10 Important Things Child Care Providers Want You To Know

Childcare is not all about babysitting, but a profession and there are certain things that these professionals want everyone to know. There are 10 things that these professionals want everyone to know about their rewarding and challenging career, with mutual respect making it fruitful for children, parents and childcare professionals.

1) Childcare is a business and not mere babysitting: These professionals have established rules, hours and pay rates for quality care provided by them; parents should be appreciative that a provider takes time to create a handbook, contract, and other details that help to foster communications and understanding.

2) Childcare providers have the right to charge late fees: These fees are applicable if the parents are late in picking up the child or if the child is not taken to care for a particular day, with the charges being paid in advance without exceptions as childcare professionals are taken advantage of by families if they don't.

3) Childcare providers are not housekeepers: They should not be expected to do your child's laundry and wash their cups or items; this is not to say that they will not sometimes wash soiled clothing, rinse mud off shoes, or wash a sipper cup, but parents should realize that a provider is being gracious and is going above what is required.

4) Providers have a right to be paid in time: They also have bills to pay as others; they look after children of parents who work themselves to also collect an income to pay bills. 

5) Boundaries and rules are applicable to both providers and parents: They should have clear rules regarding transportation as some providers take kids to the park or library; food that is served, discipline approaches, and other care issues. If dissatisfied parents have a choice to go elsewhere as the provider has a choice to not keep the child. 

6) Treat providers' home like your own: Parents need to train the children to be disciplined and treat the provider’s home as their own; it forms an important aspect of successful child care arrangement to respect the provider’s property and home. 

7) The cost is well deserved: The cost paid for childcare is well deserved; parents should consider the quality of care and what they are getting for their money, and not grumble about having to pay for the service they receive.

8) Never put the provider in the middle of spouse disagreements: Providers would only act in accordance with signed agreements of who can and cannot bring/pick up a child; if there is a court order, the provider needs to have a copy. 

9) Realize that accidents will happen: The providers will do their best to keep kid play safe and positive, but falls and scrapes can happen as it can at your home. 

10) Providers cannot always obey a parent’s rule: While parents have a say over food or certain rules, a provider must be able to equitably provide meals, snacks and discipline. Obviously, allergies or healthy eating are a given; it's the inconsistencies that cause pause.

To conclude it is best to remember that mutual understanding, respect, and clear communications are the key. Most care providers take their jobs seriously, and our children are the ones that are rewarded with proper care and nurturing.

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