Day Care

Germs are everywhere. And day care germs abound. They are too small to see but we know they are there. Children can spread germs without ever getting sick themselves. They can catch colds, ear infections, diarrhea and worse. More severe illnesses like chicken pox, impetigo and hepatitis are also spread by germs. Toys are a vehicle for day care germs, so are unwashed hands of a caregiver after diaper change or blowing a child’s runny nose. Runny noses don’t always mean a child is sick, but the child can also be carrying something right under your nose so to speak, and you won’t know it for several days until your symptoms start showing. So how can you cut back on day care germs and minimize your child’s sick days Every child gets sick eventually with the average cold, but chances of spreading it to the other day care children and the sick child’s family can be greatly reduced by following a few simple rules.

Always keep up to date with your child’s immunizations. Schools will not enroll children in kindergarten without the immunization records filled out by the family physician. The same requirements must be met for daycare enrollment as well. Keep copies of your child’s immunization records and have them ready to give to the daycare provider. You can request information on the other children enrolled in the daycare facility as well. All children enrolled in any daycare facility your child is going to should be immunized.

You should always have a backup plan for days when your child is sick and cannot attend daycare. Even if you suspect your child is catching something, he should be kept at home. The other daycare mothers will appreciate your compliance with this and they should follow suit. But there are times when some parents ignore the customary considerations surrounding children attending public environments and send their children off to daycare sick anyway. [...]

Phoenix, AZ boasts a large, diverse population, and it strives to meet the needs of that population. A need in any area is care for the children, particularly during working times when both parents are unavailable. Because of this, Phoenix child care options are as diverse as its people.

Child care is available for all ages, from six weeks of age on up. Parents have a variety of choices. One is to place their child in a traditional child care institutional setting. Here qualified teachers will care for their children in an age appropriate setting, with a reasonable staff to child ratio. Such facilities maintain a classroom setting and structured daily schedule very close to what the child will encounter when entering Kindergarten.

An institutional style pre-school is also available, solely for children of preschool age (three and four year olds). There are two types, traditional and Montessori. In a traditional setting, the focus is on preparing the child to enter school, and the situation is very much like Kindergarten will be. The children follow a schedule, and begin basic work on pre-reading and math skills. Much of this is done in a manner similar to that of a classroom, with much of the learning done on paper, and generally one or two adults to fourteen or fifteen children. [...]

Day care issues of facility policy, additional charges and late fees, and visitation rules are important issues but none seem as pertinent as the problem of separation anxiety. Few parents enjoy leaving their child with a stranger for hours at a time, and though there are benefits to child care it is hardly on your mind when faced with a child having a temper tantrum as you are trying to leave the daycare facility to head to work. So how can you ease this often temporary situation The solution lies within yourself to come up with creative and personalized ways to ease your child through one of the most difficult day care issues separation anxiety.

Not all children have day care issues such as separation anxiety. Some babies and children enjoy being around other children in a new environment, and take to daycare right away. Those parents are the lucky ones. But if you are experiencing any of the following situations at drop off time, there are changes you can make to get through this time of transition (because it will pass). Don’t mistake separation anxiety for misbehaving. Understanding your child’s fears is the first step.

Your child knows you as the source of comfort in his life and even the smallest of children will experience fear when seeing their mommy leave their surroundings and go away. What you say and how you say it can be understood by your child. If you have a baby you are nursing, try to schedule time to nurse your baby right before you leave. Holding and comforting your baby this way is a great way to make a connection, and talking to your baby helps to relax him. If you are feeling anxious about leaving your baby, he will most definitely sense this. If you have done your homework, and are confident in the environment in which you are leaving him, let this come through in your voice. Your tone of voice will reassure him you’ll be back soon and that you love him. [...]

Phoenix offers a wide variety of day care options to its residents, allowing them to choose between either an institutional facility or an in-home one; parents of preschoolers can choose to place their child in either a “traditional” preschool or enroll them in a Montessori school. Those who desire one-on-one care for their child may choose to hire either a nanny or an au pair, either privately or through an agency.

Selecting which of these choices is the right one for an individual is a difficult task at best, and choosing an individual caregiver harder still. There are many resources that can help parents with this. Word of mouth is a wonderful endorsement. Parents know best what parents like, and the opinions of other families can help offer direction if taken with a grain of salt. Bear in mind that if one parent likes a caregiver and another does not, it is possible they each seek different qualities from a day care environment; however, if several sources have expressed dissatisfaction with a specific facility there may be a problem.

Any Phoenix Department of Social Services can provide a list of licensed day care providers, as well as preschools and before and after school care in the area. A licensed day care is one that has met state requirements for operation, and is required to provide at least a minimum level of care to maintain its license. For parents of preschoolers, Social Services and the area Health Department can also provide information and applications for the local Head Start programs, if available. [...]

Any day care is going to need to have on hand all the necessary equipment. This encompasses cribs, high chairs, booster seats, strollers, car seats and toys. The first five are fairly self explanatory, but what sorts of toys should you buy? The very nature of day care almost guarantees that you will have a children in all age groups, from infants on up, and while some toys easily cross age gaps, a majority will not.

Infants through about six months have very little mobility, and therefore will need toys that will stimulate them without frustrating them because of their inability to interact. Soft toys in bright colors that they can put in their mouth are an excellent choice, and if they should happen to make noise all the better. As infants will taste everything in their attempts to identify it, items with sharp corners, loose attachments (such as beads or eyes), or excessive amounts of hair (think stuffed dog) are better suited for older children. Providing colorful pictures for the child to look at while lying down or being changed will delight them, as will a colorful, patterned blanket for tummy time. Many bouncy seats provide a toy bar for the infant to stare at while seated, and allow for interaction as the child grows and learns to use their hands to reach for things.

From six months to a year children learn to use their hands to explore objects. Soft toys, books, and teething rings are a good choice. This is also a good age to bring out plastic keys, telephones, bathtub squirting toys (be sure they are dry, clean and free of mildew on the inside), rattles, and any other item the child can hold in their hand easily, so long as they do not possess small parts which may present a choking hazard. Soft balls the child can throw will please them, as they are still learning how to use their hands and are delighted by the cause and effect of seeing a ball fly after they throw it. [...]

Ever since women entered the workforce, the great daycare debate has raged on. Parents, scholars and politicians have argued the pros and cons of external childcare facilities until families are absolutely certain placing their child in day care results in either an infant prodigy or a teenage delinquent.

As with any issue, the truth has been found to be somewhere in between. Day care can be a tremendous opportunity for a young child to learn social skills, expand their vocabulary and learn to function as an individual away from their parents; constant interaction with their peers allows them to develop a respect for the opinions and emotions of others, learn the value of teamwork, and to form friendships that will often carry into their school years. They are also given an opportunity to learn basic academic skills at an earlier age, and adapt to the more rigid structure of a classroom environment prior to entering Kindergarten, easing what is often a difficult transition for children who are kept at home in their preschool years.

On the flip side of the coin, not all day care providers are able to give the high quality of attention and education necessary for growth and adjustment. This is often due to an inadequate amount of staff for the number of children a facility cares for. Many times by the time a child reaches preschool age there is only one teacher responsible for up to fifteen students, if not more (licensing guidelines state that there should be no more than fifteen students per teacher at the four and five year old level; however, a fluctuating population of drop-in students may cause this number to be nothing more than a myth). The results of a long term study done by the National Institute of Health showed that those children who spent a great amount of time in a lower quality daycare displayed more instances of aggressive behavior and demands for constant, individual attention, a trend that continued through the sixth grade. This behavior may stem from the need to compete for attention from a very young age, and is displayed in children of large families as well. Those children who are quiet and well behaved are set to the side while the teachers struggle to deal with the children who are not so self sufficient; is it any wonder, then, that this often results in these children learning to emulate the less than savory behavior of their peers, whom they see receiving the individual attention they crave? [...]

Crisp mountain air, wide open fields, and clear crystal lakes all present a fantastic vacation picture for man and his dog. The opportunities for bonding over fresh fish are difficult for the dog lover and nature enthusiast to pass up. Unfortunately, not all vacations are as canine friendly as this one. The image of that same dog that would have so happily loped across the beach confined to a hotel room in New York City or in a car for three days on a coast to coast road trip is not nearly as appealing. If you are planning on taking a vacation in a spot that would be unsuitable for your pet, it may be wise to consider boarding them while you are away.

Hundreds of boarding kennels are in operation across the country. The staff at these facilities have made an occupation out of their love for animals and would be happy to provide a temporary home for your canine companion. Anywhere from ten to one hundred dogs may be in residence at any given point in time, depending on the size of the facility, and costs vary by location. The kennel will provide feeding dishes, bedding, toys and a place to sleep for the duration of your pet’s stay. As with many child care facilities, dogs are often asked not to bring their personal possessions with them in order to avoid the eventuality of them being stolen or damaged. All grooming equipment and supplies will also be provided..

The daily routine of a boarding kennel will include feeding on a regular schedule (if your dog has specific nutritional needs this should be discussed with the director prior to placing your dog), grooming services, including but not limited to shampooing, nail clipping, and cleaning of eyes and ears, and scheduled and unscheduled rest times for the dogs, as needed. Plenty of play time is provided, with one on one time with the staff, independent play and group activities with the other pets in residence. Some kennels may provide time with a trainer as well; however, this is not guaranteed and should be discussed with the program director. [...]

If a child has to enter a child care program at a young age, choosing the correct one can be as important to their future as the correct college. The consequences of a child having a poor early childhood experience are widely documented, with children displaying behavioral problems, increased insecurity and separation anxiety and excessive demands for attention into the grade school years. In light of this, many parents often feel overwhelmed in the face of the sheer number of day care options available. Each child thrives in a different environment; however, with a little research and the occasional trial and error, it is possible to for a parent to discover the best choice for their child.

Institutional child care is becoming more and more popular in the United States. Many institutions will begin accepting children as early as six weeks of age, and often continue to offer care up through the school years. Cost wise, this option is usually somewhere in the middle between in-home day care and private care, with prices varying according to age and the number of days a child is expected to be present. Most facilities will charge on a weekly basis, and parents are expected to pay for the full week regardless of the number of days their child is actually present.

Children in day care institutions are grouped into classes according to age, with each age group having its own classroom with one or two teachers. Staff to child ratios vary according to institution; however, as most are required to be licensed they should not exceed the guidelines set forth in the state licensing agreement. Care often begins several hours prior to school hours, allowing for children to be dropped off as parents go into work, and continues for several hours after dismissal. They are fed breakfast and lunch, and are given rest time in the afternoons. Age appropriate group activities are scheduled throughout the day, with time allowed for independent play, and holiday activities and field trips are common. All children are taught basic skills, such as self feeding and potty training, and those that are of preschool age are taught to write their names, identify colors, shapes and letters, and count. [...]

Many people shudder at the thought of leaving their animals home alone. Like children, pets require love and attention during the day as well as at night. From this fundamental belief was founded the idea of pet day care. At day care your pet will be fed, groomed, trained and played with any time you are not available to do so.

Pet day care can be divided into two categories: boarding services and actual day care. Boarding services can be found for animals from hamsters to horses, and are particularly useful if an owner is going to be away overnight or for an extended period of time and has no one to care for their pet in their home, or if an owner has insufficient space for the care of a large animal (this is very common in the case of horses). The pet will be given their own sleeping space, feeding dishes and toys, and will be cared for daily as if they were home. Time is allotted for daily grooming, training, exercise and play.

Day care is available for pets whose owners wish to drop them off in the morning and pick them up in the evening after working hours. Again, bedding, toys and feeding bowls are often provided. While facilities of this type can be found for most small animals, dogs are the main focus, and many more facilities for them can be found than for others. At doggy day care, dogs are cared for by a staff of trained professionals, educated in dog behavior, safety and health management. They are groomed and provided training by an experienced trainer according to their level of knowledge. [...]

The search for childcare ideally should begin when you discover your due date. This gives you plenty of time to research your childcare options. Depending on the type of childcare you choose, there are several items of importance to consider before selecting a provider. Are you going to need in-home care in which a single caregiver comes to your home If this is the type of care you need, be aware that many of these providers are not licensed nor are they required to be licensed. In this case it is especially important to get references from previous employers for at least 5 years. Ask for names and phone numbers; don’t hesitate to call the parents who have used their services. If the provider refuses or is unable to provide this information for you, move on. In-home caregivers may be left alone with your child, they may be unlicensed and are often costlier than other types of childcare; caution should be exercised when choosing this type of childcare.

Another option is family childcare, which is a more casual environment with a limited amount of children enrolled, and is usually less expensive than day care centers. This type of childcare requires you to drop off and pick up your child at the person’s home. Often there are charges made if you are late in picking up your child; the caregiver is more like a nine-to-five business and may strictly enforce this rule. These types of childcare providers should be licensed, and the type of care provided is left up to the individual so again, references from other parents are crucial.

Still another option is a day care center, which must be licensed. Your child will be among more children, receiving less individualized care than the previous two types of childcare mentioned. However, there are many benefits to this type longer hours of operation, less stringent rules on pick up and drop off times, and more activities with more children to interact with. The down side may be the more children your child is exposed to the more chance of illness and other problems resulting from interacting with many young children at once. [...]