New Reg: Let's Discuss
At least one Staff person with a satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination shall supervise Children at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child.
Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means Staff members are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The person(s) supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger. Plans shall be made to obtain additional Staff help in cases of emergencies. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :D |
This gem is going to be a hit. " If formula must be provided by the Home, only commercially prepared, ready-to-feed
formula shall be used." So it is too expensive for us to expect the parents to buy it but we are expected to pay over double for liquid ready to feed? The reimbursement does not even cover the powder. |
"Menus. The Home shall provide a menu listing all meals and snacks to be served during the current week. Substitutions shall be recorded on the posted menu. Menus shall be retained at the Home for six (6) months."
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Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Annalee: They also are mandating the breastfeeding area. Just like we expected: All of the QRIS stuff is becoming the minimum standard. This is easy for me as an empty nester, but will be a deal breaker for many others. There will be so many more illegal daycares this year. "The Home shall encourage and support breastfeeding. The Home shall have a designated area set aside for breastfeeding mothers to breastfeed." "Food for infants or children less than one (1) year of age shall be cut into pieces one-quarter inch or smaller and food for toddlers shall be cut into pieces one-half inch or smaller to prevent choking." - I do have one who will go ballistic if I cut his apples, pears or bananas. :ouch: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: FYI...there is such a thing as goat-made baby formula....just saying...it was shown to me from another provider (oops, educator).:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: |
Originally Posted by Annalee: This kid is a big 3, bigger than my neighbors 5 year old. Farm kid. Independent. Now, I am supposed to baby him. His mom is going to love it... not. :lol::lol: Toddler = under 4. :rolleyes: This kid climbs trees and picks his own dang apples.... :p |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
I also don't think I should have to sit during meals.
How can I be serving seconds, cleaning droppings, picking up lost silverware, spoon feeding infants and sitting on my backside? Wheelchair? Staggered mealtimes? I don't even have an extra chair in my dining room. Arms length? Easy. On my derrière at the busiest time in my work day? :confused::confused::confused: How?? How do you manage that? Also, the lack of participation is something I will remember when others need help. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
I've been doing daycare so long, I told my licensor I knew by the smell which kid had pooped. Being a provider-educator is a talent!!! :D
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Originally Posted by Annalee: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Annalee: I am curious how other states compare and contrast, though. How other people are making some of this this work. I put so much time, money and effort into making the playroom into a self contained, childproofed, classroom like they wanted and now they seem to be trying to force me back out of it and into the kitchen/bathroom with kids in tow. A complete 180. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: In my state, it's not just staff that has to have background checks. All family members over 13 years of age who live in the house have to undergo a background check and fingerprinting each time I relicense, whether they have contact with the kids or not. My husband and adult kids work during the hours my day care is operating. They pretty much have zero contact with the dc kids. I'm paying an extra $105 (plus my own $35) this year to have them all fingerprinted. On the very rare day they aren't at work while I'm watching kids, they're either sick and in bed upstairs or have an appointment of some kind and are out of the house. The last thing any of them want to do is spend time with my dc kids. Originally Posted by Cat Herder: The regulation in my state is that we have to be able to see OR hear the kids at all times which makes more sense to me. I'd never be able to use the bathroom without bringing the kids in with me if I had to be able to see them at all times. I understand the importance of active supervision but there are times when nature calls and being able to hear the kids seems sufficient for those couple of minutes when I can't see them. Originally Posted by Cat Herder: Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by e.j.: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: Our in-home state regs don’t have this kind of... intimidating? formal?... language, but they are still over-reaching for our kind of care. I’ve gone toe to toe with our inspector (not that she can do anything), saying “we don’t want a PROFESSIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION kind of place! We want to open our home to parents who need to go to work....and provide SERVICES that enrich their children’s days and give them a safe, healthy place to be all day.” Yes, health and safety standards are needed. Our license should stand for something. But even our parents roll their eyes and don’t understand why the regs want our home to be exactly like the 120 (or 300!) kid center off the highway. They’ve said the licensing people are taking away THEIR choice of how they want their kids to experience baby/toddler/PS life! But the state says, once we start taking money for services, they have to be state-mandated services only. We can’t even terminate a bad fit, until we follow through on eight steps to rectify (including US setting up services and therapies for THEIR kids, and allowing evaluators into our daycare to watch the child and us interact). I’m only the manager and not the owner. I don’t know how many more regs will pile on before I jump ship. If this were happening in my home, I would have bailed a few years ago. |
Would it help if enough providers in your state gave feedback to your state's EEC commissioner? EEC here came up with new regs in response to the COVID threat but some of the regs weren't realistic for most providers. After receiving enough feedback, EEC did change some of them. Maybe if enough providers give feedback to the head of EEC in your state and let him/her know how the changes would impact them and the kids, the regs might be reconsidered???
The chances are probably slim to none but it could happen. |
Originally Posted by e.j.: |
Thanks guys. I would love to be able to bail but after a certain number of years I am closer to retirement than I am able to begin another career. I have about 20 years of working left to fund my own retirement.
As far as commenting, they only listen to centers. Specifically centers who take subsidy allowing the writers to sponge federal funds to cover their self-created jobs. Most have never spent a whole week doing hands on care of children, including their own. I do plan to write my representatives all the way from local to the top but feel it will be akin to urinating up a flag pole. It is the federal dollars they want. Children, families and providers be damned. Universal daycare, bought voters. They want us gone. These regs have nothing to do with coronavirus. They are using the virus to push them through while everyone is looking the other way. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Annalee: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: When we were told that we could no longer terminate a child on OUR terms and had to provide the parent with resources and services (as well as that whole rule on being required to accept unvaccinated kids), I told the inspector that these rules were going to make some of us close up. She basically replied that so far it hasn’t really been the case. (Put up or shut up I guess is what she was saying!) I’ve had parents ask why a certain kid is still around (not that directly) and/or getting all the focus from the caregivers and all I can say is that we’re in the middle of our eight steps. PARENTS don’t like that we have to keep those kids around their kids, as well as refocus our days around them. As much as we providers need to speak up, I wish the parents would too. They say they select home-based for a reason but soon there will be no difference. I know our regs are often written to deal with the actions of the worst caregivers and I was trying to think what prompted your state to tell you how to HAVE LUNCH with your own DCKs but I guess your theory of legislators wanting to drive us under continues to make the most “sense.” |
From the outside looking in, I do understand the "WHY" the state has began to deal with so much "wording terminology".
Afterall, I have a sign up that says "hold your child's hand as you walk to/from your vehicle". We live in a generation that simply doesn't "think" or "do" the right thing much of the time. So this "wording terminology" is likely because some providers/educators do not "do" or "think" at all so the state is protecting themselves' liability. I.E....personal TRUE examples; like telling families at church not to let their kids run around in the parking lot after church and to always have an adult present; or asking someone to bring corn to a family-gathering and they bring green beans; or asking a family to bring rice krispie treats to a daycare party and they bring in a box of rice krispies thinking we are having cereal I guess:eek:; or telling clients not to be late picking up so they just bring in money forty minutes late like that will "fix" things; This day and time brings many challenges for every person/organization/family/team.....times are so different from when I was a kid and my parents said the same thing about the difference from their childhood, so we have come to "this".... ??? |
Originally Posted by Annalee: I’ve been thinking about that lunch rule in particular though: wouldn’t you be able to respond more quickly if you were already on your feet and circulating??! |
Originally Posted by Annalee: |
I don't know all the answers, I do know that they don't care how if effects us. That is perfectly clear. :ouch:
Little of it benefits kids or families, either. Well, unless your family has the biting/destructive kid and you don't want to pay for your own childcare, I suppose. I refuse to play that game, though. I have already paid my dues. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Dumbest rule EVER
I have 4 kids agree 13-18. ALL my kids would count toward ratio though they are all capable of doing babysitting on their own! Lol It used to be kids under age 12 (except when in school). Therefore, as exempt, I can't watch ANY kids 'technically' and as licensed I could watch only 4! I could watch 4+2 school agers back in the day.
Being in child care is TOO difficult. I told licensing board that beer rules are so stupid that technically every single parent that has four children and takes a child from school for a couple hours is basically breaking the rules. I ask her what the real rules are for Rideshare as far as parents who have 4 kids taking home 3 kids say from after school band practice. " well technically if you're not a licensed daycare, you're not supposed to be watching kids at all in those circumstances" most parents of older kids who need rides, are not going to be paying child care services, you know that one of those band parents are carpooling and everybody kind of switches off. I could not believe that they consider this actually child care. Really really stupid. Furthermore, I cannot believe that they actually consider 13 year olds on up to at least age 18, to be unable to entertain themselves or help out with the daycare kids or to do anything. They make it sound like they're just babies. Ridiculous |
Enough with the ridiculous regulations already!
I wish the folks who come up with these ideas would spend just one whole day providing childcare while implementing the regulations they come up with. I haven’t seen anything in my state yet like the new regs OP posted but I’m sure if they’re starting somewhere it’s just a matter of time. I love the “go to” answers and the expressions on the licensors faces when I ask for clarification on some rules. The way the supervision rules are written, they don’t allow for a caregiver to use the bathroom, ever. C’mon people, you gotta know we have to be allowed to use the bathroom. They’re answer is “It’s up to you to figure out how to make it work”. The equivalent of putting their hands over their ears and singing “La La La La La La”. It’s like I’m either supposed to hire another person and pay them minimum wage (more than I make in this business) should I need to use the bathroom so I can stay within the supervision ratio at any given time of the day. Or I can take a crowd of kids into the bathroom with me so I can supervise them at the same time? I don’t want my child observing their caregiver in the bathroom. Sounds like criminal charges to me. We must have a working monitor on in any room children sleep in, check on them every 15 minutes and leave the door between rooms open. Fire code says to close the doors. My babies who require 2 naps a day sleep in a room next to the daycare playroom. I can hear the sleeping babies better without the monitor amplifying the noise from the older kids playing outside the babies room. But nope, not allowed to use my common sense and judgement as an experienced parent. Gotta follow rules that make no sense. I’m thinking the proposed regulation of having to sit within arm’s reach at meals coincides with the family-style meals the food program had been promoting before Coronavirus. Makes no sense with little ones. I hardly have time to sit when I make dinner for adult guests and they are self-sufficient. I’m not a fan of family-style meals for daycare. Having my own child with severe food allergies, it’s too easy for another child to cause cross-contamination of a dish by accidentally using their own utensils for serving instead of the serving utensils. It’s a shame the actual caregivers aren’t consulted on their opinions of appropriate regulations. |
Just for curiosity, are parents allowed to view the regulations that are set by childcare licensing or is it for providers and employees only?
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Originally Posted by springvalley112: http://www.decal.ga.gov/documents/at...nyofbIkdyJ74Ig |
I have managed to solve most of the feeding issues but cannot for the life of me figure out a plan for taking toddlers to the bathroom without having to drag infants there, too. "Sight and Sound" + "at all times".
I don't think I can afford to add a half bath after I just sunk almost 5k into the QRIS tuition/upgrades. I have not made that back yet. :(:( That is the only solution I can see. Surely I am missing something? Help :Sunny: Suggestions? |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: Okay so the rule says "The person(s) supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs." 1. Wear depends 2. Use a camera and monitor with a microphone 3. Train them to sit outside the door 4. install a two way mirror That's all I got for now. |
Originally Posted by Annalee: Originally Posted by 284878: |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: |
Other than put in a porta-potty or let the kids wear pull-ups all day; I got nothing!:lol::lol:
I closed yesterday and spent the day de-qris-assessing my daycare room. My dumpster is full of materials and little signs that were hung up that I used to make sure I received credit for "everything" as I doubted my assessor's perception more times than not. Got a little more to do today, but back to the "welcoming/engaging/non-counting items/fun-looking/etc". While there are some issues going on within the state right now, the FCCERS-R guidelines are GONE! happyface |
Originally Posted by Annalee: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by 284878: |
Catherder, maybe you could add on your ads "come to CH daycare where your child is NEVER left alone; even while using the bathroom". :lol::lol::ouch:
The state regs are so "out-there". They need to at least have providers look at them before enforcing them:confused: |
Yes they do @annalee
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Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: It will just come back saying "Not cleared" and automatically updates if anything changes before it expires. It won't say why although as the parent you would generally already know. https://www.aps.gemalto.com/index.htm |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: I can pull it up on my phone, zoom in, and talk to the kids through it. With an SD card it records for around 5 days. Might be 7. And you can program it to turn off/on and record during certain times. Once there is no room left on the SD card, it just records over the oldest material. Within that time if there is anything concerning I can record a clip of whatever the incident was and save it in an album, email it, text it, etc. And yes, it works wonders when using the bathroom! No one is unattended or unheard. |
Originally Posted by Baby Beluga: They did not define promptly, of course. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: You can certainly hear and see at all times with a camera. But if a provider is in the restroom in the middle of whatever, they are not going to be able to respond promptly, pending the definition of promptly. Quickly, of course! I think we all know how to have lightening fast restroom breaks :lol: Has any asked their licensor what the solution to this is? I am curious. Do they skirt around the question? |
Originally Posted by Baby Beluga: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: Then when they went into effect, I got an email 10 days before. We got the rule book a month (but the technical is not upto date) before I took the training course, 3 months after they went into effect. Then the pamedemic hit and I shelved updating my e plan. Most of our changes were simple expect the e plan. I rushed to get it done before my inspection last month and I was told that it needed improvement. Then he told me that I had another year to get it done due to the pandemic, lucky me because if they had not given me an extension he would have wrote me up for it. I am in agreement with most of the rules, expect I find doing the e plan to be difficult since I have never had training on what to do for a man made threat or experienced the after facts of a natural disaster. Although today was interesting in itself. (We had an armed suspect less than a mile away with a road block at the end of our road, I had DCD come another route to my home to get the kids) I do have tighter rules on use of a pack and play, which is a good thing that this board had talked me into switching to portable cribs before I knew about the rules on PNP. Anyway, I would think you could use the camera microphone to respond promptly to the kids. "Jimmy put Suize down" "Mikey I know you like it, but please stop tasting everything!" lol Or back to my random thought list... How to respond promptly while still on the toilet?? 1. A robot with a monitor that shows your face 2. Service Dog with CPR/1st aid training 3. Remote control car instead of a robot 4. Movie magic 5. A stunt double Okay that is all I got for now... |
A note from your doctor saying that your body needs to eliminate every couple of hours in private. Lol
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My regs specifically say that video monitoring is not an acceptable form of supervision.
We can only use monitors for supervision while kids are asleep and still must physically check on them every 15 minutes. We cannot leave the floor that the children are sleeping on so there’s no running upstairs to use the bathroom even while all the kids nap. I was told by one of my licensors that if they arrived and I was in the bathroom with the door closed, they could violate me. Luckily, we have to keep the entrance doors locked so it’s not like they are gonna walk in and catch a provider using the bathroom. Just make sure the door is answered quickly when they knock though. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by 284878: If tested, I would just move everyone's plates to the center of the table, scoot back their chairs then grab baby. :confused: Generally, I would have had little one settled in in preparation for lunch but they sure don't seem to give us any wiggle room. I would love to see any one of them follow their own regs. I know they can't. |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by AmyKidsCo: |
Originally Posted by PB&J: Just another example of insanity! |
I only have to offer formula--- I don't take babies though.
Sight and sound supervision has ALWAYS been a reg here. Ever since I can remember. It is a PITA. As FCC I lined the kids up outside the bathroom, left the door open and we did songs and movement games while we took turns pottying. They did give me a note allowing 'brief and necessary' restroom breaks. How kind of them. As group, we have to have one with sight and sound and that usually means we potty when the kids do so they're lined up. :rolleyes: Noone is allowed alone with kids without a passed background check, even family 18+ with no contact have to have one every 5 years. |
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