Continued from yesterday here is the next five steps for creating a Home Day Care Contract.
6. Establish your methods of discipline and house rules. Let the parent know in advance what the rules are and how the child will be disciplined if he breaks the rules. You will need to also establish what will cause you to no longer allow the child back in daycare.
7. Establish a vacation policy for you and the parents. Tell the parents to let you know at least 2 weeks in advance of any vacation days they have so you can plan accordingly. If you charge a flat rate, inform the parents payment will be due in advance. Give a list of your vacation days and holidays. Let them know that you will give them ample time to plan if you do not know your vacation days up front. I suggest giving them 30 days.
8. Establish parental expectations. List what you expect from the parent, for instance: bring an extra set of clothes, bring diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, baby food, etc., call if they will be late, call if they are not coming, call if they are picking the child up early, etc.
9. Establish a medication policy. I never dispensed medication without written consent from the parent. Included on the written consent was the name of the medication, dosage, and instructions. I never dispensed medication that parent did not bring into the daycare. Never give a child, unless directed by the parent due to emergency, medication from your home. Offer consent forms to make this easier to comply with.
10. Establish your list of No-Nos. Use those bullets we all love and list things you do not accept, for instance: no toys from home, no hard candy, no toys that present a choking hazard to other children, no gum, no suckers, etc. You may cover all of this in previous sections but it is still best to repeat just so you and the parents are on the same page.
Tips:
Do not break your own policy.
Be sure to provide the parent with a copy of the contract.
Be sure to have medication consent forms, emergency contact forms, and pick up policy forms handy for the parents to use. You may even need receipts if you get paid in cash.
For your information have handy a list of the child’s allergies or special needs, parent’s home address and phone numbers.
Do not allow a parent to break policy.
Do add that things are subject to change. What may change? Payment policy, rules, vacation, etc.
Do not continue to provide daycare for a difficult child or parent. Save yourself the trouble, you don’t need it.
Do you want a complete guide with a sample contract, information and emergency contact forms, medication consent forms, tips, FAQs, menu planner and more? Visit CurrClick for the download: Starting a Home Day Care Business.