Choosing a Familiy Day Home

Choosing a Familiy Day Home A Guide for Parents
Table of Contents
Introduction
1
Family Day Care
What is a family day home?
How are family day homes approved?
What can you expect from family day care?
What does your child need?
What about infants?
What about children with special needs?
3
3
4
5
6
7
Steps in Choosing
Family Day Home
9
a
Checklist for Parents
First impressions
When you contact a family day home agency
When you visit a family day home
Making Family Day Care
Work for You
Preparingyour child and yourself
Keeping track
If a problem arises
Child care subsidies
To sum up
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Table of Contents
10
10
12
13
23
23
24
25
26
27
1
Introduction
Arranging child carethat is bestfor your child and
your family is a big concernfor you. As a parent,you
havethe primary responsibilityfor the safetyand
well-being of your child. You alsohavethe
responsibilityfor selectingthe most appropriatechild
careto meetyour child's and your family's needs.
You havea number of child careoptions to choose
from. Theserangefrom informal careby relativesand
babysittersto the more formal options of a family day
home or day carecentrel.
This booklet is about family day careor family day
homesand discusses:
. what is a family day home
. what your child needs from a family day home
. steps in choosing the best family day home for
.
.
your child and your family
what you can do to make sure the family day
home you choose continues to be the best option
for your child
assistancewith fees.
1 Another child care option that you may wish to explore is a licensed
day care centre where children are cared for in small groups. For more
information please refer to "Choosing a Day Care Centre: A Guide for
Parents", available from one of the Child and Family Services
Authorities listed at the back of this booklet.
2
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Introduction
Family Day Care
What is a Family Day Home?
A family day home is a private residence in which
care is given by an approved provider to preschool
children who are not the provider's own. A provider
can care for a maximum of six children under the age
of 11,including her own. Alberta Children's Services
restricts the number of children in a particular age
group who can be cared for in an approved family
day home.
How are Family Day Homes Approved?
Family day homes in Alberta are approved by family
day home agenciesunder agreement with local Child
and Family ServicesAuthorities (CFSA's).This
agreement assistswith the costs of selecting and
monitoring family day home providers and the costs
of assisting parents to find a suitable provider. The
CFSA may also directly approve and contract with
the Family Day Home in their region.
The information in this booklet is about agency
contracted homes. The booklet is also useful for
parents who are making informal, private
arrangements with a babysitter or nanny, for
example.
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Family Day Care
3
What Can You Expect
from Family Day Care?
Many private child carearrangementswork well. The
advantagesof using a contractedfamily day home is
that you can expectcertainstandardsof careand
certainservices.
The main responsibilityfor choosingthe homethat
bestsuits your child belongsto you, the parent.
The responsibilityfor ensuringchildren are properly
caredfor in family day homesis sharedwith parents,
Child and Family ServicesAuthorities, family day
homeagenciesand family day homeproviders.
The Alberta governmentsetsthe standardsfor the
operationof Family Day Home Agenciesand for the
careof children in family day homes.The standards
are describedin the Family Day Home Program
Manual and are enforcedthrough a contractwith the
family day homeagencyand the local Child and
Family ServicesAuthority.
CFSA'smay directly approvea Family Day Home
provider in your region. Contactyour local CFSAfor
more information.
Agenciesapproveand monitor family day home
providers accordingto the standardsand
requirementsof the contract.The standardsfor
providing careare alsoenforcedthrough a contract
betweenthe agenciesand individual providers.
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Family Day Care
The agencyalsodeterminesthe number of children a
particular provider may carefor up to a maximum of
six. Agency staff considerthe energy,skills, and
experienceof the provider and the suitability of the
provider's residenceto meetthe children's needsfor
rest,toileting, eating,and indoor and outdoor play.
Agency staff visit family day homeson a regular basis
to monitor the careprovided. Agenciesalsosupport
the providers in further developmentof their
caregivingskills.
Agency staff will alsohelp you choosea home.Staff
will help you enroll your child and assistyou and the
provider to makearrangementsfor your child's care.
Agenciesmay arrangeback-upcarewhen the
provider is ill or on vacation.
The agenciesmay collectfeesfrom parentsand pay
providers. Agenciesalso issueincometax receiptsto
parents.
Providersmust meetstandardsfor space,equipment
and toys, health and safety,food serviceand
nutrition. Providersmust also plan daily activitiesto
meetthe needsof eachagegroup of children.
The following sectionsgive someideasaboutwhat to
look for in a family day homeand how to proceed.
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Family Day Care
5
What Does Your Child Need?
Although all children havethe samebasicneeds,each
child hasunique needs.You are awareof the
particular needsof your child. Your most important
considerationin choosinga family day homewill be
your child's needs.
A basicneedof all children is the needfor safeand
healthy surroundings.
In order to grow intellectually,all children alsoneed
to be ableto experiment,to observe,and to explore
their surroundings.
Physically,all children needboth activeand quiet
activities,indoors and outdoors.
The socialneedsof children include the needto
interactwith friends and adults, to participateas a
memberof a group, and to havethe opportunity to
learn and developsocialskills.
To meettheir emotionalneeds,all children must feel
accepted,respected,secure,and be listenedto and
understood.
What About Infants?
The first few monthsin an infant's life are the most
critical. Therefore,the amount and type of attention
an infant getsboth at homeand away are very
important. Family day homeproviders must
understandhow infants developand learn.
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Family Day Care
Although their physicalneedsare more apparent,
infants alsohave social,emotionaland intellectual
needswhich must be met. Theseinclude the needto
feel secureand loved and the needto be treatedas
individuals. Infants needto be ableto eat,sleepand
play when they are ready. Infants alsoneeda variety
of activitiesto stimulatethem and keeppacewith
their rapid growth and develoment.They alsoneedto
be ableto learn by exploring and imitating.
Infants do bestwhen they havethe samewarm
personcaring for them for most of the day. They need
a caregiverwho talks to them, holds them, and
encouragesthem. It is alsoimportant that the
caregiverenjoysinfants and understandstheir growth
and developmentalneeds.
While somechildren are activeand by their nature
invite attention,providers must be awarethat quieter,
lessdemandingand "easierto manage"children also
needtime and attention.
Infectionsare easilypassedfrom onechild to another.
For this reason,strict sanitarypracticesmust be used
when feedingand diapering infants and toddlers.
What About Children with Special Needs?
While it is important that providers be awareof the
needsof all children, they must be particularly
sensitiveto the specialneedsof children with a
disability or medicalcondition.
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Family Day Care
7
If your child has special needs, you will have to be
particular about choosing a family day home that
meets the needs of your child. Daily activities should
allow children with special needs to participate with
other children in the home throughout the day.
In some cases,the Child and Family Services
Authority will assist with the extra cost of care for a
child with special needs in family day homes. For
further information, contact your local Child and
Family ServicesAuthority listed at the back of this
booklet.
8
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Family Day Care
Steps in Choosing a
Family Day Home
No one child carearrangementis ideal for all
children, and not every family day homewill be ideal
for your child. You, the parent,must choosethe
family day homethat bestsuits your child. After all,
you know your child best!
Onceyou have decidedto placeyour child in a family
day home:
. make a list of your child carerequirements
including days of care,number and agesof children,
and any particular preferencesyou may have.
. locatethe family day home agenciesin your area.
You canfind them in the telephonedirectory under
"Day CareCentresand Nurseries",aswell as in the
classifiedsectionof your local newspaperunder
"Child Careand Day Care".You can alsoget a list
of agenciesfrom your local Child and Family
ServicesAuthority listed at the backof this booklet.
. call or visit the agenciesthat seemmost promising.
You canusethe checklistcontainedin this booklet
asa guide to what to ask and what to look for.
Your CFSAmay contractdirectly with Family Day
Homesin your region.
. visit the homesthat seemmost suitable. Takeyour
child with you on the visits and plan to spend
enoughtime to get an idea of how the provider
relatesto the children.
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Steps in Choosing a Family Day Home
9
Checklist for Parents
The checkliststhat follow canhelp you to choosea
family day homethat bestsuits you and your child. It
may not be possibleto checkevery detail in the
checkliststhe first time you contactan agencyor visit
a family day home.However,you may want to follow
up on someitems listed in the checklistsin the days
and weeksafter you enroll your child.
First impressions
Here are somegeneralconsiderations.
The agencystaff are:
0
helpful
0
knowledgeable
0
organized
0
responsiveto your child careneeds
0
interestedin the specificneedsof your child
The home is:
10
0
cheerfuland bright
0
organized
0
fresh and clean
0
pleasant
0
spacious
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Checklist for Parents
0
warm and inviting
0
safe
The provider seems:
0
welcoming
0
concerned
0
caring
0
happy
0
knowledgeable
0
patient
The children seem:
0
busy
0
happy and content
0
interested
0
active
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Checklist for Parents
11
When You Contact a
Family Day Home Agency
You will want to ask the agency:
0 What ages of children are accepted?
0
Is space available?
0
If you have more than one child, can both be cared
for in the same home?
0
Are homes conveniently located, either close to
work or close to home?
0
Is there a registration fee or deposit? Is it
refundable? If yes, under what circumstances?
0 What is the cost of care for your child including
regular care, vacation time, absence due to illness?
12
0
Is there an additional cost for late pick up?
0
What hours do homes operate?
0
How flexible are the hours if you have to work
shifts, overtime, or are delayed?
0
What are the holiday closings?
0
What types of daily activities are arranged for the
children?
0
What meals and snacks are provided?
0
How are special food and medical requirements
handled?
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Checklist for Parents
0 How are cultural preferenceshandled?
0 What happensif your child is ill?
0 What are the proceduresin caseof illness.accident
or fire?
0 How much notice is neededto withdraw your
child?
0 What is the policy on child guidance?
0 What is the complaint procedure?
0 How doesthe agencyselectproviders and
monitor the caregiven to your child?
0 Are there any written materialsdescribingthe
servicesto parents?
In order to find a homethat bestmeetsthe needsof
you and your child, the agencywill alsohavea
number of questionsfor you.
When You Visit a Family Day Home
Y 00 will want to askthe provider:
0
How long hasshebeena provider?
0
How many children doesshecarefor. including
her own?
0
Will shelet you know if sheplans to carefor
more children?
0
Will shebe availablefor at leastsix monthsto
carefor your child?
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Checklist for Parents
13
0
0
Doessheattend any workshopson child-related
issues?
Doesshehaveadequatehome,auto, and liability
insurance (
0
Will shecarefor your child if the child is ill?
0
Are parentswelcometo visit any time?
0
What doesthe provider expectfrom you asthe
parent?
Doesshehavereferralsfrom other parents
whosechildren shehascaredfor?
0
0
How many other children and adults are in the
home?
0
What are her specificpoliciesand approachesto
child careand child guidance?
Ask yourself about the family day home provider:
14
0
Doesthe provider makeme feel welcome?
0
Doesshemakemy child feel welcome?
0
How comfortableis my child in the home?
0
Doesthe provider seemto enjoy her own
children and othersin her care?
0
Is sheenhusiasticand positive?
0
Is the provider and her family in good health?
0
Is it likely shewould respondwell in an
emergency?
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Checklist for Parents
0
Doessheshow a senseof humour and common
sense?
0
Is every child treatedwith warmth and
afi"ectiont
00
Doesthe provider speakto the children clearly?
00
Do the children respondhappily to the
provider?
Doesthe provider talk to the children about their
behaviour?
0
0
Doesshespeakto the children at their level by
bending down or kneeling?
00
Doesshecall the children by name?
00
Doesshehaveconversationswith the children?
00
Doesshespendindividual time with the
children?
0
Doesshelisten to children's ideasand
suggestionsand respondpositively to them?
0
Are children encouragedto cooperatewith each
other?
0
Doesthe provider encouragechildren to work
out their problemsand arrive at a solution on
their own?
00
00
Doessheassistthem when necessary?
~
Doesshesometimesallow children to choose
their own activities?
Checklist for Parents
15
0
How does the provider assist children in toilet
training?
0
Do the infants eat and sleep according to their
own schedule?
0
Are infants who are awake being played with?
0
Does the provider hold infants when giving
bottles and feeding?
0
Doesthe provider smile and talk to the infant
sheis changing,dressingor feeding?
0
Doesshehelp children to end a game,cleanup
and get ready for anotheractivity?
Ask yourself about daily activities:
0
Are there a wide variety of play activities
plannedfor the children, including music,dressup, block and art activities,games,and outings?
0
Are there opportunities for children to choose
their own play activities?
0
Do the children haveopportunitiesto play by
themselvesaswell aswith others?
0
Are children allowed messyactivitiessuchas
painting?
Doesthe provider read storiesand play games
with the children?
0
0
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How often, and how long, is the televisionon
during the day?
Checklist for Parents
0
Are children encouragedto set up activitiesand
cleanup afterwards?
0
Are routinessuchasrest,toileting and meal
times handled in a relaxedmanner?
0
Are children who needlesssleepallowed to play
quietly during nap time?
0
How doesthe provider fit in her own
housework?
0
Doesthe provider allow the children to help
preparesimple mealsand snacks?
0
What doesthe provider do when thereare
problemsor when children havetemper
tantrums?
0
Are children encouragedto do someor all of the
following for themselvesaccordingto their age?
. get a drink of water,
. washtheir hands,
. go to the toilet,
. hang up their clothing,
. put away their belongings,
button and snaptheir clothing,
put on shoesand socks,
zip up jackets?
.
.
.
0
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For infants, are there:
. bright, colourful things to look at,
. a variety of things to hold,
Checklist for Parents
17
. spacesto crawl,
. things to climb,
. toys or things to push, pull and lift,
. pounding toys,
.
.
.
.
nestingboxesor cups,
stringing toys,
musicaltoys,
simple puzzles?
Ask yourself about the home itself:
Indoors:
18
0
Is thereenoughspaceindoors for children to
play aloneand with other children?
0
Are roomsbright and airy, warm, and well lit?
0
Is there an activeplay areaand a quiet play area?
0
Is therea quiet placewhere a child can be alone?
0
Is therespacefor children to sleepor rest during
the day?
0
Is there a placewhere a sick child canrest
quietly?
0
Are toys clean,neatly arranged,and easily
reachedby all children?
0
can children be evacuatedquickly in caseof fire
or emergencies?
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Checklist for Parents
0
Are there:
. books
. musicandart supplies
.. dress-up
clothes
blocksand constructiontoys
.. dolls and push vehicles
riding toys
. balls
0
Are cribs usedonly for napping?
0
How are playpensused?
Outdoors:
0
Is there a safeand easilyreachedplay space?
0
Is the play spacefenced?
0
Are there different surfacesin the play areaso
that children canride bikes.play in sandor sit in
a shadedarea?
0
Are there:
.. building materials
riding toys
. tires
. swings
. climbing equipment
. portableitems suchasballs,skipping ropes,
hoops,pails, shovels
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Checklist for Parents
19
0
Is there a sandbox?
Health:
0
0
0
Is food storedseparatelyfrom cleaningsupplies?
0
Do children usetheir own drinking glassesor
disposablepaper cups?
Are diapering and toileting carriedout under
sanitaryconditions?
0
0
Is therean adequatechangesurfaceavailable?
0
Are handswashedbeforeand after eachdiaper
changeand after wiping noses?
0
Are potties disinfectedafter eachuse?
0
Is thererunning water nearbyfor washing
hands?
0
Are children being taught basichygienesuchas
brushing their teeth and washing handsafter
toileting?
Are cleanclotheskept on hand for eachchild in
caseof "accidents"?
0
0
20
Do mealsand snacksfollow Canada'sFood
Guide?
Is there a limit on junk food - or no junk food at
all?
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What are the policiesfor administering
medication?
Checklist for Parents
0
Are medicalrecordskept on eachchild?
0
Doesthe provider havea current first aid
certificatein child care?
0
Whereare medicaland first aid suppliesstored?
0
If there are any pets in the providers home,how
are they caredfor and how are they with the
children?
Safety:
0
Do high chairs and change surfaces have safety
straps or other safety devices and are the safety
straps used?
0
Are medications, cleaning supplies, paints,
pesticides, hazardous plants, and other
hazardous materals kept away from children?
0
Are firearms stored in a locked area, and
inaccessibleto children? Is ammunition in a
locked place separate from firearms and
inaccessibleto children?
0
Are floors skid-proof?
0
Are electrical sockets child-proof?
0
Are electrical cords properly used and in good
condition?
0
Are toys checked regularly for loose or
dangerous parts?
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Checklist for Parents
21
22
D
Are there safety devices such as fire
extinguishers and smoke detectors and are they
in good working order?
0
Are there any sharp corners or dangerous stairs?
0
Is garbage kept out of children's reach?
0
Does the provider keep records of parents'
addressesand phone numbers?
0
What is the provider's evacuation plan?
0
Are records kept on emergency contacts and
persons authorized to pick up the child?
0
How will children be transported in an
0
emergency?
Does the provider keep separate child records to
take with her in an emergency?
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Checklist for Parents
Making Family Day Care
Work For You
Onceyou havechosena family day home,you want
to be sure that it continuesto work well for you. You
cando this by preparingyour child and yourself for
the family day home.You canmonitor the careyour
child receives.You candeal with any problemsthat
may arisefor you or your child with the provider or
agency.
Preparing
Your Child and Yourself
Children will naturally havefearsabout any new
situation. You can do a greatdeal to help your child
deal with the fearsand makethe transition to the
family day homesmootherfor everyone.
First, show your excitementand enthusiasmfor the
provider and family day home.Your child will pick
up on your confidenceand excitement.
Your child will be lessanxiousif you discussany
fears.Justtalking aboutwhat your child canexpect
will help lessenmany of your child's fears.
It is just as important for you to prepareyourself for
the transition to the family day homearrangement.If
you have any doubtsor unansweredquestions,you
should contactthe family day homeagencyor
provider. If you feel good aboutthe arrangement,you
will passthe feelingson to your child.
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Making Family Day Care Work for You
23
Part of preparingyourself for the family day home is
understandingthat while somerequirementsmay
seemunnecessary,they are thereto protect both you
and your child.
The child carearrangementworks bestwhen there is
mutual respectfor the roles of the parent and the
provider. Providersappreciateparentswho:
. pick-up children on time
. give plenty of noticeof changesin times or days
. respectthe provider's homeand her rules
Parentsappreciateproviders who:
.makeall children feel special
. respectand understandthe particular needsand
of the parent
.concerns
understandthe unique characteristicsof their
child
Keeping Track
Once your child is enrolled in a family day home, it is
important to keep track of the situation to ensure
family day carecontinuesto be a good arrangement.
The most important factor in keepingtrack is
communication,both with your child and with the
family day homeprovider. Thereare a number of
things you cando:
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Making Family Day Care Work for You
You will be visiting the family day homeregularly
when you drop off and pick up your child. You will
be ableto seefor yourself how your child is getting
along.It is a good sign if your child is busy playing
when you arrive, and doesnot cry for long periods
when you leave.But remember,tearsare normal at
first becauseyoung children will often want to leave
with you.
When you drop off or pick up your child, take a few
minutes to talk with the provider and seewhat is
happeningin the home.
It is alsoa good idea to drop by oncein a while when
the provider is not expectingyou. Ask your child
about the day. Listen and watch for signalsabout the
careyour child is receiving.
Give the family day homeagencyand provider the
information they needaboutyour child. This will
include any health or behaviourconcerns,
immunization records,a list of the peoplewho are
allowed to pick up your child, and where you or an
alternatecanbe reachedin caseof an emergency.
If a Problem Arises
You canusually avoid problemsby carefully
choosinga family day homeand by talking with the
provider. However problemsdo sometimesarise.
Children adjust to changesdifferently. Some take a
few days while others may take a few weeks.
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Making Family Day Care Work for You
25
You know your child better than anyone else dbes. If
after a reasonable period of time, your child is
reluctant to go to the family day home and seems
genuinely unhappy, there may be a problem. Your
first step is a frank talk with the family day home
provider or agency or both.
Most family day home providers are anxious to give
the best care they can. However, occasionally a
provider may not be able to understand or relate to
your child. Sometimes a child simply does not feel
comfortable in a particular home.
If you cannot resolve the situation by talking it over,
you may have to change your child care. While this
may be an inconvenience for a short time, ensuring
that your child's needs are met will payoff in the long
run.
If you believethat standardsof careare not being
met, or that children are not being properly caredfor,
take action.Call the family day homeagencyor your
local Child and Family ServicesAuthority listed at the
backof this booklet.Every complaint is looked into.
Child Care Subsidies
The Child and Family ServicesAuthorities subsidize
child care fees for families in approved family day
homes for families whose income falls below a certain
level. You may qualify depending on your income,
your reason for requiring Child Care and the size of
your family.
26
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Making Family Day Care Work for You
For more information contactyour local Child and
Family ServicesAuthority office listed at the backof
this booklet and ask for "The Child CareSubsidy
Program- Informationfor Parents".Agenciesmay
alsohave copies.
To Sum Up...
When family day care works well, it allows you to
pursue your occupation, education or other interests
confident that your child is well cared for in a healthy,
safe, and nurturing environment.
If you have other questions about choosing child care
or about child care subsidies, contact your local Child
and Family ServicesAuthority listed at the back of
this booklet.
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Making
F,
ily Day Care Work for You
27