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 Child Care Today Newsletter

Child Care Today is your quarterly news magazine featuring a variety of enlightening articles and interesting tidbits.  To make Child Care Today your premiere resource on child care, we need your suggestions for article topics, features, or other topics you'd like to know about.  Please submit your ideas to: newsletter@childcare.net We'd love to hear from you.

Choosing Care on Blind Faith

The Who's Watching the Children? Special Feature from the Orange County Register in California, conveys a dire message that rings true clear across North America: Parents searching for child care are "lulled into a false sense of security" in their blind belief that state and provincially run licensed facilities are safe. Worse, "Referral agencies designed to help parents find good child care knowingly recommend problem-plagued facilities, including one where a child molester was found on the premises, another with rat infestations and others with chronic overcrowding," writes By Kimberly Kindy and Jenifer B. McKim in their article, Child-care referral agencies tell little.

The series of articles spared no mercy. And rightly so. You can't get people to stand up and pay attention if you sugar-coat the issues. The Register did their homework. They analyzed some 60,000 records involving nearly 2,700 child-care homes and centers. They created a database to desipher a total of 10,126 violations that occured from from Jan. 1, 1998 to June 30, 2001. And, they conducted more than 300 interviews for this series.

The results were alarming: The number of citations where children were placed at risk had been rising. Case in point: At one home, inspectors found "a chain saw in the patio, broken swings in the back yard, nails sticking out of boards, and detergents, snail poison, Clorox and other cleaners on the floor." write the journalists.

In another instance, "A father found his 2-year-old sleeping on the floor of the garage. The house was dirty and cluttered". In yet another, the Register discovered that a private school "received 12 citations since 1998 for unsafe or dirty conditions. Reports showed children looking for rats near a hole in the building and playing on broken equipment." (In harm's way, By Jenifer B. McKim, Kimberly Kindy and Natalya Shulyakovskaya, The Orange County Register.)

In a nation where suing is almost a national pastime, Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies interviewed by the Register cited "the fear of being sued" as one of the reasons for non-disclosure to parents. Arguably, one would think that the potential liability is far greater if they don't screen out bad listings that are public record. But that only serves to boast a new fear of being taken to court for not giving a licensed facility a listing. In fact, it's actually happened. But what's most mind boggling is that the agencies told the Register that they honestly "don't believe it's their job to pass along negative reports."

Granted, parents are the consumers and should arm themselves with as much information on how to choose quality child care as they can possibly absorb before they place their child in any setting. That includes a thorough investigation of the facility license. But imagine your horror if you found out, after all your due dilligence in choosing a daycare, that the agency withheld crucial licensing safety violations about the referral. Or, if you even can, imagine that charges of willfully allowing child molestation may not even necessitate banning a home or center being from a referral list.

The responsibility for investigating complaints and enforcing regulations rests with the licensing bureau, not with the CCR&R. But many parents are not aware that they should be talking with their local licensing office before they even book an appointment to visit the daycare centre or home, whether or not the referral came from the CCR&R. After all, as Kindly and McKim point out in their article, it is rare for any of California's 61 child-care referral agencies to ban a child-care facility. "Even those on probation - a last-ditch effort by the state to reform facilities where it says children have been injured or placed in serious jeopardy - can remain on referral agency lists. Statewide, there are 115 with probationary licenses, including three in Orange County, but parents are not given this information either."

The problem is that in all too many jurisdictions across North America, parents are given scant little information to go on even when they do inquire about licensing violations. In some cases they are told that there are infractions, but are not told what, or how serious these problems are or what actions have been taken to ensure the licnesee is complying with the regulations.

There has to be some level of concern here for the safety of the children who's lives may be endangered should a referral from the CCR&R or Children's Services registry, lead to a placement at any facilities where there were serious violations.

The point of this article is not to bad-mouth CCR&Rs or Children's Services Departments posting their registrants online. These services are, without a doubt, extremely valuable for parents and caregivers. They advocate, educate and raise awareness of child care in the communities they serve. And the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and Child Care Aware has recently launched a new voluntary, quality assurance system program for CCR&Rs. Programs who attain Quality Assurance meet a set of Criteria for Best Practices. These criteria define measurable, relevant outcomes and indicators for consumer education and referral service delivery.

However, there is no clearly defined mandate in the criteria for disclosing information to parents on caregivers and facilities that have been red-flagged by the licensing bureau or any other law enforcement or Social/Children's Services office. This can be attributed in part to the complexity of privacy laws in each state and province that prohibit certain information from being disclosed with regards to criminal records and licensing infractions. It's one thing for a licensing office to investigate a caregiver or daycare for the purposes of granting a license. It is clearly another to disclose the findings of that investigation to anyone other than the caregiver or business owner.

Some Good News
But there was some good news mixed in with the alarming results. The Register noted that "A majority of homes and centers in Orange County operate free of citations for safety hazards. And, in most cases, problems found by state inspectors can be corrected immediately by locking a gate or latching a drawer."

Many provinces and states are also working on new programs that will enhance the quality and availability of information available to parents by combining the resources of the licensing office, law enforcement agencies, and the CCR&Rs.

How It's Supposed to Work
Child Care licensing sets out very specific rules, regulations and minimum standards under which centres and child care homes must operate. Licensing regulations cover:

• Safety
• Facility and equipment requirements
• Public health and nutrition standards
• Fire safety
• Staff training
• Child/Staff rations and group size
• Program content,
• Record keeping practices, and
• Policies and procedures.

These are the minimum guidelines under which children will flourish. It is a baseline that divides minimum care from poor care. Facilities who are constantly in violation of any of these licensing requirements fall below this line and can be considered, if the infractions are serious enough, such as constant overcrowding, improper staff ratios, safety violations, hiring staff with marginal criminal record checks, to providing a poor level of care. On the other side of the bar are programs that rank way above the baseline for quality care and are acredited through the Head Start, or other national child care organizations. They must meet very strick operational standards to become accredited and to maintain their accreditation. Such programs superceed the baseline standards of the licensing office.

Types of Licenses
Child care centres and homes are licensed on a yearly basis after an inspection from the licensing board. The licences must be posted where parents can view it. There are three basic types of licenses, (but this many vary from state to state or from province to province):

• A regular licence
• A provisional licence, and
• A licensing order.

A regular licence is issued for up to one year and indicates that the centre or home is in compliance with government regulations.

A provisional licence indicates that there are some areas of the regulations that are not being met. These areas are often listed on the provisional licence, which is issued for a shorter period of time that the one year issueance of the regular license. This gives the child care centre or home an opportunity to correct any problem areas and comply with the regulations. Once the conditions of the provisional licence have been met, the facility is eligible to obtain a regular licence.

A licensing order is issued to a facility when there is a severe violation of the licensing regulations. The order requires the licensee to make immediate correction of the default area(s) listed on the licensing order to bring them up to regulation standards. Failure to correct the violation(s) may lead to the loss of the child care licence. Generally the order will indicate the name and telephone number of the inspector, who parents may call to obtain information on the specifics of the licensing order.

When a Complaint is Filed
Licensing agencies, generally, will respond to the following types of complaints:

• Reports that a child in a child care facility is in immediate danger because of health and/or safety conditions
• Reports of child abuse, neglect, or children are left in the care of a minor with no responsible adult in attendance
• Violations of licensing regulations including exceeding capacity, staffing ratios, etc.
• The provider is under the influence of drugs, alcohol or other controlled substance while providing care.

An investigation often includes an unannounced visit to the child care home or center where the investigator may:

• Observe the the child care home or center
• Review child and staff files and records
• Interview staff, parents, other parties involved with the facility.

The investigation may also involve sending a "notice of complaint letter" to an unlicensed provider, or engaging the services of other agencies such as the Department of Health, Fire Marshal, USDA Food Program, Prosecuting Attorneys, Law Enforcement agencies, etc.

When an investigation is completed and the licensee is found to be in violation of the regulations, a time-limited corrective action plan is usually implemented and in some cases a provisional license issued. The licensing office will monitor the situation to ensure corrections are, in fact, made. If the licensee is unable or does not take the time to correct the infractions, or if subsequent complaints are lodged against the facility, the caregiver many be fined, have their license suspended, and in rare cases, revoked.

Some, but not all licensing offices will inform the person making the complaint of the outcome of the investigation. Resource and referral agencies and other involved parties are also notified of the investigation results and any actions taken against the licensee.

All complaints and subsequent investigations and findings are kept on file. However, state or provincial privacy laws dictate what information is released to the public. The name of the person who lodged the complaint or report is never divulged.

The Problem
Sadly, the information that gets released to parents is too generalized. Parents aren't given a complete description of what constitutes a Type A or Class 1 infraction, or if it even means the provider actually put a child's life at risk. Nor do they have an understanding of what encompases a personal rights violation or how that stacks up against a corporal punishment violation. It is up to the parents to ask the the licensing office for more specifics - for what they are actually talking about. Parents must then take what information they've been given, and ask the provider about the details of the investigation and to determine if the caregiver's response and the actual infraction is acceptable to them.

All to often, warnings, fines and citations are handed out again and again while the problem areas often remain uncorrected. As the Register points out, fines are seldom paid and officials turn a blind eye to the fact. Enforcement appears more a nusance than a threat to some caregivers.

Licensing offices are under funded and inspectors are saddled with more registrants than they can safely handle. Visits to daycares centres and homes occur on average only once a year, sometimes even less than that for daycare homes in some states. When problems are found, the investigators need to make more visits, placing even more stress on an already overburdened system.

Daycares themselved are cash-starved as many governments cut much needed funding. Finding the money to fix major infractions, even maintain proper staffing ratios becomes a challenge. It is the children who, in extreme cases, pay the ultimate price with their lives as the operators struggle to remain in business.

A Right to Ask the Tough Questions
Most of the issues in this article stem from personal and freedom of information rights. Where do you draw the line between a parent's right to know about the quality of a facility and/or caregiver who will ultimately be responsible for a child's well-being while in care, and a caregiver's right to privacy? CRR&Rs and Children's Services Departments who make their referrals from their list of licensees are ultimately trapped in the middle. Tell too much about a licensee, they can get sued. Tell too little, a child's life could be in danger. Remove a problematic licence from a registry and they may get slapped with a lawsuit. Give the parents the name of the facility.......and the cycle continues. Perhaps legislators in each state or province need to take a long hard look at the rights of the little voices who cannot defend themselves: The child's right to safe, quality child care.

Until the rights of the child are written into law, and until parents have barrier-free access to inspection and criminal record reports, parents need to work through a tedious discovery process. This includes questioning the licensing board, the CCR&R, and the caregiver or facility operator before they even consider a placement for their child.

Questions for the Licensing Board

• What types of visits are conducted?
• How often are visits conducted?
• Do parents have access to the inspection reports from the licensing office? If yes, how do you obtain a copy? If no, why not and do they have a right to access these reports at the child care facility?
• Were any visits to a particular facility the results of a complaint or a non-compliance report?
• What types of violations were involved?
  For example:
  * *  Type A. Violations - immediate risk to the health, safety or personal rights of children.
  **   Type B. Violations - could become a risk to the health, safety or personal rights of
        children.
  **   If an agency uses a code number to indicate the type of violation, ask what the violation
        codes mean?
• Was the complaint investigated or substantiated?
• If so, what were the results?
• If citations were made, was an action plan developed and what did it involve?
• Where can parents get further information about the investigation?
• Do parents have a right in this province/state to ask a facility if they have any caregivers who are working in a facility on a criminal record waiver?
• How much information is the licensing board allowed to tell parents about the caregiver's past and the reason for the waiver?

Questions for the Caregiver
If you see something you do not understand on a record from the licensing office, police clearance, medical record, etc., don't clam up. Ask what it means. Don't be afraidd get tough if you have to. You need answers. Your child needs you to protect him.

• Where is your license? If is a provisional or licensing order (anything other than a regular license), find out why. Look for information on or beside the report for the non-compliance details. Ask the caregiver or director what needs to be done to bring the facility into compliance
• Where is the facility inspection report? (In most areas parents have had the right to view facility's inspection reports, even as far back as three years). Check the date on the report. Look for indications of the "type of visit" or the reason for visit. Look for an inspector's remarks.
• If you learned from the licensing office that a visit(s) was conducted on the basis of a complaint, ask the caregiver about it.
• If an action plan was developed to correct the non-compliance, ask the caregiver if you can see the action plan, and what part of the plan has be incorporated to correct the situation.
• Parents may also have the right, as they do now in California, to ask a provider for information about criminal waivers for anyone working in the facility. A waiver allows a person to work in a child care facility despite their past. An Orange County Register investigation showed that "....thousands of people with criminal records – some of them felons with violent histories – are allowed into state-licensed child care after going through a highly flawed screening process." The state has imposed a six month moritorium on issuring waivers in March of 2002. (Criminal hires halted, Kimberly Kindy and Tony Saaverda, The Orange County Register. 03/21/02").

Systems That Works
North Carolina's 5 Star Registry Service
Started in September of 2000, North Carolina's 5 Star Rated Licensing is a shinning success. Each facility, whether it be a centre or home, is given a rating based upon the child care facility's:

• Program standards
• Staff education standards, and
• Compliance history) .

The star rating is based on a very demanding standard that requires age-appropriate toys, parent involvement, a stable work force and high educational levels for workers The total points for all three areas:

• One star = 3 - 4 points
• Two stars = 5 - 7 points
• Three stars = 8 - 10 points
• Four stars = 11 - 13 points
• Five stars = 14 - 15 points

The program also provides parents with state inspection reports either on line or through the mail.

Missouri’s Family Care Safety Registry
Through Missouri's Family Child Care Registry, employers can call a toll-free telephone line to request background information on registered child-care, elder care, and personal caregiver workers or to request licensure status information on licensed child-care and elder care providers. parents can request background information on individuals registered with the Family Care Safety Registry for employment purposes only.

The Daycare Report Card from First Coast News, Jacksonville, Florida
"Our Day Care Report Card is just one more tool you can use when trying to make an informed decision about where to send your little one," writes Mark Spain, in his First Coast News Article, How day care facilities are graded.

First Coast News reviews the inspection reports from the Department of Children and Families on thousand daycare homes and centres in the Jacksonville and grades them. "We start with 100 points and then subtract points based on the types of violations," Spain explains. "The local DCF has identified 17 Child Life Safety issues. Child Life Safety issues are an automatic 5-point deduction on our scale for each listed item. Other infractions can be three, two or one-point deductions."

FCN also gives parents a break down of what each of the Class violations are and the seriousness of each classification. This is vital information for parents. More important, parents can find a breakdown of the latest reports on each center right on the News Web site; Daycare Report Card.

CareFinder Indiana
Parents can check the inspection reports of child care centres right online by simply filling in a simple form. No registration required.

What Can Parents Do to Protect Their Family?
"As a parent, you think state licensing means your kids will be safe," said Alfred Pegero, whose son Will, 3, drowned two years ago in a garbage can filled with rainwater while his Marin County caregiver was inside cleaning. "There are so many layers to the way they fail our kids." (Shoddy care endangers kids, By Jenifer B. McKim, Kimberly Kindy and Natalya Shulyakovskaya, The Orange County Register, March 21, 2002.)

A child care referral or a child care license is not, by any means, an automatic stamp of approval. The most important thing parents can do when it comes to choosing the best child care for their family is to realize that just because a facility is licensed, doesn't mean it's good. Check out the series of articles from the Organge County Register. There is no room for niaviety when it comes to protecting your child in care. Finally, be aware that referrals are not recommendations. Just because they come from the CCR&R or from a listing from the licensing bureau itself doesn't mean you can assume they are quality facilities.

Don't go on an interview empty handed. Have a detailed list of questions with you so nothing gets missed.

Whenever possible, opt for facilities that are accredited. Such centers and homes have passed strict national accreditation standards and offer a better quality of care. Visit the following Web sites for more information. Accreditation is a powerful tool for raising the quality of early childhood education. It provides a process through which early childhood professionals and families can evaluate programs, compare them with professional standards, strengthen the program and commit to ongoing evaluation and improvement. Again, check the facilities thoroughly.

Resources:

Child Care Ckecklists from childcare.net

                               
   Daycare Checklist             Childcare Checklist

National Association of Early Childhood Education (NAEYC) Accredited Program Search
Contact information for all early childhood programs currently accredited by NAEYC

National Association for Family Child Care
A list of accredited family child care operators in the U.S.

Child Care Advocacy Canada
Write letters to your MP and MPP/MLA with the Sign on For Kids Campaign.

USA Child Care - Legislative Action Center
Find elected officials, including the president, members of Congress, governors, state legislators, local officials, and more.

National Association for the Development of Young Children -

Trustline
TrustLine is unique. It is the only background check authorized by state law to use three databases that the general public, including private investigators and private background check companies, cannot access. These databases include fingerprint records from the California Department of Justice Criminal History System; the Child Abuse Central Index of California; and fingerprint records of the FBI Criminal History System.

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information - ...
The User Manual Series: Training Resources for Professionals - The User Manual Series addresses topics relevant to child maltreatment prevention, intervention, and treatment. These manuals are useful both as self-instructional guides or as part of an in-service training program.

Other Daycare Stories Making News
Day-care Delimmas - a Series of Articles from the The News-Press, Florida.
Daycare Decisions - a series of articles from CBS 13, Lubbock, Texas

New Forms
We are constantly developing new forms for parents and caregivers. Check these out!
Daycare Centre Evaluation Checklist
   Home Child Care Evaluation Checklist
How are parents to know good child care facility from a bad one? Our brand new extenisve Daycare Centre Evaluation Checklist and Home Child Care Evaluation Checklist arms parents powerful questions that will provide answers to some very tough questions most Directors and owners wouldn't expect you to ask. But ask you must. While there are many free checklists on the Internet, there are non as complete and as extensive as these. Click here to learn more!

Child Care Online Catalog
Check out our new Online Catalog and tell us what you think. Now you can find all the great child care products you've come to rely on us for in one great location, plus a lot more new services we think you'll like.!

3 East Steps to Getting Your Business Online
Have you been thinking about getting a Web site to show off your family or start a new business? We've got some awesome new templates that will help you get on line fast, and with ease. Check them out!

Job Classification
Author: Annonyous

A woman named Emily, renewing her driver`s license at the Clerks office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a .....?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I`m a mother."

"We don`t list `mother` as an occupation... `housewife` covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out. "I`m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, > and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "Just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn`t), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I`m working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree.?.) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk`s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experiment, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother." Motherhood.....What a glorious career! Especially when there`s a title on the door.

SAFE KIDS Survey Reveals Kids in Child Care May Not Be Transported Safely

To address this need, SAFE KIDS launches national program to educate child care providers on child passenger safety.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – In a recent National SAFE KIDS Campaign survey, nearly half of parents reported that kids transported in child care are inappropriately restrained for their age and size. In addition, the survey revealed that nearly half of children are transported once a week or more, and one-third are transported daily by their provider.

That’s why SAFE KIDS is launching a nationwide child passenger safety initiative geared toward child care providers in recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week.

Parents and child care providers can also take steps to ensure the safe travel of their children. Click here for the checklist which offers tips for parents and child care providers..

The SAFE KIDS report, Transportation in Child Care Settings: Parent Knowledge and State Regulations, analyzed parents' knowledge and experiences regarding children in child care, specifically as they relate to transportation practices. SAFE KIDS surveyed hundreds of parents of children ages 14 and under who were currently receiving child care and transported by their providers. The report also analyzed state child care transportation regulations.

Key findings:

• 49 percent of parents reported that their children were transported by caregivers once a week or more.
• 60 percent of children were reported to be cared for in home settings versus 38 percent in program/center settings.
• 60 percent of children cared for in the home were reported to be cared for by their grandparents.
• 46 percent of children from birth to age eight who should have been in child safety seats were reported to be transported in lap belts and shoulder belts.

"Even most state regulations do not assist parents or child care providers in getting it right. They often fail to offer proper guidance because they are inconsistent in scope and coverage," said Heather Paul, Ph.D., executive director of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. "If children cannot be transported safely in their child care environment, then they should not be transported at all."

To address this need, SAFE KIDS announced the launch of a nationwide program to train child care providers on child passenger safety. In 96 communities, SAFE KIDS coalitions are teaching the "Moving Kids Safely in Child Care" curriculum. This training tool was developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Healthy Child Care America, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Health Resources and Services Administration/ Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP, with support from the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources (CHR) and General Motors, has already committed nearly a half million dollars to this comprehensive CPS Week initiative. SAFE KIDS will continue this effort with nationwide community-based educational workshops for child care providers, free child safety seat checkups and free educational materials. In addition, SAFE KIDS will continue to provide child safety seat resources to lower income families to help ensure their safe transportation.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury- related death among children ages 14 and under.

The entire SAFE KIDS report, Transportation in Child Care Settings: Parent Knowledge and State Regulations, can be found at http://www.safekids.org . For more information on SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP, visit the Web site or call the toll-free hotline at (800) 441-1888 to find a child safety seat checkup near you.

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign is the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury -- the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. More than 300 state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico comprise the Campaign. The UAW-GM Center for Human Resources (CHR) -- a joint institution of the UAW and GM -- and the General Motors Corporation are the SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP program sponsors.

Resource:
National SAFE KIDS Campaign Mary Lou O'Toole of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, +1-202-662-0600, or motoole@safekids.org http://www.safekids.org.

Carl Goes to Daycare
Carl the rottweiler takes charge when things take an unexpected turn at the day care center he is visiting.

Everybody's Children: Child Care As a Public Problem
In this important book, William T. Gormley, Jr., argues that child care is a social problem of critical importance and that there are compelling reasons for government intervention. Because child care quality affects how children grow up - for better or for worse - the government has a responsibility to improve and reshape the child care system.

Who Cares for America's Children?
Offering real-life solutions for working parents, a helpful guide covers topics that range from informing a boss about a pregnancy through handling vacation time for school-age children. 20,000 first printing.

The Working Parents Handbook
Thoroughly revised after 16 years in print, this indispensable handbook gives step-by-step instructions for over 200 easy and imaginative activities, including arts and crafts, cooking, games, exercise, storytelling, and more for anyone involved with child care--parents or playgroups. Line art throughout.

Child Care Choices: Balancing the Needs of Children, Families, & Society
Our overloaded child care system is failing children and families. The authors explain what children of different ages--and their families--need, and what kinds of programs are necessary in light of current social and economic realities.

The Assessment Resource Guide
Preschool teachers and Head Start educators using SRA/McGraw-Hill's DLM Early Childhood Express program now have an Assessment Resource Guide and software to ensure accurate monitoring of each child's progress towards achieving the new federal Head Start Child Outcomes. The forms and guidelines found in the Assessment Resource Guide , available on CD-ROM as well as print, allow the teacher to implement any form of assessment necessary in the pre-k classroom.

Remote Control of Your PC Via the Web
You'll never have to go back to work just to get a forgotten file.
GoToMyPC is a secure and easy way to access your computer from any browser-equipped computer anywhere in the world. Once your computer is enabled, you can access it at any time from anywhere by logging in to the GoToMyPC Web site. You have full control of the computer and all files, programs and network resources available on the machine. You simply work on your PC as if you were sitting in front of it, even though you may be thousands of miles away.

This makes telecommuting, working from home and keeping up while traveling much easier than its ever been before. You can work on your computer remotely or transfer files between the computer you’re using and the one you’re accessing. Unlike conventional remote control software or VPN solutions (virtual private networks), GoToMyPC doesn’t require you to fiddle with port settings, IP addresses or complicated software and hardware installations. Setup takes only 2 minutes. And it even works behind corporate firewalls. You can get a free trial by: Clicking Here.

New Early Learning Aids Introduce Educational Concepts Through Creativity and Imagination

The box that arrived at my office was a lot bigger than I expected. One awesome product after another was neatly packed in this knee deep cardboard crate: A Touch and Talk Interactive Discovery Centre and additional books and puzzles, Foam Magnet Letters, Let's Pretent Dishes Set, Magnetic Alphaboard, and the list goes on.

Specifically designed for children in preschool and early elementary, Educational Insights, Inc.'s new learning aids help build a wide range of skills including spatial, reading, math, computer and social skills.

According to Jim Whitney, President of Educational Insights, "Children learn best from hands-on experiences. Our science and discovery learning aids engross youngsters with 'real-life' activities and inprove information retention and the subjects they are exploring."

All that aside, would they pass the Caregiver test? After all, it's parents, child care providers and teacher who purchase these products. So childcare.net took the box to a Caregiver's Support Group meeting and put the experts to the test. The consensus was unamious. There wasn't a Caregiver in the group who didn't want to take something home with them. Two of the favorites? The Foam Magnetic Letters and the Let's Pretend Baking Set. Next on the list was the Geo Safari Bug Science Investigator and the Touch and Talk Interactive Discovery Center.

GeoSafari B.S.I. (Bug Scene Investigator) (Ages 5 and Up)
B.S.I, comprises three tools for probing into the world of insects, spiders, worms and other creepy-crawlies. The Bugscope provides double-viewing action that allows viewers to see bugs from the top and the bottom simultaneously. The GeoSafari Bug Patrol is a "catch and release" container that clips to a belt or backpack for hands-free excursions, and the Super Sleuth Microscope has a 30x magnification that allows for a close-up view of specimens anytime, anywhere.

Foam Magnet Letters (Ages 3 and Up)
The common problem of droopy, badly shaped foam pieces is solved through carefully proportioned letters and numbers that have magnetic surfaces covering their entire backs. Pieces come in three separate 42-piece sets of jumbo-sized 2-1/2" uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers, as well as a 126-piece set combining all. The number set consists of 30 numbers and 12 math symbols.

Magnetic AlphaBoard
Magnetic letters and numbers help build important basic skills for reading and math, and imaginative shapes help kids distinguish shapes and colors as they create fun designs and scenes. This all-in-one 100-piece magnetic set comes with 36 uppercase letters, 36 lowercase letters, 20 numbers, 7 math symbols, 11-inch x 14-inch magnetic board, and instruction guide.

Let's Pretend Kitchen Set (Ages 4+)
Here’s a recipe for learning fun. Three playtime sets help children learn a variety of skills from sharing to table manners and vocabulary development. Colorful unbreakable pieces are realistically detailed to spark imaginative role playing activities. Use with play food to extend dramatic play.

Piccolo with Interactive Jigsaw Puzzles
This revolutionary new electronic learning system helps young children acquire beginning skills in math, reading, science, music, and more! Using high-quality digitized sound and colorful vibrant graphics, kids imagine and explore as they learn. Point and press the Piccolo pen onto a Piccolo book or puzzle to hear words and sentences, play fun games and activities, or sing along to charming songs and tunes! Unit comes with an 18-page interactive sampler book of fun games and activities and three FREE Piccolo Interactive Jigsaw Puzzles. Features a headphone jack for silent learning, easy-carry handle, and automatic shut-off. Requires four AA batteries (not included)."

About Educational Insights Educational Insights, Inc. is an education company dedicated to creating a wide range of materials for today's classrooms and homes. Educational toys, teaching aids, exploration materials, and digital devices provide educators and parents with affordable learning tools for children. Educational Insights' products are available to schools and homes through school supply and teacher/parent stores, as well as specialty toy stores everywhere. For more information, or to receive a free catalog, call 1-800-995-4436 or visit the Web site at www.educationalinsights.com.

Publishers and Authors
Have a book you'd like us to review? Send a copy to us at: About Child Care Consumer Services, 1030 Campbell Ave., Windsor, ON N9B 2J3. Reviewed books will also be highlighted as prizes in our monthly contests. You get double the exposure.

Creating Your Own 5 Star Web Site

The common excuses for not having a business website fall into two main categories, both of which are issues that are easy to solve:
1) I can't afford it.
2) I don't have the skills to build it.

You know in your heart of hearts that if you don't have a website, you are putting your child care business at a disadvantage. If you're not there when a parent goes online to search for child care
in her area, she may likely choose someone else!  In these days of instant access to a multitude of child care directories and registries, it's that simple!

The fact is, anyone can build a website. Free website services abound. But remember: People will judge your business as quickly as they judge your website. Without mercy. Throw in a pop-up or unexpected music of any kind and they're just plane gone! Why risk it!

You want your website to stand out and to be a powerful tool in the development of business. Think about it. For as little as $30 you can invest in a website template and get a nicely designed layout that is miles ahead of your competition. Or, if you have some spare change jingling in your wallet, you can always hire a professional web designer at $40+ per hour.

Here's a basic overview of getting your child care website up and running, and brief look at some of the valuable ways your site can help your business succeed.

Planning Your Site
Choosing a Domain Name
Planning your website starts with picking a good domain name. Choose a URL (this is a technical term for the name of your website) that’s easy to remember. "http://www.jensdaycare.com" is simple. It's easy to remember. And, if it's your business name, all the better. How about "littlesnuggles.com"? Or, "loveandlaughs.com"?

Having your own domain gives you a professional image. It tells people that you are serious about your business. It gives you your own identity and your own email. When people email you at sue@smiles4youdaycare.com, they will have the feeling they are contacting an established business, instead of viewing you as merely another @aol or @hotmail.com user.

If you can't think of a suitable name on your own, there are several tools available that can help you. Our Domain Name Registration program is a good place to start. Simply input the name you're thinking of, and the registry will tell you if it's available, and in what format, i.e: ".com", ".net", ".ca", ".org", etc. The registry will even return several dozen other domain name ideas for you.

Purchasing a domain name is easy once you have an idea of what you'd like your website name to be. There are a number of domain name sellers offering you a variety of prices. When shopping for a domain, it is also important to keep an eye open for domain name scams. Dozens of domain name resellers worldwide close shop every month leaving unsuspecting website owners hanging out in cyberspace. There are less than 170 ICANN-accredited registrars (that is, non-resellers) for .com, .net and .org domains worldwide. childcare.net is a reseller for DomainPeople. As the eighth ICANN-accredited domain name registrar, DomainPeople commenced operations in 1999, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NetNation Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: NNCI). childcare.net has been online since 1996. You can safely assume neither companies are going to close down any time soon.

Deciding On Your Content
Every part of your website must be strategically organized. From your overall design to your text copy, each will play a very important role in the look and feel of your website.

Think about what types of things you want on your site. Decide how your visitor will move from section to section. Keep your links simple and easy for parents to follow and access. You may find it useful to organize your content into main categories such as:

About Us
Facility Photo Gallery
Curriculum / Program Outline
Enrollment Process
Forms and Other Information - Parent Handbook, Registration Form, Permission slips
Mission Statement / Philosophy
Events and Activities
Testimonials
Services, Hours & Holidays, Tuition Fees
Weekly Menu and Activity Schedules
News/Announcements
Newsletter
Resume & Training
Contact Us and Location / Map
Waiting Lists
FAQs
Links/Resources Page
Staff / Board of Directors
Funding & Partnerships

Picking a Place to Keep Your Site
You'll need a server to house your website and make it available to the masses. That means shopping for an ISP (Internet Services Provider). It also means paying nominal server rent either on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or yearly basis.

These days server fees are very affordable and should be considered an important part of your marketing program. Many ISPs offer special discounts and reduced fees. Shop around and find out how long the ISP has been in business. The last thing you want is for your ISP to throw in the towel and leave you without a connection to the Internet. Most child care businesses can get away with the smaller storage spaces as they generate less traffic than most e-commerce or organizational sites and don't have a lot of files to pull from.

childcare.net has been utilizing the services of Linux Web Host, a company with an excellent reputation for customer service and 99% up time. That means our site will be there when it matters. For you, that means your site will be there when a prospective parent is looking for it. Our new Hosting packages are on the Linux Web Host server, and under our jurisdiction. That means if you have problems, all you have to do is contact us and we'll take care of you. Or, you can rely on the good customer service provided by the Linux Web Host people.

Making Your Web Pages
To make the actual pages of your website, you will need an HTML editor or WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) web design program such as Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft Front Page. You'll also need a graphics program such as Adobe's Photoshop and Illustrator, and Macromedia Fireworks to help make the images for your site. There are also free web design and graphics programs available.

A website template, however, saves you the time and aggravation of designing a site from scratch. You get high quality graphics to enhance the look and feel of your site. While learning to design a site from scratch is really not all that hard and has its rewards, it can also result in a lot of problems for your site. If you decide to do-it-yourself, you'd b wise to take a class on basic web design first.

Design Tips to Entice Your Visitors
Be careful not to get to wordy on your web pages as most people do not spend a lot of time reading text. Combining your text with a few strategically placed photos may have a much larger impact on your site. Your logo, pictures of activities, of happy parents and children, etc. can swayed a parent to give you a call.

Make sure all your business information is easy to find. If a parent has to go from page to page to find some sort of contact information, you may lose them. Hours, contact names and numbers, address, even a map should be no further than a click away if not readily available on each page.

Think about how your website can help you increase the dissemination of your print materials. Consider putting your parent handbook and enrollment/application form online. This shows that you are very upfront in your dealings and gives parents a closer look at how dedicated you are to your business. You may also want to have a downloadable version of your brochure so that parents can print it and share it with others.

Your website can also be a great way to direct parents to important community links. Create a resource section to child care organizations you belong to, to licensing information, the health department, local schools, etc.

In cyberspace, as in life, first impressions count. Make sure your pages are uncluttered and professional looking. Test your site extensively before you tell the world about it. Read over every piece of text. Do a spell check. Test each and every link. Send yourself an email using your email link or form. Ensure each graphic is showing and enhances the look of your site. Make sure your colours and text fonts are the same on each page. Look objectively at the code. Having a site not only can help your program succeed, but it can give you a big moral boost too.

End Notes
Here's the bottom line. Your website provides a window into your business. It's an opportunity for parents to learn about you before calling you to schedule a visit, which from the parent's perspective lowers the perceived risk significantly. The fact is, many of your potential parents wish to remain anonymous until they have a chance to check you out. Offer them a quality website to do just that, and you're providing them, and yourself, and an immeasurable service.

Coming next........Marketing Your Website

Resources
Domain Name Registation
Website Templates
Website Hosting

Online Guides and Tutorials:
Editing Your Template Tutorial
Yale Web Style Guide
HTML Goodies - The Basics

Parent's Bill of Rights - from Commercial Alert
Marketing to kids is at an all time high. Corporate advertisers, determined to get your kids to persuade you to buy no matter what the product, have enlist the best psychologists and market researchers money can buy to lure kids to products parents detest. Welcome to the age of multi-media where kids are bombarded with marketing messages everywhere they turn. The Internet, television, magazines are all proving a winless battleground for parents who hope, in some small way, to teach their children that they are not defined by the "things" they possess, but rather by the morals and values that shine thorough their unique personality.

The Parent's Bill of Rights was developed by the Commercial Alert (www.commercialalert.org), whose mission is to keep the commercial culture within its proper sphere and prevent it from exploiting children and subverting the higher values of family, community, environmental integrity, and democracy.

KidzPrivacy
The Federal Trade Commission has put together a great Web site dedicated to protecting children's privacy. Parents, the media, teachers and kids will all find something useful on this site.

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA") specifically protects the privacy of children under the age of 13 by requesting parental consent for the collection or use of any personal information of the users. The Act took effect in April 2000. The Act was passed in response to a growing awareness of Internet marketing techniques that targeted children and collected their personal information from websites without any parental notification.

Check out their News and Cases section to learn more about what cases they are and have pursued against online entities such as Amazon, American Popcorn Company, Toysmart.com.

COPPA Bookmarks, Book Covers etc.
COPPA has produced a number of free download material for parents, teachers and other interested in protecting children's rights online.

Web Site Publishers
Have a book you'd like us to review? Send a copy to us at: About Child Care Consumer Services, 1030 Campbell Ave., Windsor, ON N9B 2J3. Reviewed books will also be highlighted as prizes in our monthly contests. You get double the exposure.