Child Care Provider Day 2024 is on Thursday, May 9, 2024: child care provider?

Thursday, May 9, 2024 is Child Care Provider Day 2024. Looking for Daycare Search our statewide database to find care that meets your needs.

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I am a licensed child care provider in my home in Michigan. The amount of money I receive from the state when I care for a child eligible for assistance is dependent on what the parents qualify for. I charge a set fee for all children whom I care for. The parent(s) work through their social worker to apply for government assistance. Based on the family income there is a formula used to determine how much the state will pay me. Occasionally the family income is low enough that I receive 100% of what I charge (for me, this has only been in cases of a single mom household), More typically the state covers a percentage of child care costs and the parents are responsible for the remainder of the fees. I have found that dealing with the state is a slow-moving process and the checks I receive from the state are typically for care dates 6-8 weeks prior to the check date. Each state sets their own regulations in their human services so you may have to see what they will cover once the paperwork has been processed. Due to privacy laws and a high client load, I have found attempting to clarify any problems with checks to be a frustrating experience. It saves a lot of hassle for me to ask my parents the questions I have and they check with the social worker for the answers. Some other child care providers I know choose to require payment from week one of care and when the checks from the state begin to arrive, the care provider reimburses the family for the amount that the state covered. Regardless of which method you choose, there is a lot of paperwork involved.

What are the responsibilities of a Child Care provider?

Most child care workers perform a combination of basic care and teaching duties, but the majority of their time is spent on caregiving activities. Workers whose primary responsibility is teaching are classified as preschool teachers, covered in the separate Handbook statement on teachers—preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary. However, many basic care activities also are opportunities for children to learn. For example, a worker who shows a child how to tie a shoelace teaches the child while also providing for that child’s basic care needs. Child care programs help children learn about trust and gain a sense of security.

Child care workers spend most of their day working with children. However, they do maintain contact with parents or guardians through informal meetings or scheduled conferences to discuss each child’s progress and needs. Many child care workers keep records of each child’s progress and suggest ways in which parents can stimulate their child’s learning and development at home. Some child care centers and before- and after-school programs actively recruit parent volunteers to work with the children and participate in administrative decisions and program planning.

Young children learn mainly through play. Child care workers recognize this and capitalize on children’s play to further language development (storytelling and acting games), improve social skills (working together to build a neighborhood in a sandbox), and introduce scientific and mathematical concepts (balancing and counting blocks when building a bridge or mixing colors when painting). Often a less structured approach is used to teach young children, including small-group lessons; one-on-one instruction; and creative activities such as art, dance, and music. Child care workers play a vital role in preparing children to build the skills they will need in school.

Child care workers in child care centers or family child care homes greet young children as they arrive, help them to remove outer garments, and select an activity of interest. When caring for infants, they feed and change them. To ensure a well-balanced program, child care workers prepare daily and long-term schedules of activities. Each day’s activities balance individual and group play, as well as quiet and active time. Children are given some freedom to participate in activities in which they are interested.

How much is the usual cost per day for a nanny/ at home child care provider?

i nanny two children full time during the summer, ages 8 and 11. because it is a full time job (5 days a week, 10 hours a day) I can't hold two jobs, and I need to be able to live off the pay. I will be getting $400 per week, plus a $50 gas card every month.

It really depends how many hours they are there, if it is only like, four hours, four days a week, you could get by with offering $7 or $8 an hour. Thats between $112 and $128 per week. However, if it will be an 8 hour day, then 8 or 9 is more appropriate. It also depends on the experience of the nanny, and what she is used to working for.