Revised April 2009

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm

Admissions

Gigglebox Playcare does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, nationality, religion, gender preferences, ethnic origin, etc. The center accepts children from infancy to 10 years of age. All children will be enrolled on a trial basis of 2 weeks as outlined in the parent/provider agreement.

Enrollment Procedures

I would like to meet with parents to discuss each child's specific needs, review the program guidelines, and fill out all necessary forms.

Children may be enrolled for full-time daycare (5-10 hours per day, 5 days a week) or part-time (5-10 hours per day, 3-4 days per week). All scheduled hours will be paid for regardless of change in schedule unless a two-week written notice is given. Drop-in care is provided if space is available, but must be arranged and agreed upon in advance.

Half days are 7:00 am until 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm until 5:30 pm.

Prices are for all children that are enrolled.

• Full time 5 days a week 5 to 10 hours a day $190.00 a week.
• Part time 4 days a week 5 to 10 hours a day $150.00 a week.
• Part time 3 days a week 5 to 10 hours a day $130.00 a week.
• Half days are $30.00 per half day.
• Drop in care is an hourly rate of $5.00 per hour with a minimum of 3 hours.

Fees

• Fees will be paid in advance on Friday for the following week's service.
• No refunds will be given for days when children are not in care due to illness or other reason.
• Fees will be set upon each individual's schedule.
• Multiple children discounts will be given.
• Additional fees will be assessed for additional hours.
• If you will be late, please call ahead and we can work with you. However, if late pick-up occurs on a regular basis, your fee structure will need to be reviewed and late fees may apply.
• Fees are subject to change on a yearly basis. A notice of a fee change will be communicated at least 4 weeks in advance.

Family Benefits

Each family is entitled to the following upon completion of part time or full time enrollment:

• 10 "free days" each year. These can be used for sick days, vacation days, holidays, etc. but notification must be given in advance whenever possible.
• 1 free weekend night (Friday or Saturday) each quarter of the year. The date will be communicated in advance, we will open the playcare from 6pm - midnight to allow for an adult night out, a shopping night, time to clean your house, or whatever else you may need to do "kid free". This will be provided at no extra charge to you.
• 1 free Saturday in December. December's a very busy month for everyone so we will open the playcare from 8:00am - 3:00pm to allow for any holiday shopping, decorating, etc. This will also be provided at no extra charge to you. The date will be communicated to each family in November.

Daily Activities

Activities will be based upon age and geared towards developmental levels of individual children. Family childcare often provides a mixed age of children. I will offer activities that are appropriate for all ages. I believe that having a classroom with mixed ages offers children the opportunity to build self-confidence by being an "older brother or sister" to smaller children. These experiences contribute to the growth of self-motivated, independent learners. I will introduce new material to the environment to promote learning through play. Activities will include arts and crafts, sensory, music and movement, pre-reading and math skills, outdoor play and dramatic play. Your child's day will consist of active and quiet times. Television will be used to supplement your child's day, only appropriate material will be used and TV time will never exceed one hour in any given day.

Outdoor Play

We will go outside every day possible. It's important for kids to get fresh air and be able to get exercise. Please bring your child dressed appropriately and remember to bring proper outerwear.

Nutrition

A healthy breakfast and lunch will be provided each day, along with a morning and afternoon snack. You will be provided with a menu each week so you know what your children are eating. A well-balanced meal will always be served, including servings of fruits, vegetables, and dairy.

I will work with parents to meet the special dietary and food allergies needs of children. I may ask parents to supply the special foods required or make other arrangements if I am unable to meet the requirements due to limited time.

Mealtime is a social time and will be used as a learning and sharing experience. Children will be exposed to a variety of foods and encouraged to try them, but never forced. Food will never be used as a punishment or reward. Meals and snacks are scheduled and no child will go longer than three hours without food. Food is served at mealtime only, not on demand, so children who choose not to eat at mealtime will have to wait until the next snack or meal is provided. School aged children will be provided with a snack when they arrive from school.

Rest or Naptime

Every child under the age of 5, who are cared for more than 4 hours will be provided with rest or naptime. Sleeping bags are to be provided by the parent and are to be taken home weekly to be washed. A playpen is provided for children less than 1 year of age.

Guidance / Discipline

In accordance with "Wisconsin Rules for Licensing Family Day Care", punishment that is humiliating or frightening to a child, such as hitting, spanking, shaking, verbal or sexual abuse, withholding or forcing food or punishment for lapses in toilet training and other forms of physical punishment are prohibited. These forms of punishment will never be used even at a parent's request. Provider is required to report any knowledge of any reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected to the Dane County Department of Human Services or local law enforcement agency.

Children will be taught with positive redirection and encouraged to participate in problem solving. Clear limits will be set and talked about with the children.

Positive guidance including modeling desired behavior, consistent routines, close supervision and well-arranged environment will be used. Children over the age of 3 may be asked to take quiet time away from the group not to exceed 5 minutes. The child will sit within sight of the provider. Gentle, nonviolent, physical restraint will be used only if a child is hurting him/herself or another child. This will be stopped as soon as the child is able to be alone without hurting.

Items to Be Provided By Parents

• Disposable diapers, wipes and diaper ointments
• Labeled blanket or sleeping bag.
• Minimum of three bottles for children who use them.
• Full change of clothing, including under clothes and socks.
• Clothing suitable for outdoor play for the appropriate season including winter and water boots, swimming suits and snow suits.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent (if desired) and signed permission slip to apply.

Holidays

The center will be closed on the following holidays and will be paid days:

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• July 4th
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve - closed at 12:00pm
• Christmas Day

If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the holiday will be observed on the Friday before. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed the Monday after.

Observation of Holidays

We will talk about and observe holidays that are important to the families here at the center. If there is a specific holiday important to your family, please share that with me so we can observe.

Notification of an Absent Child

Parents need to notify the provider of a late arrival or if their child will not be coming on a scheduled day before their contracted arrival time.

Release of Children

For the safety of your children, I will not permit your child to leave with anyone other than the persons authorized on your release form. Under no circumstances will your child be released to anyone not listed on your form. Please notify me if someone other than you is picking up your child. If someone on the release form arrives to pick up our child and I haven't been notified, I will not release your child until I have contacted you by phone. A phone call telling me that someone NOT listed on the release form is NOT acceptable. Your child will not be released to ANYONE that I have reason to believe is under the influence of alcohol or any other drug.

Vacation

The provider will be provided with 10 paid vacation days each year and 5 sick days (if needed). Notice of vacation days will be given at least 30 days in advance so you have time to make other arrangements. In the event a sick day needs to be used, you will be notified as soon as possible.

Sick Children

If you are not sure if your child is feeling well enough to participate in group activities on any given day, please feel free to call and discuss. Childcare will not be provided for children who have had a fever (101 degrees or more), vomiting or diarrhea in the previous 24 hours, who have a contagious illness, or who are too ill or uncomfortable to participate in daily activities. Childcare will not be provided for a child suspected of having strep throat or other communicable diseases until he/she is cultured and the results are in. If positive, the child must be on medication for 24 hours before returning to care. Other parents will be notified if their child is exposed to communicable disease. Parents are responsible for taking appropriate medical action. The provider has the right to request a doctor's visit for a child with a prolonged cold or other illness.

The full hourly rate is charged for child sick days unless "free days" are available and used.

If a child is on medication for any reason for a given day, parents must write a note stating the name and type of medication (even if it will not be administered at daycare). Medication often alters moods and this is important care information. This is also very important in the event of a medical emergency.

Prescription and non-prescriptive medication will be administered only with a signed authorization and direction of the parent is on file. A form is provided for giving this permission. Prescription medicine must be in its original container, bearing the pharmacy label with the child's name and all other required information. Over the counter medicine must be in its original container, labeled with the child's name and dosage and be within the expiration date. All medication administered, accident or injuries occurring on site, marked change in behavior or appearance, or observation of injuries to a child's body received outside my care will be entered in the medical logbook. As a licensed provider, I am required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to local authorities.

If a child becomes ill or is injured while at the center, parents will be contacted. Ill children will be isolated within sight or sound of me until the parent or emergency contact can pick them up. Parents should pick up the child within the hour.

If there is a need for emergency medical care, the provider will contact the Emergency Medical Service by dialing 911 and the child will be taken to the hospital designated by the parent on the emergency contact care form. If circumstances prevent consulting the child's record, the child will be taken to UW Hospital emergency room. Should an ambulance be needed, parents will be responsible for any costs. Parents will be contacted upon arrival at the facility.

Superficial injuries will be treated with soap, water, band-aid, or with ice. A medical log will be maintained of all injuries that occur at the center as well as injuries or illness noted at the time of the child's arrival to the center. Provider is a mandated reporter of child abuse of all types and any indications of such abuse will be recorded in the medical log and reported if necessary.

Procedures on personal cleanliness and communicable disease will follow licensing rules. I will report any serious communicable disease to the parents of enrolled children and the county health department.

Provider Illness or Emergency

Provider is entitled to up to 5 paid illness / personal emergency days per contract year. These days may be used in advance or accumulated for use during the contract year, but may not carry over to the following year. In the event the provider should become ill or have an emergency situation where it is not possible to provide care, parents will be notified as early as possible.

Emergency Procedures

Safety first! Evacuation plans will be practiced monthly. For safety reasons, I teach children what to do in case of a fire or a tornado and we do practice drills each month. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are tested monthly. In case of fire, children will be evacuated through the nearest safe exit, children are to meet by the big rock in our front yard. The attendance from will be taken out to assure that all children are evacuated. The phone will be taken if possible to dial for emergency assistance. In the event of a tornado all children will be accounted for and then taken to the basement. Crackers, water and a radio are conveniently placed in the basement at all times. Records of fire and tornado drills are kept and available upon request.

If I am called away for a personal emergency, I will call ??? to supervise the children and contact the parents. Emergency back-up providers, volunteers and substitutes will receive an orientation that will be documented.

Confidentiality

All information provided by the child's parents about their child and family is confidential. Such information will be kept in individual files and never shared with anyone except the provider and sub-provider (if necessary), except where required by law, without the written permission of the child's parents.

Smoking Policy

There will be no smoking allowed in any area used by children or in any area on my property by order of State of Wisconsin law. If parents do smoke, please do not discard any of your cigarette butts on or near my childcare property. Please dispose of them in your own vehicle ashtray. If any of the children were to find them, I would be liable for any problems the butts would cause.

Respect of Property

Please remember that Gigglebox Playcare is also my family's home. I expect the children to follow basic common sense rules. Family childcare is provided in the hopes that your child can enjoy a familiar "home feeling" when away from their own homes. Please help reinforce these values.

Termination

The first two weeks of care shall be a trial period for both parent and provider. Either party can discontinue at care anytime during the trial period, with fees charged only for the actual number of hours of care used up to that point.

When the trial period is complete, a two-week written notice must be given by either party if the child care arrangement is to be discontinued. This holds unless another mutually agreed upon agreement is made between parent and provider.

A child may be discharged from the center for the following reasons, but not limited to:

• Failure of the parents to pay fees in a timely manner. Parents may propose alternate payment arrangements in advance of the due date, both parent and provider must agree to the agreement in writing.
• Lack of cooperation on the part of the parent(s).
• Inability of the program to fully meet the needs of the child. If opportunities arise, the provider will advise and consult with the parent concerning how the problem could be resolved.
• Repeated failure to pick up the child at the scheduled time.
• Failure to return and complete forms as needed.

In Closing

I hope that the information shared in this packet answers all of your questions about Gigglebox Playcare. I hope that I've covered everything I can to ensure that we can create a great partnership in caring for your child/children. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please let me know so we can discuss them. I look forward to the opportunity to provide an inviting, safe place for your child.