When we reimagine Family Child Care options that create a life balance for all, we must consider the needs of children, parents, and caregivers.
Each member of the group needs variety in their day.
Each member needs to have their physical cadence honored and tended.
Children, caregivers, and parents have specific developmental needs at different ages and stages.
There is never a one-size-fits-all solution.
childcare
Family childcare providers provide minute-by-minute tending for children that parents entrust to their care. Educators are academically wise, skillfully trained, and offer a devoted heart and endless efforts to the little ones' development with the maximum quality and warmth. The caregivers are also business owners, and social servants, supporting parents and offering a voice for those in their children’s community.
Family childcare providers dedicate, create, and sustain a safe, loving learning environment in their residences.
They cook and clean for the little ones in their care. They research nutrition and attend mandated training, in addition to their work, prep, and cleaning tasks. They shop for their programs, make sure lessons stay fresh, and that parent communication stays current. This entails a workday of 8-12 hours. Family and self-care are creatively included. But, this is not life balance.
We need to rethink this model, for the sake of little ones and caregivers.
Parents often need to work outside the home for at least eight hours a day. Therefore, full-day care is necessary for their children.
Everyone involved needs greater life balance, more calm, and support. Let’s create another good option for everyone involved.
For little ones, it’s best to have a consistent and regular set of experiences with a consistent set of grown-ups and playmates. There also needs to be variety to offer proper stimulation.
Outdoor time is needed for everyone every day.
We would like to gather a group of brainstormers and collaborators to develop a new option for half-day lesson programs that include a collaborative napping program. This napping program will be held in a separate location, but close enough for the lesson and napping teachers to easily assist each other during transitions. This approach is both emotionally and practically balanced for everyone involved. It also allows for some outdoor strolling time. Additionally, if one of the teachers needs a substitute for any reason, having the two teachers close together will minimize disruption for the children, as they can easily substitute for one another.
Teacher Lin would like to pilot this project. She has initiated communication with an interested and qualified early educator, who wants to explore the napping program option. Discussion and a search for the napping location are now underway in the Central Sunset District of San Francisco.
All Parents Nook Members are welcome to join this focus group, especially caregivers, real estate minds, funders, and parents.