Huemanity

Why Choose Regulated Childcare Facilities?

2011-12-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

Why search for only registered and/or licensed child care facilities?

Unregulated child care may be convenient and affordable but it leaves you and your child in the dark. Unregulated care means no inspections, no training, no one enforcing basic health and safety standards, and no record for you to check. Don’t be in the dark about child care. Find regulated child care and check its inspection record at txchildcaresearch.org. Day care centers and homes are regulated by the Child Care Licensing (CCL) division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). CCL sets minimum standards and rules to ensure the health and safety of children in day care, and issues a license, a registration, or a listing to various types of day care operations. Some types of child care are inspected regularly and others only if there is a complaint. Find out about the types of care, minimum standards, and other rules on the Information for Parents section of the Child Care Licensing website.

Questions to ask when choosing your day care

May I see your DFPS permit or letter to operate?
What do you like the most/least about caring for children?
What is the typical day like for a child in your care?
How much TV do you let children watch?
How do you discipline children?
How do you handle nap times? How do you handle diaper changing or toilet training?
What types of play or learning activities do you offer for my child?
Are you trained in CPR and First Aid?
What other training have you and your staff had?
How will you let me know about my child’s progress or concerns?
What types of foods do you serve for meals and snacks?
Are children ever transported?
Do you use seatbelts or car seats?
How do you handle weather or other emergencies?

The Daily Schedule

2011-11-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

A daily schedule helps children learn the order of their day. Young children like to know that they can depend on certain daily routines. This helps them feel secure. When providers say things like "after nap we will go play outside"; children learn what to expect. The daily schedule also helps us organize our day and plan a good balance of activities and experiences for the children.

Although almost everyone recognizes the importance of a schedule; the reality is that schedules are often ignored in home-based child care. Why does this happen? Basically it's because children have their own internal schedules. Babies need to be fed, changed & put to rest on demand. Children of differing ages have differing needs, interests and attention spans. School age children have to deal with the rigors of school and teachers as well. When you put all this together it's sometimes a wonder that any of the day proceeds as planned. Yet for all the reasons mentioned earlier planning is vitally important. It's what ensures that everyone, including myself, has a productive day.

A good schedule for young children:

Offers a balance between these kinds of experiences;

Indoor & outdoor times
Quiet & active times
Time to play alone & time to play with others
Time to select activities & a time to join one that has been planned

Pays special attention to transition times during the day such as;

Greeting children when they arrive and are separating from their parents
Cleaning up after breakfast, lunch and snacks
Getting ready to go outside
Cleaning up after one activity so that another can be started
Getting ready for nap after lunch
Arrival and departure of school age or part time children
Preparing to go home

Reflects our unique situation;

When each child arrives
When babies need to nap and be fed
When the children have breakfast, lunch and snacks

The following is the daily schedule for Huemanity Home Daycare and explains how our day is organized to meet the needs of children of many ages.
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6:30am - 8:30am Arrival and Breakfast

Toddlers and preschoolers who are not eating or who have finished breakfast can play with table toys, read books, listen to story tapes or rest on a mat until everyone finishes breakfast and cleans up. Bathroom breaks and diaper changes occur as necessary.

8:45am - 9:15am Morning Greetings and Songs

Circle time includes songs, hand games and dancing.

9:15am - 10:00am Group Activity

All children participate in a group activity such as finger painting, water play, puppet making, drawing, etc.

10:00am - 10:30am Snack

10:30am - 11:15am Outdoor Break

After snack children will use the toilet, wash hands, change diapers, etc and prepare to head outdoors. Outdoor time can include free play on swing set, an organized ball game, science projects such as gardening, etc.

11:30am - 12:00pm Story time and Dramatic Play

Children will listen to a story, discuss, and act out parts wearing costumes.

12:00pm - 12:30pm Lunch Prep Time/Sesame Street

Free play or children age 2 and up can watch 30 minutes of Sesame Street while lunch is prepared.

12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch Time

Family style lunch and conversation. After lunch hands are washed, diapers changed and teeth brushed.

1:30pm - 3:00pm Mandatory Rest Period

Every child must have a rest period. Children who cannot sleep must rest quietly on their mats while looking at a book. As children wake up, bathroom breaks are taken, diapers are changed, hands are washed and hair is combed. Mats are put away.

3:00pm - 3:30pm Neighborhood Walk

Children are gathered up for a walk around the neighborhood and school kids are picked up from the bus stop.

3:30pm - 4:00pm Afternoon Snack

4:00pm - 4:30 Homework and Afternoon Lesson

School kids work on their homework assignments or workbook pages. Toddlers and preschoolers have a lesson on the alphabet and numbers.

4:30 - 5:00 Evening Outdoor Time

School kids have an opportunity to play outdoors.

5:00pm -6:00pm Music Appreciation & Evening Departure

Children go home at staggered times. Projects are assembled, diapers changed and parent information made ready. Children color, look at books or play with blocks or trains while listening to music.

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Although the daily schedule helps organize my day, it doesn't limit my ability to be spontaneous and flexible. For example, if the weather is nice we may spend most of the day outdoors. Or if a child starts dancing yo a record I put on during free play, I might lead the children into a group activity.

Throughout the day, unplanned events can occur that offer "teachable moments," unexpected learning opportunities. A sudden thunderstorm, the discovery of a cocoon or the blooming of seasonal flowers may arouse the children's curiosity. I like to watch the children's activities and listen to their conversations and questions. In this way, I discover the teachable moments that can take us in a new direction.

Meals and Snacks

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Good nutrition is vital to children’s physical and mental development. We serve fresh, healthy foods including in-season produce, home-made, and organic products whenever possible. Your child(ren) will be provided with breakfast, lunch and two snacks daily. We regularly include the children in meal preparation to encourage the development of good eating habits. When children are involved in the meal preparation process, they feel more comfortable trying a variety of healthy foods, some of which they may be hesitant or resistant to eat otherwise.

A selection of nutritionally balanced, high quality foods are prepared and served at our home each day. Meals are served family style and each child is encouraged to try each food that is offered. In order to limit our time away from the children and to promote healthy eating habits, food is available only at scheduled times. Children who choose to not eat will need to wait until the next meal or snack. Meal times are scheduled so that no child will go more than three hours without being offered food. If your child is absent during a scheduled meal, it is your responsibility to feed him/her before he/she arrives.

Here is a sample of our menu:

Breakfast
Whole grain waffles w/strawberries and homemade syrup 
Granola, fruit yogurt and sliced bananas
Blueberry buttermilk pancakes with homemade syrup and melon
Scrambled eggs, English muffin and mixed berries 
Apple cinnamon oatmeal with raisins and peaches
Fruit and yogurt smoothies, whole grain toast 
Hash brown potatoes, scrambled eggs, orange wedges
Cold cereal with milk and fruit salad 
Banana breakfast sandwiches with fruit cocktail
Sweet potato pancakes with homemade syrup 
Bagel and cream cheese with tomato and cucumber 
English Muffin Egg Pizzas 
Scrambled eggs with ham, cheddar and chives 
Farina with apricots and almonds 
Breakfast tacos with sausage and potatoes 
Maple and brown sugar oatmeal with sliced bananas 
Cheesy grits and sausage bake with orange wedges 
Crepes with nutella and sliced bananas    

AM Snack
Corn muffins with applesauce 
French toast sticks with strawberries  
Graham crackers with cream cheese and strawberry jam 
Sliced homemade banana bread with milk 
Whole grain crackers with cheese cubes 
Apple slices with peanut butter and caramel
Fruit scones with vanilla yogurt 
Fruit Kabobs and yogurt dip 
Mini caramel rice cakes with apple juice 
Banana, pineapple and avocado smoothies 
Chocolate croissants with strawberries 
Granola bars with chocolate milk 
Strawberry coffee cake with milk
Biscuits with butter and orange marmalade 
Trail mix with dried fruit and apple juice 
Cinnamon toast with almond butter    

Lunch
Chicken with white rice, broccoli, carrots and peas 
Eggplant Parmesan 
One-pan lasagna with caesar salad 
Turkey Meatball stroganoff
Halibut fish sticks with green beans and potatoes 
Turkey and spinach pinwheel with veggie chips 
Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup with goldfish crackers 
Chicken breast strips and shell pasta salad with bell peppers 
Shepherd's pie with cucumber and cherry tomatoes 
Flatbread pizza Fridays  
BBQ chicken sandwich with Cole slaw 
Potato boats with bacon, cheddar cheese and tomatoes 
Chicken fingers with broccoli and honey mustard dressing 
Baked ziti with garden salad 
Baked drumsticks with yellow rice and honey-glazed carrots 
Chicken noodle soup with whole grain crackers
Baked macaroni and cheese with bacon and tomatoes 
Cheese calzones with turkey, corn and broccoli
Mini taco bowls 
Tuna pasta salad with pita bread  

PM Snack
Veggie tray and hummus 
Homemade oatmeal cookies and vanilla almond milk 
Baked pizza dip and tortilla chips
Mini strawberry muffins 
Air-popped popcorn with toppings  
Sweet potato fries with ketchup 
Chicken fingers w/blue cheese dip
Lemon bars and milk 
Zesty bean dip with pita wedges 
Nachos with shredded cheese and salsa 
Banana dippers 
Soft pretzels with creamy cheese dip 
Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies with vanilla almond milk
Fried fruit pies with vanilla ice cream 
Chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches

2011-11-06T15:09:00.000-08:00

Huemanity Home Preschool Philosophy

Every child is an individual who has his/her own rate of physical and emotional development and own pace of learning. Each child is accepted, loved, nurtured and taught as an individual with this thought in mind.

Encourage and build each child's imagination and creativity.

Instill a greater sense of self-worth and encourage self-confidence.

Provide activities and an environment that will nurture the child's self-esteem.

Above all else, do my best to have the child gain and keep a positive self-image.

Every child is guided through the day with positive reinforcement in all activities, always encouraged to try or try again, and is never pressured into participation of any activity.

Discipline is always handled on this belief: The child is a good person, it is his/her behavior that is unacceptable and needs to be changed or guided to a more acceptable means of expression.


What I Provide For You and Your Child

Lots of tender, loving care

Non-smoking, pet-free, Eco-friendly environment

Positive reinforcement and encouragement in anything your child does or attempts to do

Large, fenced-in backyard with a variety of yard toys, a play structure and water play

Walks around the neighborhood

Opportunities to play in larger groups of children with the security of belonging to a small group home

Developmentally appropriate in-home preschool

Monthly parent newsletter containing all menus and calendar of events

Prompt and thorough communication regarding your child's needs