Friday, January 28, 2011

Hemel House Supports Families

The Hemel House program supports the parent by:
  • Monthly unannounced day home visit which is a minimum of one hour up to 2 hours and includes:
    • Observation of Provider and child interactions, documenting provider strengths observed, child development
    • Child activity, Provider training handout
    • Safety check (fridge, drawers, approved rooms, fire drill etc)
    • Review of Provider’s program planning and child portfolios
    • Confirmation that appropriate play areas are set up
    • Review of menu and activity reports
    • The Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale
    • Ensure correct child information is on hand and files are up to date
    • Review of licensing requirements with Provider
  •  Detailed yearly review of the day home and Provider
  • Newsletter, information to parents, community events and parties
  • Implement Licensing and Accreditation standards in each day home as well as any changes to these standards
  • Ensure all requirements are met and maintained for each day home, such as; Criminal Record check, Child Intervention check and First Aid (renewed every 3 years), Fire Extinguishers, pet immunizations, insurance, In Home Substitutes, medical checks etc.
  • Maintaining parent/child files, keep documentation and family information within licensing requirements
  • Collection from subsidy and forwarding payment to providers while we wait for subsidy to be paid 1 ½ months later
  • On call 24/7 for back-up care and concerns
  • Safety:
    • All Hemel House provides are required to have a First Aid Certificate in child care
    • A safety check is done each month
    • An evacuation plan is posted and is practiced once a month with the family day home children
  • Administering your child care contract
  • Providing yearly statements for your income tax
  • Administering your subsidy and helping you with this process
  • Providing back-up care in case of provider unavailability
  • Availability of Hemel House for you and your provider by calling the office at 328-8189 or the emergency cell at 317-0853 or e-mail hemelhouse@gmail.com, to help you with emergencies or any other situations concerning your child
  • Making available resource materials to help you with child rearing questions and/or concerns. The "Parent As Teachers" program is available free to all Hemel house families
  • Maintaining a toy lending library
  • And other countless supports, visit www.hemelhouse.com for more information!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Making a Quality Child Care Choice

Finding and keeping quality child care can be challenging. Where do you start?

What is quality child care?
  • Child care should support a child's emotional, social, intellectual and physical well-being. Quality child care is not babysitting!
  • Child care providers are key to quality child care. They should...
    • understand how children grown and learn
    • be affectionate and responsive, open and informative
    • provide a stable and stimulating environment
    • seek out community resources and support
    • be willing to develop common goals
  • Quality child care settings have common characteristics...
    • clean, safe and secure
    • a caring, learning environment
    • a small number of children with each adult
    • space for quiet and active times, indoor and outdoor play
    • a balance of interesting activities
    • flexible, yet predictable daily routine
    • a variety of easily available toys and equipment
    • nutritional meals and snacks
How do you find quality care?
  • First, identify your needs and priorities.
    • Consider your child's age.
    • Do you have more than one child requiring care?
    • Are you eligible for a government subsidy?
    • What fee can you afford?
    • Do you prefer center or home environment?
    • What hours?
    • In what location - near your child's school, your home, your work?
  • Provincial and local child care offices can offer guidance. Community information services can be invaluable. It is also helpful to talk to neighbours and friends who use child care. Just give yourself plenty of time and find care that suits you and your child.
  • Once you have a list of providers and child care centres, it is time to start telephone interviews. Jot down the questions you want to ask.
  • Visiting potential child care settings is the next step.
    • Look around.
    • Is this a quality child care setting?
    • Listen.
    • Would you feel good about your child spending time here?
  • The relationship between you and the provider is extremely important.
    • It should be one of mutual respect, trust and cooperation.
    • The interview is the time to ask plenty of questions.
    • Don't forget to discuss hours, fees, discipline, sickness, vacations, the involvement of parents.
  • Review and sign the contract while in the presence of the provider - it can save unnecessary misunderstandings in the future.
Being an effective child care parent
  • A parent's responsibility does not end with finding child care.
    • The three-way relationship between the parent, provider and child requires an ongoing commitment. Communication is vital. Take the time to hear about your child's day.
    • Agree on mutual expectations.
    • Voice concerns.
    • Express appreciation.
    • Live up to the agreement.
Stay aware. Let's all work towards quality child care!

Canadian Child Care Federation Resource Sheet #34

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Make-It Topic: Mail

Imaginative
  • Set up a post office for the children to explore 
  • Set out mail persons outfits 
  • Place out a mailbox for the children to mail letters in
Language
  • Read the poem “Five little letters” 
    • Five little letters lying on a tray
      Mommy came and took the first one away
      Daddy said this one’s for me
      I counted them twice now there are three
      Brother Bill asked did I get any mail
      He found one and cried, “A letter from Gail!”
      My sister Jane took the next to the last
      And ran upstairs to open it fast
      As I cant read I am not able to see
      Whom the last one is for but I can hope it’s for  me
       
  • Write a thank you letter to the mail persons and give it to them
  • Read “Tortoise Delivers the Mail”
  • Write letters to the children’s self and mail them 
  • Find another day home and write letters to that day home
Art
  • Set out envelopes for the children to finger paint
  • Make stamp pictures 
  • Place out rubber stamps for making prints on paper 
  • Use milk containers to make mail trucks 
  • Collect square stickers or stamps allow the children to make a collage of stamps/stickers 
  • Make a mailbox from a milk carton 
  • Place out magazine pictures of different places allow the children to make a post card
Water/Sand
  • How much can fit place a bunch of different sized  containers  and a scoops allow the children to count how much water or sand fits into each one 
  • Place envelopes in the sand 
  • Place different stamps in the sand for the children to find
Gross Motor
  • Use a fan and different papers place the paper in front of the fan allow the children to catch the papers 
  • Place out a mailbox allow the children to throw bean bags into the mailbox 
  • Play a find the letter game leave footprint clues
Science/Curiosity
  • Weighing mail place out a variety of types of mail and boxes for the children to weigh 
  • How does the mail feel place out different types of paper for the children to feel provide a magnifying glass also
Blocks
  • Place out pictures of large buildings and different types of post boxes for the children to build 
  • Place out little people and houses for delivering mail to
Conceptual/Tabletop/Fine Motor
  • Make dominos out of envelopes allow the children to match numbers and dots 
  • How many stamps place a number on a post card have the children match the number of stamps 
  • Place out different size envelopes and card stock paper allow the children to match the two 
  • Make a mail the letter game use a file folder place out round stickers in different colors make a dice have the children see what path they can take to mail a letter 
  • Place out laminated post cards for the children to practice writing on 
  • Place magnets on the back of stamps place them into a baggy with magnets to find the different stamps 
  • Sort boxes that go into the mailbox
Music
  • Sing “Mailing letters” 
    • This is the way we mail a letter mail a letter, mail a letter, This is the way we mail a letter so early in the morning (add this is the way we lick the stamp, write the name, stuff the envelope)
Quiet
  • Use a flannel board and place a mail person to dress and a mail box with some people
Cooking
  • Have special delivery pita pockets 
    • Pita bread, ham, cheese, tomatoes 
      • Allow the children to build a letter sandwich
Field Trips
  • Go to the local post office for a tour 
  • Walk to a local mail box deliver letters for friends 
  • Walk around the block looking at different mailboxes and addresses on the houses