The Cliff Notes here, for anyone who hasn't braved the daycare search yet? Usually when you find a daycare provider that has an open spot, or who is taking a wait list, they will arrange an interview for you to get to know them and their policies of care. This is when a contract may or may not be signed, detailing expectations, monthly costs, length of contract, and other niceties.
Before you scrawl your John Doe on that contract, you may want to ask....
What is your policy on children having tantrums? How would you deal with it? Have you ever terminated a contract due to tantrums that didn't harm other children or property?
Anyone who has ever met a toddler knows that tantrums happen at the drop of a hat. This "phenomenon" has been recently illustrated for anyone who may not have met said representative toddler in the current blog, "Reasons Why My Son Is Crying." Some kids melt down when their parents leave on a regular basis too.... I was one of those "break glass screamers", for all of my terrible twos. Separation anxiety happens. This is something that care providers should be prepared for. You would think that this is a scenario a trained ECE can handle...
Surprisingly to new-to-this me, a simple search on a forum for care providers to chat with each other unearthed many conversations like this:
Question: "<The child> had a few temper tantrums and was throwing herself on the couch,
ignoring everyone. I tried to console her but in the end she just wanted
to be left alone. She got into a better mood when we went to take
another child to the school bus, but is still sensitive (she will cry at
the drop of a hat). When a child is like that, and they are
inconsolable and disruptive and you know the parent is home, do you call
them to pick up the child?" <witthheld username>
Many Answers, variations on first response of: "Yup. If an child is that miserable and is making the rest of the
children crazy (myself included) I do call the parent for a pick up.
Especially if they are home. It is stated in my contract that if the
child is not able to participate due to illness or otherwise (tantrums,
crying inconsolably) then a phone call is warranted to for pick up. <withheld username>
Several threads denoted home DCP's suggesting termination of contract if the child wasn't an "easy to care for" child, tantrumed regularly, or didn't nap for two full hours so the DCP could take a long break. Other's suggested that the "crying "denoted loss of bodily fluids" that could be stretched to child being sick", and thus would push to send the child home.
These are daycare providers that I would run from.
If they can't handle upset children, and actively blame parents for using their services ("Oh, the parent is doing errands/home/ on this one day that they have paid me to be caring for their child? I'm going to SEND THIS CHILD HOME then since this tantrum problem must be due to child ESP just knowing that their parent could be CaringForChild, how terrible to take a few hours for themselves)" Ack. Not even kidding, that was another response, almost word for word. Colour me surprised.
What constitutes a full day of care? What exactly do these charges cover?
Often day-cares will list a set price for a day of care, i.e. $50/day etc. It's really useful to have Exactly what that means nailed down before you start.
Is a "day" a set number of hours? A specific number of hours? (i.e. only 0700-1500, no variations, no overstays). Any time you drop off the child between the hours that the day care is open? What happens if you need to stay longer/pick up early? Are there established procedures, or is variation of any kind forbidden?
Does the daycare provide snacks and food for the child? What about diapers, if child is still using them? Is there an educational program, or is it free play? Does the daycare pickup/drop off the child from your work or home? If the provider decides they want to do field trips, who pays?
All of these things can vastly change the "value" of care you are getting.
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