Policies and Procedures
Payment: Cash/Email money transfer is the preferred method of payment. Payment is due on the 1st of every month.
There is a $50.00 charge for fees that are late past the due dates.
AUNTIE BEE'S DAYHOME reserves the right to terminate services without notice if payment policies are not followed.
Late Payment Fees and Collection Procedures:
Late payment will be discussed with parent/guardian if an agreement is not made services will be terminated and the credit bureau will be contacted.
Late Pickup Fees: Please try and be punctual so I can prepare the dayhome for the next day and also tend to my family. If late pickups become a regular occurrence I will speak to the parents first, if late pickups continue I reserve the right to charge $20 for each late pickup day. With that said, I understand that late pickups can happen (weather, emergencies, traffic), your children will always be well cared for, and will, of course, stay with me in the dayhome until you arrive.
Vacation
I take 3 weeks vacation per year. 1 week is paid, I will give at least one month notice of any vacation that will be taken. I am closed all stat holidays, as well as Boxing Day, Easter Monday, Heritage Day, these are paid holidays (if any of these days or stat days fall on a weekend, a day in lieu will be taken).
ATTENDANCE/ABSENCES
Please state at the beginning of care the times you will drop off and pick up your child. If your Pick-up/Drop off time changes you are required to give 24 hours notice. Please be punctual so I can attend to my own family and prepare the dayhome for the next day. You are required to call by 8:00 A.M. if your child will be absent from the dayhome please inform the dayhome if your child is absent because of illness or personal reasons. No discount for absences.
The rule is: If I am open "No Refunds" . If I am closed (other than stat holidays) due to illness or emergency etc. you will be refunded.
TERMINATION OF SERVICES
If you wish to leave the dayhome you MUST give written notification of the effective date 30 days in advance. If 30 days notice is not given, then you will have to pay up to the 30th day after the date of notice whether the child is in care or not during that time. We reserve the right to terminate services without notice.
LEAVING CHILDREN AT THE DAYHOME
Children are required to be escorted by an adult when entering and leaving the dayhome.
AUTHORIZED RELEASE OF CHILD
Only persons listed on the "Authorized Release Form" may take a child from the dayhome unless there is written notification of a new pick-up person. In an emergency a telephone call from the parent for the release of the child on a specific occasion is acceptable. Proof of identification (i.e Drivers Licence) is required in certain circumstances (i.e emergency phone call from parent of new pick-up person, any changed person on the "Authorized Release Form" etc.)
OPEN DOOR POLICY
Parents/Guardians are always welcome to stop by during the day to visit their little ones; however sometimes the children become upset when you have to leave again and the other children may become upset that they don't have a visitor. The children may also be napping; therefore a phone call in advance of your visit is appreciated but not required.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES/INJURY
We practice monthly fire drills. There are fire extinguishers on all levels of the dayhome which are checked monthly. In case of an emergency parents/guardians will be contacted as soon as it is considered safe to do so.
If your child is injured while at the day care, an incident report will be prepared, giving you the details of what occurred. If an incident occurs requiring a decision to be made for medical treatment other than basic first aid, the parent/guardian will be notified immediately. It is the parent/guardian's responsibility to make the decision for minor emergency medical treatment. In the event a serious incident occurs, the parent/guardian will be notified immediately to come to the day care. A life-threatening situation will result in an immediate call for ambulatory assistance. I am trained and up to date on CPR (I renew this yearly, even though renewal is only required every two years, the safety of your and my own children is my number one priority).
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
In case of emergency parents/guardians will be contacted as soon as possible. If parents can not be reached your "emergency contact persons" will be contacted. You will be required to provide two emergency contacts upon registration; this information MUST be kept up to date and current. Any changes in telephone numbers, address, or place of employment must be reported immediately. Any changes in medical or emergency information must be provided to the dayhome operator IMMEDIATELY (i.e Change of Doctor, change of emergency contacts)
ILLNESS POLICY
It is understood that children can have up to 14 colds a year and therefore I will accept children into the dayhome who have minor colds without a fever or a persistent cough. I will assess the child once they arrive, if I feel they are too sick for dayhome I will contact you and ask that you come and take the child home. However if your child is very sick please to not bring them to the dayhome, particularly when there is risk of infecting the other children. It is no fun for anyone if we are all sick with colds and I, as a dayhome operator and a Mom, do not get to rest if I get sick so please keep this in mind. Please advise me of any illness your child may be suffering from. Medication will not be administered unless the parent/guardian has provided written permission. Medicine must be in the original container clearly labeled with the child's name, amount, time of dosage, and other instructions ordered by the doctor. Please inform me if any medication has been given to the child prior to care.
Please keep in mind that it is normal for children whom are starting a new dayhome to be sick frequently with colds until their immune systems become used to the dayhome environment. It is the same when the children begin school and pre-school. After a few months things start to settle down and they are sick less frequently. I am a firm believer in the daily use of Vitamin D and Probiotics to help boost the children's immunity. Here is an article in relation to illnesses at daycares.
Parents are required to keep their child home if they are displaying any of the below:
Fever (above 38 Degrees Celsius)
Diarrhea/Vomiting
Undiagnosed rash/skin condition
Communicable disease
Discharge from nose, eyes, ears, mouth or skin (other than common cold)
Complains of pain
Persistent coughing
Severe itching of the scalp or body
Sore throat or trouble swallowing
A parent that brings a child to the dayhome displaying any of the above symptoms will be asked to take the child home and I will request a note from a doctor stating that the child is not contagious and well enough to attend daycare if the parent wants to return them to care that same day. Otherwise the child must remain at home until all symptoms have disappeared. If a child begins displaying any of the above symptoms while at the dayhome the child will be separated from the other children (without making it obvious to the child, I will take them to colour or read them a story, this is to prevent the other children getting sick) and the parents/guardians or emergency contact will be called to take the child home. Children with diagnosed communicable diseases (i.e chickenpox) will not be admitted into the dayhome in accordance with the local board of health guidelines. Children will be re-admitted into the dayhome only with a note from a physician confirming the child's wellness.
SAFETY AND SANITATION
The below daily safety and sanitation checklist is posted in the dayhome.
(1) Ensure tables, chairs, highchairs and all surfaces are clean and sanitized.
(2) Check toys for broken pieces and sharp edges.
(3) Check electrical outlets and replace outlet covers if necessary.
(4) Check for chords and any choking hazards.
(5) Ensure bathroom is clean, sanitized and stocked. All of our children's soap are paraben, phthalates and sulfate free
(6) Ensure hazardous products are inaccessible (cleaning products, medications are locked away).
(7) Floors are clean, dry and safe.
(8) All toys that have been mouthed are sanitized daily.
(9) All toys that have been used are sanitized weekly.
(10) Outdoor area is hazard free and clean.
The sanitizing solution used is residue free and non-toxic. As well as daily cleaning by me, the dayhome is professionally cleaned once a week by a cleaning company.
OUTSIDE
The children will be allowed outside in our fenced backyard or taken to a local playground/park for an hour or more each day only when it is deemed safe and manageable to do so. If there are extreme weather conditions and or temperatures (E.G. below -10 Degrees Celsius or above 25 Degrees Celsius) the children will stay inside for free play. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor play. If your child does not have the appropriate attire all the children will have to stay in for free play. Please check the local weather before bringing your child to the dayhome to ensure all the children have the opportunity to have some fun outside. If any of the children express that they do not wish to play outside (E.G not feeling well, tired) I will use some gentle encouragement if that does not work the children will all freeplay inside; as all children must be in my presence at all times. During the warmer months we will take every advantage of the good weather and will hold many of our activities (i.e circle time, art and craft) and meals outside the dayhome.
PERSONAL ITEMS
Items that need to be provided by parents/guardians are as follows:
(1) Diapers/pull-ups/wipes/ointment/change mat
(2) Formula and baby food
(3) Clean change of clothes and swimwear during the warmer months
(4) Sunscreen
(5) Blanket/pacifier/comfort object for nap time
(6) Bottle /sippy cup
(7) Car Seat/Booster Seat
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
The children are welcome to bring one toy each from home or something for show and tell. Keep in mind sometimes it is difficult to keep track of these items particularly if they are small. Auntie Bee's Dayhome does not accept any responsibility for lost, or damaged items including clothing.
LOST AND FOUND
Unclaimed objects will be kept at the Dayhome for 30 days; after which if unclaimed they will become the property of Auntie Bee's Dayhome unless of course the children are still attending the dayhome.
MEALS AND NUTRITION
Breakfast, lunch and two snacks are provided. All meals are healthy, nutritious and kid friendly; we follow Canada's Food Guide. Many of our meals are organic. If your child does not like the offered meal, alternatives will be given after some gentle encouragement. Children will never be forced to eat or let go hungry. Fruit, water and milk are readily available to children throughout the day. You will fill out a form before the beginning of care listing foods that your child likes to eat. If your child is a "picky eater" I will feed them meals they are used to eating at home, and that they like, until they are settled into the dayhome, this is to make starting the dayhome as stress free as possible for them. Once they are more settled in the dayhome I will begin offering them a variety of different meals to help broaden their palette. Generally the children eat better at dayhome than they do at home!
PLEASE INFORM US IF YOUR CHILD HAS ANY ALLERGIES; FOOD OR OTHERWISE.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
Misbehavior is a normal part of a child's development. Positive child guidance requires the use of methods that guide rather than punish. The goal of discipline is to help children build their own self-control, not to have them behave through adult-imposed control. The below techniques will be used in a way that maintains or enhances the child's self-esteem. My goal is to help the children learn appropriate behaviors, not punish the children for misbehavior. Appropriate limits are geared towards the child's age and personality. The children's feelings are always acknowledged and accepted; I then explain the limits on the expression of their feelings (e.g." It's ok that you feel mad because you want to play with that toy, but you may not hit other children"). The children are never labelled as "bad" or"naughty" and "time-outs" will not be used, rather, they're behavior is focused on and explained to them why it was wrong (e.g you may not throw the blocks, blocks are for building). It is understood that young children need repetition to learn and it may be necessary to keep telling and showing them the appropriate behavior; patience is a virtue and I have lots of it! If after trying the below techniques a number of times and there is no change in the behavior, I will talk with the parents about the situation and together we will hopefully come to a solution.
Guidance Techniques used at Auntie Bee's Dayhome:
(1) Redirection : Distracting the child from the unwanted behavior (This works well for all ages, it is particularly used for infants and toddlers who do not understand their actions or consequences as a result of their actions)
(2) Natural Consequences : Allowing children to experience the safe, natural consequences of their behavior helps them accept responsibility for their own comfort
(3) Logical Consequences : Logical consequences are reasonable, related to the behavior and are arranged in advance. (e.g "We only have enough juice boxes for everyone to have one. So you can drink yours now, but you will not have more for snack time. Or I can get you water now and you can save your juice for snack time.")
(4) Negotiation and Problem Solving : This technique works by involving the child in helping to solve the problem.
AUNTIE BEE'S DAYHOME IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Smoking, use of alcohol, and use or possession of any illegal substance of unauthorized, potentially toxic substances are prohibited in the daycare.
PETS
We have one very gentle and the sweetest little Mini Schnauzer named Grizzy. He is a hypo dog and doesn't shed. The children love Grizzy and he loves them!
Parents are required to keep their child home if they are displaying any of the below:
Fever (above 38 Degrees Celsius)
Diarrhea/Vomiting
Undiagnosed rash/skin condition
Communicable disease
Discharge from nose, eyes, ears, mouth or skin (other than common cold)
Complains of pain
Persistent coughing
Severe itching of the scalp or body
Sore throat or trouble swallowing
A parent that brings a child to the dayhome displaying any of the above symptoms will be asked to take the child home and I will request a note from a doctor stating that the child is not contagious and well enough to attend daycare if the parent wants to return them to care that same day. Otherwise the child must remain at home until all symptoms have disappeared. If a child begins displaying any of the above symptoms while at the dayhome the child will be separated from the other children (without making it obvious to the child, I will take them to colour or read them a story, this is to prevent the other children getting sick) and the parents/guardians or emergency contact will be called to take the child home. Children with diagnosed communicable diseases (i.e chickenpox) will not be admitted into the dayhome in accordance with the local board of health guidelines. Children will be re-admitted into the dayhome only with a note from a physician confirming the child's wellness.
SAFETY AND SANITATION
The below daily safety and sanitation checklist is posted in the dayhome.
(1) Ensure tables, chairs, highchairs and all surfaces are clean and sanitized.
(2) Check toys for broken pieces and sharp edges.
(3) Check electrical outlets and replace outlet covers if necessary.
(4) Check for chords and any choking hazards.
(5) Ensure bathroom is clean, sanitized and stocked. All of our children's soap are paraben, phthalates and sulfate free
(6) Ensure hazardous products are inaccessible (cleaning products, medications are locked away).
(7) Floors are clean, dry and safe.
(8) All toys that have been mouthed are sanitized daily.
(9) All toys that have been used are sanitized weekly.
(10) Outdoor area is hazard free and clean.
The sanitizing solution used is residue free and non-toxic. As well as daily cleaning by me, the dayhome is professionally cleaned once a week by a cleaning company.
OUTSIDE
The children will be allowed outside in our fenced backyard or taken to a local playground/park for an hour or more each day only when it is deemed safe and manageable to do so. If there are extreme weather conditions and or temperatures (E.G. below -10 Degrees Celsius or above 25 Degrees Celsius) the children will stay inside for free play. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor play. If your child does not have the appropriate attire all the children will have to stay in for free play. Please check the local weather before bringing your child to the dayhome to ensure all the children have the opportunity to have some fun outside. If any of the children express that they do not wish to play outside (E.G not feeling well, tired) I will use some gentle encouragement if that does not work the children will all freeplay inside; as all children must be in my presence at all times. During the warmer months we will take every advantage of the good weather and will hold many of our activities (i.e circle time, art and craft) and meals outside the dayhome.
PERSONAL ITEMS
Items that need to be provided by parents/guardians are as follows:
(1) Diapers/pull-ups/wipes/ointment/change mat
(2) Formula and baby food
(3) Clean change of clothes and swimwear during the warmer months
(4) Sunscreen
(5) Blanket/pacifier/comfort object for nap time
(6) Bottle /sippy cup
(7) Car Seat/Booster Seat
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
The children are welcome to bring one toy each from home or something for show and tell. Keep in mind sometimes it is difficult to keep track of these items particularly if they are small. Auntie Bee's Dayhome does not accept any responsibility for lost, or damaged items including clothing.
LOST AND FOUND
Unclaimed objects will be kept at the Dayhome for 30 days; after which if unclaimed they will become the property of Auntie Bee's Dayhome unless of course the children are still attending the dayhome.
MEALS AND NUTRITION
Breakfast, lunch and two snacks are provided. All meals are healthy, nutritious and kid friendly; we follow Canada's Food Guide. Many of our meals are organic. If your child does not like the offered meal, alternatives will be given after some gentle encouragement. Children will never be forced to eat or let go hungry. Fruit, water and milk are readily available to children throughout the day. You will fill out a form before the beginning of care listing foods that your child likes to eat. If your child is a "picky eater" I will feed them meals they are used to eating at home, and that they like, until they are settled into the dayhome, this is to make starting the dayhome as stress free as possible for them. Once they are more settled in the dayhome I will begin offering them a variety of different meals to help broaden their palette. Generally the children eat better at dayhome than they do at home!
PLEASE INFORM US IF YOUR CHILD HAS ANY ALLERGIES; FOOD OR OTHERWISE.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
Misbehavior is a normal part of a child's development. Positive child guidance requires the use of methods that guide rather than punish. The goal of discipline is to help children build their own self-control, not to have them behave through adult-imposed control. The below techniques will be used in a way that maintains or enhances the child's self-esteem. My goal is to help the children learn appropriate behaviors, not punish the children for misbehavior. Appropriate limits are geared towards the child's age and personality. The children's feelings are always acknowledged and accepted; I then explain the limits on the expression of their feelings (e.g." It's ok that you feel mad because you want to play with that toy, but you may not hit other children"). The children are never labelled as "bad" or"naughty" and "time-outs" will not be used, rather, they're behavior is focused on and explained to them why it was wrong (e.g you may not throw the blocks, blocks are for building). It is understood that young children need repetition to learn and it may be necessary to keep telling and showing them the appropriate behavior; patience is a virtue and I have lots of it! If after trying the below techniques a number of times and there is no change in the behavior, I will talk with the parents about the situation and together we will hopefully come to a solution.
Guidance Techniques used at Auntie Bee's Dayhome:
(1) Redirection : Distracting the child from the unwanted behavior (This works well for all ages, it is particularly used for infants and toddlers who do not understand their actions or consequences as a result of their actions)
(2) Natural Consequences : Allowing children to experience the safe, natural consequences of their behavior helps them accept responsibility for their own comfort
(3) Logical Consequences : Logical consequences are reasonable, related to the behavior and are arranged in advance. (e.g "We only have enough juice boxes for everyone to have one. So you can drink yours now, but you will not have more for snack time. Or I can get you water now and you can save your juice for snack time.")
(4) Negotiation and Problem Solving : This technique works by involving the child in helping to solve the problem.
AUNTIE BEE'S DAYHOME IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Smoking, use of alcohol, and use or possession of any illegal substance of unauthorized, potentially toxic substances are prohibited in the daycare.
PETS
We have one very gentle and the sweetest little Mini Schnauzer named Grizzy. He is a hypo dog and doesn't shed. The children love Grizzy and he loves them!