Educator/Provider Fact Sheets

INFANT VISION: BIRTH TO 24 MONTHS

Infants develop many skills as they grow. We watch them learn to turn over, crawl and walk. They learn to coo, and eventually learn words. We watch how they learn to use their hands and fingers to pick up and manipulate objects. The infants vision also develops over time. They learn how to focus their eyes and move them accurately. Their eyes send visual information to the brain. Through their eyes, they learn about the world around them.

INDIRECT GUIDANCE

There are two kinds of guidance, direct and indirect (see Direct Guidance Skills). Indirect guidance is where outside factors can directly influence the behaviors of the children in your care. A big influence on children’s behavior is how you set up your childcare area. Most family childcare programs are held in the family home setting, some use a designated area such as a remodeled basement of garage. Whatever area you care for the children in can influence your behavior as well as the children.

IDENTIFYING YOUR CHILDCARE PHILOSOPHY

There are some parents or guardians that feel that because they pay you, they are able to set the rules in your childcare.

For example: They want their child to be able to watch their favorite TV show, but you feel it is too violent for some of the younger children. Grandmother drops off her grandchild with a big powdered sugar donut every morning. Other conflicts may arise concerning payments, discipline, toilet training, late pick-ups and drop-offs, and meals served.

HELPING CHILDREN WHO ARE STRESSED

Children can be very aware of what is happening in their communities. Many see things on TV that may be disturbing because they do not understand what is actually happening. Children may witness protests or violent confrontations in their neighborhoods. Also, children can feel the anxiety from parents. How do you recognize anxiety in a child? How can you help lessen the stress of anxiety in a child? According to Childcare Aware of America children at different behavioral stages may exhibit the following signs of anxiety:

HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP PATIENCE

As a childcare provider, you must take care of the needs of multiple children of multiple ages. The babies in your care need to be fed in a timely manner and can often be very insistent when hungry. Their diapers need to be changed and they need to be kept clean and comfortable. Having their needs met are an important part of their development. Toddlers are not patient and can be very demanding. Because you are caring for such a diverse group of children it is essential that you help the children in your care develop patience.

HEALTHY SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

As children grow and develop, they learn by imitating what they see older children and adults do. Children learn how to interact with others by watching you. If your family childcare environment treats everyone with consideration and respect, each new child entering your program will learn through that example.

As the family childcare provider, it is usually you that the children will imitate. You must set the example for acceptable social behavior.

HEALTHY AND SAFETY ASSURED -USE CHECKLISTS

As hard as you try, there may be days when you don’t feel well, are extra tired or just having a bad day. Everyone has bad days. That may also be the day when the children are not feeling well and extra cranky, and of course your licensor comes to visit. However, it’s important to remember that most professionals or parents visiting your home can quickly tell the difference between a ‘bad day’ and a poorly run childcare business.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

Exercise is important for children to develop healthy bodies. Even infants need exercise. Why is it so important that children get a lot on exercise? Here are five good reasons for children to get exercise:

• FIGHTING OBESITY: It is estimated that nearly 25 million children in the United States are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. (CDC)

• PREVENTION OF DIABETES: A child born today has a one in three chance of contracting diabetes during his lifetime. (CDC)

HEAD LICE

Head lice can be a problem especially if a child brings it into your childcare. Every provider dreads having to call a parent to ask them to pick up their child because they have lice. It is equally hard to call the other parents to let them know someone in your childcare has head lice.

Head lice can happen in any environment. It is a good idea to be prepared with a plan of action for notifying parents. If you have a computer, laptop or friend who does, design an informative fact sheet for the parent and distribute them when lice occurs in your home.

GUIDELINES FOR RELEASING CHILDREN

As a childcare provider, you are contracted by parents and guardians to care for their children. They expect that your first obligation will be to keep their children safe. In order to do that, you must have open and honest communication with the parents or guardian who enrolls the child. This is especially true when it comes to releasing their child from childcare. Let’s look at the following scenario:

GETTING YOUR OWN CHILDREN’S COOPERATION

You started your family childcare business with a vision of the childcare you wanted to create. You put a lot of thought into your philosophy, environment, curriculum, daily schedule, developmentally appropriate materials, activities, safety and nutrition. But have you considered how your childcare business can affect your own children? You are asking your children to share their home, toys, beds, clothes, food and most of all you. Here are some tips to help your children adjust to your new business and to get their cooperation.

FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE

Independence is an important skill for young children to develop. Often the first time a provider needs to deal with independent issues is when the child first comes to your program. Teaching children independence is a natural part of a child’s separation process and is needed for autonomy.

Before a child enters your program, the child may have expected his/her parents to do most things for them. Parents are often in a hurry and can’t always facilitate their child to realize their autonomy.

FOSTERING COMPETENCE

The children in your care learn a sense of competence when they have a supportive environment. We often hear preschoolers saying, “ I can do it myself.” They are learning everyday what they are able to accomplish. It’s that sense of competence that tells the child they can in fact do it.

A supportive environment is as important to the development of a preschool child as good health. The child’s surrounding have to stimulate and support an emerging sense of competence.

FAMILY CHILDCARE BUDGET

As with any business it is important that you carefully keep a financial record of your business. This will help you when planning to expand, purchase new equipment, add to or cut back your hours, taxes, and the over financial health of your business.

What should a budget look like?

The first items on your budget should be a list of your income.

SAMPLE INCOME:

• Payments from Parents

• State or childcare system payments

• CACFP Food Program payments

• Other income

Total up your income

FAMILIES IN CRISIS

As a person who works with children all day, you have learned to see things from the child’s perspective. You notice small steps in the child’s development, how they react in certain circumstances, and often the child will tell you things that they may not share with their parents. Therefore, you are in a position to share positive and negative insights with the parents.

FACTS ABOUT THUMB-SUCKING

Babies are born with the natural desire to suck. In fact, many babies suck their thumbs while in the womb. This sucking reflex allows the baby to take in food, in the form of breast milk or baby formula. That’s why a baby when they are not hungry will become calm when sucking on a pacifier.

ESTABLISHING GOALS FOR YOUR PROGRAM

Establishing goals for your childcare program can be beneficial for you and the children in your care. One of the best aspects of family childcare is that each home is unique. That is because each family childcare provider is an individual. You each structure your business to meet your needs, which include accommodating your family members. Your program will reflect your personality.

ENFORCING RULES

As a family childcare provider, one of your goals should be to help children in their development of proper interaction with others. You need to teach children how to solve problems, know their boundaries, and how to control their behavior.

ENCOURAGE READING READINESS

Children do not have to have mastered their ABC’s to begin getting them ready to read. You can help the children in your care start developing the skills they need to be ready to read long before they reach kindergarten. Here are some tips which you can use to help children progress.

ENCOURAGE HONESTY

Teaching children honesty is a very important part of their development. Learning how to be honest helps the child build trusting relationships as they grow. However, we all know that very young children often do not tell the truth.