Having had my two oldest children in full-time daycare showed me first hand what parents most need from their child's caregiver:

Respect for your child - a humorous and loving approach is my preferred method when communicating with children. When I am unsure of how to deal with a situation, I ask myself "How would I want my children treated in the same situation?" and then I respond accordingly.

Reliability - in December each parent is given an outline of when the day care will be closed.  My two weeks of vacation and holidays stay basically the same every year and often times coincides with the normal holidays the families in my day care take.  In the ten years that I have run my day care, there were only two instances when I had to close due to illness

Communication - parents are told all about their child's day when they arrive to pick their children up.  Written outlines are provided for infants. Development of a newsletter is currently in progress.

Convenience - three nutritious meals and one dessert are served to the children per day.  Children will eat more and eat better when they are all eating the same thing.  Each child is given his/her own cubby where they can keep their change of clothes, their favorite toys or their prized art work. Our location is also convenient since we are located  right off of routes 78, 22 and 31.

Flexibility -  Breakfast is usually not served until all children arrive. If openings are available, I will gladly switch your days or add days to your schedule during a particular week if needed. While children like a certain amount of structure, we will happily change our day around to accommodate the mood, health and feelings of the children present.

Safety and Hygiene - while accidents are not 100% preventable, great pains are taken to keep the environement safe and sanitary.  All recommendations from NORWESCAP (total environment) and Catholic Charities (kitchen and meals) are followed and surprise monitoring from both organizations regularly takes place.

Competitive Rates - rates are often in line and sometimes less than other daycare facilities in the area.  A sibling discount is also available.

Socially and Intellectually Stimulating Environment - a separate area just for the children is provided with toys ranging from cars to Legos.  Art supplies are easily accessible for when the mood strikes. A bathroom is located in the playroom for easy toilet training and immediate availability.

Loving and Non-Stressful Atmosphere - every child is loved.  Kissing and holding, especially when needed, is constant.  Mutual respect and love between the children is expected and reinforced on a daily basis. Screaming and name calling are not tolerated. During tough times of transition, like when mom needs to leave for work, our two pet guinea pigs come out to save the day! They love carrots and the children really respond well to them. Ginger and Snickers can put a smile on a child's face in no time!