You Have to Take Her!

[My3cents]

No, you don't have to put anything in your contract. I never understand why people feel they have to put every little thing in their contract...not you specifically (I'm talking generally) but some must have an encyclopedia sized handbook. :: I don't even have a handbook just a two page contract with the most basic things. Everything else I tell them as it comes up.

I would just explain how it is disruptive waking other children and such but if they want to call and find out if their child is sleeping then that would be fine. Once here though, please take your child.

Laurel

you must not have not come across the parents that just don't get it yet and that you have to spell every little thing out and then even then after you have spelled it out, they still don't get or try to get away with it.....

[My3cents]

I don't have to prove anything. They either comply or they leave. But honestly in 16 or so years I have never had any need to prove anything.

However, I also don't have anything in my contract that states they need to give me notice before leaving or that I have to give them any. I REQUEST that they give me as much notice as possible before they leave so I can find a replacement. Technically though, I can terminate immediately for any reason and they can leave immediately for any reason. I've never had to terminate anyone though. The word 'termination' doesn't even appear in my contract. They pay for their last week of care when they sign up so if they skip out then I am paid an extra week.

For the most part, I have had good parents. When a problem does come up, I just tell them what I want or need and we usually work things out. If not, they are able to leave the next day if they want to.

Laurel

It sounds like it is working for you. That would not work for me.

[Cradle2crayons]

My handbook isn't full of just policies but permission for things like photography, trampoline, swimming, transportation, alternative caregivers, illness policy etc.

Then I have my child ID record that has all of their health and medical history, pediatrician name etc. permission to treat, etc

Then I have just information such as potty training policy, diapers, formula, meals and a copy of our daily schedule. Just strictly informational things that I do mention to parents but they often forget.

Then I have my contract type stuff.

I can see not have a 50 page book, but I still have to cover the important stuff

[e.j.]

No, you don't have to put anything in your contract. I never understand why people feel they have to put every little thing in their contract...not you specifically (I'm talking generally) but some must have an encyclopedia sized handbook. ::

Ooh...be careful when you make a statement like that. Some states require certain information be given to parents in writing.

My state requires us to have a parent handbook. We are required to include EEC contact information, licensing capacity, whether or not I use assistants, hours of operation and expected closings, my illness policy, a plan for various emergencies and possible evacuation, a paragraph explaining EEC's record requirements for each child, a paragraph on safety standards required by EEC, a paragraph regarding lead poisoning prevention and lead poisoning symptoms, supervision regulations, safe sleep regulations, info about the required curriculum and progress reports we have to complete on an ongoing basis and my child guidance policies. I also have to include information about medication administration that covers prescription and non-prescription meds, topical ointments and sprays, how it will be stored, who will be responsible for administering it, what will happen to any unused portion of the med, etc. In addition to that, we have to inform parents of the oral health regulation, the parent notification requirments, the fact that I'm a mandated reporter and what that means, the paperwork (enrollment) forms that are required annually from parents, the physical exam/immunization reports I need, the importance of communication and parental involvement, etc.....

You're probably right that many of the issues covered in the handbook aren't "court type'' issues but even if I thought a one-page sheet listing my policies would cover me, my state says that isn't good enough.

[Laurel]

Ooh...be careful when you make a statement like that. Some states require certain information be given to parents in writing.

My state requires us to have a parent handbook. We are required to include EEC contact information, licensing capacity, whether or not I use assistants, hours of operation and expected closings, my illness policy, a plan for various emergencies and possible evacuation, a paragraph explaining EEC's record requirements for each child, a paragraph on safety standards required by EEC, a paragraph regarding lead poisoning prevention and lead poisoning symptoms, supervision regulations, safe sleep regulations, info about the required curriculum and progress reports we have to complete on an ongoing basis and my child guidance policies. I also have to include information about medication administration that covers prescription and non-prescription meds, topical ointments and sprays, how it will be stored, who will be responsible for administering it, what will happen to any unused portion of the med, etc. In addition to that, we have to inform parents of the oral health regulation, the parent notification requirments, the fact that I'm a mandated reporter and what that means, the paperwork (enrollment) forms that are required annually from parents, the physical exam/immunization reports I need, the importance of communication and parental involvement, etc.....

You're probably right that many of the issues covered in the handbook aren't "court type'' issues but even if I thought a one-page sheet listing my policies would cover me, my state says that isn't good enough.

Yikes, I had no idea. Our state doesn't require any of that. It doesn't say we have to have a handbook or a contract at all. It is also county by county in Florida meaning some counties don't even have to be licensed but mine does.

We have certain papers that must be in the child's file which consist of a notarized emergency medical form, basic enrollment info like names, addresses, who may pick up the child, work numbers, etc. We have to have their immunization records/dr.'s exam up to date, nutrition form that we informed the parents what meals we provide and a part for them to take that has the recommended food and amts. for children to eat at home also, permission form for field trips, a form if they want us to give any medicines including diaper rash ointment, permission for our legal sub (which we must have) to watch their child or provide other care for that day if they refuse, a discipline policy statement and one or two other minor forms like if anyone smokes in the house, if we have any pets, etc. If we transport them we need certain things but I don't. I think thats about it. That is all the parent's see or fill out.

Any other contracts we make or handbooks we want to make up about our specific home care is up to us to make one or not.

Then we have to have a file we show our monitor (inspector) with a host of other things like First Aid/CPR certifications, background checks, references, etc. but it has nothing to do with the parents.

We have to have other things posted in our home so parents could look at them but they never do like a fire inspection and even our daycare inspections.

It seems like ours is strict compared to some others as many here say they can watch some children without even being licensed. We can watch only one or two if they are siblings. Otherwise, we need a license. Some here have said 5. Wow, that boggles my mind. But on things like our own rules for our own home, the parents can request a copy of county rules and read them but we, as providers, don't have to provide them with this information like your state does. Now I feel lucky although I'm sure it isn't that much work to make a handbook.

Laurel

[e.j.]

Wow, that boggles my mind. But on things like our own rules for our own home, the parents can request a copy of county rules and read them but we, as providers, don't have to provide them with this information like your state does. Now I feel lucky although I'm sure it isn't that much work to make a handbook.

I've put some time and effort into creating a handbook that works well for me but you're right....it really isn't that much work to make one. Once you have a good basic handbook to start with, you tend to add things as you go along to address unexpected issues that come up. I like to have things spelled out as much as possible. That way, there are no surprises and parents can't tell me, "You never told me that during the interview!" They know what they're getting into when they sign on with me.

My state provides a parent handbook that providers can use if they want. It's 13 pages long and includes only the info that we're required to spell out for parents. It doesn't include all of the regulations we have to follow. That would be the size of an encyclopedia!

[Blackcat31]

I don't have to prove anything. They either comply or they leave. But honestly in 16 or so years I have never had any need to prove anything.

However, I also don't have anything in my contract that states they need to give me notice before leaving or that I have to give them any. I REQUEST that they give me as much notice as possible before they leave so I can find a replacement. Technically though, I can terminate immediately for any reason and they can leave immediately for any reason. I've never had to terminate anyone though. The word 'termination' doesn't even appear in my contract. They pay for their last week of care when they sign up so if they skip out then I am paid an extra week.

For the most part, I have had good parents. When a problem does come up, I just tell them what I want or need and we usually work things out. If not, they are able to leave the next day if they want to.

Laurel

I haven't had many major issues over the years either but I try to remember that just because I haven't doesn't mean I won't/can't.

[Laurel]

I haven't had many major issues over the years either but I try to remember that just because I haven't doesn't mean I won't/can't.

Exactly. That is why I have anything that I consider a major issue in my two pages.

For example, I don't need a page full of medical info that says when they have to keep their children home like a list of symptoms, temperatures, etc. I just have two sentences or so which basically say diahrrea (sp?), fever, vomiting, anything contagious or being listless, etc. I also say it is at MY discretion that a child leave.

Laurel

[My3cents]

Exactly. That is why I have anything that I consider a major issue in my two pages.

For example, I don't need a page full of medical info that says when they have to keep their children home like a list of symptoms, temperatures, etc. I just have two sentences or so which basically say diahrrea (sp?), fever, vomiting, anything contagious or being listless, etc. I also say it is at MY discretion that a child leave.

Laurel

Everyone is different in how long or what they put in policy/hand/rule book and contract. I think it is great that small works for you and has been for over 20 years. So now I am curious how big everyone's are? Mine is about ten pages but also in a bigger font that the norm font size. I will open up another thread for this question just so we can all be curious together

[DaisyMamma]

No way!
As soon as I see a parent coming and the kid is asleep I go get the kid. If the parent walks in before I see them I don't even say anything, I just go get the kid. After I get the kid I say, oh yea, he/she was asleep ::

[Kym2098]

I did this yesterday

Thanks to all for the help/comments

No way!
As soon as I see a parent coming and the kid is asleep I go get the kid. If the parent walks in before I see them I don't even say anything, I just go get the kid. After I get the kid I say, oh yea, he/she was asleep ::