LiL' Sprouts Hand Book
1. Hours of Operation:_______________
My Hours are Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. till 5:30 p.m.
Full-time is not to exceed 10 hours a day. If this happens you will be charged $1.00 a minute until you arrive to pick up your child. All late fees will be paid every Friday. You must sign your child in and out everyday in the sign in log.
2. Attendance and Fees:_______________
Full-time rates for daycare per week:
Children 6 weeks up to 24 months: $ 120.00
Children 24 months and up: $100.00
You must pay for the first two weeks in Advance and then the Friday at the end of that two weeks you will pay for the next week. So every week will be paid for before care is provided. The fee is non-refundable even if your child misses a day or more. You must pay for the entire week whether your child is here or not.
Part-time rates for daycare per week:
Children 6 weeks up to 24 months: $100.00
Children 24 months and up: $80.00
Drop-In rate by hour is $5.00 an hour (up to 6 hours), per child....(pro-rated to the next hour.)If your child is a drop-in, you must pay daily when you pick up your child.
Drop-In rate for a day (From 6-10 Hours) is $30. You will pay that day when you pick up your child.
Drop-In rates by week are the same as regular fees for Full time children. All the same rules apply to payments for drop-ins by the week.
The daycare fees are subject to change. I will give you 2 weeks notice of any changes. Payments will be made every Friday when you pick up your child.
3. Payment Agreement:_______________
Parent(s) or Guardian(s) agree(s) to pay the sum of $ ________ per week for the care of their child/children. Payment is to be made every Friday. If 2 consecutive pay periods are missed, this contract will automatically be terminated. A penalty fee of $5.00 per day will be charged for each day that you are late paying your account. All late fees will be paid every Friday. Failure to pay the past due amount will result in legal action being taken against you. This includes your normal weekly rate or any overtime or late fees that you may have accrued. A penalty fee of $ 25.00 will be assessed for any returned checks. If returned checks are not paid within ____ working days, child care services for said child-children will be terminated and parents or guardians must pay for the full 2 weeks in advance for ending child care services. If more than one check is returned, your account will be placed on a cash only basis.
Date care is starting___________________________
Signature of Parents_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Signature of Provider____________________________________________________
4. Forms:_______________
You must return all forms filled out completely before your child/children enters my care. All forms and contracts are subject to renewal every year. You are required to supply:
* A copy of Immunization records(these must be kept updated)
*Medication administration Authorization
5. Trial Period:_______________
There is a 2 weeks trial period during which time either you or I may cancel child care services without notice. After the 2 week trial period, a 2 week notice must be given by the terminating party. If you wish to end my services without the 2 weeks notice, you may do so, but you will NOT be reimbursed for any payments made by then.
6. Drop off Time:_______________
You must call at least 15 minutes in advance of your normal drop off time if your child/children will not be coming on any given day. This will help me accept any drop-ins that may call that day.
7. Your Childs Hours:_______________
Your child’s/children’s day begins at __________ and ends at no later than ___________ Please do not bring your child more than 15 minutes early without first discussing it with me. If you are late picking up your child/children, the charges in provision #1 will apply. Please have your child/children dressed and ready for play upon arrival. Please do not send your child/children barefoot. Even on hot days, shoes are needed for health and safety reasons.
8. First Aid:_______________
Scratches and scrapes will be treated with soap and water, Neosporin and a band-aid (if needed). You will be notified immediately for anything more serious. For major emergencies which require the services of an emergency medical team, the child will be transported by ambulance. For minor emergencies, you will be notified and you will transport the child if medical treatment is needed. If circumstances warrant, and you cannot be reached, I will get in touch with your emergency contact.
9. Behavior and Discipline Policy:_______________
I believe in positive discipline for children rather than punishment. I will praise the children highly for good behavior, with verbal praise and extra privileges. This will help the child understand which behavior is good and which is bad. So the child understands which tasks and behaviors, I will desire from him or her. Example: “Good boy Sam. I like it when you help me clean up the blocks.” Or “What a big girl you are Judy. I’m so happy you went potty by yourself. I’m proud of you.”
When children exhibit negative behavior I will:
1. Tell them gently but firmly that their behavior is unacceptable
2. Redirect them (show them what is acceptable)
3. Talk in private with the child about their behavior
4. Take away privileges
5. As a last resort a time out to quiet area in the room. This gives the child a chance to cool off and think things over.
I try to stress two main patterns of behavior: respect for other people, and respect for property.
As a result I don’t allow children to hit or shove other children or verbally abuse them.
I also stress that they treat material possessions theirs or mine with respect. I skip the “reminder” and go straight to “time out” if the offense involves hitting or otherwise physically abusing another child.
If a child continues to abuse a certain toy the privilege of playing with that toy may be taken away from him for a period of several minutes or up to the rest of the day.
If the whole group of children is engaged in this, the toy will be considered “closed” for awhile.
Children are never punished for lapses in toilet training or for accidents (spilled milk, for example). In the case of an accident, I will have the child help me clean up, if possible, not for punishment, but to help teach responsibility. This statement sums up my policy: “Punishment that is humiliating or frightening to a child, such as hitting, spanking, shaking, or verbal abuse, withholding or forcing food or punishment for lapses in toilet training and other forms of physical punishment are prohibited. These forms of punishment will never be used, even at the request of the parent.”
Infants:_______________
There is no such thing as a bad or naughty baby! They do not understand rules or consequences. A safe environment is provided to prevent problems by:
1. Removing and keeping the child away from harmful areas
2. Saying “no” in a calm, but firm manner when s/he is in danger
3. Child-proofing areas where infants play
4. Helping older children understand what things need to be kept away from babies and why
Your child/children will be disciplined in a manner appropriate to the situation. This discipline is not abusive and does NOT include corporal punishment. (usual discipline consists of redirection and cooling down periods.) If needed we will have a conference to discuss behavioral problems and ways to solve them. Acceptable behavior is encouraged by giving positive verbal rewards
10. USDA Food Program and Meals:_______________
All meals and snacks meet the requirements of the USDA Food Program. I serve hot, nutritious and well balanced meals and snacks. Children’s behavior can be adversely affected by foods that are high in sugar and salt, or that lack the proper vitamins and nutrients for development. To minimize behavioral problems and to insure children receive well balanced meals and snacks, parents are requested NOT to send candy or other snacks with their child/children. If your child/children arrives at my daycare with candy or snacks, they will be taken and put up until the end of the day when you come to pick up your child/children.
11. Meal Schedule:_______________
Breakfast will be served between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Morning Snack will be served between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Lunch will be served between 12:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Afternoon Snack will be served between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30p.m.
Late Afternoon Snack will be served between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
12. Personal Belongings and Clothing:_______________
Your child’s’ clothing should all be labeled with his/her name. I am not responsible for lost articles. Children may bring their own toys if their name is printed on them. Please do not send any toys with your child/children that you would not want them to share with the other children. If your child/children does not share their toy(s) that he/she brings, I will take the toy(s) and hold them till the end of the day. (this is to keep the children from arguing and fighting) Please send your child/children with an extra change of clothes incase of an accident. Children should wear play clothes and dress according to the weather. If your child/children is dressed inappropriately he/she may miss out on some outdoor activities.
13. Vacations:_______________
You do not pay for my vacation days, but you must pay the alternate daycare provider. If I need to take a day off, or when I decide to take my vacation, it is your responsibility to find back up care. I will give you at least 1 weeks notice if there is a need for an alternate provider (with the exception of sick days). I want to provide the best possible care for your child/children. In order for me to do this, I must remain in good health both physically and emotionally. Therefore, the following days will be observed as paid holidays, as long as they fall within the work week, this means I will be closed these days:
*New Years Day
*Memorial Day
*Fourth of July
*Thanksgiving
*Christmas Day
*Labor Day
14. Illnesses and Medication:_______________
If your child/children is sick during the day, I will call you and isolate your child until you arrive to pick him/her up. If your child is sick to their stomach and vomits, you must pick up your child as soon as possible. Also, if your child has 3 or more loose bowel movements within an hour you must pick them up as soon as possible. For both situations, your child must be seen by a physician and cannot return to my care until 24 hours after the symptoms have cleared. I must also have a release form from your doctor stating that your child is not contagious.
No child in the contagious stages of a communicable disease may be accepted for care. If at my discretion your child is too sick to be in my care on any given day, I will not accept your child/children. (this is to protect the health of the other children)
15. Advance Notification for Child Pick-Up:_______________
You MUST CALL if someone else is to pick up your child/children. A written authorization is requested. I will ask for proper identification and I will also require that a release form be signed by the person picking up the child/children. If I do not receive either a phone call or written authorization from you(the parents or guardians), I will NOT allow the child/children to leave with anyone other then his or her parent(s) or guardian(s ). There will be NO Exceptions!!
16. Nap Time:_______________
All children under the age of 6 who stay all day will lay down for a short rest or sleep period. Please try to explain 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. If you like you may send your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed toy along for them to sleep with. Make sure your child’s name is printed on them. Rest period is between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.. Please do not call or visit during this time unless it is very important.
17. Child Abuse Prevention:_______________
If I suspect that any child is being abused or neglected in any way I will notify the DFS (Department of Family Services). If your child/children comes to my home with suspicious bruises, I will inquire as to how the child got hurt. I will note down the day and the date that I noticed the bruise, the time of day, location and a photo of the mark on the child’s body. I will also write down the explanation that I was given by the parent(s) or the guardian(s). Providing the child is old enough, I will also question the child on how they were injured and record their explanation. This will also be recorded in your child’s records. If this occurs more than once I will turn your child’s files over to DFS.
18. Potty Training:_______________
If your child is old enough to potty train, I will help you potty train them while they are in my care. I do expect you to continue the training once you pick up your child in the evening. If your child is not taking to the potty training within two weeks to a month (depending on learning ability), we will stop for awhile and then begin again when appropriate. Not all children are ready when we think they are, some get the hang of it early and some later in the game! As long as we work together we can make it happen!
19. Special Provisions:_______________
These next few lines are for any special provisions either by the parent(s) or guardian(s) or the child care provider:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
20. Contract Acceptance and Signatures:
I have read and agree to comply with all the provisions in this contract. I understand that this is a legal and binding contract and have went over and read each paragraph carefully.
Parent(s) or Guardian(s) Signature:
______________________________________ Date: ___________
______________________________________ Date: ___________
Signature of Daycare Provider:
______________________________________
Date: __________________
My Hours are Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. till 5:30 p.m.
Full-time is not to exceed 10 hours a day. If this happens you will be charged $1.00 a minute until you arrive to pick up your child. All late fees will be paid every Friday. You must sign your child in and out everyday in the sign in log.
2. Attendance and Fees:_______________
Full-time rates for daycare per week:
Children 6 weeks up to 24 months: $ 120.00
Children 24 months and up: $100.00
You must pay for the first two weeks in Advance and then the Friday at the end of that two weeks you will pay for the next week. So every week will be paid for before care is provided. The fee is non-refundable even if your child misses a day or more. You must pay for the entire week whether your child is here or not.
Part-time rates for daycare per week:
Children 6 weeks up to 24 months: $100.00
Children 24 months and up: $80.00
Drop-In rate by hour is $5.00 an hour (up to 6 hours), per child....(pro-rated to the next hour.)If your child is a drop-in, you must pay daily when you pick up your child.
Drop-In rate for a day (From 6-10 Hours) is $30. You will pay that day when you pick up your child.
Drop-In rates by week are the same as regular fees for Full time children. All the same rules apply to payments for drop-ins by the week.
The daycare fees are subject to change. I will give you 2 weeks notice of any changes. Payments will be made every Friday when you pick up your child.
3. Payment Agreement:_______________
Parent(s) or Guardian(s) agree(s) to pay the sum of $ ________ per week for the care of their child/children. Payment is to be made every Friday. If 2 consecutive pay periods are missed, this contract will automatically be terminated. A penalty fee of $5.00 per day will be charged for each day that you are late paying your account. All late fees will be paid every Friday. Failure to pay the past due amount will result in legal action being taken against you. This includes your normal weekly rate or any overtime or late fees that you may have accrued. A penalty fee of $ 25.00 will be assessed for any returned checks. If returned checks are not paid within ____ working days, child care services for said child-children will be terminated and parents or guardians must pay for the full 2 weeks in advance for ending child care services. If more than one check is returned, your account will be placed on a cash only basis.
Date care is starting___________________________
Signature of Parents_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Signature of Provider____________________________________________________
4. Forms:_______________
You must return all forms filled out completely before your child/children enters my care. All forms and contracts are subject to renewal every year. You are required to supply:
* A copy of Immunization records(these must be kept updated)
*Medication administration Authorization
5. Trial Period:_______________
There is a 2 weeks trial period during which time either you or I may cancel child care services without notice. After the 2 week trial period, a 2 week notice must be given by the terminating party. If you wish to end my services without the 2 weeks notice, you may do so, but you will NOT be reimbursed for any payments made by then.
6. Drop off Time:_______________
You must call at least 15 minutes in advance of your normal drop off time if your child/children will not be coming on any given day. This will help me accept any drop-ins that may call that day.
7. Your Childs Hours:_______________
Your child’s/children’s day begins at __________ and ends at no later than ___________ Please do not bring your child more than 15 minutes early without first discussing it with me. If you are late picking up your child/children, the charges in provision #1 will apply. Please have your child/children dressed and ready for play upon arrival. Please do not send your child/children barefoot. Even on hot days, shoes are needed for health and safety reasons.
8. First Aid:_______________
Scratches and scrapes will be treated with soap and water, Neosporin and a band-aid (if needed). You will be notified immediately for anything more serious. For major emergencies which require the services of an emergency medical team, the child will be transported by ambulance. For minor emergencies, you will be notified and you will transport the child if medical treatment is needed. If circumstances warrant, and you cannot be reached, I will get in touch with your emergency contact.
9. Behavior and Discipline Policy:_______________
I believe in positive discipline for children rather than punishment. I will praise the children highly for good behavior, with verbal praise and extra privileges. This will help the child understand which behavior is good and which is bad. So the child understands which tasks and behaviors, I will desire from him or her. Example: “Good boy Sam. I like it when you help me clean up the blocks.” Or “What a big girl you are Judy. I’m so happy you went potty by yourself. I’m proud of you.”
When children exhibit negative behavior I will:
1. Tell them gently but firmly that their behavior is unacceptable
2. Redirect them (show them what is acceptable)
3. Talk in private with the child about their behavior
4. Take away privileges
5. As a last resort a time out to quiet area in the room. This gives the child a chance to cool off and think things over.
I try to stress two main patterns of behavior: respect for other people, and respect for property.
As a result I don’t allow children to hit or shove other children or verbally abuse them.
I also stress that they treat material possessions theirs or mine with respect. I skip the “reminder” and go straight to “time out” if the offense involves hitting or otherwise physically abusing another child.
If a child continues to abuse a certain toy the privilege of playing with that toy may be taken away from him for a period of several minutes or up to the rest of the day.
If the whole group of children is engaged in this, the toy will be considered “closed” for awhile.
Children are never punished for lapses in toilet training or for accidents (spilled milk, for example). In the case of an accident, I will have the child help me clean up, if possible, not for punishment, but to help teach responsibility. This statement sums up my policy: “Punishment that is humiliating or frightening to a child, such as hitting, spanking, shaking, or verbal abuse, withholding or forcing food or punishment for lapses in toilet training and other forms of physical punishment are prohibited. These forms of punishment will never be used, even at the request of the parent.”
Infants:_______________
There is no such thing as a bad or naughty baby! They do not understand rules or consequences. A safe environment is provided to prevent problems by:
1. Removing and keeping the child away from harmful areas
2. Saying “no” in a calm, but firm manner when s/he is in danger
3. Child-proofing areas where infants play
4. Helping older children understand what things need to be kept away from babies and why
Your child/children will be disciplined in a manner appropriate to the situation. This discipline is not abusive and does NOT include corporal punishment. (usual discipline consists of redirection and cooling down periods.) If needed we will have a conference to discuss behavioral problems and ways to solve them. Acceptable behavior is encouraged by giving positive verbal rewards
10. USDA Food Program and Meals:_______________
All meals and snacks meet the requirements of the USDA Food Program. I serve hot, nutritious and well balanced meals and snacks. Children’s behavior can be adversely affected by foods that are high in sugar and salt, or that lack the proper vitamins and nutrients for development. To minimize behavioral problems and to insure children receive well balanced meals and snacks, parents are requested NOT to send candy or other snacks with their child/children. If your child/children arrives at my daycare with candy or snacks, they will be taken and put up until the end of the day when you come to pick up your child/children.
11. Meal Schedule:_______________
Breakfast will be served between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Morning Snack will be served between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Lunch will be served between 12:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Afternoon Snack will be served between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30p.m.
Late Afternoon Snack will be served between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
12. Personal Belongings and Clothing:_______________
Your child’s’ clothing should all be labeled with his/her name. I am not responsible for lost articles. Children may bring their own toys if their name is printed on them. Please do not send any toys with your child/children that you would not want them to share with the other children. If your child/children does not share their toy(s) that he/she brings, I will take the toy(s) and hold them till the end of the day. (this is to keep the children from arguing and fighting) Please send your child/children with an extra change of clothes incase of an accident. Children should wear play clothes and dress according to the weather. If your child/children is dressed inappropriately he/she may miss out on some outdoor activities.
13. Vacations:_______________
You do not pay for my vacation days, but you must pay the alternate daycare provider. If I need to take a day off, or when I decide to take my vacation, it is your responsibility to find back up care. I will give you at least 1 weeks notice if there is a need for an alternate provider (with the exception of sick days). I want to provide the best possible care for your child/children. In order for me to do this, I must remain in good health both physically and emotionally. Therefore, the following days will be observed as paid holidays, as long as they fall within the work week, this means I will be closed these days:
*New Years Day
*Memorial Day
*Fourth of July
*Thanksgiving
*Christmas Day
*Labor Day
14. Illnesses and Medication:_______________
If your child/children is sick during the day, I will call you and isolate your child until you arrive to pick him/her up. If your child is sick to their stomach and vomits, you must pick up your child as soon as possible. Also, if your child has 3 or more loose bowel movements within an hour you must pick them up as soon as possible. For both situations, your child must be seen by a physician and cannot return to my care until 24 hours after the symptoms have cleared. I must also have a release form from your doctor stating that your child is not contagious.
No child in the contagious stages of a communicable disease may be accepted for care. If at my discretion your child is too sick to be in my care on any given day, I will not accept your child/children. (this is to protect the health of the other children)
15. Advance Notification for Child Pick-Up:_______________
You MUST CALL if someone else is to pick up your child/children. A written authorization is requested. I will ask for proper identification and I will also require that a release form be signed by the person picking up the child/children. If I do not receive either a phone call or written authorization from you(the parents or guardians), I will NOT allow the child/children to leave with anyone other then his or her parent(s) or guardian(s ). There will be NO Exceptions!!
16. Nap Time:_______________
All children under the age of 6 who stay all day will lay down for a short rest or sleep period. Please try to explain 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. If you like you may send your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed toy along for them to sleep with. Make sure your child’s name is printed on them. Rest period is between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.. Please do not call or visit during this time unless it is very important.
17. Child Abuse Prevention:_______________
If I suspect that any child is being abused or neglected in any way I will notify the DFS (Department of Family Services). If your child/children comes to my home with suspicious bruises, I will inquire as to how the child got hurt. I will note down the day and the date that I noticed the bruise, the time of day, location and a photo of the mark on the child’s body. I will also write down the explanation that I was given by the parent(s) or the guardian(s). Providing the child is old enough, I will also question the child on how they were injured and record their explanation. This will also be recorded in your child’s records. If this occurs more than once I will turn your child’s files over to DFS.
18. Potty Training:_______________
If your child is old enough to potty train, I will help you potty train them while they are in my care. I do expect you to continue the training once you pick up your child in the evening. If your child is not taking to the potty training within two weeks to a month (depending on learning ability), we will stop for awhile and then begin again when appropriate. Not all children are ready when we think they are, some get the hang of it early and some later in the game! As long as we work together we can make it happen!
19. Special Provisions:_______________
These next few lines are for any special provisions either by the parent(s) or guardian(s) or the child care provider:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
20. Contract Acceptance and Signatures:
I have read and agree to comply with all the provisions in this contract. I understand that this is a legal and binding contract and have went over and read each paragraph carefully.
Parent(s) or Guardian(s) Signature:
______________________________________ Date: ___________
______________________________________ Date: ___________
Signature of Daycare Provider:
______________________________________
Date: __________________
