I have a degree
in Early Childhood Education. I want to be the best care giver possible and completing my ECED degree helps me do just
that. It shows my commitment to my job as well as the kids. Plus I know about what's developmentally normal for kids and know
what to expect as they grow and learn.
I am committed to my job as a home daycare professional. Many moms start doing this work
to make a little extra money while staying at home. They quickly find out that it's a lot harder than they thought. So they
close their daycare and look for other work. I have been doing daycare for 8 years and will not be quitting. I know the
demands of this job and I am in committed to doing it.
I am
on the food program. I include each food group at meal times and two food groups at snack time. I provide breakfast, lunch
and a snack (or two). Agency representatives make both announced and unannounced visits to make sure I am meeting their standards.
This is at no extra charge to you.
More
1 on 1 interaction. I get to know the children in my care personally (unlike at a center) so I can anticipate their needs
and wants more fully. I know what they like, what they don't like, what is normal behavior for them and what makes them tick.
Open
door policy. Parents who have children enrolled in my daycare can stop by any time with out without prior notification.
I also encourage breastfeeding mothers to stop by over their lunch hour or breaks so that they may breastfeed their child.
I am
constantly looking for ways to improve my daycare. I recently participated in an optional program where a representative visited
my daycare and watched what we did for two hours. This representative then gave me ideas, which I implemented, to make my
daycare even better. I also put money back into my daycare to make the kid's environment a more quality one. I participated in
a similar program in 2011.
Better
learning: Studies show that when children are comfortable with their caregiver and with their daycare setting they can learn
much better. A home daycare is a perfect home like setting where they can totally be themselves and be comfortable being themselves.
My
daycare is licensed. I meet and exceed the standards set by the State of Nebraska for licensed childcare homes. Agency representatives
make unannounced visits during the year to make sure I am meeting the standards. There are several unlicensed daycares
in Kearney. However, how do you know that they are meeting ANY safety standards?
I am
certified in infant and child CPR as well as First Aid. My certification is always current.
I provide my daycare kids with outdoor time everyday (weather
permitting). Fresh air and sunshine are so important. I also don't have a TV in my daycare and the kids don't regularly watch
TV here (maybe a few times a year we watch a kids movie). And the kids don't miss the TV at all!
I have
a daily story time where I read the kids books. Literature is so important. Even babies can learn a lot from being read to.
Sick
policy-I have a sick policy to protect the health of every child in my daycare.
I incorporate
learning into everyday fun activities. I think learning is so much easier when it is not forced upon kids. For example, if
when we go on walks we say the names of different things we encounter while walking. We talk about the colors of the sky,
the grass, houses, cars. We look for butterflies, birds, and cats and talk about different animal sounds. Kids learn and retain
knowledge so much better if they learn while having fun.
You
get benefits at tax time. Many home daycare providers do not claim their income at tax time. When they don't claim their income
daycare parents do not get the benefit of the deduction for the childcare fees they have paid during the year. This is illegal
for any provider to do. I claim my income from my daycare at tax time and give all of my daycare families year end statements
so that they may get credit for the deduction at tax time.
We
have a daily schedule, but it is flexible enough for change based on the needs and wants of the kids.
Member
of the Kearney Child Care Association
