Childcare Provider Safety is More Than Childproofing
You have plugs in all your outlets, locks on all your cabinets,
and have crawled the floor looking for any dangerous items
within reach of a toddler. Your home may be safe for children,
but there are other steps you should consider to plan for
safety.
Consider creating a kit in case you and your childcare children
need to leave your house in a hurry. Make an emergency card for
each child that includes the child's name, parents' names and
contact information, emergency contact information, any know
allergies or medical conditions, and other information about
each child that would be critical to have. Store all the cards
in an easy to grab container, like a recipe box, and keep it
someplace secure, but easily accessible in a hurry. You may also
want to have emergency supplies like food, water, and a first
aid kit included in your emergency kit.
Being accessible to potential parents is important for finding
new children, but you also should take steps to keep you
personal information safe. Consider not listing your actual
street address in any advertising you do. Rather, list a close
intersection or land mark - "near the corner of 15th Street and
Logan Drive", or "behind Southaven Shopping Mall". This way,
parents can get an idea of where you are located, but you can
give your actual street address only to those you have spoke
with and feel comfortable knowing exactly where you live.
The same holds true for your phone number. Current technologies
let people find your exact address even if they know only your
phone number. Consider using a cell phone for business calls. If
you do use your home number, ensure that everybody who may
answer the phone knows to tell callers you are not able to come
to the phone, instead of saying you are not home. Never give out
personal information over the phone. Instead, consider giving
prospective childcare parents information only when they meet
with you in person.
You also need to consider guardian and custody issues when
caring for children. When parents fill out an application, ask
if there are any custody issues you should be aware of, like a
non-custodial parent who is not supposed to have contact with
the child. Do not give out information about children over the
phone and do not confirm that a child is in your care if a
caller asks. If somebody other than the parent is going to pick
a child up from care, ensure the parent approves it beforehand
and make sure the adult picking the child up shows
identification.
Many childcare providers have an 'open door' policy, meaning
parents can stop by at any time. This is fantastic for parents
with children currently in care, but can pose some risk. When
your door is unlocked, make sure all children are within your
sight, to ensure nobody accidentally gets outside. If you are
not within eyesight, or at least hearing, of your front door,
lock it and hang a note asking parents to ring the bell. This
decreases the chances that somebody could walk into your house
without your knowledge
Caring for children means you are responsible for their safety.
A little planning can help increase your home's safety. Stay
aware and alert so that you and the children in your care stay
safe and are able to have a fun and educational day.