Child Care Provider Day 2024 is on Thursday, May 9, 2024: What do you think when your child care provider takes a day off?

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Well, emergencies happen. No one will fault you for taking a sick day or emergency leave. No matter how understanding they are, they will still be irritated because it throws off their schedule. Most view it as an incovenience, especially if they have to take off a day themselves because they have no family nearby to help.

I think that you should run your child care business as a business. Write up a policy and give the parents a copy of the policy. Don't apologize in advance. If you feel an explanation is in order (I'm sure you will since you feel like you are family/friends with the parents), just say that it's to let them know that you are doing a restructuring for your own good and to let them know in advance of the time you intend to take off this year so that they can plan accordingly.

Give yourself a vacation. Set a time each year and take it off. Require the parents to pay for that week. Most people get a paid vacation from their full time employment as well as paid holidays and you should be no different. Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day. I think one week's vacation, paid is in order. I think it would also be fair if you decided to take a second week of vacation (unpaid, but with several months notice to the parents so they can make child care arrangements). One woman I know always takes the week of 4th of July. This causes parents minimal incovenience since they generally have off at least one day.

I would also have a substitute or back up person to come in and care for the kids if you get sick. You pay your back up out of your own pocket. Tell your parents who your back up is. Most will not care at all.

does anyone know how many day care providers there should be for eight children under six?

If this is a licensed day care home then you will want to check with your state's licensing board for the correct answer. Every state sets their own rules and regulations for child care so each state is different. I have been a licensed child care provider in my home in Michigan for almost 21 years. I am considered a Family Child Care Home and my license allows me to care for up to 6 children at any one time of which only 2 may be under the age of 18 months. You can also be a Group Child Care Home and be licensed to care for up to 12 children, but if more than 6 are present, you must have a second care giver present. State licensing rules (at least Michigan's) can be found on line. In Michigan I am required to give every family a copy of the state's rule book. I suggest that you first obtain the rules of your state and if your care provider is in violation, then I would speak with her about your concern that she is 1) not following the state's guidelines and 2) you are not comfortable leaving your daughter when she is the only one present as you feel her care will be compromised. If you feel she is not willing to work with you on this issue then I would contact your local licensing bureau (look under government headings in your phone book under your county for Department of Human Services) and file a complaint if she is not following the rules. If your care provider is not licensed and your state doesn't require a license or registration than you may have no other recourse than to pull your child with or without an explanation and find a more suitable care enviornment. In Michigan, anyone who regularly cares for any unrelated children in their home must be licensed. There are, however, numerous unlicensed homes regardless of this rule. Some don't know and some just don't care. The licensing bureau is short of funding and short-staffed so it makes it hard for them to track down all homes and make sure they are compliant with the rules. It seems like "snitching", but parents and other care providers should be helping keep all children safe by making sure every care providers follows the rules and regulations. In most cases, if a Child Care home receives a viloation they simply are given a time frame to put a course of action plan in place. Unless there are numerous infractions or they won't comply then it won't affect their license. ADDED: I noticed that several people were quoting adult to child ratios for child care "centers". It is important to note that ratios in centers are formulated differently than the ratios for a home base child care. In centers there are always several staff members present in the building as well as usually a director or co-director. Additionally, most centers do not offer mixed age rooms (some do), but nearly all child care homes care for mixed ages. Ratios for home child care are not the same as ratios for child care centers.

In finding a child care provider or day care...?

Even though you don't qualify for assistance from DSS it is still the best place to start looking. They usually keep a list of "licensed" providers and should have no problem giving that to you. You can find home providers who are licensed. I would be very cautious about letting my children stay with strangers who are not licensed. Unlicensed providers are not regulated by the state, they do not have to do background checks, and usually do not have CPR and First Aid requirements. The only thing about home daycare is you really don't know who will be around your kids and what will be going on, you only have to do a search online to read about nightmare stories. In the rural area I live in most home day-cares charge as much as licensed care anyway. Also you are not as likely to get structure and educational benefits, as that is not a requirement in even licensed home child care. If you can find one ran by someone with a educational background that might help. If I were you I would find a licensed preschool center since your boy's are four. Most kids go to school based preschools or Headstart at this age to get a jump start on kindergarten. Good luck with your search.