New Policies in the Making....

[MissAnn]

Give me some of your "must have" policies. Wanting to make sure I'm not leaving anything important out!

I did change "fees" to "tuition" that is paid 52 weeks of the year regardless of attendance.

No nap time pickups

[butterfly]

Late pick up policy

Illness policies

These too things have caused me lots of headache in the past!

[nanglgrl]

If the child becomes ill at your house they can't return to daycare for a full 2 days, if they become sick at home they can return 24 hours after the last incident of vomiting/diarrhea or as soon as the fever has went away without the use of medicine. This just cuts down tremendously on doping and dropping. I got it off of this board.

Pay on Mondays or Fridays before care instead of after care.

These two get rid of a lot of headaches.

[Starburst]

Some things I have in mine so far (not in any order):

Toys:
Do you allow them to bring toys from home? Are there some days that you allow them to bring toys (such as show and tell or a theme week)? If they do bring toys from home are there restructions (such as no weapons)? If they can bring toys from home do they need to share with other daycare kids?

Damage policy:
Will parents be held financially responsible to replace or fix anything thier child purposefully brake daycare property (such as throwing something at the tv and cracking it or kicking in a wall and leaving a big hole)? Will you be responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged property of the children or parents?

Seasons/Holidays:
Do you close on some holidays? Do you have minimum days? Do you celebrate holidays/birthdays; If so which ones do you observe? If so do you have parties? Do you buy gifts for the kids? Are parents allowed to bring gifts for other children? Do parents need to participated in gift exchange for Christmas? What iif parents do not wish to celebrate or participate on some holidays- if they are absent do they still have to pay?

Contract hours:
What is your longest time slot you allow, is there a limit (such as up to 10 hours per day or 5 hours per week)? Is care after that time period overtime or a higher rate, if preapproved? What if they need care during their non-contract hours or their off days (is it the same rate or do they need to pay extra)? Do you offer any after hours or weekend care specials, if so is it complementary (free) or do they pay an extra fee? If you do offer after hours or weekend care for extra pay is payment expected before care is given or added to their next bill? Do they get to pick the days they need extra care or do you pick the days you are available? Do you have a certain cut off for drop off or pick up time for after hour care; if so will you charge late fees if they pick up later? Is the care only for afew ours or for overnight?

Food:
Do you provide meals/snacks or do the parents? Are you on food program or are meals extra? Do you allow outside food? Do parents need to bring bottles/sippy cups and formula for infants/toddlers?

Dress code:
Are there some apparal that you do not allow either for an age group or the whole group (e.i. jewlery, hair ties, or flip flops)? Do children need to be ready for the day or can they come in their pjs and you will dress them in day clothes later (is there a time cut off)? Do they need to have back up clothes? If so how often do they need to replace/change back up clothing? Do children need to dress in seasonally/weather appropriate apparal?

Hygine:
Do that children need to come to daycare properly groomed (clean hair, trimmed nails, no sweating or overly offensive smells)? Do children need to wash their hands when entering the child care home. Do you allow children to attend if they use body sprays, perfumes, or sented wipes (some people are sensitive to some scents)? Do you help clean infant/toddler (if you take them) teeth; do you have older kids brush teeth after meals?

Schedule:
What time do you open/close? What time is breakfast/lunch/snack? When is nap time? What time do you offer curriculum/arts/projects/activities? Do they have free play time? Do you have regular potty check or diaper check times (but note that children will be changed and allowed to go potty as needed)?

Discipline:
What is your disiplinary style? Do you do time outs (at what ages)? What behaviors are not acceptable? Do you do probation periods for severly inappropriate behaviors or profanity?

Health/Safety Policy:
Do you follow universal sanitation precausions? What are some safety precausions have you made in your program? Will you give medication, if needed? When are children expected to wash their hands? Do you do a daily health check? What symptoms would exclude the child for the day? Are you willing to or are you leagally able to care for a mildly ill child? Do you charge if they are absent?

Diapers/Potty Training
Do parents need to bring their own diapers/wipes/creams/ lotions? Will you have extra availble; If so do you charge extra? Do you allow cloth dipers? When will you start potty training kids at your program? When will you allow a parent to bring a potty training child to daycare in underwear without pull ups? Do you the parents bring potty seats/ potty chairs or will provide that?

Daycare Rules/ Daily Expectations of Children:
Are children allowed to wear shoes in the house? If not do they need to wear socks? Do you allow children to run or scream outside? Are their off limit areas? If you have pets are kids allowed to play with them? Are older kids allowed to hold younger kids?

Quiet time
What time is nap time and how long does it last? Are all children expected to rest? Do you offer any alternative quiet activities? Do you have any soothing time rituals? Do you allow them to watch tv or listen to soothing music to fall asleep? Do you offer multiple naps through out the day for younger children? Do you provide mats/blankets/pillows/stuffed animals or do parents have to? Do you allow pacifiers? Do you follow SIDS prevention measurments for infants?

Open door policy/ Arrival and Departure:
Do you keep the doors locked during daycare hours; If so do you unlock them around expected pick up time? Do you have a cut off time for drop offs or pick ups? Do you charge extra if they are early dropping off or late picking up? Do you allow parents to show up on their child's day off? Do you allow parents to have multiple visits (see your regs)? Do you allow parents to stay and chat when you still have other daycare kids? Do you allow parents to volunteer (either in the daycare home or during field trips); if so do they need a background check or tb test (check your licensing regs)? If their presence is causing their child to act up will you ask them to leave or to take their child home for the day? If their presence is distracting to the other kids will you ask them to leave? If you have nursing infants, do you allow nursing mothers to stop by regularly throughout the day as needed to nurse; If so you have a designated nursing area?

[Lyss]

Late pick up policy

Illness policies

These too things have caused me lots of headache in the past!

my biggest headaches. I'm very strict with illness and state that in my contract.

Payment before care is provided and I also have a respect for provider/family/home/other children clause so if anyone really causes issues or is down right disrespectful I can term them on the spot.