Footprints Family Childcare

                               BASIC INFORMATION

• FOOD                    

The daycare will be responsible for providing food during breakfast, AM snack,lunch, and PM snack.  These will be as follow:
                       - Breakfast                       8:00am
                       - AM Snack                     10:00 am
                       - Lunch                            12:00pm
                       - PM Snack                      3:30 pm
Since we are under the nutrition program, parents can rest assure that only nutritious food will be offered to their kids.  However, since our daily schedule is pretty planned out, please make sure that your child is well-fed if he/she should happen to come after a meal time.  Children are not allowed to bring candies, chocolate, chips, and/or soda in the daycare.  This is not only unhealthy, but also creates jealousy among the kids.

• CLOTHING

Each child is required to bring at least 2 pairs of clothings, which means 2 shirts and 2 pairs of pants/shorts.  Please take note of the weather condition prior to leaving the house to ensure proper clothing for your child.  To avoid any unnecessary injuries outside, children may only wear sneakers. Sandals, slippers, and boots will not be permitted in the daycare.  Each child will be required to bring a washcloth to wipe his or her face with at the end of the day.

• TOYS                     
  

We will be providing appropriate toys that stimulate the mind and body.  All toys and equipments will be sanitize everyday.  Children are not allowed to bring toys to the daycare because we do not want to be held responsible for any lost or damaged toys.  Furthermore, it often creates jealousy and chaos among the kids when someone brings a toy from home.  Children are welcome to bring blankets or a favorite stuffed animal for nap time.

• RECORDS

It is imperative that each child receives an updated immunization record prior to entering daycare. No child will be admitted without a current immunization card.  If you do not wish for your child to receive any immunizations due to religious beliefs, please let us know as soon as possible.  When your child is soon to be due for an immunization, you will receive a "Notice of Immunization Needed" Form.  At this point, it is the parent's sole responsibility to make sure that the child receives the immunization.  It is also your responsibility, as the parent, to bring the updated immunization card after your child receives the immunizations.

• ILLNESS

It is the parents' responsibility to inform the daycare if the child was, is, or has been ill.  The provider has the right to refuse admittance of a sick child.  It is your responsiblity, as the parent, to have back up care at this time.  These illnesses include, but are not limited to:

     Fever over 101            Vomiting              Cramps               Unexplained Rash         Pink Eye                Chicken Pox    Diarrhea
Basically, if your child is too ill to participate in the daycare activities, he/she is too ill to attend daycare, and should stay home.

• ATTENDANCE

Our daycare hours is Monday-Friday from 6am-6pm only.  Should your child be
coming earlier or later than usual, or will be absent for that day, you must let us know by 7:30.  It is the parent's sole responsibility to inform the daycare of any changes in the child's schedule.  It is also necessary for the parent to call if he/she will be picking  up later than usual.  Since payments are based on the hours you agree to use childcare, and not the actual hours of attendance, you are still financially responsible for any absences and/or late arrivals.

• DISCIPLINE

Each child will be respected as people, and are also expected to respect others in the daycare.  We understand that children will often "test" their limits, so we have our own procedure to follow during these circumstances.  Children will never be hit, spanked, or given any physically painful punishments.  Punitive punishments, such as food deprivation will not be tolerated.  Instead, the following procedure will be followed:

1. Address the child about the improper behavior.  In a firm and authoritative manner, tell the child why his/her behavior is unacceptable.  
2.  Offer other alternatives
3. Loss or privileges and/or "Time Out.
4. Parent conference.

Our goal is to create a positive atmosphere where the kids feel free to explore, as long as their safety and the safety of others are not in danger.  We also make sure that good deeds are recognized.  It is important for us to know that children are acknowledge when they do good because it helps to boost their self-esteem.

• PLAY TIME

We encourage children to play together.  This not only helps them to develop their social skills, but their language skills as well.  Children who play are naturally happy.  Therefore, we provide many playtime opportunities.  Children are encouraged to share with each other, as well as work together.  We allow the children to go outside at least twice a day.  Outdoor play is extremely important because it helps them develop their physical skills.  We also go to the nearby park at least twice a week, so it is important that your child is dressed properly.

• PICK UPS      

The following people will be responsible for picking up the child:
  _____________________ relationship to the child ____________________

  _____________________ relationship to the child ____________________

  _____________________ relationship to the child ____________________      If a different person will be picking up your child, you are required to provide us with a written notice to inform us.  At this point, the person must show a valid ID as proof of identity.  Please note that although we cannot withhold the child from you or your authorized person, we are mandated to report anyone who picks up the child under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  For your child's safety, it is also imperative that he/she has a safe car seat to ride in.

• POTTY TRAINING

We strongly encourage parents to ease up on potty training.  We believe that children, with positive encouragements, will be potty trained when they are ready.  Our experiences have taught us that the key to a successful potty training is consistency.  You can inform us when you think that your child is ready to start potty training, and we will do the same.  At this point, we ask that parents provide only pull ups to avoid confusion.  This usually starts around 2 years old.  Communication is also an essential key to a successful potty training.  As your daycare provider, we will inform you of any new information regarding your child's potty training situation.

• VACATIONS

Parents are required to fill out the "VACATION NOTICE" Form at least two weeks prior to the actual vacation dates.  In order to reserve your child's spot at the daycare, you are financially responsible for your child's weekly rates.  As our token of appreciation, you are not mandated to pay for our
family vacation.  At this point in time, we will be sure to provide an alternate care in the same location.  You will have the option of whether or not you would like to accept the alternative care.  Please note that vacations refer to actual

vacations, and not one or two-day absences.

HOLIDAYS:     The daycare will be closed during the following holidays:

•  New Year's Day
•  Martin Luther King Jr. Day
•  Presidents' Day
•  Memorial Day
•  Independence Day 
•  Labor Day
•  Veteran's Day
•  Thanksgiving  
•  The day after Thanksgiving
•  Christmas Eve <-- daycare closes at 3pm                     
•  Christmas Day
•  Day before New Year  

**These holidays are paid holiday, so parents are financially responsible during these days.  If you need care during any of these holidays, you must make an arrangement with us ahead of time to determine if we can accomodate your child.

• PAYMENTS

Payments are due every Monday(for that week).  Payments can be made either in cash or checks.  Payment obligation is based on the hours you agree to use childcare, not on actual hours of attendance.  Payment is due if you have agreed to use certain blocks of time whether or not your child actually attends during those hours.  There is a $10 charge for late payments.  There is also a $25 charge for NSF checks.  We also ask for one week deposit, which is to be paid along with the very first payment.

• CONCERNS

Your thoughts are important to us.  We would like to follow a procedure regarding any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.  These will be as follows:

1.  Provide a written notice with your name, detailed question/comment/concern.  At this point, we will either:
2. write you back or
3.  set up a meeting to discuss the issue (if the issue is not resolved, and both parties are not in complete agreement,& have not reached a compromise,then the last resort will be
4.  termination of contract

** Should the issue still continue to exist, a termination of contract will be imminent.  It would probably be to the benefit of the child to be placed in another daycare if the parent and provider to do not seem fit for one another due to irreconcilable differences.     

• The parents will be responsible for keeping the child at home or seeking alternative care during following conditions:
  

             - Fever (101 F or higher)
             - Nausea or vomiting
             - Diarrhea
             - Chicken Pox
             - Unexplained Rash
             - Pink Eye
             - Severe itching of body and scalp
             - Known or suspected communicable disease

• Parents will inform the daycare within 24 hours of a diagnosis of a serious illness or contagious disease.  This is to protect the other children, as well as our family.  Failure to do so is grounds for immediate termination of care.
  

• Parents agree that the child will be symptom free, without the aid of symptom-reducing medication such as Tylenol, for a full 24 hours before returning to the daycare.  We reserve the right to ask for a note from your child's doctor should we feel the need to verify your child's well-being.
  

**It is required to keep (or take) your child home if he/she is suffering from one or more symptoms stated above.  Furthermore, if your child is too sick to participate in the daycare activities, then he/she is too sick
to be in daycare.  He/she should stay home.

MEDICATIONS:

1. Prescribed medications will only be given to the child in care if the child's full name is on the bottle.  We will not give the medication to the child if the name is different.
2. Over-the-counter medication needs to be kept in a resealable sandwich bag.  Include a piece of paper with:
   

               - Your child's full name
               - The name of the medication
               - The time when the medication needs to be administered
               - The dosage
               - Your signature