[blparent] Choosing a daycare provider?

[Miranda]

Hi Melissa,
With the requirements and restrictions of the foster care system, I can't put an ad out and hire high school or college students to do daycare.
I would mainly use the daycare option if I'm working or going to college, so the days/times would be regular enough. Also, the state won't pay for a babysitter to come in to my home.
Thanks, and have a great week!

In Christ, Miranda

-----Original Message-----
From: Melissa Ann Riccobono <melissa at riccobono.us>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 9:57 AM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List' <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Choosing a daycare provider?

Day cares are good options, but you may also want to consider hiring a
college student, or perhaps even an older high school student, at times
instead of actual day care.  This will give you more flexibility since it
sounds as if you may not need care everyday or even for a certain amount of
time every week.  I put an ad in the newspaper at a local college and got
calls and emails from a bunch of students wanting babysitting work.  I
interviewed them and found two really great young women who helped care for
Austin when he was littler and I needed to go somewhere for a few hours.
Both of them have since graduated, and now I have a great in home day care
Austin attends that Oriana can go to as well as needed, but I'm still
considering putting another ad in so we have a couple of back up sitters.
Word of mouth is also a great way to find care for children.  I love where
Austin is now, so whenever anyone asks me I really talk it up.  I did not
like where he was before, so I will mention that person as well as someone
to stay away from.  I agree with Brandy that it may be hard to find care
right now since you don't know when care will be needed, but certainly doing
research so you have a few choices when the time comes is great.
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Brandy W
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 3:10 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] Choosing a daycare provider?

All of my information should be used for a home also. If you aren't welcome
to drop by any time, or if she hasn't been doing it a while with references,
has no schedule and everything above it isn't a good home. The home should
be clean. I wasn't speaking to centers only. I pick up a baby I watch for
the mom since they don't drive either. Yes all daycares including homes have
ratios which is why I suggested she check the ratio and make sure it is
being followed. Ratios are tricky because they are based on the Childs age.
For example a home can't have more than 4 children under 18 months, but the
numbers get bigger if the children are older or there are less infants.
Finding the right daycare is very tough. Things were definitely much
different 20 years ago.

Good luck with this search. It is also going to be hard because you don't
know when you need care, the hours, or the age of the child so it is going
to be hard to do your research.

Bran
  

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and
draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some."--Robert
Fulghum
Brandy Wojcik  Discovery Toys Educational Consultant and Team leader
(512) 689-5045
www.playtoachieve.com
Do you want to: *earn extra income?
*get toys for free?
*get sale updates on our award winning products that have never been
recalled?
Just ask!



-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of sharon howerton
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 1:12 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Choosing a daycare provider?

Bran,
These are all great ideas. I personally used home day care and was fortunate
enough to find people who lived in my neighborhood. Sometimes the provider
would come to pick up the boys at home and would bring them back as well. 
For me it was so tremendous to take them to a place where I could walk and
not have an additional trip on the bus before going to work or coming home. 
I found one of them by word of mouth and personal recommendation. Other
issues include what you can afford and the age of the child as some daycare
centers can take babies only at certain ages. At least here in Illinois and
when my sons were young, they are now 27 and 24 years of age, the home
provider had a quota of the number of children she could have who were
certain ages. That may vary by state. Providers may also want a guarantee of
a certain number of days or hours per week.
Sharon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brandy W" <branlw at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] Choosing a daycare provider?


> First and foremost will they let you drop in unannounced? If not run 
> screaming in the opposite direction! Second go to your states website 
> and look up what they have been cited for if anything. Next what is 
> their daily schedule, and what are their adult to child ratios? If the 
> use a curriculum what is it? How long have their staff worked the and 
> what are their qualifications to be a teacher in their school. Make 
> sure at least once our have someone with vision go with you and check 
> how clean the place is. How cluttered is it? D9o the appear to be 
> following standards for diapering etc?
> Is the overall environment friendly and do you feel welcome? When you 
> listen to other rooms do you hear the same happiness while you are not 
> in that room? Try all that and that will keep you busy enough finding 
> a happy place should you need care.
>
> Bran
>
>
> "Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some 
> and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day 
> some."--Robert Fulghum Brandy Wojcik  Discovery Toys Educational 
> Consultant and Team leader
> (512) 689-5045
> www.playtoachieve.com
> Do you want to: *earn extra income?
> *get toys for free?
> *get sale updates on our award winning products that have never been 
> recalled?
> Just ask!
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Miranda
> Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 7:18 AM
> To: Blind Parents
> Subject: [blparent] Choosing a daycare provider?
>
> Hi,
> As we prepare to be licensed as foster parents, I'm looking in to 
> daycare providers should the need arise. I'm wondering if anyone has 
> any tips or specific questions I should ask when selecting a daycare?
> Thanks in advance, and have a great 2011!
>
> In Christ, Miranda
>
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