Family Living
Focus
by
Sandra
Parker Hall j
Clinton County
Cooperative Exte-si
My, How Child Care
Has Changed
It seems like yesterday that I
was growing up on a farm in
north central Pennsylvania, but
it isn’t.
I am a parent with adult chil
dren —oh, my, how the time does
fly-
I especially remember as a
child, how fortunate I was that
my Mom was always there.
Typically, we had breakfast
before I departed for school and
a snack was always available
when I returned. My sisters and
I would call Mom and there was
always an answer. We were the
most fortunate, our parents
worked side-by-side creating a
livelihood for our family. That
was more than 40 years ago, and
today many things are different.
Today’s family is faced with
difficult choices about work as
well as child care. To keep pace
with the financial demands of
most families, two paychecks
are often necessary. That means
at least two individuals are
working outside the home. If
there are children in the family,
then the choice of who and
where child care will be provid
ed must be made.
If I was granted just one
wish; I wish that all families
could choose what is best for
their family, based on their
many needs, through conversa-
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tion and thought, and public
support.
This means a couple of
things. First, for those families
who choose for a parent to stay
at home to provide child care,
our government must recognize
and value this service by provid
ing tax relief through an appro
priate avenue. Second, for fami
lies working outside the home,
there must be affordable, acces
sible, quality child care based on
the freedom of choice.
Did you know that in
Pennsylvania, anyone caring for
more than three children must
be licensed or registered with
the PA Department of Public
Welfare? There are different
types of child care options avail
able:
• Licensed Centers
Providing care for more than 12
children at any given time.
•Group Day Care Homes
Providing care for 7 to 12 chil
dren at any given time.
•Family Day Care Home
Providing care for 3 to 6 children
at any given time within the
provider’s home.
•Neighbor/Relative Care
Providing care for fewer than
three children at any given time
within the child’s or provider’s
home.
The difficult choice is select
ing the child care option which
best meets your family’s needs.
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What is the best setting? Who is
the best provider? What is the
best location? If you would like
some ideas to consider when
selecting child care, you can con
tact your county’s Penn State
Cooperative Extension Office
and request the checklist for
choosing child care or work
through the following.
Take three steps before plac
ing your child with any child
care provider.
1. Visit the home or center.
2. Carefully look around.
3. Ask lots of questions.
Here are some things to look
for and ask about;
Can you visit any time
your child is there? Do you feel
welcome?
Are the caregivers
warm, friendly, and clean?
Do the caregivers have
experience with children? What
kind?
Do the caregivers treat
each child as a special person?
Do the caregivers listen
and talk to the children?
Does the caregivers’
approach to child rearing agree
with yours?
Do caregivers encour
age self-help, independence and
self-expression?
What do the caregivers
do when a child is angry or fear
ful? .
ls the home or center
registered? If not, why not?
ls the home clean and
comfortable?
ls there a fenced-in
play area outside?
Are all poisons, medi
cines, and sharp objects stored
in a locked area?
ls the home or center
free from mess or clutter?
ls there a first aid kit
readily available?
Are emergency num
bers posted next the the tele
phone?
Is there a room
active and quiet play?
Is there a
gram of activities?
Are health'
snacks and meals served?
When are naps taken?
What do children sleep on?
Are toys, books and
playthings available to the chil
dren?
Are to'
r s clea:
in good working condition?
Get references
other parents who now have or
had children m the home or cen
ter.
Is this a
my child to spend the days of
his/her life?
Ag Department Kicks
Off New
CHESTER (Chester Co.) -
On behalf of Gov. Tom Ridge,
Agriculture Secretary Samuel E.
Hayes Jr. and Secretary of Aging
Richard Browdie recently kicked
off the Senior Farmers Market
Nutrition program at the
Chester Senior Center.
The program provides eligi
ble Pennsylvania seniors with
checks to purchase
Pennsylvania-grown fresh fruits
and vegetables at their local
farmers market through
September.
“In Pennsylvania, we produce
high-quality fruits and vegeta
bles, and we believe our seniors
should be able to enjoy them,
too,” Hayes said. “Health
experts recommend five or more
servings of fruits and vegetables
daily for good health, and this
new program is another way we
can help keep our elders healthy
and able to enjoy all of
Pennsylvania’s bounty.”
Secretary of Aging Richard
Browdie said, “Exercise and a
nutritious diet are vital compo
nents of healthy aging. Our
Prime Time Health wellness pro
motion program, which is
offered in Chester-area senior
centers and statewide, affords
seniors the chance for learning
proper exercises techniques.
Now, with this Senior Farmers
Market Nutrition program,
older persons have a wonderful
opportunity to maintain a
healthy diet by purchasing
home-grown fruits and vegeta
bles in season.”
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Round Canner
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minimum heat loss, drain valve, all
cast iron door and frame, 6” flue
with baffle; portable, tor use
indoors or outdoors, uses "
minimum amount of wood
Use: canning, trying, soup making,
or lots of hot water
Optional: LPG burner
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2388 Old Leacock Road • Gordonville, PA 17529
717/768-3853
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 8, 1998-B5
ilanned
During or after your visit, if
you have the feeling something
isn’t quite right, KEEP LOOK
ING. Trust your feelings. Don’t
place your child in this home or
center.
CAUTION Remember
you’re hiring a substitute parent
to care for your child, not just a
babysitter!
Yes, times have changed and
although selecting child care
may seem like a tedious process
it is worth it. When you are
;ritioi
working outside the home, you
will feel comfortable knowing
your children are receiving the
same or better care if you were
providing it yourself.
Program
Seniors who are 60 years of
age or older who live in the City
of Chester and the surrounding
communities of Ashton, Chester
Township, Edystone, Marcus
Hook, Parkside, Trainer,
Upland, and Lower and Upper
Chichester are eligible to partic
ipate.
The following markets will
accept the Farmers Market
Nutrition program checks;
Chester Community Farmers
Market, at the Trinity United
Methodist Church parking lot,
Ninth and Kerlin Street,
Chester, open noon to 4 p.m.
every Thursday; and Linvilla
Orchards Farm Market, 137
West Knowlton Road, Media,
open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The Rockview State
Correctional Institution’s farm
operation also will supply an
additional farmers market site
location and hours to be
announced with fresh fruits
and vegetables. The checks will
be accepted only at these mar
kets.
The $5 checks are available
to Chester Senior Center mem
bers at 721 Hayes St., Chester.
Non-Chester Senior Center
member, living in the City of
Chester and surrounding eligi
ble communities, may pick up
checks on Wednesdays, from 1
p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Chester
Senior Center.
For more information on this
new pilot program, contact the
Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Food
Distribution at 1-800-468-2433.
* Price includes wooden can
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