84-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, July 29, 2000
Emily Living
Focus
Nancy E. Wallace
Westmoreland Co.
Extension j
Today childcare and the na
tion's economy go hand in hand.
More than 13 million married or
single women are in the work
force. Childcare is the challenge
of today’s family.
Many parents fear that a child
will relate more to a caregiver
than to a parent. From infancy, a
child needs warm consistent
care. Researchers report the im
portance of a good fit between
parent or caregiver and child or
infant.
Good news for worrisome par
ents. Research notes that infants,
from a very young age, are cap
able of becoming attached to
more than one person. However,
they do develop an order of pref
erence.
So, what does this mean?
Warm, consistent care is key.
Childcare can be a good experi
ence. Good care by parents and
caregivers is essential.
Good child day care requires
three components. First, a care
giver must provide care and
guidance to the children. The
caregiver must be willing to work
with the parents. The goal is to
ensure the child will grow and
learn in a warm, secure environ
ment.
A good caregiver is well
trained. Being an experienced
“Mom” or “Dad” is good train
ing. Maker certain the caregiver
likes children. Even
though the caregiver is
in business , caring for
children is not “just a
job”
Caregivers need to
know child develop
ment. Knowledge of
developmentaily ap
propriate behavior and
normal growth pat
terns is essential. Care
givers should under
stand what children
can and want to do at
different stages of
growth. Parents
should be assured that
the caregiver knows
that each child is
unique and special.
Talk with the caregiv
er about behavior is
sues.
Are the caregiver’s
child rearing attitudes
similar to the parents?
Are the family’s cul
tural values respected?
A young child needs
caregivers who re
spond in a consistent
manner. Infants need
to know that when
they cry, they will be
held and cuddled.
Interaction with the
child from the earliest
age is critical. Check
and see if the caregiver
reads, talks and sings
to the children. Com
munication skills begin
with infancy. It is the
basis of learning and
social development in
later years.
Parents need to
know the ratio of care
gi\ers to children and
infants. Ask if the
caregiver is licensed or
registered. If so, the
Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania places
restrictions on the
ratio of caregivers to
children. A child needs
individual attention from a care
giver. If too many children are
“in care,” each child will not
have a chance for someone to lis
ten to them, be read a story, or
sing a song.
Second, is the setting suitable?
The facility must be safe and
healthy. Is the facility clean and
comfortable? Ask yourself: “If
you were a child, would you
want to stay here?” The equip
ment and supplies toys, games,
and furniture should be in
good condition. Toys should en
courage physical, social, and cog
nitive development of the child.
Is there enough space indoors
and out so all the children can
move safely and freely? Watch
ing television or videos, even ed
ucational ones, is becoming a
prime activity for the children.
From the earliest years, children
need to be engaged in activities.
Ask if the caregiver has the
children on a routine. Most chil
dren feel more secure with even
minimal routine or schedule.
However, if the schedule is vastly
different from the schedule at
home, the child can become very
confused. Children thrive on
consistency.
Finally, what will day care
cost you? Day care costs vary de
pending on the type of care, the
days of care and the hours of
care. Most caregivers ask the
Morton Buildings Farm/Sh
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BOO-447-7436
MORTON BUILDINGS
PO Box m Moilon, IL 61550
www moilonbuildings com
©1999 Moilon Buildings, Inc
WV Contiactoi's License #WVOO7B4B
Lebanon County 4-H board members Maxine Maser and Jack Ferry preview items
that will go up for bid on Thursday, Aug. 3, during the Lebanon County 4-H Benefit Auc
tion at the Lebanon Fairgrounds, Cornwall and Rocherty Roads, Lebanon. The board
hopes to raise $4,000 to fund costs of educational materials, activity fees, transporta
tion, and awards. To donate items or for more information, call (717) 270-4391 be-
parents to sign a contract. While
caregivers may love your child,
they are in business. Signing a
contract is good business for all
parties. A contract tells parents
what they can expect from the
caregiver and the facility. Poli
cies are stated. Parents know
their obligations.
Ask about paying for days
your child is sick. What happens
if you are late picking up the
child? Expect a fee for care after
regular hours.
' Deciding on a day care pro
gram is a challenge. Visit a vari
ety of programs. Talk with care
giver and parents. Take your
child along. The caregiver, the
facility and the health and safety
of the child are the key elements.
Select a program in which both
you and your child will be com
fortable.
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Barbecue Benefit Aug. 3
LEBANON (Lebanon Co.)
Food, fun, horses, and support
ing a worthy cause all this is
possible at the Sixth Annual
Chicken Barbecue to benefit the
Four Diamonds Fund for chil
dren with cancer.
Sponsored by the Eastern Ara
bian Horse Show/East Coast
Championships and Country
Fair, the barbecue will be Aug. 3
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the
Quentin Riding Club, just three
miles south of Lebanon on Rt.
72.
The meal includes half a
chicken, baked potato, com on
the cob, pepper cabbage, roll and
... Efficient In Ev.
Gettysburg, PA 717-624-3331
Mt. Pleasant, PA 724-542-7930
• A continuously ventilated ridge.
• Vented overhangs.
• Cupolas and weather vanes
• Hi-nb acoustical steel panels.
• The Energy Performer® insulation system
• Heavy-duty, tedlar-coated skylights
• The AlumaSteel* sliding door system
• A heavy-gauge, aluminum gutter and downspout system.
• Insulated overhead doors in widths up to 40’ •
• Insulated bi-fold doors in widths up to 60’
• Many styles of insulated walkdoors and thermal Andersen, Pella, or vinyl
windows with or without shutters.
• A protective lightning rod package with concealed cables,
• Raised chord trusses in widths of 42’, 48’, 54’, and 60’ are available
for greater interior clearance and larger overhead doors
butter, fruit, and beverage, all for
just $7.50. You can eat at ring
side and watch the horses or
take it home.
Tickets are available at
Brandt’s Mill Saddlery in Leba
non, H & H Tack Shop in Ann
ville, Keller Bros. Ford in
Schaefferstown, Cross Road
Farm Tack Shop in Lebanon,
and the Office of University De
velopment in Hershey. Tickets
must be purchased in advance,
and the deadline for purchase is
July 30.
For more information, call
717-949-2722.
Meadville, PA 814-336-5083
Phillipsburg, NJ 908-454-7900