Day care providers!!!?

Question

I am a daycare provider, and am working on makeing it better, I would love some great activity tips, along with some ways to find a good way to catch a parent during an interview, along with tips on kicking out some children. Any takers??? I would love great detail and info

ALso one BIG q, do any of you go over your ratio per caregiver? Is that as risky as it is said to be?

Answer 1

As for activities I suggest doing thematic units. Pick a weekly or monthly theme and make activities that go around the theme. If you have multi ages, the activities can be suited for all ages.

Some themes that are popular:

Farm Animals

Circus

Dinosaurs

Summer Fun

Zoo

Seasons

Weather

Bugs

As for kicking out children, you need to set up a policy in your parent handbook that deals with this. Why do you want to kick out the child? You need to document all the reasons why and instances that pertain this. Meet witht he parents and put them on a 30 day warning. If this should happen again then they need to leave immediately.

I wouldn't go over the ratio. It is dangerous because if someonething should happen, you would be screwed if the ratio is over.

Hope this helps! SD

Answer 2

I would not go over your ratio per caregiver. You get reported one time and that is on the state record for like two years and anyone can look that up. They might dismiss a violation about a silly rule, but they will not overlook a violation about the safety of children.  I am not sure if this will fit into the budget, but some in-house field trips can enhance the program.  Pictures of the children during activities put on to a poster can really catch attention. Parents like to see what kinds of things their children will be doing.  I would not kick out children.  This looks bad on you that you cannot handle them.  Find a way to deal with them in a developmentally appropriate way.  Good luck.

Answer 3

In Pennsylvania, if you go over your ratio, anyone - including a parent - can file a complaint with the DPW, our licensing agency.  It's not a good idea - not only because you might "get caught", but also because it's not in the best interest of the kids.  The fewer kids you have, the easier it is to keep an eye on all of them and spend individual  instruction time with each of them.  You also need to be able to conduct observations and assessments on the kids and plan activities for them based on these outcomes.  That's harder to do when you're over ratio, too.  And finally, it's not safe to go over ratio.  Extra kids can make emergency situations more difficult.  If you're truly working on making your facility better, don't go over ratio.

I'm wondering why you feel the need to "kick out some children"?   What kinds of things do you do to help these children before you kick them out?  Are you offering many different activities for them?  Is your environment structured so that the children can stay busily engaged in activities they like and can learn from?  Is the child allowed to choose what he/she wants to do for the better part of the day?  If the child has anger management issues, are you referring the parents to resources in your community?  Have you conducted any screenings on those children to make sure there aren't any learning difficulties contributing to their behaviors?  Are you spending one-on-one time with them?  Are you consistent in the discipline methods you use?  

If you're interested in improving the quality of your child care facility, I recommend looking into the Environment Rating Scales.  These scales and the materials that support them can be extremely useful tools.  They will help you decide which areas of your program need work and which areas of your program are doing well.  Type Environment Rating Scales into your search engine.  You'll find many places to buy them.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Don't go over your ratio.  It is not a good idea.  If you are over and something happens to one of your kids, your insurance may not cover you (check your policy to be sure).  I am copying and pasting the questions I ask during interviews.  I run a daycare that serves primarily military personnel.  That is why the question about what command are you at is in there.  There are a few commands in the area who won't let you leave even if the daycare your child is at is closing.  I don't take those kids.  

1. Parents names and children’s names/nicknames and ages?

2. What are the working hours and days for parents?  What command are parents at?

3. Where are your children at with potty training?  

4. How do your children normally react when left with an unfamiliar person?

5. How do your children interact with other children?  How do they play alone?

6. If given the choice, what type of activities would your child do during the day?

7. Do your children initiate play on their own or do they wait for instructions?

8. Are your children familiar with the loud levels of jet noise?  Would they be comfortable with loud levels of ordinance noise?

9. What methods do you use to calm you child down when they are tired?  Frustrated?

10. Are there any foods your children refuse to eat?  How do your children react when introduced to new foods?

11. What are your children’s fears?  What are there strengths?

12. How do you feel about family time?  What types of activities do you normally engage in during family time?

Check books and teacher/parent stores for good activities.  We do a daily calendar/weather/preschool time.  It takes about 20 or 30 minutes.

Answer 5

nope sorry