Learning to Share - Conflict Resolution for Parents and Child Care Providers

By Melissa Newby
If your child is in child care, it's likely that you'll eventually disagree with something your child care provider does or says. Recognizing when to say something, and how to approach the subject with your provider, will help maintain a positive relationship between you and your child care provider and a healthy environment for your child.
The best way to resolve a conflict is to never let it happen in the first place. Make sure you communicate with your child care provider, letting them know your expectations about the care you want your child to receive. If there are things that you absolutely want a certain way, like your child not watching any television or eating sweets, make sure you discuss them in the initial interview. It's also important to understand that parents and providers can have different views regarding appropriate ways to raise a child. Understanding that your provider may not do things exactly as you would, but that your child is still receiving quality care, is vital in preventing conflict.
Despite the best communication, you still may disagree with something your child care provider does while caring for your child. Try to say something as soon as you notice an issue. The longer you let an issue go, the more chance there is for it to grow into something bigger. Also, the sooner you address the issue, the sooner you can resolve it and clear the air in your relationship. Not addressing the problem right away could create enough stress with your provider that you are not able to repair the relationship and may need to find a new provider.
Ask your provider for a time to discuss the issue. If possible, choose a time when you and your provider can talk without distractions. Don't talk in the doorway with your child tugging at your leg or when your provider is trying to manage 6 toddlers. Allowing you both to focus on the conversation will help you hear what each other is saying and really understand each other.
Explain your concern in simple terms, but do not accuse or blame your provider. Use statements like, "I have a concern about how much television Mike is watching", instead of, "You are letting Mike watch too much television". Both statements give the same message, but the delivery style of the first one is less accusing and will help foster a better discussion. You are both invested in the care of your child, and being able to discuss any issues rationally and openly will help your child receive quality care. Discuss the behavior that concerned you, why it concerned you, and what you would like done to correct the situation. Listen carefully to your provider so she can explain her thoughts on the situation. There may be safety or logistics reasons why your provider is doing something a certain way.
Once you have discussed the issue, restate the solution that you both agreed on. That way, you can make sure you both understand what the next steps are and how the issue is going to be resolved. A question like, "Do you feel comfortable with the solution we decided on", is a good way to make sure you both are on the same page, and gives your provider the chance to say if something is still bothering her.
Source: Child Care Lounge

What Your Provider Wants You to Know: But is Afraid to Tell You

Here is an open letter to parents written from the perspective of a daycare provider or preschool teacher.

• I am a professional. I may have chosen this line of work because I love children and I enjoy my job, but this is still my job/business. I have received specialized education and/or training to be a caregiver and educator for young children. I am not a babysitter; I am a professional.
• I am not getting rich. In many places child care workers make less than public sanitation workers, secretaries and other jobs that require a lot less education and experience. I do get paid in smiles, hugs and recognition of appreciation from families.
• I need you to read all material and notices. I am counting on you to know the information I send to you in writing. This includes newsletters, notes and contract material.
• It is important that you communicate with me. Let me know in advance if there will be a change in your child’s schedule, or the services you will need.
• If I ask you to bring in supplies for your child, please do. And make sure supplies are replenished as needed. This may include extra clothes, art supplies, diapers etc.
• Remember your child is not the only child in my care. Although I do my best to provide individualized attention at times, I am often unable to change polices or disrupt plans to accommodate the needs of one family.
• Please do not send your child if they are ill. If they are too ill to participate in the day’s activities they are too ill to be in care. I need to protect the health of other children as well. If your child is or was ill, please notify me.
• I recognize that you are the most important person in the child’s life. I hope that we can work as a partnership for what is best for the child. Please share with me any concerns or questions about your child’s care and development. Work with me in helping your child learn, grow and develop.

Source: Childcare Lounge

Volunteer week

First I wanted to give gratitude to After School Artist children for being so helpful towards each other and others and how well they follow instruction. I am so proud.

Today we will be cleaning windows at a business for our volunteer work.  After we will plan on heading to some location that contains a water activity.  Parents contact me for specifics.

Our current art activities are finishing our hand-made, hand painted puppet show theater box and rehearsing for our puppet show.

We will also be working with clay!  The kids have been asking to work with clay for sometime now.

Academics: We took a trip to the library and will be reading some new books together and working on some Reggio inspired math.

Thank you for one my clients suggesting a quick online resource for the day to day activities for After School Arts.  There will be more online resources up ahead in the future. Stay tuned.

Parent Childcare Community Collaboration

As a past writer I wanted to speak about Reggio Emilia. 

I have read many articles on child care issues and parent issues and have come to the conclusion that Reggio is the solution.

When you choose a childcare you are also choosing the person who "cares" for your child when you are not "caring" for your child. 

This relationship should be as open and close as a family member.  This relationship does not always happen naturally and takes some time.  Both parents and child care providers need to work together to make that Reggio relationship work. 

This means it is not the parents job to make things convenient for the childcare provider and it is not the childcare provider's job to make things convenient for the parents.  It is both parties' jobs to make life convenient for each other.

When there is conflict with care providers or parents there is conflict for your children.  It is like kicking your self in the pants.  The point is is that it is in your best interest to get along or you are hurting your child.

This is a business of raising our children together.  I encourage both child care providers and parents to focusing on working together instead of battling over trivial things when our goal is the same...raising bright successful children. 

Providers should listen and ask about specifics about how parents want their children to be cared for.  Parents should listen to educated providers about new innovative ways of providing care.  Providers that are invested in their business participate in continued education and can offer some new and sometimes better ways of care for your child.

Children are not library books that you drop off and pick up at your convenience.  They are human beings and your child care provider is a human being developing a relationship with the most important asset of your life, your child. If you do not feel that way about your provider you should consider changing providers.

I see the battle of views between parent and child care provider very often.  The parent feels they are paying to have someone care for their child and are in a manager role of hiring the child care provider and often have little to no interaction with the provider. It is near impossible to build relationships with no interaction. In Reggio environments it is a partnership and a collaboration along with a common goal of working together and supporting our children.

After School Arts Madison Summer

Camp Schedule 2015

 

**Schedule subject to change due to weather, seasonal availability or other relevant reason for change** NOTE: Chicago art museum trip will remain as scheduled.  Parents can volunteer as chaperones but not required.  At least 2 ASA adult chaperones will be attending.

June 1-5 – Orientation. Welcome Artists

June 8-12 – Green Thumb

June 15-19 – Architecture and Art

June 22-26 – Wisconsin Art, Reminder… Thurs, June 25 6:30 PM is Reggio Family game night. Pick up your child’s activity journal a view a slideshow of summer camp photos.

June 28-July 3 – Painted glass

July 6-10 – Art History, Note: Field trip to Chicago Art museum scheduled for Wed, July 8, 7:30AM-5:30PM

July 13-17 – Creative Writing and Illustration

July 20-24 – Culinary Arts

July 27-31 – Flower Power

Aug 3- Aug 7 – Volunteer activity week

Aug 10 – August 14 – Art Business

Aug 17 – 21 – Hot fun in the summer time…Last blast of summer….Pools, beaches, parks, sports and more.

Aug 24 – 28 – Fruits of our Labor

Aug 31 – Sept 4 – Back to School Prep.  Math flash cards, reading, writing (age appropriate).

Sept 7 – 11 – Labor day and back to school.  Care available to children who start school after Labor Day.  Open Arts week.

Tues, June 9 4PM-6:30PM

After School Arts Poynette  
Open House

W9257 County Trunk CS, Poynette, WI 53955 (next to Subway) 608-516-9992

 

YOU are invited to After School Arts Open House!

You can watch or participate. No cost or R.S.V.P. required.

 

What is After School Arts?

*After school arts is an alternative child care program that is open for summer camp and after school care.

*The program is appropriate for children age 4-14.   

How is After School Arts unique?

*After School Arts uses the Reggio approach which is learning centered on art, family, child and community.

*Our focus is on individual and group skills and talent. Your child will learn real life skills like basic healthy cooking and how to be a positive community member. We invite your family in on how your child is learning and developing with open house family evenings.

*We have units to keep kids interested and we keep creating more new units!

We will have previews and information on of any of the following units:

Green Thumb       Culinary Arts       Flower Power  
    
Architecture and Art       The Art of Jewelry

Nature and Found Objects       Art History       Wisconsin Art      

Fruits of our Labor  Illustration and Creative Writing      

Recycled art       Painted glass

 

 

2015 After School Arts Summer Curriculum

Culinary Arts
This unit explores learning basic healthy cooking that tastes great, general cooking, and understanding food health and safety.

Kids will learn skills they can use for a lifetime on making smart food choices and become independent on creating food for themselves and others.

We make many of our healthy snacks together and learn about the food groups. We will include a field trip to understanding the food and restaurant business and get a daily taste of culinary arts…yum!


Green Thumb
We will participate in a daily group garden. Children will water and prune vegetables and flowers to be used for a Fruits of our Labor party. What we produce we will use in our snacks and other units.

Exploring the world we will take an adventure field trip to Oblrich gardens to learn more about plants and their existence in our ecosystem. This field trip is set to inspire for the floral design unit.

Found objects. Find outdoor items that inspire us to create including: gathering organic items like leaves, rocks or other items that inspire us.


Art History
This unit explores art history of famous artists from Picasso to Jackson Pollock to Mary Cassatt and more. Impress your friends when attending an art museum with art history knowledge after taking this class.

Jackson Pollock. Who is he? What is his story? We will go Pollock with paint! Look out…smocks needed for this day.

There will be an optional weekend trip to the Chicago art museum. Parents are welcome to attend. Field trip fee will apply and cost will be determined. Transportation provided by After School Arts—available space for 3. We will drive to a train station and take a train downtown to the museum.


Recycled Art
Use your creative mind to turn trash into treasures like milk carton outdoor games, items we make to help the outdoor wilderness or just silly or crazy art to let our minds relax and be free.

Let’s make Earth day any day. Giving back--we will be doing a volunteer activity. Learn life skills on feeling good when helping others.


Fruits of our Labor
In this unit we will harvest our Fruits of Our Labor and create fresh garden food and floral designs harvest party that parents can join.

We will also learn the "labor" side of collaborating as coworkers and create our own product or catering business.

Flower Power
Flowers are a dynamic part of our life. We use them for celebrations, love, general affection and even used for apologies.

Join us on our adventure of creating our own floral designs with fresh, dried flowers and objects to make an artistic expression that can be used at a dining table, a foyer, or even at a hospital bed to promote cheer and health.

Architecture and Art
Let’s tour the planet and find architecture that is not only functional but is beautiful art. This unit includes planning out blueprints and creating our own mini architectural pieces.


The Art of Jewelry
Jewelry is not just what you buy from the jewelry store. Come explore the many different cultures of jewelry and different textures and items used to make jewelry. We will make our own creation of items that you would never think of that could be jewelry. We will learn that jewelry is not gender specific.

Painted glass
Learn how painting on glass is easy, fun and elegant. The most forgiving art…if you don’t like it wipe it.

Creative Writing and Illustration
We will become authors and illustrators and understand what each is. Ms. Julie’s background with technical writing will help with grammar and writing lite. Introduction to basic graphic design, using type and graphics to create visual elements.

Wisconsin Art
This unit includes making and sampling items that attribute to our dairy economy. Dairy culinary games and Wisconsin art and history. We will take a museum trip to learn more about the badger state.


Classes begin June 15. Space is limited.  It is recommended to sign up for the entire summer curriculum.  Each unit builds upon each other.

This program is ideal for families who want to give their children(ages 4-14), a summer break with fun and learning without breaking the school routine or breaking the bank.

References and pricing available on Facebook site or call 608-516-9992, email afterschoolarts53719@gmail.com