SHARE REGULATIONS WITH PARENTS
Sharing information with parents is an important way to build teamwork with parents. You should be well informed as to what the regulation say regarding parents.
For example:
ü Regulations pertaining to parent’s accessibility to children while in care
ü Regulations and laws pertaining to child custody
ü Regulations pertaining to parental permission documents
ü Your policies and procedures pertaining to many issues regarding their child’s care.
It is important you understand these requirements so that you are able to share this information with your childcare families. Why is this important?
Parents often make requests that may be in direct opposition to the regulations that govern your business. Issues can arise pertaining to:
• Enrollment
• Immunizations
• Custody issues
• Foods served
• Confidentiality
• Sleeping arrangements
• Discipline
• Toilet training
• Hours of care
• Payments
• And many others
Therefore, it’s necessary when first enrolling children to inform parents about what they can expect of you and what you are legally able to provide. The better informed parents are about your state’s child care regulations, the more receptive they may be in assisting you to maintain compliance.
For example: Parents who insist their child takes naps in a separate quiet room. When you explain that it is a regulation that you must be in the room with the child, the parents can understand why their child must sleep with the other children.
One of the ways to educate parents about the rules is to include this information in a parent handbook. A parent handbook will contain your contract, and your policies and procedures. If you do not currently have a parent handbook, it really is important that you create one. It’s a good idea to include information about the rules governing your program as well as your other expectations (payment schedule, sick policy, etc.).
All the items in your contract should be explained in your parent handbook. A comprehensive contract should be signed by both you and the parents. Sharing this information does not mean there will never be a time when a parent decides to ignore a policy or rule or makes a request that could compromise your compliance with state regulations. It does mean, however, that you can simply direct their attention to your handbook with the signed contract and remind them of your mutual agreement.