Be a Good Child Care Parent

Parents looking for a child care provider usually use checklists or brochures designed to give them tips and information about what to consider when choosing a child care:

• Is the facility/home clean?
• What type of training have the providers had?
• Will my child be happy here? Safe here?
• (See Example Questions to Ask Before You Choose Child Care)

A parents’ responsibility does not end once they have selected the child care center/home for their child. One of the most valuable assets a family can have is quality, dependable child care.

It is not only an asset personally, but to an employer as well. Finding this special person (or center) can be key to your happiness on the job. It is stress relieving to know children are in a safe and nurturing environment while a parent is at work.

Just as the child care provider nurtures a child, the parent needs to nurture their relationship with the child care provider. How the child care provider is treated will most likely affect how long the relationship lasts, how positive the interactions are, and ultimately, how happy the child is in the setting.

A survey was conducted of some Idaho child care providers. They were asked for tips to share with parents that would make for a better child care experience overall for everyone involved. As you will see from the following tips, they ranged from payment issues to discipline and health and safety issues.

The surveys indicate a majority of misunderstandings between child care providers and parents could be resolved if parents would carefully read the Policy and Procedure guidelines and registration packets.

It is important to remember that even though most child care providers choose the profession because of their love of children, it is still a “business” and bills must be paid.

Another issue relates to dressing children for the weather. Numerous comments were received on this issue and the difficulty it causes if a child is unable to participate in a group outing. According to a provider at Parents Blessing Learning Center in Moscow, Idaho, “Nothing is worse than to tell a child they can’t go outside to play in the snow because their parents didn’t bring proper clothing.”

Tips

Payment Related Issues

• Give two weeks notice if removing a child from child care. This allows the center to replace the child without the budget suffering.  
• Pay on time, the same time each month, and without being asked. Child care budgets rely on parent tuition to pay employees. Write down and keep track of your payment arrangements.  
• Expect tuition increases. Sometimes this is the only way to give a quality teacher the raise they deserve. Check prices of other providers if you have concerns.

"It is very important to pay on time, without having to be reminded or asked, so we can give our full attention to caring for the children." -Lori Asker, Lori’s Little Learning Center, Moscow, Idaho

Safety or Health Related Issues

• Properly dress your child for the weather. Parents sometimes let children wear sandal-like shoes when it is snowing outside. Make sure the child has boots, gloves, and coats to wear when it is cold. Also remember to pin mittens (with large, sturdy diaper pins) to coat sleeves.  
• Give all medication to the teachers (don’t leave it in lunch boxes). Always bring a doctor’s note for prescription medications and instructions for over-the-counter drugs (dosage and how often to be given). (see Giving Medication Safely)  
• Always follow the center’s sick policy. It is there for a reason, to help keep teachers and other children healthy. It is best for the child to be home with mom or dad when they are sick. Have a back-up plan for children when they are ill.  
• Don’t give medication to a sick child to bring a fever down and then send the sick child to school.

"Let the provider know when new immunizations are given so we can keep our records current." -Heidi Starr, Cloverdale Christian Day School, Boise, Idaho