KIDDOKARE

 

 Operation Policies

 

Dear Parents or Guardians,

 

Thank you for your interest in KiddoKare and for trusting us with the responsibility and opportunity to share in your child’s life. This is a partnership to be entered into with honest and open communication between parents and providers. As a parents of three children, we know what a step it is to leave your child in the care of another person, and we want this transition to be as comfortable as possible.  Your child will be treated respectfully with love and attention they deserve.  We here at KiddoKare love children, and take our responsibilities seriously.  Please help us do the best job we can for your child.

Before your child can be fully enrolled in our childcare you must read the terms below. 

KiddoKare Philosophy

The education philosophy is to offer your child a highest quality childcare and academics, combined with a safe and right-at-home setting for your child to grow at their own pace. 

Educational Program

Currently we promote the FunShine Express Program, an Early Learning Curriculum  designed for Group Day Home, as our core curriculum, along with other faculty-designed, situations-appropriate activities as well as other extracurricular activities in after school program.

As a child care provider, our goal is to make sure your child can learn and develop at every aspect better, and experience success on a daily basis. We believe children learn best through playing and benefit from a structured yet flexible schedule.  Activities will be offered which stimulate sensory and motor development, language development and social interaction.  The development of strong self-esteem is also a major goal.  Children will be taught to respect each other, adults and property.

Ages & Openings

We provide child care to children from infants (6 weeks) through pre-school (age 5).  We offer full-time and part-time care.  Summer openings are available for school ages 5 -10.  Limited vacancies.

Hours of Operation

We will open from Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM.

Over-time service rate

$6.00 per hour

Early Drop or Late Pick Up

 

Less than 30 minutes              $3.00

Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes        $6.00

Payment(s):

It sholud be emphasized that the daycare fee is paid based on the registration days, not the attendance days. Payment (in cash or check) is to paid Monday morning for the two week services to be provided.  Payment for part time children is due and must be paid on the first day the child attends.  This is a guaranteed fee to the provider—this means that the fee is paid whether the child is in attendance or not.  The same applies for part time children. This includes holidays and my vacations. NO post-dated checks will be accepted.

School closes due to inclement weather

For the sake of safety of your child or children, school will be closed due to inclement weather. The Kiddokare follows the discretion of FISD in this regard.

Late Fees:

There will be a late fee of $5.00 after the scheduled date if payment is not paid on Monday, and everyday until payment is made.

There will be a $45 non-sufficient fund (NSF) fee for all returned checks.

Enrollment Policy

There is a non-refundable registration fee of $30 at the time this contract is signed.  This deposit guarantees a position for your child until the agreed starting time.  A position will not be guaranteed for your child without the registration fee. 

Supply Fees

There is a $30 per 6 months supply fee, which is included in the tuition.

Holidays 

We are closed on the following holidays: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day (including Black Friday), Christmas Day (Eve opens till 12:30 PM), and New Year’s Day (Eve opens till 12:30 PM).   We will post all closings.

If I’m ill or if I take a vacation, I will always try and alternate childcare, via my staff.  If I have to close for any reason I will give prior notice.

Meals

We provide breakfast, morning snack, lunch and mid-afternoon snack that meet nutrition requirements established by USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program under the sponsorship of Southwest Human Development Services, a private non-profit agency.   We receive Federal Assistance to serve healthy meals to your children. 

Supplies

Parents must supply formula, diapers, wipes, pull-ups, blankets, bibs, sippy cups, bottles, diaper rash ointment, etc.

Vacation

Vacation by parents is free for one week only once a year if the child has been enrolled for at least 6 months.  You must take on full week (5 days) to receive this offer. 

Illnesses

Children who have fever  99.4 degrees (axillary),  vomiting,  diarrhea, or a contagious illness cannot attend the center.  If your child becomes ill at the day care we will call you  or your emergency contact person to pick up your child within one hour if these symptoms or any other conditions requiring your immediate attention.  Children must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication before they return, and will require a doctor’s note depending on illness.    Stool must be firm again before they return if the child had diarrhea.

Further, there are times when a child is not that ill, but is terribly uncomfortable and really needs some “one on one” care.  Unfortunately, we are not able to provide one on one care yet.  At those times we will ask that you keep your child at home.  If your child is sick enough to require prescription medication, we require that you keep your child home until they have been on the medication for at least 48 hours, are symptom free.

Medication

A medication form must be completed and signed before any medication(s) is administered.  We do not supply any medication, i.e. Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc. 

Minor Injuries/Medical Emergency

Although every effort is made to keep the children safe through staff supervision and  safety policies, minor injuries are inevitable.  Minor injuries will receive appropriate first aid, and TLC (Tender Loving Care).  We will notify the parent and call 911 if an injury or illness occurs that require immediate medical attention.  If TLC is necessary, your child will be taken to the nearest hospital where you will be asked to meet us.  If the parent can’t be reached, we will contact your emergency contact person listed on the Medical Release form.  Parents are responsible for all costs involved in medical treatment obtained for their child, including transportation to the hospital or medical facility.

We will also notify the parent(s) immediately after a child has:

• a sign or symptom requiring exclusion from the child care home
• been involved in any situation that place the child at risk
• been involved in any situation that renders the childcare home unsafe, such as fire, flood or damage the childcare home as a result of severe weather.

All parent(s) of the children in the childcare home will be notified with 48 hours when any child in our care, a caregiver, or a household member has contracted a communicable disease that requires to be reported to the Texas Department of Health.

Also, parent(s) will be notified withing 48 hours if there is an outbreak of lice or other infestations in the childcare home.

 

Important telephone numbers:

Emergency Medical Services             469-854-8000

Police                                                     911 or 972-547-2700 

Fire Department                                                972-547-2850   

Poison control                                          1-800-222-1222    

Child Abuse Hot-line                                          1-800-252-5400 

 

 

Potty Training

Potty training should begin at home.  Once the child has started potty training, we will be happy to continue while the child is in our care.  We ask that training results be consistent at home prior to bringing your child in training pants or underwear.  You will need to supply pull-ups, training pants, underwear and a few changes of clothes while the child is learning.  Please make sure your child is in clothes that will come off in a hurry if necessary.  Open communication and feedback between parent and provider is very important during this time. 

Daily Activities

The children are learning to be kind, respectful, gentle, patient, truthful, forgiving, thoughtful of others’ feelings, and able to maintain happy attitudes.  Please see daily schedule of activities.  You may expect that on a daily basis your child will play with dolls, trucks, cars, play dishes, building type toys, puzzles, books (and have them read to them) and outside toys.  They will play outside every day that weather permits.  Please send them to day care with play clothes since children will get dirty sometimes.  For safety reason, FLIP FLOPS and  CROCS, are not permitted for outside play.  Please bring closed toe shoes.

Naps/Quiet Time

All children are required to lie down for nap-time in the afternoon and must nap or rest quietly during this period.  Children in their toddler years benefit from a rest period day.  We prefer that there are no pick-ups or drop offs during nap-time, but if it is necessary, please be as quiet and brief as possible, and please do not ring the doorbell, you can knock on the door or call.  Children who arrive during the nap-time will be expected to remain quiet or take a nap until nap-time is over, so that others will not be disrupted from their naps.

Back to Sleep Policy

1) Place healthy babies to sleep on their backs 2) Consider offering pacifiers, without cords or clips 3) Use safety-approved cribs and firm mattresses 4) No soft objects and loose bedding 5) use sleep sacks or wearable blankets as alternatives 6) one baby per crib 7) Keep comfortable room temperature 8) No wedge or infant positioners 8) Never allow smoking anywhere in the facility 9) Staff education of safe sleep.

Arrival & Departure

It is normal for some children to have difficulty separating from parents or cry when being dropped off.  Please be very brief (no more than 5 minutes is sufficient) during drop-off times; the longer you prolong the departure the harder it gets for your child.  A smile, a cheerful good-bye kiss, and a reassuring word that you will be back are all that is needed.  In our experience; children are nearly always quick to get involved in play or activities as soon as parents are gone.

Please be brief in departure times as well.  This is a testing when two different authority figures are present and all children will test to see if the rules apply.  We do expect you to back up the rules, but if you do not, we will remind your child that their behaviors are inappropriate and take action to correct if needed. Please be in control of your child during these times. 

House Rules

There are certain house rules that all children will be taught and expected to follow.  This is for the safety and well being of everyone.

There will be no running or yelling permitted.  Hitting, pushing, biting, grabbing, kicking, spitting or pinching will NOT be allowed.  No standing on, jumping on, or climbing up stairs, chairs, tables or furniture.  There will be no use of obscene, derogatory, or disrespectful language.

Children may not walk around with food or cups. Respectful treatment of other people and all property, toys, books, and furniture is expected.  Willful destruction of property will be charged to the parent at the cost to replace the item.

Expectations and Disciplines

Acceptable behavior is encouraged by giving positive verbal rewards and stickers.  This reinforces a child’s good feeling about his/her behavior and serves as an example to other children to act in such a way as to receive this praise.  Asking a child to stop and think about his or her behavior enables the child to work at self control.  Depending on the situation, one warning is usually given and the child reminded of acceptable behavior.  The next step would be timeout. This timeout is a time for the child to calm down, remember what behavior is acceptable and decide when they are ready to rejoin the group with appropriate behavior.  Timeouts are age appropriate.  If timeouts are not effective, some sort of consequence will be imposed.

We maintain a positive discipline policy, which focuses on prevention, redirection, consistency, and firmness.  The children are explained the rules of the childcare facility frequently, so they are familiar with the guidelines.  Please keep in mind that there WILL be disagreements between children.  Young children frequently have a hard time expressing their feelings.  Sometimes they hit, throw toys, etc.  Teaching children appropriate behavior is enforced.

The following methods of discipline will be used:

• encourage children to solve problems themselves
• intervention and discussion
• re-direction to another play area
• loss of privileges
• time out

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will there be any spanking, physical abuse, verbal abuse or name-calling.

If a discipline problem arises that does not respond to the above mentioned techniques, we will communicate this to the parents.  Together, we will try to find a solution.  If the problem continues or the child becomes disruptive, or injurious to other children, care will be terminated at the provider’s discretion.

Non Discrimination

No discrimination on the sex, race, color, ethnicity, or religion will be allowed at KiddoKare.

Licensing Inspection Report

If you would like to review a copy of the minimum standards and KiddoKare’s most recent licensing inspection report, please go towww.txchildcaresearch.org, or call 1-800-582-6036. Also for child abuse/neglect, please call 1-800-252-5400; 24 hrs/day, 7 days/wk.

Release of Children

We will release children only to a parent or person designated by the parent(s), via enrollment form and release form.  Parent(s) must supply us with additional person(s) name, driver’s license, or photocopy of driver’s license prior to release.  We will verify the identity of any person(s) listed or not listed on the authorized enrollment and release form and ask they present their driver’s license.  If we are not familiar with the person picking up the child we will always ask for their driver’s license even if they are on the enrollment and release form.  This protects KiddoKare, and the child. NO CHILD WILL EVER BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE DAYCARE WITH ANY PERSON NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE PARENT.

Any person picking the child up in an impaired condition (inebriated or on drugs or medication) will be encouraged to allows us to find alternative transportation.  We cannot legally withhold a child from a legal guardian; however, I will not hesitate to call the police if we feel the child may be placed in jeopardy.

Divorce/Custody Agreement

KiddoKare has no legal authority to refuse either parent the right to pick up their child.  However, we will honor all court orders and injunctions such as custody agreements or restriction which apply to your child.  We must be furnished with a copy of any such court order bearing the court’s signature.

Termination Policy

We reserve the right to terminate childcare services for, but not limited to:

• failure to pay tuition in a timely manner
• failure to complete the required forms
• lack of parental cooperation
• child’s failure to adjust to the childcare setting after a reasonable amount of time
• provider unable to accommodate needs of child/parent
• disrespectful behavior, obscene or derogatory language
• child exhibits disruptive behavior
• consistent discipline problems that do not improve
• continuous late pick-ups