Parent Handbook and Nap Readiness for Childcare

[Sprouts]

Do any of you touch upon the subject of preparing children for childcare regarding their naps and having children being able to self sooth before starting your program???

I realize that I have been lucky with the children that I have so far and haven't had toooooo much of a problem with putting kids down for nap..until...the 12 month old that started today....I feel like I could have avoided this by adressing this with the parents sooner....

I have another family starting this week and need some wording to add to my handbook regarding having children sleep trained and able to start to with out too much of a problem with being put down for nap.

[blandino]

I have thought about adding this to my contract, or as a supplementary page .... something like "how to help ease the transition for your child" - and just present it as this is what group care is like, and this is how you can help prepare your child for it.

There is no shame in admitting that group care is NOT one on one care, and I think if parents have a real understanding of what group care means for their child it will help ease tensions in the future. I think, personally in the past, I want to make group care seem as much like one on one care as possible to ease the parent, but the truth is that they are choosing to put their child in an environment where their caretaker's attention is divided. Even if I give the best quality care - it is not the same as one on one care.

This concept affects how parents think about sleeping, eating, teething, patience, etc.

[daycarediva]

I don't, but it is also something that I want to add, I have too many issues with this lately and no, I can't pat the back of a 2 1/2 year old until he falls asleep because 'it works at home', I also can't let them fall asleep on me and then TRY to transfer them to a mat. I have 6 kids, 2 hands!


I also want to add a section about discipline at HOME/rules at home. So many parents think that they are hurting their child by telling them no and setting age appropriate limitations and boundaries. It's blatantly obvious who rules the roost and they KNOW it! A dcb (just turned 2) told me last week "You can't time out me, I'm (dck name) and I DON'T HAVE TIME OUT!" I asked dcp, he doesn't, ever. I've seen him SPIT on them, so he NEEDS something! :confused: