Policies

Our Home:
     Grins and Giggles Daycare operates much like a preschool program with both scheduled and unscheduled activities. We want your children to feel at home here by providing a safe, comfortable, learning environment. A variety of toys, games and activities are designed to stimulate your child and encourage exploration and growth at each child's individual ability level. Television time is kept to a minimum (less than hour hour of TV or one movie per day at the maximum). Children will be given opportunities to play outside, read, sing, dance, create projects, explore sensory activities and participate in group activities promoting skills such as sharing, turning taking, and listening to friends. We will hold monthly fire and bad weather drills to teach the kids what to do in case of an emergency. A non-smoking rule is strictly enforced in my home. We do have one pet dog named Lady. She is a very loving dog and great with kids.

Hours of Operation:
My doors are open from 6:30am -5:30pm. Exceptions can be made case specific.

Fees :
Prior to starting care, parents and provider will agree on hours and a weekly rate of pay. Payment will be due on Monday (or the first day of care) of each week for care to be provided. A late fee of $5 per day will be charged for payments not received on the first day of care for each week. If additional fees need to be added for late pickups or additional hours, they will be added to the following week. Late drop offs or early pickups will not be deducted from your weekly rate agreed upon in your contract.

A flat daily rate will be charged per child based on a 9 hour day. If a 10 hour day is preferred, rates will be adjusted accordingly. Your child is expected to be picked up at the scheduled time each day. A late fee of $5.00 per 15 minutes will be charged for habitual late pickups. Please call ahead if you know you won't make it by your scheduled time. It is important that I have time with my own family in the evenings to prepare dinner, run errands etc.

Rates will not change more than once per year and can be given upon request. The provider will keep track of your payments and provide you with an end of the year statement for tax purposes.

Delinquent Accounts:
A fee of $5.00 per day will be charged for payments not received by Monday (or the first day of care) of each week. A $25.00 fee will be charged on returned checks and cash only will be accepted thereafter. Childcare services will not be provided for accounts that are 30 days late and will be sent to collection.

Referrals:
If a client refers a new family to our daycare, the client will receive $20 off their child care services the week the new family begins services.

Meals:
Meals and snacks (except for baby food and formula) will be provided during your child's time in my care and are already included in the daily fees. Food served during the day will be balanced and include servings from the four food groups. A child will never be denied food due to arriving after a scheduled meal or snack time.

Vacation Policies:
Provider:
Provider will have 10 days of paid vacation per year (in addition to paid holidays), any additional vacation days will be unpaid. Clients will be given at least two weeks notice prior to any scheduled vacation. These vacation days may be used consecutively or spread out throughout the year. Clients will be responsible for arranging alternate care during these days.

Clients:
Full time clients will be given 5 days of vacation per year when they will not be required to pay for regularly scheduled care. Part time clients will receive a prorated number of vacation days based on hours of attendance. Two weeks notice must be given if you plan to use unpaid vacation days. Failure to provide two weeks notice will result in regularly scheduled charges. Clients unpaid vacation days may be used during provider's vacation days if desired.

Holidays :
Grins and Giggles Daycare will be closed for 8 paid holidays per year. Parents will be responsible for finding alternate care on these days if necessary. Dates for 2011 are as follows:
January 1 - New Years Day
May 30 - Memorial Day
July 4 - Independence Day
September 5 - Labor Day
November 24-25 - Thanksgiving Break
December 23-26 - Holiday Break

If care is needed on the above listed holidays, a request can be made in an individual basis. Additional fees will be applied.

Illness Policies :
Provider:
The daycare may close occasionally if the provider or provider's children are sick. These days will be unpaid, the provider will give as much notice as possible, and the client will be responsible for finding alternate care.

Clients:
Please call with as much notice as possible if your child is ill and will not be able to attend for the day. If your child is unable to attend due to illness, the provider will still be paid the regularly scheduled hours agreed upon in their contract. Unpaid vacation days may not be used for sick days as two weeks notice can not be given for sudden illness.

Parents will be notified and expected to pick up their child in a reasonable time frame if the child exhibits any of the following symptoms while in the provider's care:
*Temperature of 100.5 or higher                           *Strep Throat
*Vomiting *Pink Eye
*Two loose stools (diarrhea) in one day *Rash (other than diaper rash)

Children must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to daycare. It is important to prevent the spread of germs to other families including my own, so please keep your child home if they are not feeling well.

Termination Agreement:
If a client chooses to not to continue their services, the provider will be given two weeks paid notice. If less than two weeks is given, the client will still be responsible for paying all previously accrued charges as well as two final weeks of pay. If the provider chooses not to continue providing services to your family, you will be given two weeks notice to find another provider.

Discipline Policy:
All children will be expected to follow rules in my daycare. The rules will promote fairness and respect to everyone in my care. If a child does not respond to verbal warnings or redirecting, they will be given a timeout (1 minute per year of their age). If behavior is consistently an issue for your child, the parents will be contacted to set up a specific behavior plan. If behavior continues to be an issue, services may be terminated. I am a firm believer in positive reinforcement and will work to “catch kids being good.” I believe that rewarding and praising positive behavior will increase good behavior and decrease negative behaviors. Rewards will be given randomly to children modeling good behavior.

Health and Safety Policy:
Health Concerns:
If your child has any health concerns please be sure to let me know before your child is enrolled. Allergies, seizures, or medications that need to be given during the day are extremely important to be aware of. No medication will be given to any child unless it is provided from home with written consent from a parent or doctor. A medication form must be filled out for each medication for each child. Please be sure to hand all medication directly to the provider for safety, medication should not be left in the diaper bag where other children can reach it. If your child has seizures or other concerns, an updated, detailed emergency plan must submitted in writing and on file with the daycare at all times.

Injuries:
If your child is injured during their time in my care, you will receive a detailed incident report describing the injury and what was done to care for the injury. Parents will be notified immediately for severe injuries. If you have any questions please feel free to call for more information. Our daycare is insured for any incidents that occur on our property.

Transportation:
Transportation will be provided for all field trips and special outings with parent consent and parent provided car seats.

Articles to be Supplied by Parents:
It may be helpful leave a few supplies at the daycare to be used for your child only. Supplies that should be sent each day or left here include:

Infants:diapers, baby wipes, blanket for nap, bottles, baby food, formula or breast milk, Tylenol, sunscreen, and a change of clothes.

Toddlers: blanket for nap, Tylenol, sunscreen, and a change of clothes
Preschoolers: Tylenol, sunscreen, and a change of clothes, any school items needed if the child leaves during the day
School Age Children: Change of clothes, backpack (please do not send cell phones)

Please mark your child's name on all supplies. Bring your child appropriately dressed for the day in play clothes. Always have an extra set of clothes for a change in weather, accident or spill. In the summer, parents will be asked to send swimsuits, sunscreen, hats etc. to protect your child from sun exposure. Extra items will also be requested in the winter, please be sure to label each mitten, hat, boot etc. as they can be easy to mix up.

Sleeping Arrangements:
All infants will sleep in a pack and play crib, will be put down on their backs and monitored closely while asleep.

Toddlers and preschoolers who still need rest time will be offered nap time from approximately 1:00-3:30pm. Times may vary for each child. Toddlers and preschoolers who nap during the day will be provided their own pillow, blanket and sleeping mat to use each day. These items will be washed and sanitized weekly by the provider. Special blankets or toys for nap will be supplied by the parents.

Duty to Report:
As a care provider, I am a mandated reporter of any abuse or suspected abuse. “Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when, in their professional capacity , they are presented with reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment,” (http://www.nysmandatedreporter.org/default2.html).

Photographs:
Photographs will occasionally be taken of the children during different activities at Grins and Giggles Daycare. Most of these photographs will be used to send home with the kids for the parents. Some may be used to promote services at Grins and Giggles daycare on the website or flyers. If you do not wish for your child's photo to be used for these purposes, please speak to the provider directly.