Caregivers have the responsibility of caring for your child in a manner that meets your approval as well as meets the developmental needs of your child. Below is a list of favorable attributes that a caregiver should possess followed by a list of requirements prescribed by the State Department of Human Resources.
A caregiver should…
- Be friendly and eager to care for children
- Be warm and understanding and give attention to each child’s individual needs
- Understand and accept that all children have different developmental stages and moods
- Treat each child with respect
- Model good citizenship to teach children self respect as well as respect for others
- Accept the family’s cultural values
- Take time to discuss the child’s progress or problems with the parents
- Be kind and loving toward all children
- Work cooperatively with co-workers and parents
- Feel good about their work as a caregiver
A caregiver must…
- Have prescribed training in the areas of child care and child development
- Meet the minimum age requirement of 19 years
- Follow sanitary regulations in feeding, diapering, and handling children
- Hold, cuddle, talk to, and play with children
- Allow infants out of cribs for reasonable periods of time during the day
- Never prop a bottle in a crib for infant feeding
- Provide children with routines and rules that they can understand while providing them with stimulating, interesting, and educational activities
- Strictly follow the child/staff ratios for ages and activities
- Comply with lifeguard requirements
- Manage children’s behavior or discipline in a positive, constructive manner which is not threatening or humiliating
- Never use corporal punishment
- In accordance with Alabama law, report suspected child abuse and/or neglect
- Never leave children unsupervised
- Notify parents immediately of any illness, accident, or other serious incident
- Release children only to persons identified and approved by parents
- Obtain parent’s written permission before taking a child on a field trip
- Strictly follow the law requiring the use of seat belts or child restraints when transporting children
- Follow all minimum standard requirements for day care centers
