Commonly Asked Questions
Are you licensed?
Yes! I am a licensed in-home provider.
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How long have you been a provider?
This is my third year as a daycare provider, I am absolutely confident in my abilities to look after your kiddos and provide a safe and fun place for them to play and learn!
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Do you have pets?
Nope! No pets. Although my daughter is fond on the idea. So maybe in the not so near future.
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Are you a smoker?
No! And I do not allow anyone to smoke on the premises.
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Do you have references?
Yes, but I will only give out names and numbers during the interview process.
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What type of education do you have?
I do not have a college degree, but I have complied with all licensing regulations. I take training as required, and am CPR/First Aid Certified.
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Is your daycare structured or more free-flowing?
As you can see by my daycare schedule, my day is fairly structured.
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Do you offer regular outdoor play?
Totally! Children need to run and play to release some of that energy they have, and it's great for their little brains and bodies as well.
How flexible are you with pick-up/drop-off times? Is there a late pick-up fee?
Depending how often being late is happening, I may allow a five-minute grace period. See policy book for more on the late fees. Pick-up time is non-negotiable. I will be waking and getting my kiddos ready for the school day. I am determined to give them my undivided attention in the mornings, as much as possible, to give them a positive start to the day!
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Will I receive a daily report? Will you send photos/texts throughout the day?
Yes! I will require you to download the “Brightwheel” app upon enrollment! Through this app I will be able to contact all parents, they will be able to contact me as well, I will post activities, updates, and photos for all children, and I will be able to handle/keep track of payments for all parents in one place. It will allow me to be on my phone as minimal as possible while allowing each parent to check on their own child throughout the day. Parents will only see updates for their assigned child(ren).
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Why do you work with children?
It started as an idea to help with finances because being a “stay at home" mom was not something we originally planned for. As the idea of doing childcare became more likely, I became more excited about both providing for my family while providing a safe and healthy place for other kiddos to learn through play. Also, I am thrilled that it will also provide my children with more social interactions!
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What is your philosophy on discipline? How do you comfort children?
Discipline and guidance will center around respect and responsibility. Each child is expected to be a respectful, responsible member of the group. This ranges from children cleaning up their own “messes” to using manners and politeness when speaking with the provider, parents, and each other.
I follow the “1-2-3, time out” procedure. The child will get two warnings upon the first and second instances of the child not acting safely or being irresponsible/disrespectful. If the child continues the action that is not acceptable, the child will receive a third strike and a time-out. It is explained to the child as “when you cannot be safe with yourself and your friends/when you cannot play nicely, you must step away”. The child will be removed from the group and asked to go sit a chair by themselves, but still within the same vicinity. They will be asked to sit for a few short minutes to calm down, think about what behaviors are OK. The time-outs will last the amount of time that corresponds with the child’s age (for example, if the child is 3, they will get a 3-minute time-out). Before rejoining the group, we will briefly discuss what appropriate behaviors will need to be used to be a part of the group again.
Under no circumstances will I ever subject your child to physical punishment, fear, or humiliation. If the child is out of control, I will call you to come pick up him/her.
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Is your CPR and First Aid training up to date?
Yes! Always! You can find it hanging on the Parent Bulletin Board in the entryway, and I will be sure to have it updated every year, to every two years!
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Who else lives in the house? Have they had a police/background check as well?
My husband is required to have all background checks/fingerprinting, etc. as well. There will be no-one else in the home during daycare hours and all doors will be locked, always.
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Is the indoor play area childproofed?
Yes! I am a licensed daycare provider, meaning that there are requirements that I must follow, such as screwing the bookshelf to the wall, making sure rugs are taped down, and baby gates are used, in order to stay licensed. Random drop-ins are done by a social worker to be sure that I am staying consistent!
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When the children play outside, where will they go? Will you be taking them for walks/field trips?
I will not go anywhere with the kids other than our back yard. No walks, no field trips. The kids will always play outside in the designated play area, weather permitting. Play area is fenced in.
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Do you let the children watch television? How much screen time will they be getting?
I will only turn on the TV during nap time/quiet time, (for lullabies) and yoga. (Cosmic Kids via YouTube.)
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Do you feed babies on demand or by schedule?
I am a huge believer in listening to the body’s natural hunger cues. If you have a schedule, I may attempt to follow it somewhat, but can not promise to follow it strictly.
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Do you let the children “cry it out”?
Yes and No. As stated above, I believe that acknowledging the child’s emotions and offering a solution will help encourage them to find their own solutions later as they mature. I will always start with that. If a tantrum is genuinely behavioral, I may let the child know that it is time to step away until they feel well enough to talk to me about what they are feeling. Followed by the time-out method I mentioned above.
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What is the process for enrollment?
Once a family has sent in an interest form, then provided their child meets the age requirements, I will arrange a private tour. Following the tour, if the family is still interested, then I will send them a formal application. Upon receiving all the applications for the enrollment period, I will determine acceptance on a best-fit basis.
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Is there a waiting list?
I currently have a large amount of families interested in enrolling their children in This Little Home of Mine. Therefor, I will hold on to all interest forms that are sent in as a means to create a "wait list". Once a spot has opened, I will assess ​ each interest form, in order to confirm the age of the child(ren) applying.
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Is this a preschool? Do you have a preschool curriculum?
While this is a "non-academic" program, and my main focus is creating a rich, lively, play based, and life skills-based program, my approach to education will be introduced through songs, verses, and stories. I will not be "teaching" the children to read or write but may "cover" the alphabet lightly through free play.
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My child has an allergy, can this be accommodated?
This is not an allergen-free facility. However, if your child has an allergy or dietary restriction, I will be more than willing to work with you in order to accommodate your child to the best of my ability!