Anyone Want To Review My Handbook?

[daycare]

*Generally, we leave the house after our 10:00 snack. Our departure time is usually between 10:15 and 10:30, or possibly earlier if there is a special activity we are going to. Therefore, it is very likely that we will not be home for drop offs after 10:00am. If you would like to meet us a thte library or park, I will try my best to respond to a text or phone call in order to tell you where we are. However, the children are my priority during this time, rather than my phone, so I may not see messages or hear a phone call immediately.

I am confused...if you have circle time from 9:30-10 and then leave at 10:15, when will the kids go to the bathroom, wash hands, set up for snack, eat snack, clean up snack, get shoes on, deal with wash up and then get out the door? I think you are really trying to make a miracle happen in 15 minutes.....

IME allowing a parent to drop off or pick up off site at a park or whatnot is not a good idea at all. When you are out with the kids, you will need 100% of your attention on the kids, where they are, what they are doing, who is around them and etc. If you invite a parent to come and drop off and distract you, it will distract you from keeping the kids safe..... I have personal experience with this one first hand....

[newtodaycare22]

Beginning January 2, 2012, no drop offs will be allowed between 9:30am and 10:00am daily. During this time, we are doing our daily circle time routine. It is disruptive to have children arriving as we read stories and work on our preschool curriculum, so please arrive prior to 9:30 or after 10:00*.


You are only going to teach for 30 minutes?

We only do formal circle time for 30 minutes, yes. The rest of the time is more casual as I move around from kid to kid, working with them on art projects or certain skills they are developing. Those 30 minutes are the entire group working together, in a circle together...and that's the time that its truly disruptive to get up and answer the doorbell.

[Heidi]

May I suggest, that from this point forward, the deposit is for the LAST week's tuition? I have always done this, and therefore have never gotten burned. No one has ever turned down my program because of it, either.

One very small advantage for the parents, is it gaurds against inflation. Even if your rates go up, you still give them the last week of care (even in 3 years) for this rate.

[newtodaycare22]

I gave a range of 10:15-10:30 because its true. We do this routine daily. Sometimes we get to the table 5 minutes early and they only take 5-10 minutes to eat a small snack. In the summer, they just use the bathroom and we are out the door! In the winter, coats take longer and that is when we usually hit the 10:30 mark. Im not trying 'to make a miracle happen'....this actually happens. My kids know the routine .Finish your snack, get down from the table, use the bathroom, get your shoes....meet me at the 'meeting spot' with a book. They all do it because they know it gets us to the park quicker. happyface

*Generally, we leave the house after our 10:00 snack. Our departure time is usually between 10:15 and 10:30, or possibly earlier if there is a special activity we are going to. Therefore, it is very likely that we will not be home for drop offs after 10:00am. If you would like to meet us a thte library or park, I will try my best to respond to a text or phone call in order to tell you where we are. However, the children are my priority during this time, rather than my phone, so I may not see messages or hear a phone call immediately.

I am confused...if you have circle time from 9:30-10 and then leave at 10:15, when will the kids go to the bathroom, wash hands, set up for snack, eat snack, clean up snack, get shoes on, deal with wash up and then get out the door? I think you are really trying to make a miracle happen in 15 minutes.....

IME allowing a parent to drop off or pick up off site at a park or whatnot is not a good idea at all. When you are out with the kids, you will need 100% of your attention on the kids, where they are, what they are doing, who is around them and etc. If you invite a parent to come and drop off and distract you, it will distract you from keeping the kids safe..... I have personal experience with this one first hand....

[daycare]

I can relate to this 100%. I have a few parents that got into the habit of coming during circle time and then I have to go open the door...so not fun..

ok got I got what you are saying about 30 min circle time then Independent stuff

[daycare]

I gave a range of 10:15-10:30 because its true. We do this routine daily. Sometimes we get to the table 5 minutes early and they only take 5-10 minutes to eat a small snack. In the summer, they just use the bathroom and we are out the door! In the winter, coats take longer and that is when we usually hit the 10:30 mark. Im not trying 'to make a miracle happen'....this actually happens. My kids know the routine .Finish your snack, get down from the table, use the bathroom, get your shoes....meet me at the 'meeting spot' with a book. They all do it because they know it gets us to the park quicker. happyface

wow...ok sorry... I know that with my 6 kids here I cant get everyone into the bathroom prior to snack wash up and then set up, eat and then clean up and get shoes on in 15 minutes. Most of my kids are 3-5 with one 23 month old....

[daycare]

I gave a range of 10:15-10:30 because its true. We do this routine daily. Sometimes we get to the table 5 minutes early and they only take 5-10 minutes to eat a small snack. In the summer, they just use the bathroom and we are out the door! In the winter, coats take longer and that is when we usually hit the 10:30 mark. Im not trying 'to make a miracle happen'....this actually happens. My kids know the routine .Finish your snack, get down from the table, use the bathroom, get your shoes....meet me at the 'meeting spot' with a book. They all do it because they know it gets us to the park quicker. happyface

sorry, not tyring to pick you apart, just want to know how you do it..

You allow the kids to use the bathroom unsupervised?

[newtodaycare22]

Yep, except my one 2 year old. I have to help her and she's generally the last one done eating anyway.

The other 5 kids are between 3-5 and they use the bathroom and wash their hands by themselves. The first week they are here, I go in with them and make sure they understand how to wash and where the paper towel goes. After that, they are all set! Oh, except when the 3 year old occasionally needs help wiping with #2. But that's generally in the afternoon ::

sorry, not tyring to pick you apart, just want to know how you do it..

You allow the kids to use the bathroom unsupervised?

Ohh and we use hand sanitizer before snack (vs washing hands). That speeds things along.

[daycare]

Yep, except my one 2 year old. I have to help her and she's generally the last one done eating anyway.

The other 5 kids are between 3-5 and they use the bathroom and wash their hands by themselves. The first week they are here, I go in with them and make sure they understand how to wash and where the paper towel goes. After that, they are all set! Oh, except when the 3 year old occasionally needs help wiping with #2. But that's generally in the afternoon ::

Ohh and we use hand sanitizer before snack (vs washing hands). That speeds things along.

I see.... I say whatever works best for you and your kids.... I wish I could do it that fast.
I don't think I can use hand sanitizer here. I am on the food program which requires bathroom hand washing before and after every meal....

[newtodaycare22]

I see.... I say whatever works best for you and your kids.... I wish I could do it that fast.
I don't think I can use hand sanitizer here. I am on the food program which requires bathroom hand washing before and after every meal....

My food program doesn't specify it any where I've read...and my food rep has been here and seen the sanitizer. So, hopefully its ok

Thanks for pointing out the possible time questions though. I think I'll take out the specific times and say "We generally leave the house after our 10:00 snack. Therefore, if you arrive after 10:00am, there is no guarantee that we will be there"

That way, if we're running early and it's 10:14, I don't have to stress about leaving someone behind.

[daycare]

My food program doesn't specify it any where I've read...and my food rep has been here and seen the sanitizer. So, hopefully its ok

Thanks for pointing out the possible time questions though. I think I'll take out the specific times and say "We generally leave the house after our 10:00 snack. Therefore, if you arrive after 10:00am, there is no guarantee that we will be there"

That way, if we're running early and it's 10:14, I don't have to stress about leaving someone behind.

I think that sounds good to say that if they are not here by 10am that they are risking the chance of you not being there.

My food program lady is old and strict... She will stand over me and watch them washe their hands both before and after... Guess no short cuts with her....

[daycare]

Because I do love planning special activities for the kids, both in advance and on the spur of the moment, please continue to communicate with me about drop off and pick up times. Our new contract will state your updated estimate for times of drop off and pick-ups, as well as anticipated meals that your child will be present for. If there is a day where you find yourself straying from that general schedule, please simply send me a text message. Food is easily wasted if I prepared for children that arrive late or do not show up. It is also difficult to prepare art projects and learning activities if I do not know how many children will be attending at any given time.

This sounds great... wanted to share what I added to mine as well...

I have similar to what you wrote plus added in that when our schedule is off at daycare do to parents not abiding by their contracted times, that it creates chaos, unpredictable moments and often unsafe situations for the children. Like a knife being left on the counter while prepping breakfast and a child arrives early or late unexpectedly, and I am pulled away from the kitchen to answer the door.