Just wondering if any of you have written questions that you give to parents who are interested in joining your daycare. In general I have had good luck with families coming to care, but every now and then a family comes that I have trouble reading. I've found that if the parenting style and my care style is very different, it can make for an awkward relationship and sometimes make it harder for the child to adjust.
I wonder how helpful it might be to have a questionnaire that they fill out with regard to their child's sleep schedule, how they put them down for naps, what kind of schedule they keep, what they child is eating, their ideas on discipline etc...
If you do use something like this, are you willing to share?
Thanks!
All of the preschools (center based) we looked at had questionnaires... I can't see a reason why a home based program would not get the same benefit! Go for it!
I would definitely put a questionaire together for the family to fill out. It makes it much easier for both parties to see if you are a good fit.
Questionnaires should really be necessary to get people on the same page. What discipline style works best, do they have older/younger siblings, foods preferences/nap and meal schedules/allergy or medical issues/ play habits/ favorite toys/any social shyness/aggressiveness you need to know of ..
I have never been to any kind of professional preschool type center where they didn't have a questionnaire.
Here is a good one you can get ideas from;
http://www.trinityff.org/school/wp-content/uploads/2010/0...
J.,
I had a list of questions, but I didn't give them to the parents. I used them as interview questions to see if I would accept the family. After all, their child is coming into my home, and will be with my children. I need to know that their parenting style matches mine, and that whatever I teach their child will not conflict with their lifestyle. (For example, I teach all my children that smoking is very, very bad, and it can make you very, very sick, so you should never do it. So if a parent is a smoker, they are probably not going to appreciate my telling their child this, and having their child come home and reprimand them for smoking, or be upset because they believe their parent is going to be very, very sick.)
So, I interviewed each and every family. Some I had to turn away, explaining that I didn't think I would be a good match for their child. Just think of whatever you feel is important when raising a child, and find out if their values are the same.
If it's just for the sleep schedule and diet and such, then a simple questionnaire would be in order. Should be easy to come up with.
Good luck!
I did this in a general way to find out food likes and dislikes. I did not change my menus or selections. The children were expected to conform to my schedule and obey the rules that were posted in the classrooms. If the kids didn't like what was served they could choose to not eat, they had been offered food. I made sure they got snacks when hap time was over though.
I'm not a day care provider, but the last provider I used had this questionnaire that asked all of the questions you talked about in your post. I didn't mind filling it out and I actually thought it was a good idea. I was especially pleased when during some of our conversations the provider would say something about "that's right, I recall on your questionnaire you said such and such." Made me know that she was truly trying to provide the best care she could and was trying to make her style of care adjust to what the child was used to. So, as a parent, I really appreciated it!
Updated
I readjust bedtimes and wake up times to get them used to the school schedule before it gets here.
I have a questionnaire that I use for infants and toddlers. The little guys can't speak up for themselves, so I think it is really important to have things in writing from the parents for them. That's mostly because I want to be sure I don't forget anything that's important. For older children, I am a bit more laid back and just talk with the parents. The children will speak up for themselves and I don't worry as much about forgetting something with them.
You know as the other side of the spectrum, the joiner, I have never come across the questions, but what an excellent idea! I think finding out about their parenting style, naps, time-outs, eating, sweets/milk, potty training, etc is a great idea. That way you can see if it will be a discipline or food awkwardness (assuming you don't use physical punishment).
I would have it as a separate sheet than whatever application you use and put a cutesy style box at the top to write their child's name in it. Then you can keep them separate than applications, etc and have them when you need to look them over for the specific child.
