FCCRS Questions

[MizzCheryl]

I was wondering how you guys do things for FCCRS.

In particular nap and lunch.

My kids sleep in our daycare room. Well last time I did FCCRS I got coutned off and several catagories because if a child woke up early I let them play in the kitchen of my home. Well that was fine except they don't have access to everything in that room. I had some art material, puzzles and math activities but that wasn't good enough. They needed to access to everything. So I was trying just letting them play in the plaroom quietly. That is ok but still the cannot get to everything because kids are resting everywhere. Should I find other rooms to let the kids sleep in so when they wake up they can have the playroom. They really don't wake up. I usually have to wake them up but I am not sure FCCRS would accept that answer. They really all sleep they whole time so it doesn't matter but how to do it for FCCRS.

Next question lunch. Do you guys do cold lunch. I read we are not supposed to use a microwave. Another provider in a city about an hour away told me FCCRS wants you to serve cold foods that do not need to be heated. How do you guys do thid or do you???
I read that the family style meal is no longer recognized.

I would appreciate any help or ideas you ladies have.
Thanks you.

[MrsB]

I dont have many suggestions in regards to FCCRs

but really? they look down on family style meals? For the most part the home cooked meals they get here are much better than how they eat at home. My cooking and meals is one of my biggest selling points. Always serving cold meals sounds like a real downer to me!

[Meeko]

This why I find all this stuff a load of crap to be quite honest. Why in the world do they think that one size fits all?

I refuse to believe that the kids in your care are going grow up scarred because they don't have access to EVERYTHING for a couple hours at nap time!

Sounds like you're doing a great job, with activities for non nappers or early up nappers to do.

I won't deal with all that stuff. What I do here works for me and for the children. I've been successful for 27 years now and have no intention of changing anything unless it works for me and the kids.

And the kids are going to go on getting home cooked meals. Some of them, I know... don't get much at home. At least they get fed here. Good grief! Cold food every day???? WTH??!!!

[MizzCheryl]

Oh gosh I know. I talked to my food program lady and she was none to happy. I do serve hot meals. I just was trying to find out how we are supposed to do it. I think we can use the oven but not the microwave. They used to want us to do the family style meal where kids can serve themself and all and I love that but it has all changed. That is no longer something you get any credit for. It seems to get harder but maybe that is just me not wanting to change

[MarinaVanessa]

I guess my thing is why bother with it if it'll only lower your score on that one thing? I mean, I bet you can find other areas in that category to improve on if you need to and just continue to use your microwave. I've been told at FCCRS trainings that even the best centers get an average of a 7 or 8. Hardly anyone gets a score of 9 and if someone gets a score of 10 then they have to go back and reevaluate the program again because something seems fishy ::. If you are a family child care home an average score should be in the 6-7's. A good score is a 7-8. At least that's what I've been told . What's your score so far in that category?

[snbauser]

I have been through FCCERS about 4 or 5 times (due for my next one in June). I have never been told that we couldn't serve hot meals. I very rarely serve cold lunch except maybe a few times a month. And when you are saying "family style meals" I am assuming that you are talking about the way the food is served ie children serving themselves instead of having a plate put in front of them already dished out. I certainly hope they aren't changing the family style meals because we just switched to this style within the last 2 weeks.

As for the letting them play in the classroom when they wake early, I think the issue may be that if you are letting them have "free play" when they wake up, then they have to have access to everything. You can change that by not having it as free play. For our naps here is how we work it (keep in mind mine are all 2+) - when they go down for naps they are allowed to pick a book to take to their cot. This allows them a quiet activity if they choose not to sleep or if they wake early. My children do not get off of their cots until I turn the music off and the lights on. Then they get up, potty, and are allowed to choose a book and read in the reading center or they can pick a table toy to play with at the tables i.e. puzzle, table blocks, etc until everyone is up. Then they have access to the rest of the items.

[Crystal]

I was wondering how you guys do things for FCCRS.

In particular nap and lunch.

My kids sleep in our daycare room. Well last time I did FCCRS I got coutned off and several catagories because if a child woke up early I let them play in the kitchen of my home. Well that was fine except they don't have access to everything in that room. I had some art material, puzzles and math activities but that wasn't good enough. They needed to access to everything. So I was trying just letting them play in the plaroom quietly. That is ok but still the cannot get to everything because kids are resting everywhere. Should I find other rooms to let the kids sleep in so when they wake up they can have the playroom. They really don't wake up. I usually have to wake them up but I am not sure FCCRS would accept that answer. They really all sleep they whole time so it doesn't matter but how to do it for FCCRS.

Next question lunch. Do you guys do cold lunch. I read we are not supposed to use a microwave. Another provider in a city about an hour away told me FCCRS wants you to serve cold foods that do not need to be heated. How do you guys do thid or do you???
I read that the family style meal is no longer recognized.

I would appreciate any help or ideas you ladies have.
Thanks you.

These should not be such issues with your FCCRS.....I get so frustrated with how assessors score things so differently. I am curious to know the training and experience many assessors have after all of the things I have heard on this forum about provider's expereinces!

You do not have to allow the children to free play the playroom during naptime. In fact, that would count against you if children are napping, as children are required to have a quiet space for UNINTERRUPTED sleep. I would have a bin or shelf with materials in the kitchen area for the children who are not napping to have access to. You could even only offer books/puzzles etc. on their nap mats without allowing them to actually get up and still be fine with this indicator.

The mealtime one is absurd! There is absolutley no rule against hot meals, using the microwave (EXCEPT FOR BOTTLES!), etc. Family style is fine, just make sure basic sanitary procedures are followed, i.e. handwashing, if someone sneezes or coughs on the food it is discarded, etc.

If you have been marked down on these things, I would ask for clarification and if it has affected your business in any way, I would ask for proof that indicators have not been met.

[MizzCheryl]

These should not be such issues with your FCCRS.....I get so frustrated with how assessors score things so differently. I am curious to know the training and experience many assessors have after all of the things I have heard on this forum about provider's expereinces!

You do not have to allow the children to free play the playroom during naptime. In fact, that would count against you if children are napping, as children are required to have a quiet space for UNINTERRUPTED sleep. I would have a bin or shelf with materials in the kitchen area for the children who are not napping to have access to. You could even only offer books/puzzles etc. on their nap mats without allowing them to actually get up and still be fine with this indicator.

The mealtime one is absurd! There is absolutley no rule against hot meals, using the microwave (EXCEPT FOR BOTTLES!), etc. Family style is fine, just make sure basic sanitary procedures are followed, i.e. handwashing, if someone sneezes or coughs on the food it is discarded, etc.

If you have been marked down on these things, I would ask for clarification and if it has affected your business in any way, I would ask for proof that indicators have not been met.

The notes for Clarification on page 25 say
"Foods that are too hot are not considered appriopriate, such as food or bottles warmed in a microwave oven or in water warmer than 120 degrees.

[Crystal]

The notes for Clarification on page 25 say
"Foods that are too hot are not considered appriopriate, such as food or bottles warmed in a microwave oven or in water warmer than 120 degrees.

I would consider this to be in regards to Infant foods, but i can see where an assessor might mark down for any food warmed in a microwave.
Several years of assessing programs for our R&R and I have never marked down for foods warmed in the microwave and have never been instructed to do so either.

[daycare]

I guess my last post didn't make it in ..

Abotu the food and the microwave..I think there are two reasons for this...

1. over heating and serving food that is too hot.
2. Too many people are popping the ready to eat meals/ junk food in the microwave that is not good for anyone. They are so highly processed, high in fillers, high in fat and contain too many preservatives..

they want you to cook home made meals...that require you to use natural products....such as homemade chicken nuggets, home made mac and cheese and etc.
Did you know that it takes 8 store bought chicken nuggets to equal the required amount of protein for a 2 year old. What two year old is going to eat 8? AND then they would be over calories because of all the other junk fillers.

[MizzCheryl]

I have been through FCCERS about 4 or 5 times (due for my next one in June). I have never been told that we couldn't serve hot meals. I very rarely serve cold lunch except maybe a few times a month. And when you are saying "family style meals" I am assuming that you are talking about the way the food is served ie children serving themselves instead of having a plate put in front of them already dished out. I certainly hope they aren't changing the family style meals because we just switched to this style within the last 2 weeks.

As for the letting them play in the classroom when they wake early, I think the issue may be that if you are letting them have "free play" when they wake up, then they have to have access to everything. You can change that by not having it as free play. For our naps here is how we work it (keep in mind mine are all 2+) - when they go down for naps they are allowed to pick a book to take to their cot. This allows them a quiet activity if they choose not to sleep or if they wake early. My children do not get off of their cots until I turn the music off and the lights on. Then they get up, potty, and are allowed to choose a book and read in the reading center or they can pick a table toy to play with at the tables i.e. puzzle, table blocks, etc until everyone is up. Then they have access to the rest of the items.

Ok thanks. Maybe that is where I messed up. I will just give them a nap pack or something. Thanks alot that will be a big help.
I was reading it differently. I thought I had to let them get up and play but it does say "Early risers and non-nappers have quiet activities; infants taken out of cribs to play"

[MizzCheryl]

These should not be such issues with your FCCRS.....I get so frustrated with how assessors score things so differently. I am curious to know the training and experience many assessors have after all of the things I have heard on this forum about provider's expereinces!

You do not have to allow the children to free play the playroom during naptime. In fact, that would count against you if children are napping, as children are required to have a quiet space for UNINTERRUPTED sleep. I would have a bin or shelf with materials in the kitchen area for the children who are not napping to have access to. You could even only offer books/puzzles etc. on their nap mats without allowing them to actually get up and still be fine with this indicator.

The mealtime one is absurd! There is absolutley no rule against hot meals, using the microwave (EXCEPT FOR BOTTLES!), etc. Family style is fine, just make sure basic sanitary procedures are followed, i.e. handwashing, if someone sneezes or coughs on the food it is discarded, etc.

If you have been marked down on these things, I would ask for clarification and if it has affected your business in any way, I would ask for proof that indicators have not been met.

THat is exactly what I did. I had a nice shelf in the kitchen with puzzles, art supplies, math activities, bugs and magnafying glasses, books all kinds of stuff. BUT both the ladies couted it against me because the children did not have access to dramatic play, blocks and a few other catagories DURING nap time. It is so frustrating. That was their reasoning.
I got my 5 stars so I didn't complain. But it seems there is no satisfying them.
And they always send 2 ladies out here. It is hard to operate with 2 ladies standing around all day.

[itlw8]

have and use an instant read thermometer that will make sure the foods are not too hot nor not hot enough

foods from an oven or stove top can also bee too hot.

usually that statement refers to warming bottles or baby food in the microwave

[Meeko]

I would go crazy with two strange women...who know nothing about me or my day care kids...nothing about their likes and dislikes...nothing about their little personalities...nothing about their parents.....trying to tell me what would work best in my home day care.

I may do day care in a separate home from my own...but it used to be my actual home and is still run as a HOME day care. Is every home the same??? Of course not. Then why do they think that every HOME day care should follow the same stupid checklist???? At what point did they decide that the provider and parents are not capable of making decisions about care and that they know best? That somehow THEY get to say which providers are good and which are not by some dumb rating system.

I agree that licensing staff should visit licensed homes to make sure that basic safety is there and that ratios are OK etc. Anything more than that is just Big Brother putting a nose in where it shouldn't be. Day care should be the parents responsibility to monitor.

Anyone who is on this board can tell that we all run our day cares differently. How wonderful that parents (at least for now) can choose which type of care they want for their kids.
Do they want organic menus?
Do they want lots of field trips?
Do they want a rigid schedule, or a child driven one etc etc...

But now there's a rating system. Everyone under one umbrella and whether they are "good" or not becomes the decision of someone with a clipboard and a short time schedule.

Not one inspector will know the name of even one of your kids when they leave.
They won't know that Jimmy likes to be sung to at nap time.
They won't know that Suzie likes a hug for no reason whatsoever.
They won't know that you bought Timmy new shoes because his single mom is so hard up.
They won't know the grateful note you get from Charlie's mom.

All that matters is that you have the right "equipment" on show. If you have a nice calendar and fancy toys and so on...you get more stars. Be politically correct and you'll go far.

Teach French?...more points for being educational!. They won't notice you forgot to change Billy's diaper or that Amy is hating French and wants to color. You'll get brownie points for your "educational" program.

Sugar Magnolia was sad she lost a star this past year. OH NO! WHAT DID SHE DO WRONG??!!

NOTHING AT ALL. A total stranger who does not know her day care gave her a few teeny tiny less points...it was enough to lower her score. But I sadly can't help wonder if a parent looking for day care would see the drop in rating and assume she did something terrible. It's SO UNFAIR. Why don't they interview her DCP's? Get a REAL idea of her program.????? Oh yeah...the parents don't have a say in this fancy rating system...only the person who was there a few hours and knew nothing about her.

OK...rant over. I'm a menopausal, middle-aged female who is the chief mother hen around here. Don't let any government nobody tell me what to do with my chicks or they'll find themselves run off the farm!

[MissK]