TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CHILDCARE BUSINESS
Occasionally providers may feel overwhelmed by the different people who make demands on them. You are responsible to many different people:
• Licensor
• Inspectors
• Monitors
• Parents
• Children in your care
• Contracts (CACFP, Childcare System, etc)
Often you are faced with conflicting views of who is in charge. Clients in particular have many reasons to believe they are in authority.
• They may feel they have the authority to tell you how to care for their child.
• They may feel because they are paying you, they have the authority to make demands.
• They may not take your requests for forms, extra change of clothes or even payments seriously.
A parent may feel they have the right to tell you:
• They don’t want their child to nap and expect you to rearrange your schedule.
• A parent may demand that you allow their child to watch a TV program that you find disruptive to other children in your program.
• Feel they have the right to bring sugary donuts or cookies for a their child and tells you to give this to the child instead of the breakfast the other children are eating.
Parents are not the only ones who may feel they have authority over you. A person who is visiting your home for the purpose of a mandatory inspection, licensing, monitoring, evaluation, mentoring, and observing might feel they are in charge because their visits are mandatory, and they can impose consequences for noncompliance.
For example:
• They may feel they have the right to go into any room in your home.
• They may demand you rearrange your childcare space
• Is not respectful of your role as a business owner
• Does not respect your right to privacy
These are just a few examples of ways others may try to extend their authority beyond the scope of their statutory rights. As a family childcare provider, you must comply with your responsibilities and regulations affecting the children, parents, and visitors to your child care. However, there are circumstances when you must assert you own authority over your business.
You have the authority to develop your philosophy, schedule, develop an age- appropriate curriculum, and set rules governing your business. You may have a nonviolent peaceful resolution philosophy. What may be acceptable in a child’s home is not necessarily acceptable in childcare.
For example: you may not allow toy guns or toy weapons in your program. A parent may insist that their child be allowed to bring a toy gun from home.
You need to keep in mind that you set the rules and standards for your program. Make sure you have a good policy and procedure manual. Go over the policies for your program and clearly state your rules. Have the parents sign the policies acknowledging that they have been informed and agree with your rules and give them a copy. When problems arise, show the parent the copy they signed and remind them that there are no exceptions in your program.
You do have to conform to all the regulations and contractual agreement you have made with regulatory agencies. You have the authority to set up your childcare environment as long as it is safe, and age appropriate. You can decide the most convenient places for equipment and documentation.
For example: Your license is hung on a wall in your entry and clearly in view of all clients and visitors. If a licensor tells you to move your license to another wall because she feel it would better be seen, this is out of her scope of authority. When a licensor or other regulator requires you to make changes that you feel is beyond her scope of authority, ask to see the regulation that requires you to make the change.
If a regulatory visitor asks you to do something you are uncomfortable with, such as leaving the children unattended to go to another room to get paperwork, you have the authority to speak up and say you cannot do that because of regulations.
As a provider, you are naturally a nurturing and caring person. Many providers have a personality that wants to help and please others. It is often hard for you to speak up for yourself. But remember you are the owner of your childcare business, and you the right to question, make rules, and decisions for your business.
ALWAYS:
• Be professional
• Put policies and procedures in writing
• Know your regulations
• Do not make exceptions
RESOURCES
Family Childcare Guide to Visits, Inspections, and Interviews; Donna Hurley and Sharon Woodward