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Home | About Crystal's Little Playcare | Daily Schedule | Contract | Special Arrangements | Fees | Location | Parent's Comments | Photo Page |
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  Admission and Enrollment Crystal’s Little Playcare serves children
ages 6 weeks though 12 years. No child will be denied admission on the basis of his/her race or religion. I do retain the
right to deny admission if all my slots for a particular child's age group are filled. Children with special needs will not
be denied admission. I am willing to undergo specialized training if necessary to care for a special needs child and the parents
and I will evaluate whether or not this arrangement is working as we go along. Enrollment Procedures In order to enroll your child at Crystal’s
Little Playcare there are some items that will need to be taken care of prior to the beginning of care. I will not assume
care of your child(ren) if I do not have the required paperwork, fees and supplies. I will supply you with all the necessary
paperwork and will help you with any questions you may have. I will also provide you with a summary of the family child care
licensing rules. Paperwork • Admission Information • Authorization for Minor Medical
Treatment • Discipline and Guidance Policy • Health-Care Professional’s
Statement •Copy of Immunization Records • Infant Feeding Schedule (if applicable)
• Completed Hi-Plains Day Care Services
Enrollment Package • Signed Childcare Fees Agreement
Enrollment Fees An $80 registration fee is required. The registation fee is non-refundable. Supplies Attendance Payment obligation is based on the hours
you agree to use child care, not on actual hours of attendance. Both full-time and part-time fees will be charged based on
contracted hours, including missed days due to illness, holidays, vacations, or snow days. This also applies to early and
late drop offs. Late drop off does not constitute late pick up. In a sense you are paying me for your child's "slot" as well
as for my services. Trial Period The first 14 calendar days from a child's
start date are a trial period for the child, parents and provider. During this period, either the parent or provider may terminate
care without notice. Termination of Service After the trial period parents may withdraw
their child from care by giving a minimum of two weeks written notice. If less than the full final two weeks deposit has been
made, parent will be responsible for the difference equal to two weeks fees. In the event that I should ever find it
necessary to end our agreement I also will give the parent at least two weeks written notice, except for reasons such as,
but not limited to: destructive, uncontrollable or violent behaviors, habitual lateness in pick-up of child(ren), lateness
of payment or nonpayment. These situations will be grounds for immediate termination. If it becomes necessary for me to resort
to legal action to collect fees, the parent(s) will be responsible for any legal fees incurred by Crystal’s Little Playcare
aka Crystal Amaya. Reserving Slots (new clients) Due to a numerous number of requests for
child care I do not hold spaces without pay. Each space represents a percentage of my income. When you chose to place your
child in my care I will reserve the slot for you as soon as, but not before, all completed paperwork is returned to me along
with the full registration fee. This acts as a commitment to me on your part; until that time I will continue to interview
for other clients. If paperwork and fees are returned to me, I will hold your slot for up to 4 weeks at one half normal fees.
This fee is due each Monday morning. After 4 weeks has passed fees will adjust to the regular rate and will continue to be
due on Monday mornings. These fees are non-refundable, even if other child care arrangements are found. Late payment policies
will apply to fees not received as described above. Rates Regular Rates: Sibling Rates: Above rates are for youngest child in family.
Additional children in the same family will receive a 10% discount. Overtime Rates: A fee equal to $5.00 per child shall be
made per 15 minute interval for drop offs earlier than or pick-ups later than the contracted time. This fee will be imposed
beginning 5 minutes prior to or 5 minutes later than the actual contracted time. Example: Contracted drop off time is 8:00
AM and contracted pick up time is 5:30 PM. Drop off earlier than 7:55 AM or pick up later than 5:35 PM will incur a $5.00
fee, per child, per 15 minute interval, or portion thereof. Please keep this policy in mind when contracting hours. Including
travel time in your contract will help to alleviate early drop offs or late pick-ups. Payment for unscheduled overtime will
be added to the following weeks fees and will be due with the regular payment on the first day of care for the week. Prearranged
overtime will be charged at the current drop-in rate. The digital clock located with the sign in/out pad will be the official
time clock. This policy will be strictly enforced as early drop offs and late pick-ups infringe on my family's personal time.
Drop-In Rates: Drop in care (less than 15 hours per week)
will be at $5.00 per hour or portion thereof. I reserve the right to refuse drop-in care due to filled slots. Payment Schedule I have a "No Pay, No Play" policy. Payments
will be made in advance for child care and are due no later than drop off time on the first day of the week the child is contracted
for care. If child is in care earlier than normal contracted time, payment is due at actual drop off time. If you do not have
your payment in hand at drop off do not bring your child to me for care. I will kindly ask you to return with payment. There
will be a $10.00 per day late fee for payment not received as described above. Please do not put me in the position of having
to tell your child he/she cannot come inside and play. I will accept payment in the form of cash,
personal check or money order. In the event of a returned check parents will be responsible for a $25.00 returned check fee
as well as any fees incurred due to the returned check. All future payments must be made in cash or money order. All parents that have a third party payment
arrangement (such as county or state assistance or employer vouchers) are responsible for payment of the difference of what
the third party pays and the actual fees. In addition, you are responsible for payment of all days that I have listed in my
Holidays, Vacation and Personal Days sections of this handbook that are not paid by the third party. All parents using a third
party payment arrangement are also responsible for a deposit of the final 2 weeks fees. If required two weeks written notice
is given for termination of care, deposit will be refunded after final third party payment has been received. If you
fail to give two weeks written notice the deposit will not be refunded. Receipts Receipts will be furnished weekly and a
year-end payment summary will be provided for tax purposes. Hours of Operation Crystal’s Little Playcare is open
Monday-Friday from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Visits During Regular Care Hours Parent’s or Guardian’s are welcome
to drop by unannounced at anytime during the hours their children are in care. Please be aware, however, that children do
not really benefit from these visits. Having such irregular additional visits often serves only to interrupt the child’s
comfortable routine, and can lead to increased distress during regular transition times. Nap time is NOT a good time to visit, however,
if you feel that you must visit during this time- knock quietly. Please do not wake you child. Both the children and I have
had a busy, fun filled morning, and we need this time to rest. Holidays, Scheduled, and Unscheduled
Closings Crystal’s Little Playcare will be
closed for the following 6 nationally observed holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving
Day and Christmas Day. These holidays are paid holidays. There will be no discount in fees for the weeks in which these holidays
occur. You will be given a schedule of the annual holidays and closings. Provider Vacation
Each Calendar
year Tootsie Bear Day Care will be closed 2 weeks for provider's vacations. In most instances the two weeks will be taken
separately, however I reserve the right to take vacations consecutively. Parents will be given as much advance notice as possible,
with a minimum of thirty days notice when I plan my vacations. No payment is required for provider's vacations. Personal Days
Occasionally
I may find it necessary to take a personal day off for training, workshops or family reasons. No more than 5 personal days
will be taken per calendar year. Payment is not required for provider's personal days. A minimum of two weeks’ notice
will be given for provider's personal days. Personal Days
In the case of
my illness I will call at least one hour before your scheduled drop off time. In the event of a family emergency I will give
as much notice as possible. Parent's Vacations
Each calendar
year each family may take up to two weeks’ vacation while the center is open at one-half the weekly fee. A two week
written notice of vacation is required. If no notice or less than two weeks notice is given, the full weekly fee will be charged.
If you take your vacation while the day care is closed (during my vacation, e.g.) you will not be required to pay the one-half
weekly fee. Drop-In Care I do occasionally accept children for drop
in care if I have a space available on any given day. Therefore if you tell me that you will not be bringing your child, there
is a chance I will fill your spot for that day and you could potentially lose your day if I do so. Because of this I do require
that you give me a minimum of 48 hours notice if you change your mind and want or need to bring your child to care after all
on your day. You are still responsible for paying all fees for your contracted days whether your child comes to care or not.
I do not accept drop-ins solely for the purpose of earning a little extra income, rather I do it as a service to all my parents,
which may include you if you would ever need or want day care on an unscheduled day. Your 48 hour notice is not only put into
place because I may schedule a drop-in on your day, but this will give me time to adjust my menus and activities accordingly.
Arrival and Departure Drop off and pick up times can be stressful
for some children. Parents are required to bring their child(ren) to the door each morning and help their child(ren) get settled.
In the morning they may not want to say good-bye to you and at pick up time they may not want to go because they are involved
with a fun activity. This is a natural occurrence. To ease the situation I'd like to encourage the parent to take a minute
to help the child feel comfortable and to adjust by offering positive statements. A parent who shows reluctance to depart
only makes the transition harder for their child. The parent should never sneak out without saying "good-bye" to their child.
A brief good-bye works best. Crying will usually stop a few minutes after the parent departs. It is important that you establish
a consistent routine and stick with it. If your child misbehaves during these times,
please correct their behavior. My house rules apply from the time they walk in to the time they walk out. This is a time of
testing when two different authority figures are present (parent and provider), and this situation will be tested at one time
or another to see if the rules still apply. I will remind your child if inappropriate behaviors are being displayed. Please
be prepared to back me up. If your rules or desires are being tested, I am ready to back you up. Children of all ages adjust to transitions
differently. Most do not like to be too rushed, or to wait too long once they are ready to depart! When leaving, please DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN
TO RUN OUT TO YOUR CAR WHILE YOU ARE STILL INSIDE! Our safety rule is "No one outside without their parent (or guardian) with
them." There are other cars that may be coming and going in the driveway and a serious incident could occur. Sign In/Out Each day upon arriving the parent is required
to sign their child(ren) in, noting the time arrived, and initialing where indicated. A sign in/out pad, pen and clock are
all located by the door. The same procedure is used to sign the child(ren) out. Release Children may be released only to persons
indicated on the admission form. No child will be released without written parental consent. When arrangements are made for
someone not identified on the release form to pick up your child, parents are responsible for notifying me in advance in writing.
Please inform your emergency contacts that if I do not know them and the child is too young to recognize them ("Hi Grandma!"),
that I will ask for identification. Explain to them that I do not mean to offend them. This is simply a measure taken for
the child(ren)'s protection. Intoxication If the parent or other authorized person
arrives intoxicated or under the influence of drugs in the opinion of the provider, all reasonable steps will be taken to
avoid releasing the child to that person, including offering to call an emergency contact. While I cannot legally withhold
a child from a legal guardian, if I feel the child is in jeopardy, I will not hesitate to call the police. Medical and Other Emergencies Minor cuts and abrasions suffered while
at the day care will receive proper care, specifically; they will be washed with soap and warm water and properly bandaged.
Injury and treatment will be logged and I will tell you how and when the injury occurred. I am also required to log any injuries
I observe on your child which have occurred outside my care. If a medical emergency arises I will try
to contact a parent first, unless doing so endangers the child's life. In that case I will take necessary steps, putting the
child first (calling 911, doctor, poison control, etc.). If need be, your child will be transported to the hospital and I
will contact you from there. Parents are responsible for all costs involved in emergency medical treatment. In the event of a fire, we would evacuate
the house immediately and gather at the neighbor's tree. This will be practiced at least monthly so the children are familiar
with the procedure. If severe weather arises and a tornado warning
is issued, we will proceed to the restroom where the children will crouch and cover their heads. This will also be practiced
at least monthly. Illness Please do not bring your child to care if
he/she is ill. Masking your child's symptoms with over the counter medication (i.e. Tylenol) before care will be grounds for
termination of contract. The Health department discourages the admittance of any child into a family day care home or center
who exhibits any of the following symptoms. Therefore it is the policy of Crystal’s Little Playcare to not accept for
care any child who exhibits the following: • Unusual rash • Fever over 100 (oral) or 99 (armpit)
- child needs to be fever free for 24 hours before returning to care • Runny nose with colored discharge
• Excessive coughing • Diarrhea within last 24 hours • Discharge from eyes or ears • Vomiting - DO NOT bring your child
if he/she has vomited within past 24 hours • Lice - Cases of lice must be treated
and child must be lice and nit free before returning to care. • Communicable diseases - All cases
of communicable diseases require notification of parents of all children in my care as well as notification of the public
health department. Children with a mild cold can attend care
if they can participate in normal activities (if child is too sick to go outside, he/she is too sick to be at day care.).
They will be monitored and if the cold reaches the point that the child will not play, has a continuous cough or the nose
secretions are not clear, then the parent will be required to pick the child up and keep the child home until they have been
symptom free for 24 hours. If your child becomes ill while in my home
they will be isolated from the other children, still within sight or sound of provider, and given special attention and comfort.
You will be notified immediately and will be required to pick your child up within one hour. If parent(s) cannot be contacted,
emergency contacts will be notified and they will be required to pick up child. If reasonable efforts are not made to pick
up a sick child, the child care contract is subject to immediate termination. This policy is for the health and safety of
all concerned. Before returning to care your child must
be free of ALL symptoms for 24 hours, or be accompanied by a doctor's note. If your child has been absent from care due to
an illness for 3 or more days, you must bring a doctor's note indicating the child is well enough to return to care. Children requiring prescription medication
for a contagious illness must stay home until the child has been on the medication for a period of 24 hours. Some illnesses
require the child to be out of care longer. These policies benefit your child(ren) as
well as other children. Your compliance is appreciated and will be compensated with the assurance that all ill children will
be kept at home. Medication If your child/children
need to be given medication, you will have to take the time to come and administer it to them. I do not administer medications
of any kind. Behavior Goals At Crystal’s Little Playcare I try
to stress two main patterns of behavior: respect for other people and respect for property. As a result I do not allow hitting,
pushing, biting, kicking or pinching other children. Obscene language is not allowed. I also stress that they treat material
possessions (both mine and theirs) with respect. Discipline and Guidance To reinforce these behaviors I use the following
procedures. Rules are first explained, then followed up with a warning and lots of positive reinforcement. For children age
18 months and older, redirection, verbal communication, and "Thinking-Time" are the only methods of discipline used when it
is necessary. In a “Thinking-Time” situation the child will be separated from the group. The child will sit in
an appropriate “Thinking” place, where they will have the opportunity to think about their behavior. We will then
talk and decide why a “Thinking Time” was appropriate and the child is encouraged to calmly resolve the situation
before returning to the group. Children under the age of 18 months will
only be corrected with redirection. All forms of discipline are used as positive
times of renewal and as an opportunity to teach responsibility, not as a form of punishment. If something of a more serious nature or
a persistent behavior should occur that is of concern to me, I will need to discuss it with you so that we can jointly decide
on a course of action that is followed at home and in my care. If the problem cannot be resolved arrangements must be made
for the child to receive care elsewhere. Meals and Snacks Meals are served family style, which means
that I will include the children in parts of the preparation, table setting, serving themselves and clearing. I never force a child to finish what is
on his/her plate, but I do encourage each child to try one or two bites of everything. If your child(ren) requires a modified diet
I will need a physician's written instructions. The meal schedule I follow is listed below.
If the child(ren) is here during those times, they will be served. Children who choose not to eat will not be served again
until the next scheduled meal or snack. If the child will be arriving after mealtime, please feed them before they arrive.
This helps the day run more smoothly and eliminates problems caused by children arriving with "Happy Meals" in hand. Breakfast 7:30am Morning snack 10:00am Lunch 12:00pm Afternoon snack 3:00pm Food Program Crystal’s Little Playcare will be
participating in the Hi-Plains Day Care Services Inc. Food Program, which means that I will be reimbursed a certain rate for
each meal or snack offered to a child, in return for serving wholesome foods that follow set nutrition guidelines. Breakfast,
lunch and 2 snacks will be included in the cost of care Parents may provide meals and snacks for
the children instead of the daycare providing them. However, I am not responsible for the nutritional value or for meeting
your child’s daily food needs. Parents will be required to write and sign a statement that they will be providing meals
and snacks. Infant Feedings Infants will always be fed according to
their own schedule. They will always be held during their meal times and bottles will never be "propped." Parents are asked to provide the infant's
formula, juice and baby food. All formula will be mixed according to manufacturer's
directions, labeled with the child's name, dated and refrigerated as needed. Any leftover formula, milk, juice or baby food
will be discarded. For this reason, you may wish to provide me with a full can of formula so that I may prepare bottles as
needed, or bring extra bottles of prepared formula. When a child reaches 12 months of age or
when it becomes developmentally appropriate, a sippy cup will be introduced and bottles should be left at home after the child
has successfully learned to use the cup. Rest/Quiet Time All children under the age of five are required
by state law to have a rest time. Our rest time will be from 12:30 PM until 3:00 PM. I will provide a safe, warm quiet place
for your child(ren) to rest. Parents are required to provide a sleeping bag, labeled with child's name, for their child(ren)
to be left at day care. These will be laundered and/or disinfected weekly and whenever soiled. Please try
to explain nap time this to your child. Please do not ask me to keep your child awake all day, both the children and I need
this time to rest. Children who do not fall asleep or who awaken
early will be guided to quiet activities that will not disturb other sleeping children. Infants will be allowed to follow their
own patterns of sleeping and waking. Preschool Program I will be incorporating a preschool curriculum
into our daily activities for fun and to prepare the older children for school. This is done at no additional cost to you.
This is a theme based curriculum set up on a weekly basis, but if a theme is of particular interest to the children we will
spend extra time on it. Activities include arts & crafts, stories, music, games, etc. These activities will allow your
child(ren) to be successful and feel good about themselves, use and develop language skills, use large and small muscles,
learn new ideas and skills and expose the child(ren) to a variety of cultures. The program will also encourage creativity
and imagination through the use of various materials and mediums. General Toys From Home Crystal’s Little Playcare furnishes
a wide variety of appropriate playthings. I ask that no toys be brought to day care from home. Anything brought will be put
up safely until the child is picked up. This policy is for the concern of all children in my care. One of the behaviors I
encourage is respect for others. This includes sharing. Often times children have a hard time sharing the toys they bring
with them from home. Also, since children share toys anything from home would have the potential to be damaged or misplaced.
The only exceptions to this policy are: • A special “lovely” to
be used at rest time. This will be put in the child’s cubby and only used at nap time. • Show and Tell. At times we will
have a "show and tell" period. I will inform you ahead of time when this will occur. Birthdays and Celebrations At Crystal’s Little Playcare we will
observe special days with activities and treats. You are welcome to bring treats, decorations, games, etc. to help celebrate
as long as there is enough for everyone. Please discuss this with me in advance so we can plan accordingly. Proper Dress Clothing worn to child care should be appropriate
for the day's weather and play. Please do not send your child to care wearing anything new or special. I teach the children
creativity, problem solving, and pride in their skills. Sometimes these values get a little messy. Please dress your child
for real success! Onsies or shirts that snap at the crotch, too tight shoes the child cannot slip on themselves (I have no
problem with tying!) and tight jeans with belts, buttons and snaps that the children can't handle alone are not appropriate
in a day care situation. It has proven to be a source of frustration to all involved. Children take pride in being able to
care for themselves. If there is a special occasion that calls for special clothing (a visit or party right after childcare
or a trip to the photographer), please send the special clothing with your child and I will help them clean up and get dressed
prior to your arrival. Potty Training Upon the arrival of potty training time
I will assist in helping with this, provided the child is at least 18 months of age, is showing signs of readiness (able to
indicate the need to use the bathroom, is interested in staying dry, is dry for long periods during the day, etc), and the
parents initiate the process at home first, either over a weekend or during a vacation. Please keep in mind that the activity
level here can distract your child(ren) from responding to an urge to use the potty, more so than at your home. Therefore,
once potty training has begun the child needs to be in training pants (5 ply, not plain terry cloth) with plastic pants (preferred
method) or pull-ups at all times until your child can and will announce that he/she needs to use the bathroom and can control
his/her bladder and bowels for a few minutes beyond that announcement. During potty training the child needs to
be dressed in "user friendly" clothing as much as possible. The best items are shorts and pants with elastic waists. Try to
avoid really tight clothing, pants with snaps & zippers and overalls as often as you can. Your child will want to help
pull pants, etc. up and down, plus clothing with too many "gadgets" makes it harder to get the child on the potty in time.
During potty training you are asked to supply
me with 3 extra full changes of clothing, including socks and training & plastic pants or pull ups. These are to be left
at the day care and replaced as needed. Child Abuse and Neglect As a child care provider, I am obligated
by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to report all known or suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect.
As your child's well being is my first and foremost concern, I can assure you that I will not turn my head the other way if
I see, hear of or suspect your child is being abused and/or neglected. Odds & Ends • Please notify me by 8:00 AM if your
child will not be attending for the day. Please also notify me by 8:00 AM if your child will arrive later than normal contracted
time. • If you will not be reachable at
your normal telephone number listed on your enrollment form please let me know and give me an alternate phone number if possible
so that you may be contacted promptly in the event of an emergency. • Parents are required to keep me
informed of any change in address, telephone numbers and other pertinent information. • No smoking is allowed on the premises.
Please do not leave cigarette butts in the driveway, yard or walkways. • The day care home will have fire
and tornado drills at least once per month. • Parents are encouraged to call me
at any time during the day or evening. Lots of times I will not be available to answer the phone as I am quite busy with the
children. Please leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible. Minimum Standards You have the right to review a copy of the
Minimum Standards Rules for Registered and Licensed Child-Care Homes, and the most recent inspection report. Please ask me
if you wish to review these documents. In Closing
Please remember that although I chose this profession because of my love
of children, it is also my job. My family depends on my income as I am sure yours does. Prompt fee payment, adherence to pick
up times, consideration for your sick child and consideration for my personal time is very much appreciated. I take my job
very seriously, and am committed to the very best for your child. I consider it a privilege to have been entrusted with the
care of your child, and I will always treat your child with love and respect. If at any time you have suggestions, comments
or questions, please feel free to bring them to my attention.
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