]]> http://37uc.com/childcare-the-hard-facts/feed 0 http://37uc.com/childcare-knowing-which-provider-suits-the-home http://37uc.com/childcare-knowing-which-provider-suits-the-home#comments Sun, 21 Nov 2010 11:15:03 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/childcare-knowing-which-provider-suits-the-home/807

Both parents that are employed have become a common setup in most families today. The society has become open-minded with the need for mothers to help provide for the family. Thus, proper child-rearing has been a strong and primary concern for working parents especially if children have reached the school age. The parents' responsibility is to find reputable institutions or individuals which will provide the proper childcare that the children needs.

Childcare Options

Childcare refers to the supervision of children in the absence of parents or guardians. Childcare is called for when there are minor children in the house that needs taking care of. When parents are away from work, the childcare provider shall act as the second parent. In some cases, parents require childcare for children when they need to spend quality time together away from home.

Depending on situations of parents and the age of children, childcare may be an every day or occasional requirement. Childcare may be done in the home of the kids, in the home of the childcare provider or in an established childcare or daycare centres.

Most parents choose in-home childcare such as the nanny, babysitter, au pair and governess because of the belief that their home is safer for the children.

The Nanny

In the old days, nannies are employed only by the rich or the aristocrats. Nowadays, many families employ nannies for childcare excluding the traditional concept of a nanny who wears a uniform.

A nanny is an individual who looks after children to provide the necessary childcare. Basic duties include childcare during the agreed hours set by the employer; supports the intellectual and social development of children; protection of children from harm; meal preparations; proper communication with the employers; and sometimes maintenance of cleanliness of the home.

The nanny may be hired as a live-in or live-out employee on a full-time basis. Formal training is not commonly required but advantageous. Parents prefer that a nanny has previous on the job experience.

The Babysitter

Unlike a nanny, a babysitter is hired on a part-time basis only usually when parents are still at work or out on weekends. Babysitting requires no formal training. Mostly, babysitters are teenagers who need the extra money. While training is not required, babysitters should have the right skills in times of emergency.

The Au Pair

A French term which means "equal to", the au pair is a foreigner, usually an unmarried woman of 18 to 26 years old, who visits a host family for a period of two years. The au pair is intended to be considered a part of the family and receives a personal allowance and a private room. During her stay, the au pair is tasked to help in childcare and household chores of the host family.

Considering the meaning, the au pair is not a domestic helper. An au pair is included in all the daily activities of the family and attends social events with them. Being an au pair is an opportunity for travel and cultural exposure.

The Governess

The governess is a trained and educated childcare provider who is solely employed for the education of children.

Choosing the right childcare option for the family takes considerable time and extensive research. It is noteworthy to consider that parents should never depend on childcare providers alone to support the growth of children. More importantly, parents must remain to balance time to be with the children in the growing up years.

By: Benedict Yossarian

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]]> http://37uc.com/childcare-knowing-which-provider-suits-the-home/feed 0 http://37uc.com/home-childcare-vs-childcare-centers-which-is-best http://37uc.com/home-childcare-vs-childcare-centers-which-is-best#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:54:15 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/home-childcare-vs-childcare-centers-which-is-best/823

Childcare is one of the most serious topics we can consider. After all, you are entrusting your little one with the hands of another. And you want someone who will show your child the same kind of love you would give.

Of course, there is no one that can take the place of a parent, but if you have to work, you want the best you can find for your child that is available. You don't just want a "baby sitter" to watch your child, you want someone who will love, and nurture, and care for your child while you are away.

So let's consider two of the most popular options.

Home Childcare

Home daycare is a good choice if you can find someone with a good reputation. Home childcare can give your child an atmosphere that the larger commercial childcare centers can't give.

First of all, the child has a home atmosphere to go to, which can give your child more of a feeling of love and security. When care is given in a home, the number of children is less, which also gives more of a home or family feeling to the child.

The other children in the home can become more of brothers and sisters. Also, their interaction with one another can be better supervised.

Other benefits with the home groups are that they are usually less expensive than large care centers and they are usually more flexible about drop-off and pick-up times. If you can find a responsible, loving and caring homecare give, this is definitely a good way to go.

Childcare Centers

Although these larger centers do not offer the same homey feeling as homecare, they do offer some other benefits.

One of the benefits is that they do not call in sick. These larger centers have backups, so there is always someone available for your child. Also, the staff of any descent center will have been trained to care for children in their early childhood. However, there is no training that can take the place of an experienced mom who has a heart for your children.

Of course, if you go this rout, make sure the childcare center is licensed and regulated.

By: Claude J Anthony

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]]> http://37uc.com/home-childcare-vs-childcare-centers-which-is-best/feed 0 http://37uc.com/reasons-why-parents-put-their-kids-in-childcare http://37uc.com/reasons-why-parents-put-their-kids-in-childcare#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:47:38 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/reasons-why-parents-put-their-kids-in-childcare/801

There are many different reasons why parents choose to enroll their children in childcare. The most common being that both parents need to work in order to sustain a household, however, many parents use childcare as a method of spending a little time together without the children. Experts believe that children and parents need some time away from each other in order to form relationships with others.

When the decision has been made that both parents need to work, it is often a heartbreaking decision to put a child in childcare. However there are many benefits to placing using a childcare center both for parents and for children.

If both parents need to work, childcare is the only option that they have to make sure that their child or children are in a safe and secure atmosphere. This give the parents piece of mind knowing that their child is in good hands.

Even if both parents do not work, placing the child or children in childcare a few days a week can give the parent time for his or herself to regroup.

Children benefit from childcare because they are not around one single person everyday and allowed to play with other children. This develops their social skills. Studies have indicated that children who attend childcare on a regular basis tend to adjust better when they are placed in a structured setting such as school.

The social skills that children learn at a very early age will grow with them into adulthood. It is crucial that they learn good social skill early to know what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

Choosing a childcare center will be very time consuming and at times overwhelming. There will be aspects of each one that you visit that you like. Some parents opt for private or home childcare where their children with receive one on one attention.

Many parents choose to use home childcare. They feel that their child will be in a familiar setting and will adjust to the time away easier.

The world in which we live is a very scary place at times. There are disreputable people everywhere and it can be difficult to distinguish the good from the bad. When you choose home childcare, you can take control of what happens in the day-to-day life of your child and know that he or she is safe with the use of nanny cams.

Once you have found the right childcare, whether it is home childcare or a childcare center, the first day that you drop him or her off will be very difficult. However it is important that you realize that both you and your child will benefit from the time you spend apart.

By: Matt Garrett

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]]> http://37uc.com/reasons-why-parents-put-their-kids-in-childcare/feed 0 http://37uc.com/in-home-childcare-its-pros-and-cons http://37uc.com/in-home-childcare-its-pros-and-cons#comments Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:25:36 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/in-home-childcare-its-pros-and-cons/814

First off, what is in home childcare? It simply refers to a service offered by childcare providers who have decided to convert a home into a place where you can drop off your child. In home childcare is usually run by an independent childcare provider or professional who also wants the convenience of having a workplace and residence-in-one.

Although in childcare has a lot of features that are different from large, commercial childcare centers, owners of this service still need to comply with government regulations and codes that have to be observed in running the service. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure the legitimacy of your chosen in facility.

If you want to ensure your child's safety, then you must look for an in home child care facility that is duly licensed. This assures you that the place has been inspected by the authorities and has passed the safety standards required of an acceptable in care facility.

Carefully inspect if the license's date is current and make sure that the business name and the address of the in home facility is what is actually indicated on the license. When you're dealing with your child's welfare, it's best to be doubly sure.

What you can expect from in home childcare

Because of the smaller space that in home babysitting facilities offer, they tend to keep enrollment to a minimum. Consequently, there is a lower ratio of teachers (or childcare providers) to children, which is a good thing if you want your child's every need to be met.

Most in home babysitting centers also have complete facilities in general, because these are usually 'converted' homes. You can thus expect that they'll have everything your home has - a kitchen, toilet and bath, a laundry area, and a well-stocked medicine cabinet for emergencies.

The only thing you need to ask about are the in home facility's safety features. Are the staircases properly gated? Are doors leading to basements or attics childproof? Are all the electrical outlets properly covered? Are allergy-causing pets kept at a safe distance from the children? Are heating units properly covered?

For in home facilities that are still in their nascent stages, don't expect a staff that's armed with postgraduate education and years and years of experience. Usually, it's the owner of the facility that's well-equipped with the necessary early childhood education courses, who will then train his or her staff eventually.

The upside to keeping a small and young staff is that the overhead expenses are kept low, assuring you of rates that are more easier on the pocket than those of large childcare centers [http://www.bestchildcareguide.com/category/infant-day-care-centers]. You can also get lucky if you come across in home baby sitting who are retired teachers or long-time nannies who are looking to earn income even while staying at home.

By: David Faulkner

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]]> http://37uc.com/in-home-childcare-its-pros-and-cons/feed 0 http://37uc.com/childcare-vouchers http://37uc.com/childcare-vouchers#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:08:12 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/childcare-vouchers/805

Childcare vouchers have become the pre-eminent, tax-free method of payment in the United Kingdom, and are also exempt from national insurance. This scheme offers all employed parents that have children, not older than 16, childcare vouchers. These vouchers are used as payment for day nurseries, nannies, childminders, holiday clubs, as well as breakfast and after school clubs. In order to achieve the tax and NIC savings and receive the childcare voucher benefit, parents agree to sacrifice a portion of their annual salary.

Parents can also be assured when selecting a childcare provider that they have undergone rigorous vetting procedures. Before childcare vouchers can be used to pay providers the provider must be registered with an approved regulatory body and will need to meet the standards set out by that body. Ensuring only registered providers can accept vouchers for payment offers additional peace of mind to mums knowing that their child is being looked after in a safe friendly environment.

The use of childcare vouchers is very simple. Some are available electronically for increased efficiency and convenience. The day care provider will get timely and secure payments with no hassle. Many places that offer vouchers also have some additional benefits such as childcare hotlines where you can get the latest information on day cares and childcare workers. Whether looking for a full time provider or one for emergency use, you can get the information quickly and pay for the services via the childcare vouchers.

The amount you claim for childcare is deduced from you salary which is repaid in the form of funds exclusive of the taxes and insurance payments.

If going for the childcare vouchers option you need to way up your own personal circumstances first as some people may be better claiming extra child care vouchers or working tax credits. If in doubt you should really get independent advice with an organization such as the Citizens Advice Bureau as they should tell you which is the better option for you.

When it comes to pre-school child care, there is assistance out there, in terms of both helping employees meet the cost and find the care. The key is to consider the type of help the employee needs, the budget involved and the age of the pre-schooler. The first thing is help with funding, and, with a little-known government scheme, it's possible for employees to pay for childcare from pre-tax income, using vouchers they buy through salary sacrifice.

The government has also expanded the number of free early-education places it offers. At present, this is not full-time care. But three- and four-year-olds are guaranteed a free, part-time (12.5 hours per week, 38 weeks per year), early-education place, including state, private and voluntary sectors, across the country.

Naturally they are looking for the best day nursery where they can safely leave their children. So there is always a challenge for you to make your nursery the best among the rest. First, the safety measures should be taken care of. Secondly, there should be lot of open space in the nursery with enough fresh air. You should also have all the necessary nursery equipments so that children can take part in as much nursery activities as possible.

By: Peter Crux

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]]> http://37uc.com/childcare-vouchers/feed 0 http://37uc.com/the-top-3-pros-and-cons-of-daycare-centres http://37uc.com/the-top-3-pros-and-cons-of-daycare-centres#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 00:25:35 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/the-top-3-pros-and-cons-of-daycare-centres/802

There are many childcare options available, for example daycare centres, home daycares, nanny care, preschool, relative care and stay-at-home-parenting. Here's a list of The Top 3 Pros And Cons Of Daycare Centres, which I hope will help you decide if daycare centres are for you. Let me know what you think!

Pros

* Better qualified staff. Childcare staff normally hold qualifications in childcare and/or first aid, in addition to having years of experience. This enables them to better care for your child's needs, keeping him/her happy while also nurturing growth and development.

* Structured learning environment. A good daycare centre will provide a proper curriculum for your child. Methods vary from daycare to daycare, but should include age appropriate activities like baby signing, sand-play, finger-painting, etc. These activities are designed to fully engage your child in a manner that will encourage growth and development while also enabling him/her to simply have fun.

* Opportunities to socialise. One of the key benefits of daycare centres compared to options like relative care and stay-at-home-parenting is the chance for your child to mix with other children and adults. Social interaction can be very enjoyable for your child, while also helping develop communication skills, confidence and a sense of self. It's also very heartwarming to witness your child sharing something or comforting another child who is upset.

Cons

* No one-to-one attention. Daycare centres will assign each member of staff to several children. Unsurprisingly, there is research which suggests that a one-to-one environment is better for very young children. As children get older, the staff to children ratio generally increases (for example Math Monkey sets a maximum ratio of 1:6), but you should always favour daycare centres that keep their staff to children ratio as low as possible.

* Many many many germs! Daycare centres can be a great place for germs to breed. Despite various precautions, illnesses will commonly spread among children and even staff members. Furthermore, few daycare centres will provide special care for sick children.

* Picking up bad habits. Young children will imitate almost everything they see or hear. As such, you can look forward to your child bringing home delightful habits such as biting, throwing objects and being disruptive for the sake of attention. In the worst case scenario, left unchecked these challenging behaviours could turn into a child behaviour problem!

How do you feel about daycare? Know anybody who sends their kids to daycare? Ask them what they think! Unfortunately, sometimes both parents have to work, making daycare a necessity rather than an option.

By: Mark Lim

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]]> http://37uc.com/the-top-3-pros-and-cons-of-daycare-centres/feed 0 http://37uc.com/childcare-your-options http://37uc.com/childcare-your-options#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:29:02 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/childcare-your-options/819

Childcare in the Big City

If you ever are in need of childcare then you know how hard it can be to find the right kind for the right price. Finding childcare really depends on the age and type of child you have. Here are a few options and how they compare:

Daycare Center:

Typical Care Hours: 7am - 6pm Monday through Friday

Cost: between $40-$70 per day

Daycare centers can be good for toddlers from ages 2-4. It teaches them how to play in a group and helps them learn valuable social skills such as sharing and communication. Most Daycare centers have a variety of activities for the kids to do throughout the day with a naptime somewhere in between. There is usually a good ratio of kids to supervisors and some centers have started including video feeds from their web site so you can see your tot while he is away from you. Daycare centers take kids as soon as they are potty trained and can keep them up until they reach pre k. Some even have public pre k classes funded by the state.

Some possible downsides of a daycare center are that your child may not get the personal attention that he was getting from Mom. This can sometimes be a rude awakening combined with temper tantrums at the daycare door or refusing to let go of your leg. Let me assure you, this shall pass and, if you can stand your ground, he will be having a good time by week's end. With the good children there are always the bad, the biters, the yellers, and the downright mean. You may have to contend with these precious pumpkins if they have a stab at torturing your little one. The key to handling these situations is to do it diplomatically and without losing your temper. It is as important that the biter learn to be kind to others as it is for your baby to get his apology.

My daughter attended a local Kew Gardens daycare from ages 2-5. During those years she made some friends who she still has at age 10 and learned some early reading skills from some very qualified teachers. She was also bitten, fought with, and got sick from every child who picked their nose and wiped it on the walls. The choice is yours. Here in Queens, Daycare Centers are hard to find and sometimes not a good alternative due to the proximity of them. I was lucky to have one close to my home but that is sometimes not the case.

In Home Daycare:

Typical Care Hours: 7am - 6pm Monday through Friday. This can also be negotiated with the daycare

Cost: between $35-$50 per day and usually includes meals

An in home daycare is run out of a private residence, usually by a mom with her own kids. There are not as many children in this type of setting and can sometimes be catered more towards babies and little ones that are not potty trained. The caretakers are usually very loving and your child will become part of a more cozy care environment similar to a family. They will do activities with the kids but it is much less structured than a center. You should ask what activities and schedules they keep so that you have some idea of what your baby is doing during the day. I would recommend this type of care for a small baby or young toddler.

In Home daycares are often not regulated by the department of education or health. This means that you will have to be continually conscious of how clean and safe your child's environment is. You should also be able to develop a quick trusting report with the caretaker since she/he will be the only eyes on your child every day. I am a big fan of the at home daycare. It usually has all of the good aspects of a larger center as well as a cozy setting. I am also a fan of craigslist which is where you can find many listings for in home daycare services.

Babysitter:

Typical Care Hours: Negotiable

Cost: between $ 9 - $15 per hour

A quick note on pricing and budgeting for a sitter. If you use a babysitter while you are at work, make sure to calculate your travel time as well as actual work hours into your budget. Also try to add a few extra hours for date night or just plain running behind in traffic.

Babysitters can come from a wide variety of sources, babysitter services, craigslist, and word of mouth to name a few. The goal is to find a babysitter who lives close to you. The closer they live, the more flexibility you have with their schedule and higher likelihood that they will be on time. If a sitter who has to commute to your home is running late, you will be stuck waiting by the door, not fun. Having a babysitter is a good part time solution for evenings and weekends. Unlike nannies, babysitting is usually not their full time job. They can be students or waitresses trying to make some extra money. For this reason it is nice to have the names and numbers of a few babysitters in your phone just in case one is not available.

Trust is a big issue when picking the right sitter. Since they will be with your child one on one with little to no supervision, you must be able to trust them implicitly. That is a difficult thing to do with any virtual stranger but you must rely on your parental instinct to guide you through picking and trusting the right person. As a backup to parental instinct, getting their social security number, driver's license number, and emergency contact info should go a little way in setting your mind at ease.

Live Out Nanny:

Typical Care Hours: Full Time 40 hours a week Part Time 20 hours per week. Usually Monday - Friday

Cost: between $600 - $1200 per week depending on factors that I will discuss.

A Live Out Nanny is probably the most expensive child care option for your home. A nanny has made a career out of taking care of children. Some of them have degrees in child education and are CPR certified. They can cook, clean, play games, and have good knowledge of child safety. They are good for children of all ages whether it be taking small babies on long walks or picking the older ones up from school. You can hire a nanny from nanny agencies, craigslist, placing a private add in the newspaper, and a variety of nanny finding websites. Their pay scale will vary per person and will depend on their experience level and hours that you are looking for. You and your nanny should discuss in advance how she would like to be paid, on the books (which require paperwork to be done by you) or on cash basis where she is responsible for declaring what she makes and has her own healthcare etc. Since a nanny is technically an employee of your family, you should sort this out first before beginning her employment. I find that a good starting point for a nanny is about $ 100 per day with possible pay increases the longer she remains under your employ. But then again I don't live on the Upper East Side.

Things to pay attention to when looking for a nanny are her age and English skills. If she is older, you may want to consider her level of energy with taking care of a toddler. She may or may not have the ability to chase after your newly running tot while he is plowing toward a major intersection. If she is younger, she may or may not have the patience to handle a screaming inconsolable infant. The same thing goes for language skills; you may not want a nanny with limited English skills paired up with your toddler who is just learning how to speak. The call is yours but always go with the person who you trust the most to act in your babe's best interest.

Live In Nanny:

Typical Care Hours: Full Time 40 hours a week Part Time 20 hours per week. Usually Monday - Friday

Cost: between $250 - $600 per week including living expenses like food, a room, possibly a cell phone, extra cable line etc.

A Live In Nanny can be one of the most cost effective ways of caring for your kids if you work full time or have irregular work hours. They live with your family in your home and take care of the kids during hours that you work or are away. The benefits of having a Live In Nanny are that you have all that a Nanny has to offer but without the crazy price tag. They really do become a part of your family and your children can become very attached to them. I have had a Live In for 4 years and have made it work for our family. She is available 24 hours a day and there is never a chance for lateness or not showing up.

There are some logistics to sort out before you make the choice to have a Live In Nanny, living arrangements being number one. You should have a room or basement area that is livable and clean. Our nanny lives in our third bedroom and shares a bathroom with my daughter. You will have to adjust yourself and your family to the notion that you now have a roommate who deserves her own privacy and respect. If you can accomplish that you can have a very long and successful relationship with a Live In.

Then there is the topic of pay and living expenses. You can work this out with your Nanny and come up with a scenario that you both feel comfortable with. We pay our Nanny $400 per week and that includes her room and food. You can negotiate a smaller weekly pay and give things like a cell phone, a metro card, and other incentives that are not that expensive beyond what you would normally be spending. This situation is not for most but it can offer you certain freedom within your home if that is desired.

Au Pair:

Typical Care Hours: Full Time 35 hours a week Part Time 20 hours per week.

Cost: between $160 -$350 per week including living expenses like food, a room, possibly a cell phone, extra cable line, schooling etc.

An Au Pair is another word for a mother's helper. They live in your home and usually work on call if you have to go to the store would like some free time. They are usually young girls from abroad who would like to experience living in another country. They can also come from inside the United States but are usually from small towns. A good resource for looking at au pairs and hiring people who are U.S citizens is with Great Au Pair. They have a free search engine and you can pay to begin contacting people if you see anyone you would like to interview. If you would like to hire someone from abroad, you legally must go through an Au Pair agency. They charge a fee and assist you in doing the paperwork and preparing for an Au Pair. The agency fee and paying the Au Pair in cash usually works out to about $350 per week even though you will have to pay some of that in lump sums.

Some families, like mine at one point, hire Au Pairs instead of nannies to save on costs. But the reality is that Au Pairs are not nannies. They can be as young as 18 years old and have very little experience with childcare. They also will be experiencing a new local culture and language at the same time that they are trying to care for your children. All of this is not necessarily bad, but it does require some extra effort on your part. You will be taking on the responsibility of a person who may need some advice and help navigating your local system.

Your Family:

Typical Care Hours: Flexible

Cost: Free - you can't beat that.

In the days of a recession, two working parents, and still not enough money to pay the bills sometimes one's own family is the only option for childcare. I find that when soliciting help from your family, it is important to spread out the responsibilities if you can to avoid any one person from feeling over burdened. An example of this would be asking for 2 days a week each from your parents, siblings, cousins, and friends. This way one person may only have to commit 2 days over the course of 10 days depending on how many people you can ask. This ensures that the people who are watching your precious little muffins are rested and prepared to care for them in the best way possible. Do not assume that family will go the extra mile just because they are family.

The city is a wonderful place to raise kids with all of the options you have at your fingertips. Those options also apply to childcare. There are mothers groups, nanny sharing, and services of all kinds available to you as a parent. It is up to you to decide which one will be right for your family.

By: Leni Calas

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]]> http://37uc.com/childcare-your-options/feed 0 http://37uc.com/knowing-facts-of-childcare-services http://37uc.com/knowing-facts-of-childcare-services#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:50:03 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/knowing-facts-of-childcare-services/817

The type of childcare services offered by a daycare center can vary from business to business. All should operate under the same principle: provide quality childcare and ensure child welfare. This may seem basic but there is so much that goes into caring for children.

Parents are placing a sacred trust in a preschool by letting them protect their most precious gift. As a parent, there are some questions that you must ask and have answered by the facility.

Some of the most common topics to consider when inquiring about the services being offered are: food, napping, education, staff and healthcare services. Each is a vital component of a quality center. Many may seem like common sense items but asking about them shows an interest in both the center and the welfare of your child.

With so many horror stories of children being abused or neglected while at a daycare center, parents must do everything in their power to ensure that their children are well guarded and receive the services for which they have paid.

Proper nutrition is a vital part of a growing child's life. Even children that attend part time will still need snacks, so get an understanding of what type of nutrition the childcare services include. Ask to look at a typical day's menu or look inside the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator.

Studies have shown that more and more children are overweight, so make sure the facility offers healthy meals and nutritious snacks. Also, how often is the child given the opportunity to have a drink of water? Some facilities think nothing of putting juice in a cup at snack or meal time, but often do not give the child easy access to a drink of water at any other time.

Children are very much like sponges. They will soak up the environment in which they are placed. Therefore, it is essential to provide them with one in which they can learn and grow. Childcare services often incorporate some form of teaching or lesson plan. Ask the individual care givers what their qualifications are or if they have a certain educational philosophy or instructional method that they follow.

It would be great if all child care centers were completely germ and disease free. Life does not work out that way though. There are some parents who knowingly send their child to school while he or she is sick. This creates an atmosphere in which other children are exposed to contagious conditions.

If you are one of these parents, then shame on you! A preschool's responsibility is to provide childcare services to healthy children in a healthy atmosphere. They are not there to nurse sick children or help pass contagion. If your child is sick: keep them at home or with alternative sitters.

At some time in a child's life, the parents will have to rely on someone else to take care of their prodigy. If the parents remain diligent and stay abreast of the childcare services offered at the preschool or daycare, the child will be in good hands. It is difficult allowing a stranger to watch over your children but you, or any parent, can make that stranger into a friend by keeping the lines of communication open.

By: Mike Selvon

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]]> http://37uc.com/knowing-facts-of-childcare-services/feed 0 http://37uc.com/single-mothers-taking-on-personal-responsibility http://37uc.com/single-mothers-taking-on-personal-responsibility#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:23:31 +0000 ccare http://37uc.com/single-mothers-taking-on-personal-responsibility/821

The philosophy that the Federal government currently upholds for teenage mothers is to promote values of abstinence, education, and paternity identification. Many services for single mothers on the Federal level have been curtailed or delegated to local agencies however; private organizations have also stepped in to fill the gap.

Childcare

Although Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) is still available, the requirement that a teenage mother complete high school or live at home in a supervised setting means that childcare and housing must be available for the teenage mother. Either she must work to pay for childcare, or she must find programs that help her to get assistance in this area. If her family is not supporting her then housing and childcare both need to be met and become her first priority.

Housing

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has programs to establish Second Chance housing for teenage mothers. These are usually delegated to local housing authorities such as apartment complexes or designated communities. Included in the services for young mothers, among the many other services, HUD offers:

Adult supervision to ensure single mothers focus on commitments Parenting classes to strengthen their child rearing skills Access to childcare and health services to ease financial burdens Available transportation to support employment Mentoring to help them in making wise decisions Education and job training to promote advancement in the workforce

The need for a myriad of services for young single mothers as they face the challenge of parenthood while finishing their educations is immense. These steps point them in the right direction but still require maturity on their part.

Mentoring

Other local agencies may offer mentoring or foster grandparents to help young mothers learn valuable parenting skills or to provide daycare while the mother is in school. Teenage mothers have often not matured themselves and they have to learn how to become responsible for another human being. The mentoring program services for young single mothers provide emotional support while passing on skills in infant care and decreasing the chance of child abuse as the child matures.

The Public School System

Some schools, recognizing the need of services for young single moms, have on-site childcare programs. Some even allow the mother to bring the child to class with them, but these are few and far between. In addition, a teenage mother may feel the stigma of being an unwed mother and refuse to continue her education. However, there are local services that do try to provide a support system and services for young single mothers to help them overcome their inhibitions and adjust to their new roles.

Other local agencies that can provide services beyond shelter and childcare are local hospital and clinics. They often have special prenatal and postpartum programs for young single mothers. The local branch of the Health and Human Services office also can pinpoint more resources. For example, agencies such as Women, Infant, & Children (WIC) can provide nutritional support for infants and their mothers.

The Message

The key to moving forward is to take personal responsibility for your own life. Anything you can dream, develop a realistic plan for and stay the course until you see results can be the basis for change in life. You will find that opportunities will begin to seek you out as you work towards your goal. But first there's maturity, second responsibility to yourself, your child and the people who extend a hand to help you. And most important remember that no one owes you anything. But when you exhibit the characteristics mentioned above you will become the person you choose to be.

By: Joel Williams

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