About Me and My Program

My Childcare Philosophy

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I focus on the development of the whole child--physical, emotional, social, intellectual and cultural--in an informal home setting that is loving and nurturing. As I bond with the child and they become secure in their environment, they progress from having their basic needs met to feeling a sense of belonging, love, emotional security and achievement.  Young children learn through play and a variety of self-chosen activities that build knowledge, skills, interests, self-awareness as well as an understanding of others.

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I do my best to encourage and stimulate each child’s inner desire to learn and grow based on his or her unique timetable and predisposition's, building confidence and competence. I believe learning is a lifelong, joyous process of striving and sharing.

I believe each child’s best interests are served by a partnership approach between parents and provider. I am committed to open, honest and regular communication about the individual child’s daily experiences and developmental milestones.

 
My Qualifications

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First and foremost, I am a mother to 4 amazing children. I have spent countless hours researching the methods and practices I wanted to implement in my home. Some of the parenting practices I use the most are RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers pioneered by Magda Gerber), “Peaceful Parenting”, and some of the ideas from Love and Logic.

 

Child care is my chosen career. I am passionate about early childhood education. I have  completed the KHT Montessori online course to teach me to use the method effectively for ages 3-6, and I have observed Montessori classrooms in action.  Although I no longer model my program or advertise my program as “Montessori”, studying her work influences my environment and my approach to child care.

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I participate in many online courses geared toward childcare professionals through the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral (IACCRR).

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I do have a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from the University of Evansville.

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I hold a current certification for Adult and Pediatric CPR, First Aid and AED. I am Safe Sleep Certified. I meet all of the qualifications for becoming a licensed in-home child care provider including a TB test, physical, federal background check, and drug test.
 

Licensing

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I am not currently licensed in the state of Indiana. I am exempt from licensure as long as I care for 5 or fewer additional children that are not related to me.

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I report all income and can provide you with receipts and my EIN for tax purposes.

I am a Mandated Reporter

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I am a state-mandated reporter and am required to report any suspected cases of physical or sexual abuse or neglect.

Substitutes and Employees

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I do NOT have any regular substitutes for child care. In the case of an emergency parents will be called to pick up their children. I encourage families to have back up child care for emergency closing and when for when their children are sick.

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I Do Not Discriminate

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I will not discriminate against any child or family based on religion, race, creed, language, disability or otherwise. All children are unique and that should be celebrated. We try to celebrate and learn about every holiday, in a neutral way.

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My Home

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We are located in Downtown Evansville near Central Library.

I have a home-based program. Please keep in mind that this is a home. It is lived in by my family including 4 children 6 years old and under. Messes are expected, and our home is not always spotless.

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I rearrange my home to fit our needs. Currently, most of our home is used for child care activities. As you enter, there is a spacious entry with room for each child to keep personal items and a playroom space we use for dramatic play and gross motor exploration. Next, is a sitting room that the children use for quiet activities during nap time and when we do music or yoga. Towards the back of the house, there is another playroom that adjoins the kitchen and nap room. We eat meals in the kitchen and there is a bathroom next to it.

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For outdoor play, we have a fenced in backyard with a slide, garden, play house and a variety of outdoor toys and activities that I rotate.

Please enter from the front porch unless I post a sign indicating we are playing in the backyard. Parking is available across the street. Please avoid parking in a handicap space.

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Visitors in the Home

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On occasion, I may have visitors in the home during the day (child therapists, relatives, my partner, etc). I keep a log of visitors and no guest will be left alone with children in my care.

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Communication

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I use an app called Brightwheel to communicate daily about our activities. If you download the app, you will see a “newsfeed” highlighting meals, snacks, photos of activities, and nap times. I do not log diaper changes for infants unless I am noting a problem. If a child is potty training, I will log potty times and changes.

The app allows you to message me, feel free to use that feature. However, I will respond via text or phone because I cannot respond through my free version of the app.

I do limit my phone usage during the day so updates may not be in real time, but I will update in batches as I find time during the day. You are always welcome to call or text me directly if you have questions or concerns.

I take communication pretty seriously. I know that the Brightwheel app is the way you will receive the majority of your information about how your child spends their days- especially for infants and toddlers. If there is something you would like me to note, please let me know and I will try my best to accommodate your request.

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Your Responsibilities

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Our Partnership

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I expect that we will work together to ensure that your child has the opportunity to develop to his or her fullest potential. Communication and respect are key. We will both be communicating to each other about your child’s physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth. Please, keep me informed of any change in the child’s schedule, routine, or home environment. I will do the same for changes in my business that affect your child.

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Contract Agreement

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Our child care terms will be outlined in a contract. The contract is different for each family but generally includes hours, rate, fees (late fees and late payment fees), paid holidays, paid provider personal days, and a two-week deposit. The first two weeks are usually a trial period. After the trial period, parents must provide a two-week notice to terminate the contract.

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Tuition Payments

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Your specific rates will be outlined in your Contract and Rate Agreement. Tuition is payable in advance and is due no later than 12 NOON on Friday each week for the following week’s care, unless another arrangement has been agreed upon. Payment may be made by check, money order or cash. There will be a late fee of $5 for failure to pay by noon on Friday. An additional $10 (total $15) late fee will be assessed if not paid by 5 pm on Friday. An additional $10 late fee (total $25) will be charged if payment is not made by 5 pm on Monday. Repeated late payments may be grounds for termination and parents who are more than 1 week late on payment will be denied child care until account is made current.

I ask you to consider how you would feel if your employer came to you on your expected payday and told you that your paycheck would be delayed. It is not my goal to collect late payments, but the policy is enforced to support the success of my child care home. I typically spend a large portion of my weekends planning activities, doing online trainings, paying bills, cleaning spaces, record keeping, and shopping for food and supplies. Prompt payment ensures that I can continue to provide high quality care for your little one.

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Parent vacation: You must continue to pay tuition on vacation to hold your child’s spot.

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Maternity Leave: To hold a spot you must continue to pay while you are on maternity leave.

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Child is sick: You must pay tuition in full to remain enrolled. If child is sick on Friday, payment is still due by 12 NOON to avoid late payment fees.

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Supplies for Your Child

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I will ask you to provide the following items:

• An extra outfit (more if potty training)

• Sunscreen

• Diapers

• Wipes (if needing a specific brand)

• Bottles/Infant Milk

• Outerwear (some families choose to leave a set here including hat, mittens, coat and boots)

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My Records for Your Child

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I will keep the following records for your child; you are responsible for updating these records when any of the information changes:

• Enrollment Form including a list of authorized adults for pick-up

• Medical Release Form

• Discipline Policy

• Daily Consent Form

• Birth Certificate

• Immunization Record (may be submitted within 2 weeks after enrollment)

• Health Report (needs to be completed by physician) (may be submitted within 2 weeks after enrollment)

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Backup Child Care

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You are responsible for finding backup care for your child care if I must close my business for any reason. This may include, but is not limited to, instances where I take a sick day, personal day, vacation day, there is an emergency, or your child is ill.

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Bad Weather Closings

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You must notify me as soon as possible if your work closes early or is closed for the day. I will notify you as soon as possible if my program is closing or will be closed due to inclement weather.

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Communicating Feedback

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If you have any complaints about my program, please discuss them with me as soon as possible. Again, communication is key and I want to make sure that I am addressing any concerns in a prompt manner.

If you have something urgent to express, please call or text me directly for the fastest communication. Email and Facebook messenger are not the best ways to reach me.

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Child Care Program

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Our Daily Rhythm

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Our days follow a predictable rhythm. Infants schedules are baby-led. I respond to their needs, regardless of what the clock says. As they age, I slowly encourage them onto this schedule (in my experience, by around 9/10 months old).

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Children cannot be dropped off after 8:30 am unless outlined in a families’ contract. If a child does not arrive by 8:30 am, that child will be assumed absent for the day. Any exception must be approved in advance.

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Arrival and Greetings
Free Play

Breakfast (8:45a)
(Infants: morning nap after feeding)

Structured Choice Time
Opportunities for art, dramatic play, tray activities

Outside Time

Lunch (11a)

Music and Movement

Nap Time (noon-2)

Snack Time (3:30p)

Free Play and Outdoor Time

 

Activities/Curriculum

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I provide a warm, welcoming environment where your baby can grow from a bundle of joy to a bundle of curiosity. I focus on creating experiences and opportunities that invite exploration and support the rapid and important development that is occurring in a child's first 3 years.

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Days are spent in a homey environment for learning with individualized attention and experiences, and meaningful bonding time with me and the other children in my care.

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I use an overall monthly theme to create age appropriate materials for little ones to explore so we are all learning together. As the children approach age 2, they participate more in the curriculum and I continue to challenge them by adapting the curriculum for them. We explore concepts of shapes, letters, colors, and vocabulary throughout the day as we play.

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Food and Nutrition

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Meals and snack times are amazing times for bonding and provide a consistent rhythm to our day. We focus on table manners and taking turns listening to our friends. Infants are fed on demand and are guided slowly to following the daily schedule as they age.

Parents must provide breastmilk or formula and bottles. I do my best to support breastfeeding mothers and can use paced bottle feeding techniques.

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Much of the food I serve is organic and all of it is GMO free. I purchase grass-fed beef products and antibiotic free meat products. You are always welcome to ask about ingredients/ menu options.

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I am experienced with baby-led weaning. I can also serve infant cereal/baby foods to infants. Parents can choose based on their preferences. The decision of when to start feeding food to infants is up to the parents and I can offer suggestions and articles on various methods.  I will not offer an infant solid food before they are 4 months old and I am comfortable with waiting and following baby’s cues.

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Naps and Quiet Time

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All children 3 and under have a rest period during the day, if a child has outgrown naps, they have outgrown my program.

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Young infants nap on their own schedule and as they age I guide them towards taking two regular naps. It takes time and I do not “sleep train” in the sense that I would leave a baby to cry. Each baby is different and we can experiment with swaddles, rocking, sound machines, and pacifiers to create a routine for your baby. Babies are adaptable and can adjust to a sleeping arrangement in my home, even if it doesn’t mirror what is done at home.

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Pack n Plays are used until age 2 and then toddlers are transitioned to a cot.

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Diapers and Toileting

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I have a lot of experience cloth diapering and encourage parents to use them. Especially in the first months before babies start solid food. They can save a lot of money.

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Each family needs to supply their own diapers weekly. I supply wipes but if a baby has a sensitivity then parents must supply another brand.

I take a relaxed attitude towards toilet training. Please realize that this process should be your child's accomplishment and NOT yours or mine. Children should not and will not be compared to how others are doing.

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I will assist in toilet training with the understanding that it will only work if we work together. Your child will not learn if the learning process is not consistent while in my care and at home. Clothing should be easy to manage to encourage self-help skills. When learning to use the toilet our rules are: NO overalls, onesies, belts, buckles, buttons, snaps, suspenders, skirts/dresses or tights as these will create a problem when a child is in a hurry to use the bathroom. Extra clothing is REQUIRED. All children NOT 100% potty trained are required to wear diapers or pull ups when in my care. Underwear can be worn at home for those children who are in the process of potty training. To transition from wearing diapers/pull ups to wearing underwear, your child MUST be accident free for 30 consecutive days in care. (Please note most calendar months only have about 20 care days so you are looking at about 1.5 months total before your child will be allowed to wear underwear. We can discuss wearing cloth trainers instead of pull-ups but the policy is in place to keep floors as clean as possible for crawling infants, so there must be a waterproof barrier.

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Toys

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Please do not bring toys from home. You may bring a comfort object and blanket for naps for babies over 12 months.

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Clothing

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Children should arrive dressed for play. We like to have fun! Having fun involves outdoor play and lots of messy activities, so make sure that your child is dressed appropriately. Clothing should be comfortable and seasonally appropriate for outdoor play. Make sure to include hats, mittens, boots and coats for cold weather.

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Guidance Policy

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I maintain a positive discipline policy, which focuses on prevention, redirection, love, consistency and firmness. I stress two main patterns of behavior: kindness and respect. The children discuss these concepts frequently and they are the foundation of how we approach conflict.

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Please keep in mind that there WILL be disagreements between children. Young children have a hard time expressing their feelings.

Sometimes they hit, throw toys, bite, etc. I will try to prevent problems, redirect when appropriate, discuss inappropriate behavior, encourage making amends when offense involves another person, and sometimes withdraw privileges based on the principle of "natural consequences".

 

An example might be where a child is misusing a toy then he/she will not be allowed to play with the toy for a period of time. The use of time outs will be rare except when a brief cooling off period is needed. Sometimes when children are fighting or throwing toys, we will put the toy in a short time out, and then bring it back into circulation a little later. This seems to work better than giving the child a time out. 

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will there be any spanking, physical abuse, verbal abuse, name calling or isolation used. Neither food nor sleep will ever be withheld from children as a means of punishment.

 

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Illness, Health, and Safety Policies

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Sick Child Policy

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In an attempt to contain the spread of illnesses, I will not provide child care for a child with any of the following symptoms:

A temperature of 100 degrees or above
Vomiting within the last 24 hours
Diarrhea within the last 24 hours
Pink eye
Strep throat
Head lice
Other contagious illnesses, as I deem appropriate

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If your child has any of these symptoms or illnesses, please contact me, but do not bring them to my home.

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If your child develops any of these symptoms during the day, I will call you and expect you to pick up the child as soon as possible.

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Immunization records must be updated as shots are administered. You may provide me with a printout from the clinic. Please let me know when children will be receiving shots so that I can watch for any signs and symptoms associated with receiving immunizations.

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I ask you to use your best judgment in deciding to bring a child who may be ill to my program. Please consider the health of the other children, my family, and me. If you repeatedly try to bring an obviously ill child to my program, it may be grounds for ending our contract.

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Administering Medication

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I generally do not administer medicine of any kind.

If you would like me to administer medicine to your child, you must sign a separate written authorization each day.

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