ALBANY NY — Your 10 questions to ask a childcare provider get answered right here, with the new Albany childcare center Harmony Kids. Find out what’s most important before you choose a family care expert for your children.
As a local parent, I have the same concerns as any other about family care. I want to make sure they’re safe and looked after by trained Albany childcare professionals. When it comes to the issue of my daughters’ safety, I won’t spare any expense in kid care!
That’s why I decided to pick my favorite 10 questions to ask a childcare provider and finally get some answers! Icheiry Rivera from the new Harmony Kids family care center in Albany NY thankfully responded with her professional advice:
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What certifications and
licenses do you need to have for childcare?Well, we’re a New York State Licensed Child care Center, but in addition, experience and reliability are key.
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What’s the
adult-to-child ratio, and how is that important?The ratio of adults to children at the family care center is especially important not only out of conformity with state law, but also to ensure each child gets the proper care and attention for their age group.
Our ratios at Harmony Kids are 4:1 for infants, 5:1 for toddlers, 7:1 for three year-olds, 8:1 for pre-school, 10:1 for school-age kids, and lastly 12:1 for middle-schoolers.
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Do you have
first-aid and CPR training?Of course we do! It’s required to have at least one person on staff at all times who
is CPR and First Aid certified. We arrange to have all of our staff certified
every time classes are available. That way, we have more capable hands around if
an emergency were ever to arise. Safety is our first priority. -
Is there a
late charge for pick up?Yes, $7.00 for the first five minutes and 1 dollar for every min after
that. It should be paid by next day of business, but I think our late fee is pretty reasonable. -
Can I make
unannounced visits to see my child?Sure! Harmony Kids has an open door policy. We only ask that parents be
considerate to the teacher in the classroom if they are in the middle of a
lesson. -
What’s your
favorite part about caring for children, and why’d you decide to become a
childcare provider?The best part of caring for children is of course the kids. They
not only add and enrich the lives of all the staff around them, but I have a
great sense of gratitude to know that we have in some way laid down the
very first building blocks towards their academic career that will stay with
them for the rest of their lives.Second is the families as a whole. At Harmony
Kids we like to think of ourselves as an extension of the family unit, offering
support and care not only for the children, but the adults as well. If we can
assist a parent in any way on any given day it is equally fulfilling. -
What type
of meals and snacks do you serve?We serve an Am snack and a Pm snack. We also serve lunch, which is
catered by the Deli Mill in downtown Albany. If a child does stay
past 4:30 pm though we ask that the parent bring an extra snack from home
so they can have a late afternoon snack. -
What is
your overall childcare philosophy?We believe that each child is special and that kids hold the future in their
hands. Children are active learners, creating knowledge and learning through
their daily experiences with materials and people. Every child is an
individual, with unique strengths, interests, personality and approach to
learning.Harmony Kids bases its philosophy on each child’s total
development. We offer a learning environment which provides
developmentally appropriate experiences designed to stimulate each area of
growth. Children develop and learn on an individual basis. Our program offers
each child the care, attention, love, and nurturing that’s necessary for
growth. We value the uniqueness of each child by recognizing their
differences and offering personal care and attention in a group setting.No less, involving families in our program is top priority. This helps children,
parents, and out staff to provide the strong connection between home and
center. We are extension of the family; developing a partnership where sharing
support, ideas, and genuine love for children is of the utmost importance to
all of us here at Harmony Kids. -
What
supplies do I need to bring?For an infant, bring bottles, extra
clothes, bibs, pacifier, crib sheet, and a blanket.A toddler needs their sippy cups,
extra clothes, and a blanket.For preschool, remember extra clothes,
a blanket, and extra underwear while potty training is a continuing issue. -
What are
your hours?We’re open almost all day, from 6:30am to 6:00 pm! We care about being ready for you when you need us, so we try to stay open and available to help you with your family care needs.
Mrs. Rivera was very helpful in informing us all about the most pressing questions to ask a childcare provider, and I feel much more assured about my daughters’ kid care after having talked to a professional in the field. If you need family care for any age, keep Harmony Kids in Albany NY in mind for all ages infant through 12!
CHECK OUT HARMONY KIDS FAMILY CARE >>>
