About – daycare provider, programming and facilities
Bonnie-Jean Stacey:
Mother, Homemaker, Child care provider, Purveyor of herbal teas,
Promoter of safety, health, and well being
Related Experience:
Past(1985-92)
-F/T summer employment as nanny for 3 consecutive summers for group of 4 children
-F/T summer caregiver for one autistic 5 year old with epilepsy
-Volunteer for YMCA lighthouse program (after school activities for under privileged kids i.e. Reading, computer time, crafts etc. held in community schools)
-p/t assistant at a licensed home day care
-Brownie leader (one season)
More recently(1997-2008)
-F/T mother of one 10 yr old girl, and one 4yr old girl and a 2yr old boy.
-10 years providing full or half-day care, and after school care for local children
Related training:
Car seat technician certification (Jan.2008)
CPR/first aid for infants and children (Dec.2007)
CCRC accredited (creative conflict resolution for children)
HOW TO TALK SO KIDS WILL LISTEN (city of Ottawa 10wk course)
EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE – private 10 week course
SAFETY IN THE HOME- 4 sessions city of Ottawa course
TIME MANAGEMENT – professional 2 day workshop designed for administrative workers but helpful concepts for home and family coordinators to adopt
REIKI MASTER certified – hands on healing energy transfer used often for pain relief, stress relief and emotional healing
Related paperwork:
Clear recent police record check
All related daycare home and vehicle insurance
Philosophy:
I’m a big Barbara Coloroso fan, a backbone parent valuing common sense over fad trends
-Very nutrition conscious, additive and preservative informed
-knowledgeable in safe use of herbs, and aromatherapy for health and relaxation
-believe in listening to the cues from children as to what they need since each child is very different and needs more attention in different areas.
-I believe respecting children’s intelligence so talking to them on their level but not below it…and no baby talk(i.e. Bobo, dodo, caca)….and being enthusiastic but not phony.
-encouraging independence and self discipline
-FUN FUN FUN. Eating has to be fun, we make healthy food an exciting activity to prepare and an enjoyable social event to consume; relaxing/naptime has to be a pleasure –when we have been busy having fun, naptime becomes a welcome break; exercise has to be fun, learning has to be fun,…children respond well when everything is presented as one of the great wonders of being alive.
MOST IMPORTANTLY…. OPEN COMMUNICATION. I need feel free to tell you what/how the child ate, napped, played or had disciplinary issues. I need to be able to tell you what I see if the child has a physical complaint or shows tiredness, or weakness, or has any other potential problems so that between you and I we can make sure that nothing slips by us and we can help to avoid potential issues (health or behavioral) before the child suffers. This is not to judge or lay blame or looking for something wrong. This is making sure that your child has very close attention and receives the very best care possible. —likewise, it helps me to do my job better if I know any details from the parent or discussions regarding the individual needs of one child.
A Typical Day:
8:00 – 8:30 free play, eating fruit, children coming and going to school
8:30 -9:00 morning snack, preparation for outdoor play or other activity
9:00-9:30 kid yoga program or dancing(for those who want to follow)
9:30-10:15 morning activity, backyard play, walk, or field trip
10:15-11:00 walk to school to pick up, play in playground there
11:30-12:15 lunch
12:15-1:00 quiet activities i.e. Story time/tv program/winding down
1:00-3:00 naptime for babies and clean up/admin/craft or art activity for non–nappers
3:00-4:00 wake up,, baking or other snack prep, snack time
4:00-5:00 outdoors play in nice seasons, playing and crafting in winter (*older children aged 6-10 are always encouraged to play in fenced back yard if homework is done)
5:00-5:30 pick up time/free-play/TV time
Outings:
Outings are discussed, approved, and planned on a trip by trip basis depending on age and temperament of the “group”.
Typical destinations are: library story time; local play group; museums, national art gallery, experimental farm. For an older group: rays reptiles; cosmic adventures (admission will be requested)
Facilities:
Children will spend most of their time in the living/dining area of the house. Our floor space allows for up to 10 children to dance or play other active games but isn’t large enough for tag or relay races. The adjoined dining area has sliding room dividers if required and there are many doors which can separate groups if needed (for sleepers or homework do-ers) there is also a small table and chair between the kitchen and front hall, and there is a small comfy book corner for little ones who need solitude. There are 2 bedrooms, which are used for napping. One has 3 playpens(the playroom), and one has another playpen, a crib and a toddler bed in it(my kids room). This arrangement may change according to need. Sometimes a bed needs to be segregated (put into another room) to preserve peace.
Emergencies:
There is an emergency exit from the playroom and the whole premise was inspected when I consulted with a local firefighter to discuss emergency and evacuation procedures specific to my house. He was very helpful.
A child who needs emergency medical attention will be passed on to a paramedic and taken to hospital. Please be diligent about your contact info, and charging cell phones so I can always reach you to ensure that your little one has someone to meet them at the hospital. I need to stay home with the other children.
Activities:
Typical activities are: yoga, dancing, singing, instruments, reading books, puppets, costumes, play dough, baking (forming drop cookies), coloring/drawing, cutting(safety scissors) shapes, role play, toys, parties(birthday celebrations, and holidays, and seasons). We spend a lot of time EATING!!!
We have a preschool music teacher who comes in on Friday mornings for a 45 minute music lesson. There is a fee for this, it is 7 dollars each time. Present clients were thrilled at the onset of this program and are happy to ad this fee to the regular bi-weekly paycheck. We also have peer daycare groups and we get together on a regular basis so that the children make many new friends.
Snacks and Meals:
Snacks and meals are provided and shall be decided and reported to the parent at the end of the day unless for medical reasons, the parent will require approving all foods given to their child. Eliminations are closely monitored and noted and managed with diet if appropriate. (i.e. limiting acidic foods, prunes, more/less fruit or cheese, more/less milk or juice) Allergies of course will be noted and addressed. Water will always be encouraged at any time of day.
Most snacks and meals are vegetarian and rich in vegetables, whole grains, and proteins although we sometimes have meat from leftover home cooked meals and “treats” like fries with ketchup or sweet baking. Typical snacks are: apple slices, bananas, berries, mangos and other seasonal, triscuit or stone wheat crackers, rice cakes, yogurt, cheese curds, chick peas sunflower seeds, homemade granola bars, muffins(home baked) etc. typical lunches are: pasta, homemade soup, hummus, rice (or other grains such as barley, quinoa, couscous and mixed veggies, bagels, whole wheat wraps, children will be given watered down juice, homo milk, herbal tea and water to drink.
Bottles and sippie cups are also provided. You are welcome to provide cups or bottles but I can not be held responsible for them if they are lost. Children love to throw them out of strollers or hide them in creative places in the house. Drinking is encouraged at all times so that they are not always contained in highchairs or booster seats while using them.
Napping:
For little ones, naptime will occur when needed but 1pm naptime will be encouraged. This will be discussed regularly and I will ask to know if the child didn’t sleep much “last night” so I can alter my day to accommodate a tired one who may need to nap early.
Illness:
Please keep feverish children or vomiting, or diarrhea at home. Please do not send a child with an unidentified rash, or signs of eye infection. Medication must arrive with signed instructions. The parents all sign a contract to be available by telephone at all times. Please keep the phone numbers current, cell phones charged and ensure that your emergency contact is aware, willing and available for back-up should your child need one on one care during illness.
Although the contract allows for the caregiver to have five paid sick days, there has never been a need to use those – yet. I may require time to take my own kids to the doctor, or one of us may become ill in the future. I know many caregivers and so I can suggest alternate care if this poses difficulty.
Vacations:
We will be closed on government statutory holidays, for the week between Xmas and new years and for 2 weeks in the summer. These weeks usually occur at the end of July. All of these days are considered paid holidays. Clients are encouraged to book their vacation at the same time to avoid extra charges. If you choose to take holidays during other times, the fees still apply, as you have secured an available full time daycare space.
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