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TITLEINSTITUTIONREPtIORT NOPUODATENOTEAVAILABLE FROM

EDRS PRICEDESCRIPTORS

ABSTRACT

DOCUMENT RESUME

PS 007 688

Day Care for Your Children.Children's Bureau (DREW), Washington, D.C.DREW- OHD -74 -47[74]16p.

Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government PrintingOffice, Washington, D.C. 20402 (DREW Publication No.(OHD) 74-47)

MF-$0.75 HC-$1.50 PLUS POSTAGE*Child Care Workers; Childhood Needs; Day CarePrograms; *Day Care Services; *Decision Making;*Family Day Care; Guidelines; Objectives; PersonalInterests; *Program Evaluation; *Selection

This booklet describes the two main kinds of day careservices', private homes and day care centers, tells how and where tofind out.about them. It offers some general advice or what to lookfor in selecting a day care facility ah4 gives some practicalinformation about what to do if there are no adequate day carefacilities available in a community. (Author/CS)

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DAY CARE FORYOUR CHILDREN:

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FOREWORDIf you are a working mother or a father raising children

alone, most likely one of the things you are concerned aboutis the care of your children during your working hours. Sincemore and more mothers are going to workeither of necessityor choicethe need for adequate day care for children hasincreased, and the variety of day care services offered can bea bit confusing.

This booklet offers some guidelines to help you select theright day care arrangements for your children and your particu-lar situation. It presents the two main sources of day careservicesprivate homes and day care centers; how and whereto find out about them; some general advice on what to lookfor in selecting a day care facility: and some practical informa-tion about what to do if there re no adequate day carefacilities available in your community.

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Lives, e.eighbors' for a recommendation: place a 5[104In the nv,vspaper; or ask a local PrA for suggestions. Get' twoor three names and \ not each home to fincl the one you think

bii het for \ our

1, ha, to Look tor in a Family Dav Care Acme-M The LicenseMost States require a license to care for

oilier peoples children in famil\ d\ care homes. The licenset' Its \ou that the home has been Intipected, and meets health,.aletv and other Londroon. Ii \ Our Stale requires a license,ask to we it in the c\ care hornet; volt \ or call the agencythat 1.,slik'S 1.1,:tiali\ the department of social services.Find out if the license has er been re\ oked. and if so, forwhat reason,

'The I tome and its Furnkhings---Its a good idea to selecta home close to \ here \ nu 1, e. it \ ou can find a goocl one.

be less tying on \ nu and \ our child if you don't have totea el r.,1" cver% C1,1\ .

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tet the children try out their own ideas, but still supervise dickactivities? Is she energetic. enough to he able to keep up withthe children' sure she has enough evenence in caring forc-hi,ldren. Are the children happy? Do then seem to like ,her?Do you reel ' our child or children would be happy with her'?How mans ether adults \\ childI c come in .contact within the home . grandmothers, uncles, aunts, etc.?

ost Jrld tien.,When \ ou rind the home you think is right for \ our child,

\ ,d the clay e are mother should sully understand whateach of vou to do. hi avcid misunderstandings, it's helpful!t vcw two 'Ante clo1\r1 1% ha t 1ou agree on, and both of you keepa copy Here are some suggestions for points to settle:

l-lo man\ days of care «ill ou need for your child eachweek'What is fee and what does it cover? Food? Diaper

e' Laundr\Do \ ou pa\ nor absent days? Holidays? Vacations?\tuct wu pa\ in advance? .

Does ,he give a dated receipt for each payment (may betd\ deduction ?

I \\ ho del:\ ers the child and picks him up? Unless youphone or send a note, the child should not be turned

an\ one but the person agreed upon.Vt. %()ur child call the day care mother? It mayon!use h,rn he calk her "granny," or -aunt,- or if he

biyth .mother,"0101.1! meals? Do the children get a well-balanced,

h0t -lea; the middle of the day, and good snacks atid-afternoon?

.-ne r .,0u may want to alter your lists. Always,k r". changes with the clav care mother so..v!;! .r e ',,,,r)rk together for the good of .,our child.

rfuZothPr.\ ..0!, d the day care mother depend on each

, .hi know, and she uses what you know",, ',our ( hilt!. Discusc, with her such

r. :,0d and doesn't like; foods that dis-11!" ..:le, tears. ()doh MP; a r1V special way he

the toilet, toilet training; things he

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.,Be friendly and business-like in your dealings with the'clily,,Care mother. If V 01,1 are having problems in your personal life,'go to a social agency or professional counselor. Don't Seelt,

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.....,...actviee from sour child's caregiver. She is to care for yOUr.child, not solve wur problems. . , . ,:, *,

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Batt() talk o\ er an\ questions about your child's day withher. Get her to tell you Ahat your child did during the dayinteresting things that tilled his day, not just that he wasgood."Treat her as t.ou want \our employer to treat you. You have

regular hours and pa'i on ,,our job. The day care mother shouldhave regular hours and pay.

If your child likes or even loves his day care mother, youshould be glad. and not jealous. The fact that he loves hershrms that he is happy, which is one of the big reasons youtoed ;o find a good famik clay care home for him. Your childneeds both or \ou--but for different reasons. Remember this,the caregiver can never take your place in his life.

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round not to t ()mph, ,.ttli the rules and regulanions governingcla care Lit dines ,er ices.

Nhethel: it ate or public, (la\ cdre colter. there should

be a trained protessional stall running it, and a Nellrekoriclecl.program ,Ahrch (Hier, ser\ )( (', ti) all children, int luding thosekith -.per gal needs I hole shOLIICI he nu dIstlinliflatiOn .16 re-

gard ttl fat. t I Oed. se., religion. national orit,in, ormarital status or Ate oi parents. The enter IllEi,t pro\-icle'lean-ing e\penenr \\ hr( h help (hildren (le\ chuff 1)111SICa!ly, ent)-tionalk, ,.ok tall\ and intelle( walk. It must have suificierit in-do)r .11(1 Oiltduur spa.e and E'CIllipnlent for the number aridages of the (liddieo enrolled to suit the ph\ sic al and otherde\ elopmental needs of the children.

AII the h Idren enrolled 'it a da\, care center should haveoksical e\atninanon b\ a dt1(101 an other child health

.,tyrk;ce. olitinu!!Ig ser It es h\ the center if the t

oio.,tde it itir the child.f)epencling tin the dad\ length of the pro,..;ram. a day care

(enter (1,,iralk, pro\ :(le, meals tor the r hildreh. \\l-11(h art' pre-pared arid sor\ td it .1 t lean, sate sotting !he staff and all volun-teer, inti,t hi, kii, health 1)lyhle111,, %%huh \\ (fold be harm-

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\gain SOu should settle on what her obligations wiltfar as sour child is oncerned: She should not have to clear),your house. hut she should he willing to do the child's laundC*,and to-wash dishes that he and she may have used during theflak. There are usually several agencies listed in the telephonedirectorci arid their requirements for caregivers are fairly -hi.gh,lust the same s ou should inteRiew several people from theagpnelec lviore you select one.

It rp,iv be poisible to pool or rotate sour child care amongparents_ This is generalk known as a "cooperative day. tareprogram.- and require.- each mother to offer her services inthe (id\ care facilik for certain clas s or, in some instanteS,paing fees so that qualified staff may he hired, Talk to otherparents who ha\e the same difficulty finding day care arrange-ments for their children Take the initiative if necessary, andpost notices about sour interest in starting a day care co-op

places like sour local supermarket, church bulletins, orneighhorhold drug store If sou have a community newspaper,put a notice in that. It is usualk quite inexpensive.

There Arr, no set rule.; r vorkint4 out the arrangements withothor pa rt.n r I Like !-1( willingness and cooperation onvN, em\nnt,' to pro\ ide good day care service.

Yoi., can hoseyer purchase a manual regarding the estab-l'shri'ent ot a parent cooneratke program from the California(oun I Of ron Rirtoriat'on Nursery Sch0015, Inc.. 682 East6"!!) ctmpt I 0,11! Roach CallfOrnid 908n5, entitled, POINTERSroR PAR rirlf,An\c; PARENTS. The price is $5.50 includingnest Aryl handling

d,p. arranments or facilities are inadequate, it may11q, 0,,,,ih!e for %nu to ssnrk )A101 other parents to get new

suc h os through the Community C:oordi.',Ater! ,e, Program, College and University-basedP vent Chdd conters, or the c reation of an inclustrially-spori-."r"d cr"rr A good court e Of information regardingridt; .tr11 ha ,Pd dos tart' is a booklet entitled DAY CARE

Icrs \DI s FRY INVOLVEmEVT, published by The Wom-en Donartrunnt of Labor, Washington, D.C.

noihi for a small group of determined parents toand imoro,,e the quality and quantity of day care serv-

,,, ri :m1,1 I in ts I the, ,Aork together and talk to enoughn,,Up;.,ho an!, fl d position to help.

AFTER YOU MAKE YOUR DAY CARE ARRANGEMENTS

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\ our lliild has such smotoms as a high lever, severediarrhea, or rnt1c h \,()1111tIng. .,oci should c'ertaink, keep him athome until he is well.

i. 1., qir Child I Iapp'Alter so,crat weeks, the way vour ehrld acts about the day

care arrangements will tell ou it he is getting along all rightand if all is well. Some good signs that he is getting along fineare That he talks about his day there, That at home he eats%Aid! and tilted v ell. That he is active arid cheerful. But if hecries at he ng left there each day, and begins to get upset easilyaC home. to lose interest in eating, to be listless, to :sleep poorly,kou had better look more deeply into his clay.

Talk to the caregiver. Try to find out how he behaves afterou lea\ e him. \lost likely. she will be more than willing to

held you and your child. You may want to take your child tohis doctor and talk Alth him about the problem. Or go to thedepartment or welfare or the department of health and ask ifthere is someone \.ou can talk with who may be able to helpyou.

It mw, lust be .our child is not ready or had not been prop-er+. prepared to he away from you. But if the child continuesto he unhappy, ,.ou may have made a mistake in picking theday care home or center vou did, and you 'may have to makeanother plan. Tell your child's caregiver the reason you aredoing this. She will probably want what is best for the child,as you du.

You Ha, e to Change Day (AIL Arrangementsro change a child from one day care facility to another and

then another can be very upsetting for him. Unless you aresure that you have made a serious mistake in picking the daycare facilik, (I.) not move him to another without giving a greatdeal of thought to.,it. But if for some reason you take him fromthe day care facility, plan with his caregiver for that step lust

you did when he first came. Let your child know about it as.early as \Jou can and tell him what the change will be,

If von - rhilrl has been in a family day care home, try to takehire bar k for (.1 visit or two after he has left. To be taken awayone evening and never to get hack or see the caregiver againmay bother him, and he may even think it's his fault.

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YOU WILL HAVE PEACE OF MIND

When you have found a good day care arrangement for yourvou won't be ,,,,orr\ing about his being alright while he

av,a Y from vou. Your child will have a better chance ofbecoming a happy, well-rounded, and healthy adult, and youwill have peace of mind, knowing that he is well cared for andin safe hands.