Rising Stars Family Daycare

Our Teachers

I started in home childcare seven years ago and have an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. I continue to participate in ongoing education to ensure I am staying up to date with best practices in early education. I am CPR and First Aide certified. I love the ability to care for children and connect with each individual child. My goal is to create a comfortable and fun environment for children to play, explore, and learn!

Philosophy

My philosophy about children and child care is reflected in the following policies. Safety of Children

Rising Stars Family Daycare Rising Stars Family Daycare is licensed by Maryland State Department of Education’s Office of Child Care. To receive and maintain that license, Rising Stars follows COMAR (Code of Maryland) regulations. These regulations help to keep children safe and include:First Aid/CPR certification Classes to maintain certifications and to gain new skills Background checks for all adults working or living in the home Fire Marshall inspections Monthly fire and emergency drills Annual Licensing inspections

Play and learning activities – Children learn a great deal from daily play activities. Blocks, puzzles, play dough, finger painting, sidewalk chalk drawings, singing, reading books, planting flowers in the garden, pretending to be fire fighters, or making snow angels are typical activities that we might do. I strongly believe children learn by doing and trying to provide activities that are appropriate for children of ages and interests. A weekly schedule of activities will be posted on the bulletin board.

Outdoor activities- I try to take the children outside every day for fresh air and exercise. We will walk to the park, which is a few minutes away from the house. Often we will bundle up and go outside on cold days for at least a few minutes. On warm, sunny days we may spend an hour or more outdoors. If you have special request regarding outdoor play (such as using sunscreen, insect repellent, etc) please let me know.

Field trips- I do take the children on walks and field trips. I always take an additional adult with me whenever we travel by car. Children are required to use seat belts or car seats for car travel. I carry emergency contact numbers with me. You will be notified several days in advance if a field trip is scheduled.

Behavior guidance – I try to be respectful of children’s basic needs. I support positive behavior by setting up child- friendly areas and by following regular routine for eating and napping. The children are taught simple rules and manners that they can easily understand and that are reviewed on a regular basis. Children are offered choices of play activities throughout the day, which helps them to feel empowered and to learn to make appropriate decisions. I support children in interactions with other children through redirection: I can anticipate when an argument may occur and offer one or both children alternative choices, or after an argument has started, I sometimes redirect the children to an activity of my choosing for a short period of time. Negative physical contact will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form. This includes but is not limited to: hitting, kicking, biting, spitting or throwing objects at another child.

Family Conferences : I have an open door policy and am willing to discuss each child’s progress with his/her parents any day, providing that I am not busy with children. I hold family conferences twice each year, in the fall and the spring. These conferences are an opportunity to discuss each child confidentially, concentrating on the child’s abilities and progress. I will email or send home a paper invitation listing dates and times available, depending on the preference of the family. The parent can then either email me or let me know at pick-up or drop-off time what choice they have made. If none of the listed times are convenient, we will try to find an alternative time or schedule a phone conference.

About our program

At Rising Stars Family Daycare, I want to ensure you and your child feel supported every day, and keep open communication to build trust with every family. A weekly schedule of our activities is shared to ensure all families are up to date. I strongly believe in learning through play and provide opportunities for individual exploration and creative play while also offering a structure to keep our day going. Children will also spend time outside enjoying nature and playing!