities
My children are now at the age where their sports and school events/activities will be occurring after school. I will be going to these events as much as possible. Therefore, I will notify you of these events ahead of time so you can make arrangements for early pick-up. If that isn’t possible, permission is therefore granted to bring your child(ren) with me to the event. A note will be left on the door letting you know where to pick up your child in case you forgot we were going. 5:30pm closing time still applies as well as the late pick-up fee after 5:30pm. ($1 per minute) The volleyball matches and basketball games will be indoors at either HT (Holy Trinity gym), PIO (Pioneer Elem gym) PAC (old high school gym Performing Arts Center) or the MAC (new high school gym Memorial Athletic Center). I will hand out calendars to each family so you can see which gym we’re supposed to be at. However, there have been a couple times where we’ve had to change gyms at the last minute, so you may have to look for my vehicle or call my cellphone. Football games will be at the high school football fields and be sure to dress your child appropriately for the day. Thanks for your understanding of knowing how important these games are to me.
39) Letter to you:
I became a child care provider because I love children and love to watch them learn and grow. The benefits for me also include being able to stay home with my own children as well as earn a living.
I see myself as a very understanding person and would hope as parents you will be understanding too.
Please let me know if there's anything you don't agree with or understand. Each policy I have has a reason behind it, so please ask if you have questions.
A good relationship starts with communication, so please be open and honest with me and I will do the same.
Thanks so much - and I look forward to caring for your child as long as there is a need to do so.
Email me with any questions
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Cozy Cottage Child Care©
owned by Annette Smieja
1998
