Tiny Hands In-Home Daycare

Tiny Hands is licensed through DCFS. We work closely with DCFS and have to follow all procedures and requirements


 

Documents that will need for daycare:

  • Certified copy of birth certificate (provider must see a certified copy and make a copy)
  • Shot records
  • Medical exam

All of these items are due back within 30 days of application date. 

 

Tiny Hands In-Home Daycare is a Christian based daycare under the guidelines of DCFS. 

 

  • Christian base means praise music/worship time, prayers before meals, reading scripture, lesson and activity plans from the Bible, and other Christian books. We also work on other educational approaches, sensory bins, hands-on activities, gross motors and fine motors, and play based learning.

Childcare Payment Policy

  • Our tuition for the week is $200 (you pay for your child’s spot for the entire week) . No one can fill your child’s spot if your child is not here, which is required by DCFS.
  • All payments are due Monday by 9 AM weekly the week prior to childcare
  • Payments can be made by cash, check, PayPal, or cashapp
  • Deposit- $60 nonrefundable for deposit to hold your child’s spot to start care and get supplies ready for your child to start care. We will only hold the spot for six weeks
  • late fees- $25 per day late on tuition payment if not paid by 9 AM on Monday late fee will be put on ProCare at 9:01 AM and every day after that. You are only allowed up to three days late then childcare will be paused until childcare Payment is paid in full with all late fees. Late fees will continue to add up until childcare payment is made.


Drop Off Policy

Drop off cutoff time is at 9 AM NO ONE WiILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER DAYCARE AFTER 9 AM

 

  • Drop off must be quick no more than a few minutes.
  • You must sign your child in.
  • Put your Child stuff up where it goes
  • Tell your child goodbye
  • Stay right by the door
  • Keep the door closed and don’t let any other children out the door
  • Do not play with any children at daycare that is not yours. Their parents  trust us and only us to take care of their children and keep them safe.

 

 

 

Pick Up Policy

  • Pick up must be no more than a few minutes
  • You must sign your child out
  • Gather all your child’s belongings from their designated area
  • Stay right by the door
  • Keep the door closed and don’t let any other children out the door
  • Pick up must be by 4:15. Late fees will begin at 4:16.  $1 per minute late.
  • If you are more than 30 minutes late to pick up, after closing, and no one on the pick up list answers our phone calls then we will have to call the proper authorities to notify them. (DCFS requirement)
  • Do not play with any children at daycare that is not yours. Their parents trust us and only us to take care of their children and keep them safe.

 

 

 

Food Policy

 

Breakfast is from 7:30 AM to 8 AM if your child gets dropped off after that they will need to be fed. I will not serve breakfast after 8 AM.

 

DCFS requirements of your child for each meal and snacks:

 

Breakfast:

  •  fruit or a vegetable
  • Grain/bread or cold dry cereal

 

$1.50 per item if I have to supplement.

 

 

AM snack and PM snack:

  • Meat or meat alternative
  • Grain/bread

 

$1.50 per item if I have to supplement.

 

Lunch:

  • Meat or meat alternative
  • Vegetable
  • Fruit
  • Grain/bread

 

$1.50 per item if I have to supplement.

 

What I provide:

  • Milk
  • Juice
  • Water

 

Food must be brought in an insulated lunchbox with a child's name on it.

 

if you do not bring the proper items for each meal and snacks, you will be charged $1.50 per item that I have to provide to your child for the day.

 

You must bring a waterproof/spillproof water bottle for your child to use with their name on it.

If your child still drinks out of bottles, please have bottles made up and ready for your child for the day.

If your child drinks out of sippy cups, please supply two of them.

 

 

Nap Time Policy

It is required by DCFS to have nap time. Nap time is immediately after lunch, which is 11:30 to 12:00. Your child is allowed to sleep as long as they would like. If they do not wake up on their own, I will wake them up at 2:30.

 

  • Your child must nap/sleep.
  • If your child is not a napper, then we probably will not be the best fit for you.
  • if your child is under eight months, they are allowed to have a morning nap, until 9 AM. If they skip AM nap, they will have to stay awake until p.m. nap.
  • your child does not have to sleep the whole time, but they do have to sleep some.
  • if you’re Child does not sleep, they outgrow our program.

 

This is DCFS required, which means it is required by the state of Illinois for children to sleep.

 

 

Authorize Pick Policy

Authorized pick ups for people that you trust to pick up your child. I need their name, their phone number, their relationship and their address. They will also have to show their ID and remember a pin number to sign them in or out. They will have to show their ID until I get to know them. This is for safety for all children and your child.

 

There is no limit to how many people can be authorized to pick up your child. If you have more than three please write it on a separate piece of paper and let me know so I can add them to the app that we use called ProCare. 

 

Authorize pick up1: 

Name_______________________________________

Phone number_______________________________

Relationship _________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Authorize pick up 2:

Name_______________________________________

Phone number_______________________________

Relationship _________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Authorize pick up 3:

Name_______________________________________

Phone number_______________________________

Relationship _________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Unauthorized People Policy

This is for people that are not authorized to pick up your child. If this person tries to pick up your child, you will be notified immediately. They will not be allowed to enter the daycare facility. However, if the person is on the birth certificate, and you do not have an order of protection or court documents saying that this person is not allowed to be around your child, they are allowed to pick up the child. This is state regulations. If you have documents, whether it be an order of protection or court ordered I will need those for my records.

 

If the person is related, but not a parent, they will not be allowed to pick up the child at all. If the person is not related to the child and they try to pick up the child they will not be allowed to pick up the child. They will not be allowed in the facility and they will be asked to leave. To help us with this, please provide their names, a description of what they look like and a photo of them if you have it or if you can find one.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emergency Contact Policy 

Emergency contact people or those we can contact in case there is an emergency and we cannot get ahold of the guardians/parents.

In case of any type of emergency with your child, we will contact you in order guardian one then guardian two then onto the emergency contact people in order 1,2,3 if no one is able to be reached, we will have to call 911 and get a hold of the property authorities

 

 If you are more than 30 minutes late after daycare closes and we have tried to get in contact with everybody on the list, emergency contacts and the listed parents with no one answering we will have to contact the proper authorities. DCFS requirement.

 

We will attempt to call each person twice before moving onto the next.

 

Now, please list your emergency contacts in order on how you would like for us to contact them:

 

 

Emergency contact 1:

Name _____________________________

Number ____________________________________

Relationship ___________________________________

 

 

Emergency contact 2:

Name _____________________________

Number ____________________________________

Relationship ___________________________________

 

 

Emergency contact 3:

Name _____________________________

Number ____________________________________

Relationship ___________________________________

 

Emergency contacts must be added to the authorized pick up so we can add them to ProCare too.

 

If emergency services have to be called for your child Tiny Hands is not responsible for the bill. The parents/guardians will be.

 

Emergency contacts and authorized pick ups are different.

Emergency contacts will be contacted during emergencies or if your child gets sick.

Authorized pick ups are only if you send them to pick up/drop off your child for that day. Authorized pick ups will not be contacted by Tiny Hands if there is an emergency and vice versa.  Emergency/Authorized contacts will each have their own pin number to pick and drop off your child.

 

The pin number is to sign the children in/out from daycare. A tablet is right inside the door of the daycare. Everybody will need to memorize their pin number to sign the child in and out.

 

 

Communication Policy 

 

 

Hours of communication are 6 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday

 

You can message at any time however I will not answer between 5:30 PM to 6 AM

Due to personal time.

 

You must message Tiny Hands in home daycare page on Facebook or call us at 618-240-9567 

 

Reminders, closed dates, and important information will be posted in the private Tiny Hands Facebook page for parents only. You must follow and like the Tiny Hands Facebook page to be added.

 

We will not be able to always tell you in person about changes that are or will happen.

 

We will also send home class notes, calendars, and any other important information by paper.

 

 

Hours of Operation Policy

  • Our hours of operation are 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday however, you must pick your child up by 4:15 PM daily or late fees will be charged a dollar per minute. (this gives me 15 minutes during daycare hours to handle cleaning and sanitizing daycare areas during daycare hours)
  • Cut off time is at 9 AM. No child will be allowed to enter the daycare after 9 AM to ensure the daycare runs smoothly for all children.
  • We can communicate between the hours of 6 AM to 5:30 PM if you message me outside of those hours, I will not respond until we are back in those hours.
  • Contracted hours: The contracted hours are the time that you will be dropping your child off in the morning and picking your child up in the afternoon. This helps our day run more smoothly that way we know when parents will be there to get their child so we can have things ready and be ready for your child. Contracted agreed upon hours of care are between the daycare provider and parent of the child. These hours are typically outlined on the contract or in the contract. These hours will be when you drop off your child and pick your child up so we know what time you are expected to be here. For example, if you need to be here at 7 AM to drop off your child that is what time we will be expecting you daily and for pick up you put 3 PM that’s what time you will be expected.

 

 

Shoes Policy 

  • We are a no shoe facility. Anyone who enters the facility will be asked to take their shoes off and place them in the black tray or in the shoe cubbies. This cuts down on dirt and debris and keeps all children safe. This greatly helps out since we are a mixed age group daycare. 
  • It is important that your child have shoes that properly fit them for outdoor play and going on walks. No open toed shoes or flip-flops. Your child must take their shoes off as they enter the door daily to make sure the floor stays clean for younger children. Your child will only be wearing their shoes when we go outside.
  • Absolutely no flip-flops, slide on sandals, and no open toed shoes.
  • We love crocs

 

 

Clothing Policy

  • Your child must be dressed and ready for the day when you drop them off. What your child comes in is what your child will wear for the rest of the day.
  • Please put your children in play clothes. If your child wears nice clothing, we are not responsible for replacing it if it gets stained or messy during the day.
  • Please, if you let your child wear a dress to daycare please put shorts on underneath the dress. Your child will be climbing, swinging, sliding and many more activities. We do not want anybody seeing any of their undergarments or anything else that should be under clothing. This is for your child's safety.

 

 

Diapers and Wipes Policy

 

We do not accept any diapers or pull-ups that are in the 360s. They need to be the type that can open on the sides, allowing me to change your child to pull up or diapers without having to fully undress them. If you send your child with diapers or pull-ups that are 360 you will be asked to go home and come back with new ones.

 

You must supply the diapers, wipes, and cream for your child.

If your child runs out and you fail to bring more in I do have back ups. When you bring the diapers back I will take from your child’s diapers to replace mine. Most daycares do this.

  • You must supply diapers and wipes in bulk. I will store them in your child’s bin with their name on them. The wipes must have their names on them, and the cream must have their names on them.

 

potty training: 

  • Your child must be able to tell me that they need to pee or use the bathroom
  • Your child must wear diapers or pull-ups until they are fully potty trained (I cannot spend my entire day cleaning up after your child’s unsanitary messes)
  • If your child has more than two accidents in underwear, you will be required to start bringing pull-ups or diapers for your child.
  • We do work with your children when they are at the age of potty training. We take them to the bathroom and ask them if they need to go every 30 to 40 minutes. 
  • We have a potty seat that is built into our toilet seat. That way they do not have to be scared of falling in or moving. We have stools and we have a tiny potty too.

 

We do a sticker reward for potty training

  •  One sticker equals sit on the potty and tried
  • Two sticker equals they went pee in the potty
  • Three sticker equals they went poop in the potty

They will get a note card per day. We will write the time that they went and we will stick the stickers next to that time. We will make a list so parents can see what they did throughout the day. All potty training updates will also be on the Procare app. 

 

 

Toys and Personal Possessions Policy

 

Do not bring any personal belongings into daycare unless it is a show and tell day. The following items that are not allowed to be brought into daycare:

  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Tablets
  • Video games 
  • Phones
  • Stuffed animals
  • Car seat seats

You will be asked to take them back to the car and please do not try to get us to be the bad guys and take it away from your child.

 

Show and tell: there is a bag that is sent home with one child once a week it will get sent home on Tuesdays and brought back on Wednesdays. Wednesdays are our show and tell days. Your child is allowed to put three items in the bag to tell their friends about their items and why they like them and where they got them from.

These items will stay in the bag until it is show and tell time after they are done telling us about their items, they will immediately go back into their bag and be hung up until time to go. These items will not be allowed to be played with by your or any other child during the day. 

 

 

Accidents and Incidents Policy

 

Accident: if your child gets hurt because of something they did themselves it is an accident. If your child has an accident here at Tiny Hands whether it be a tiny scratch, fall down, scrape a knee or hit their head or any time there are any visual marks on your child an accident report will be written, signed and dated stating what happened. I will make a copy for myself and you will get the original copy stating what time and what happened, what the child was doing and whether they needed a Band-Aid or a hug.

 

Incident: incidents are where another child hurts your child whether it be dropping a book on them, hitting, kicking or biting them. If an incident happens here at Tiny Hands we will write it down on the paper for your child who caused it, give it to a parent and also keep a copy for the child who got hurt. It will be an accident report because the accident happened to them and when it happened, we will not be allowed to give the other child’s name or the parents name. It is a HIPAA violation and will not be discussed any further. If you have any more questions about this or the incident or accident that happened with your child I can give you further information regarding the other child. I am not allowed to disclose.

 

Whether it be an incident or an accident report a parent or guardian will have to sign it before I can make a copy.

 

Entrance Door

Please close the door after entering daycare so that no child can run out of the door. 

When you get here, ring the doorbell and walk in. Make sure you close the door.

Also make sure you close the gate after going through them whether you’re coming or going if you go through a baby gate. 

Parents Responsibilities 

 

  • It is your responsibility to check and make sure your child has everything he or she needs during daycare hours.
  • It is your responsibility to check to see if there’s any papers in your child’s folder. It is also your responsibility to put your child’s folder in and out of their pocket on the door daily. Everything is clearly labeled with your child’s name on it. If you lose or misplace your child’s folder, you will have to pay a replacement fee of $3. If your child’s folder does not come back to daycare within a week, I will replace the folder and charge you for it.
  • Any toys or items broken by your child is the parents responsibility to replace the toy or item.
  • It is your responsibility to hang your child’s belongings on the hook behind the door. Your child’s name is clearly labeled on the hook. It is also your responsibility to get your child’s belongings off the hook during pick up time.
  • It is the parents responsibility to supply diapers and wipes in bulk and diaper cream. I will let you know two days before running out that we will need more of the item. If you fail to bring the items before your Child runs out I will take from what you bring in to replace my items.
  • It is your responsibility to check your child’s stuff and make sure they have the proper breakfast, snacks, and lunch in your child’s lunchbox daily.
  • If your child is an infant, I will let you know that your child is getting low on snacks in their bin two days before they run out.

 

 

Sickness Policy

 

 

  • Guidelines required exclusion from daycare: A child with any of the following illnesses must be completely free of any symptoms before returning to daycare. If your child takes an antibiotic for an illness your child may return after the initial 24 hours of beginning antibiotics as long as he or she has a slight fever under 99.9 under the arm no longer contagious and is otherwise feeling well enough to participate in our daily schedule. Signs of illness include the following unusual lethargy, irritability, persistent crying for no reason, runny nose (more than clear), cough (more than slight), difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, mouth, sores, rash, (note from doctor stating non-contagious is OK), pink eye, chickenpox, mumps, measles, Rosella, hepatitis A, impetigo, lice, ringworm, scabies, strep throat, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, shingles, and any other contagious, disease or rash any child with a fever of 99.9° or above orally in the mouth or axillary under the arm may not attend daycare, even if you give them medicine. State law requires that we notify parents of children who have been exposed to certain contagious diseases.. Please notify us if your child becomes infected so a note can be posted. If you give your child medication before sending your child to daycare, we will be able to find out as the medicine wears off. You then will be asked to come pick up your child if your child gets sent home due to illness. Your child will have to stay home until your child is better. *A note from your doctor is a requirement every time your child is absent from an illness per state regulation under DCFS.
  • If your child needs any type of medication, whether it be ointment, oral medicine, Chapstick or lotion you will have to fill out a medication form each time a new one is required every day this is required by DCFS. Only thing that is not required is diaper 

Staff Immunizations

Any person who is employed at Tiny Hands in home daycare is required to show proof/documents of having received the following 

  • one dose of t-dap 
  • two doses of MMR
  • show proof of immunity to MM

 

If you would like to see this, please ask us to show you our staff binders. Staff binders have all our shot records and our training required by DCFS, our food handlers, and our CPR and first aid training certificates. All of these items are required by DCFS and are updated annually.

 

Rules

  • No cussing/bad words
  • No biting kicking or hitting in anyway
  • No throwing any toys or anything
  • Inside voices when you are in the house
  • Food and drinks at the table
  • If you break it, you replace it
  • No running
  • No shoes inside
  • No kids on couch
  • No outside possessions

 

If your child cannot follow these rules, your child will be asked to go home. You will be called to come pick up your child. We will talk and put in a behavior plan and if your child still does not get better at following the rules, we will put in place that if your child does not get better during this timeframe, then you will have to find another childcare provider. This is for the safety of every child involved and in daycare with us.

If your child bites, they will be immediately asked to go home

Rules that apply to parents:

  • No cussing
  • No hitting
  • No smoking on premises even in your car (DCFS)
  • Be respectful
  • Turn paperwork in on time
  • Follow the contract/agreement
  • No negotiate payments

Supplies

All of the supplies will be left at daycare in your child’s designated cubby for daily activities. We go outside as long as the weather lets us. If it is over 95°F we cannot go outside if it is below 32°F we cannot go outside.

 

 

Summer weather:

  • Bug spray (spray bug spray)
  • Sunscreen (spray sunscreen)
  • Swimsuit
  • Swim diapers
  • 2 to 3 extra outfits.

 

Winter weather:

  • Coats
  • Snow jumpers. 
  • Boots
  • Hats
  • gloves

 

Rainy weather: 

  • Rain jacket
  • Rain boots

Only required when it’s rainy

 

Daily supplies needed:

  • Breakfast 
  • A.m. snack
  • Lunch
  • P.M. snack 
  • Leak proof water bottle
  • Diapers and wipes and diaper cream ( These will need to be brought in bulk to stay in daycare)

 

Drills Policy 

 

If we have really bad storms, such as tornado watches or warnings, our designated storm shelter is in the bathroom. We will go in there and sit with blankets and pillows, a flashlight and first aid kit. We also practice monthly drills with the kids, so they are not scared during this time. The kids actually enjoy when we have drills.

 

We also practice monthly fire drills where we set off the alarms and smoke detectors. We do have a list for our designated tornado drills and fire drills listed on our bulletin board. We do these on the days that they are supposed to no matter what the weather is. It is important that your child attends daycare on these days and that you guys practice fire drills and tornado drills at home so your child is not scared when something comes up and also that way they know what to do when it happens for real life.

For tornado drills, we go to our designated bathroom.

For fire drills, we go out the front door, look for cars across the street, straight across from our gate, go to the sidewalk then we go to the corner and stand by a big tree in the grass. That way, the kids are out of the house and out of the way for firemen and emergency personnel if something ever happens.

 

 

By signing this agreement, we understand and agree to comply with all of the policies and procedures of Tiny Hands in home daycare with regards to the fees, health, attendance and other items specified in the parent/provider, contract and enrollment application and the parent handbook provided this contract will be entered into at the time of enrollment and/or when the parent/provider contract enrolls application is signed by both parent and provider will be considered over the last 30 days. Notice will be given by either parent or provider for the last 30 days and attending Tiny Hands in home daycare. We are aware of the providers holidays/personal days and two weeks of paid vacation per year and lunch charges and late charges we/I am aware that regular payment rates apply to the parents vacation providers vacation weeks with holidays and providers sick and personal days I/we understand that no refunds of payments can be given under any circumstance. No payments can be given back we/I understand that my child’s schedule enrollment can’t be switched around on a weekly basis. I/we understand that the application fee of five dollars is nonrefundable. I/we understand that the enrollment of my child is a $60 nonrefundable deposit. I/we understand that the tuition is $200 per week whether my child attends or does not attend. I/we will notify the childcare provider as soon as it is possible if my child is sick, or will not be attending daycare for whatever reason. I/we will not use any foul language of any kind.

 

Both parents/guardians need to read the entire contract and sign and initial in the designated areas. Please fill out the contract entirely and read everything.

 

 

you can get a copy of the contract and agreement at our meet and greet for a piece of five dollars per contract needed.

In order to get a contract, you must have a meet and greet first to make sure that we both are a good fit for each other

up to four weeks to start in two weeks to decide whether you want to start care with us or not as soon as you decide there will be a $60 nonrefundable deposit that will need to be paid as soon as possible because we do not hold the spot unless the deposit is paid.