MISSION/GENERAL INFO - CHILD'S PLAY

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(978) 969-5552 Email: Rachel@childsplay4u.com

8 Coolidge Avenue Beverly, MA 01915

Child’s Play Family Day Care’s mission is to provide a social, recreational and educational environment for children of all ages. CP’s objective is to foster children’s independence through dramatic play and community interaction, in a nurturing environment. CP supports each child’s emotional and physical development through interesting, exciting and unique activities. Children learn practical life skills through art, music and physical and health education. CP has an open door policy while your child is in day care. CP welcomes care giver volunteers and strives to maintain open lines of communication.

ADJUSTMENT PERIOD The first three months of placement is an adjustment period and very important for families and Rachel to have open communication and for the child(ren) to see us work together as a team while they are adjusting to a new schedule and environment.

BIRTHDAYS Child’s Play recognizes each child’s birthday by having a cake or special snack along with a gift on/or near their birthday. Please, inform Rachel if you are planning any special accommodations.

BUSINESS HOURS Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Child's Play also offers extended care including early drop off, late pick up, evenings, nights and week-ends for an additional charge. CP offers before/after school drop off/pick up. CP does not accept vouchers.

CONFIDENTIALITY Provider, Care Giver(s), Approved Assistant and Emergency Back-up persons agree to keep any information regarding a Child, Care Giver(s) or Provider in complete confidence. All personal information will not be spoken in a common area and will only be addressed in a secure setting.

CURRICULUM

Community Building: Conflict Resolution, Collaboration through team work, Developing Compassion and Respect for others.

Language Arts: Being a Leader, Teacher and/or Reader. Drawing using a variety of materials. Painting, Collage, Ceramics, Crayons and other diverse mediums.

Math: Developing number sense through counting, blocks, shapes, patterns and other manipulative.

Social Studies: Field Trips to Play Centers and community venues, Different Jobs: Trip to Fire, Police and EMS Stations, Dress up and Dramatic Play, Cultural Differences: Holidays, Clothing, Food, Customs and Languages.

Science: Weather, Seasons, Five Senses.

Music: Listening, Dancing, Singing, Making Music, Musical Games and Sing-a-Longs.

CHILD RELATED TOPICS

ADMINISTRATIVE TOPICS

Child’s Information

Contract

Infant Daily Report Sheet

Toddler Daily Report Sheet

Withdrawal Notification

DAILY SCHEDULE

8:00-9:00 Drop off and Free Play

8:30-9:00 Breakfast

9:00-9:30 Diaper changes, wash hands and personal hygiene (potty)

9:30-10:00 Circle Time (Stories, Music, Dance and/or Discussion i.e. letters, numbers, colors, shapes, senses)

10:00-12:00 Gross Motor Activities (outside play, ball, rides, toys, climbing structures, swing-set, physical movement, play ground, play dates)

12:00-12:30 Wash hands and Lunch

12:30-1:00 Diaper changes, wash hands and personal hygiene (potty)

1:00-3:00 Quite Time

3:00-3:15 Snack

3:15-3:30 Diaper changes, wash hands and personal hygiene (potty)

3:30-4:15 Fine Motor and Critical Thinking (arts and crafts, play dough, chalk, drawing, computer lab) This time might also be for dramatic play. The fine and gross motor programs might alternate due to the weather and the children’s program choices.

4:00-5:00 Clean up and Pick-up

This general schedule is subject to change without notice due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances.

DEPOSIT One week registration deposit is required to reserve a spot. The deposit will be applied towards the child’s last week in day care. The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel or reduce your schedule prior to admission. The deposit is non-refundable if you withdraw during the adjustment period.

DISCIPLINE I use the 1, 2, 3 time out method for children age two and older. I get down to their level and explain the reason why their behavior is not appropriate (usually due to safety) and then use a time out. Experts agree that one minute per year of age is most effective. For children age three and older if they hit, bite or cause intentional harm to another person they will be given an automatic time out. For children under two years of age I usually remove them from the situation and just talk to them about what they did and explain safety issues. If they harm another child I ask them to say ‘sorry’ and give the other child a hug.

FORMS

Child’s Information

Contract

Infant Daily Report Sheet

Toddler Daily Report Sheet

Withdrawal Notification

note: In order to view and print the applicable forms you need to have Adobe reader installed in your computer. This is a free download from www.adobe.com

ILLNESS POLICY Keep your child home for at least 24 hours if he/she has any of the following:

 Temperature over 99.6

 Vomiting/diarrhea

 Cough. Children whom are unable to sleep or have a “gagging” cough

 Nasal Discharge that is not clear (yellow or greenish)

 Eye Discharge -Conjunctivitis: (yellow or greenish)

 Prescribed an antibiotic

If at any time while attending day care I feel your child is sick she will call you. It is required that a care giver or authorized person pick up the child within 1 hour.

LATE PICK-UP Tardiness will result in financial compensation due upon pick-up.

If you arrive 1-10 minutes late $5, 10-20 minutes late $10, 20-30 minutes late $15 and after 30 minutes late your emergency contact(s) will be called. I understand that emergencies do arise but a phone call is expected.

MEALS and SNACKS Children, on table foods, will receive a nutritious morning and afternoon snack and lunch. Refreshment hydration is available per request and throughout the day.

NAPPING/QUITE TIME Nap time is after lunch. I provide infants a pack and play with linen and toddlers a mat and blanket. If children require a special blanket or other transitional object(s) I encourage the care giver(s) to provide them. They may leave them or take them home at the end of the day. I work with care giver(s) to meet the child’s sleeping needs and napping habits.

PAID HOLIDAYS

2011 Paid Holidays:

New Year’s Day – Monday, January 3

Martin Luther King, Jr – Monday, January 17

President’s Day – Monday, February 21

Patriot’s Day – Monday, April 18

Memorial Day – Monday, May 30

Independence Day – Monday, July 4

Labor Day - Monday, September 5

Columbus Day – Monday, October 10

Veteran’s Day – Friday, November 11

Thanksgiving and day after – Thursday, November 24 & Friday, November 25

Christmas Eve – Friday, December 23

Christmas – Monday, December 26

New Year’s Eve – Friday, December 30

PAYMENT PROCEDURE Monthly or weekly payments, made payable to Child’s Play, are due upon drop-off on the first scheduled day of day care. Late payments will be assessed a late fee of $10.00. Child’s Play offers a full-time sibling discount.

PHOTOGRAPHS Photographs of children during programs, activities or special events may be taken on occasion and used as part of the child’s project. Photographs used for any marketing, advertising, web or media relations require care giver consent. A digital photograph of each child may be taken annually and put in the child’s file or it is the care givers responsibility to provide an annual photograph. Photos may be e-mailed to the provider and to the care giver(s). Photographs may be returned to the caregiver if requested.

POTTY TRAINING I will assist families and encourage your child while in my care to use the toilet. Care giver(s) need to supply two changes of clothes. I will work with families and children during the potty training experience with the mutual understanding that accidents will happen diapers or pull-up’s need to be provided by the care giver(s) and should be worn until the child can self initiate when they need to go potty. CP provides changing wipes.

PROPERTY/OTHER DAMAGES Damages in the sum of over $50.00 incurred by the child in care are the care giver(s) responsibilities.

REFERENCES Available on request.

RETURNED CHECKS A charge of $20.00 will be assessed for any returned checks.

SECURITY Child’s Play has a hard wired central alarm system. It also has flood, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors all monitored by ABC Alarm Company. The security system includes motion detectors, alarmed window screens and child chime.

SICK DAYS/BEREAVEMENT DAYS I require 4 paid sick/personal days per calendar year.

I require 1 week paid bereavement for an immediate family member’s death.

SNOW DAYS I am open full-time for all snow day school closings.

TERMINATION

 Failure to complete required forms

 Failure to follow illness policy

 My inability to meet the child(ren’s) need(s) without additional staff

 Full-time day care children have first preference to fill slots

 Failure to comply with confidentiality policy

 Inability to comply with policies and procedures outlined in the handbook

 Failure to abide by contract

VACATION I require two weeks paid vacation per calendar year. Upon withdrawal any earned vacation time will be applied towards the thirty-day notice. I will provide ample vacation notice since some families like to take their vacations the same time as me. If you are planning a vacation please inform me as soon as possible. You are still required to pay, in advance, for absent vacation days.

WITHDRAWAL or CHANGE in CONTRACT I require a written thirty- day notice. If you remove or reduce your child’s schedule prior to the thirty-day notice I require pay for that time

Rachel, a mother of three children, decided to become a licensed family day care provider, by the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, after her second son was born in 2005. She has extensive educational and practical experience working in the human services industry.

Rachel obtained an Associate of Science degree in Human Services from Dean College and a Bachelor of Science degree with a Minor in Psychology from Lesley College. She has also continued her education towards a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Lesley University. She worked as a School Psychologist intern at the Peabody Elementary School in Cambridge and for 8 years as a senior Program Director creating and implementing social programs for private organizations.

Child’s Play Family Day Care is based in Rachel’s home which was built in October, 2004. A new Owens Corning finished lower level was completed in 2007. This newly constructed 550 sq. ft. play space is specifically designed for children’s security, comfort and developmental needs. All of the safety standards meet the city building codes and exceed the regulations for the Office of Children. Child’s Play is central aired.

CP does not discriminate against children or families due to race, religion, cultural heritage, political beliefs, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation or disability.

JURY DUTY It is my civic obligation to attend jury duty and payment is required for jury duty obligations.