KiddieCorp - FAQs

		Frequently Asked Questions 1. Do you provide meals and snacks? We typically provide snacks and beverages for the children (before serving, we double check for food allergies). Meals are handled one of three ways, according to the client’s wishes: either parents provide them, the client provides them, or parents have an option to purchase them. Check your program materials or feel free to call us to find out for sure. 2. Can I add hours on-site? Normally you can. Some programs that are very popular might have limited on-site registration. It is best to contact us right away if you know you want to add hours for your child(ren). 3. What infant supplies do I need to bring? Glad you asked! We love it when you leave a fully stocked infant bag with us. Include: diapers, wipes, diaper cream, change of clothes, favorite snacks or beverages, bottle, and “lovie” (pacifier, favorite toy, or whatever calms your child). When you enter our care, we will ask all about your little one. 4. How do you know who belongs to which child? Our biggest priority is the safety of your child. That includes properly ensuring that every child leaves with the proper adult. It starts with the paperwork you fill out. Every parent enrolling their child completes a registration form that lists only those persons authorized to pick up their child(ren). We compare sign-out signatures to sign-in signatures, and if they don’t match we check the form and request to see the ID of the person who is checking the child(ren) out. Every time a child checks in we place a sticky KiddieCorp nametag on them (with infants, it goes on their back). It must stay on while they are in our care. On it we list their name, age, and any allergies (in red) they may have. Our on-site managers constantly survey the child care area, and staff know to question any adult who comes into our area. They will be directed to sign-out first, and will then be able to pick up their child. With larger programs we add a few more features, such as photographing the family and authorized adults together with the children, and utilizing matching tickets or wristbands. With larger programs we might also have personnel escorting parents, monitoring the exits, and providing a secondary checkpoint at which to compare photographs, additionally ensuring that all is in order. 5. What activities are there for my child? In general, we provide a wide variety of activities, so your child can do what feels right for them at the time. It’s sort of like a camp – there is active play (Duck Duck Goose, Red Light Green Light), quiet play (Tea Party, board games) and everything in between. For infants, we emphasize music and movement, manipulatives and social interaction. For teens, we provide the latest videos, games, and a fun environment for “hanging out”. We strive to provide more than enough activities for every taste and age. 6. Do you have space available for nursing? Not unless the client makes a request. Usually we can help you find a discreet place close by, however. 7. Can KiddieCorp take the children on tour? It’s really fun when tours are included. That is prearranged with the client in advance. We suggest only children age 6 and up go on tour, as younger ones get tired or homesick sometimes. Tours are to kid-friendly places, and we arrange safety and security procedures with the venue in advance. 8. Where do you find your staff? From being in business 20+ years, we have many trusted sources, including colleges, universities, preschools, school districts, and community agencies. Most of our “team members” have a combination of education and experience. We check their backgrounds and many of them are CPR-certified (which is also a requirement of all managers). 9. For what ages can you provide a children's program? For a long-standing client, the American Academy of Pediatrics, we enroll children starting at a mere 6 weeks old. Our recommendation, however, is for a program 6 months to 12 years of age. Our goal is to accommodate the client; we can expand our nursery, and add a teen program or tours if desired. 10. What are the staff to child ratios? KiddieCorp's staff to child ratios are higher than the strictest state (California) requirements to ensure that every child feels special and gets the attention they need. Standard ratios for KiddieCorp programs are: 1 staff : 2 infants...............(ages 6 mos. - 11 mos.) 1 staff : 3 toddlers.............(ages 1 - 2 yrs.) 1 staff : 5 school age.........(ages 3 - 12 yrs.) 1 staff : 8 teenagers...........(ages 13 - 17 yrs.) Note: For special needs programs, ratios are adjusted depending on the need. 11. What do your staff do with “difficult” or crying children? This is one reason our staff to child ratios are so good – so that we can give a child the extra care and TLC they might require from time to time. The first thing we do is try to see what they need – are they hungry, tired, irritated by something, overwhelmed, etc. Then we slow things down, give them a quiet environment, and tend to those needs or distract them with another activity. Sometimes what works best is allowing them to bond with one of our caregivers, and be brought into an activity slowly and gently. If a child is very upset, and nothing we do works, we do not hesitate to contact the parent for further guidance. 12. Can you take a child with special needs? If a child can be mainstreamed into our typical program, with a minimal amount of adjustment, yes we can. This is best when arranged in advance. Aides and children are always welcome, to participate however they can. We are proud to manage several special needs programs every year. Recently we received an award for a special needs program for the Family Café in the state of Florida. 13. Tell me about the typical space for a children's program. We try to provide space that is easily accessible to parents, in a low traffic area, easy to secure, includes windows, and restrooms in-room or nearby. It is always best to have all rooms of the child care program together, so we can establish a central check-in/check-out that is properly monitored. We don’t always have the perfect space, but children always have a perfectly wonderful time. 14. Do you do individual babysitting? As a rule, no. We train our staff to take care of groups of children, and not to focus solely on just one or two the whole time. We like to stick to what we do best. 15. What paperwork do I need to complete? Typically a registration form and a consent form. We ask for the usual contact information and the shifts/times for which you want child care. Once on-site, you sign in and out your child, and if you have a little one, we take your instructions for diapering, feeding, sleeping, and care. If any special programming is included (tours or a swim program, for example) there may be a short additional form involved. Except for signing in, most forms are a one-time occurrence.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you provide meals and snacks?

We typically provide snacks and beverages for the children (before serving, we double check for food allergies). Meals are handled one of three ways, according to the client’s wishes: either parents provide them, the client provides them, or parents have an option to purchase them. Check your program materials or feel free to call us to find out for sure.

2. Can I add hours on-site?

Normally you can. Some programs that are very popular might have limited on-site registration. It is best to contact us right away if you know you want to add hours for your child(ren).

3. What infant supplies do I need to bring?

Glad you asked! We love it when you leave a fully stocked infant bag with us. Include: diapers, wipes, diaper cream, change of clothes, favorite snacks or beverages, bottle, and “lovie” (pacifier, favorite toy, or whatever calms your child). When you enter our care, we will ask all about your little one.

4. How do you know who belongs to which child?

Our biggest priority is the safety of your child. That includes properly ensuring that every child leaves with the proper adult. It starts with the paperwork you fill out. Every parent enrolling their child completes a registration form that lists only those persons authorized to pick up their child(ren). We compare sign-out signatures to sign-in signatures, and if they don’t match we check the form and request to see the ID of the person who is checking the child(ren) out.

Every time a child checks in we place a sticky KiddieCorp nametag on them (with infants, it goes on their back). It must stay on while they are in our care. On it we list their name, age, and any allergies (in red) they may have.

Our on-site managers constantly survey the child care area, and staff know to question any adult who comes into our area. They will be directed to sign-out first, and will then be able to pick up their child.

With larger programs we add a few more features, such as photographing the family and authorized adults together with the children, and utilizing matching tickets or wristbands. With larger programs we might also have personnel escorting parents, monitoring the exits, and providing a secondary checkpoint at which to compare photographs, additionally ensuring that all is in order.

5. What activities are there for my child?

In general, we provide a wide variety of activities, so your child can do what feels right for them at the time. It’s sort of like a camp – there is active play (Duck Duck Goose, Red Light Green Light), quiet play (Tea Party, board games) and everything in between.

For infants, we emphasize music and movement, manipulatives and social interaction.

For teens, we provide the latest videos, games, and a fun environment for “hanging out”. We strive to provide more than enough activities for every taste and age.

6. Do you have space available for nursing?

Not unless the client makes a request. Usually we can help you find a discreet place close by, however.

7. Can KiddieCorp take the children on tour?

It’s really fun when tours are included. That is prearranged with the client in advance. We suggest only children age 6 and up go on tour, as younger ones get tired or homesick sometimes. Tours are to kid-friendly places, and we arrange safety and security procedures with the venue in advance.

8. Where do you find your staff?

From being in business 20+ years, we have many trusted sources, including colleges, universities, preschools, school districts, and community agencies. Most of our “team members” have a combination of education and experience. We check their backgrounds and many of them are CPR-certified (which is also a requirement of all managers).

9. For what ages can you provide a children's program?

For a long-standing client, the American Academy of Pediatrics, we enroll children starting at a mere 6 weeks old. Our recommendation, however, is for a program 6 months to 12 years of age. Our goal is to accommodate the client; we can expand our nursery, and add a teen program or tours if desired.

10. What are the staff to child ratios?

KiddieCorp's staff to child ratios are higher than the strictest state (California) requirements to ensure that every child feels special and gets the attention they need. Standard ratios for KiddieCorp programs are:

1 staff : 2 infants...............(ages 6 mos. - 11 mos.)
1 staff : 3 toddlers.............(ages 1 - 2 yrs.)
1 staff : 5 school age.........(ages 3 - 12 yrs.)
1 staff : 8 teenagers...........(ages 13 - 17 yrs.)

Note: For special needs programs, ratios are adjusted depending on the need.

11. What do your staff do with “difficult” or crying children?

This is one reason our staff to child ratios are so good – so that we can give a child the extra care and TLC they might require from time to time. The first thing we do is try to see what they need – are they hungry, tired, irritated by something, overwhelmed, etc. Then we slow things down, give them a quiet environment, and tend to those needs or distract them with another activity. Sometimes what works best is allowing them to bond with one of our caregivers, and be brought into an activity slowly and gently. If a child is very upset, and nothing we do works, we do not hesitate to contact the parent for further guidance.

12. Can you take a child with special needs?

If a child can be mainstreamed into our typical program, with a minimal amount of adjustment, yes we can. This is best when arranged in advance. Aides and children are always welcome, to participate however they can. We are proud to manage several special needs programs every year. Recently we received an award for a special needs program for the Family Café in the state of Florida.

13. Tell me about the typical space for a children's program.

We try to provide space that is easily accessible to parents, in a low traffic area, easy to secure, includes windows, and restrooms in-room or nearby. It is always best to have all rooms of the child care program together, so we can establish a central check-in/check-out that is properly monitored. We don’t always have the perfect space, but children always have a perfectly wonderful time.

14. Do you do individual babysitting?

As a rule, no. We train our staff to take care of groups of children, and not to focus solely on just one or two the whole time. We like to stick to what we do best.

15. What paperwork do I need to complete?

Typically a registration form and a consent form. We ask for the usual contact information and the shifts/times for which you want child care. Once on-site, you sign in and out your child, and if you have a little one, we take your instructions for diapering, feeding, sleeping, and care. If any special programming is included (tours or a swim program, for example) there may be a short additional form involved. Except for signing in, most forms are a one-time occurrence.

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