Includes index.

Chapter 1Starting Out Right -- Quality Care versus Minimum Standards 2 -- Why Is Child Development So Important? 3 -- Developing Your Philosophy: The "Heart" of Your Business 12 -- Chapter 2 Policies and Registration -- Licensing and Registration 16 -- Number of Children 18 -- Hours of Operation 18 -- Enrollment Forms 19 -- Children's Records 19 -- Filing System 20 -- Vacations and Holidays 21 -- Setting Your Fees 22 -- Payment Schedule 24 -- Termination Policies 25 -- Personal Belongings 26 -- Incident Reports 26 -- Feedback Sheets 27 -- Child's Progress Report 29 -- Quiet Time 32 -- Meals 32 -- Birthdays and Other Special Occasions 33 -- Health and Safety 34 -- Immunization Records 34 -- Administering Medication 34 -- Parent Handbook 35 -- Funding Your Business 39 -- Marketing Your Business 40 -- Chapter 3 Safety -- Safety 44 -- Providing Safe Indoor and Outdoor Environments 44 -- Toy Safety Checklist 45 -- Teaching Children Safety Rules 46 -- Emergency Precautions 48 -- Emergency Procedures for Injuries 49 -- Communicable Diseases 50 -- Fire Safety 51 -- Chapter 4 Health -- Good Health and Nutrition 56 -- Providing Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments 56 -- Helping Children Develop Good Habits 56 -- Hand Washing 57 -- Toothbrushing 59 -- Diaper Time 60 -- Potty Time 63 -- Sanitizing Procedures 64 -- Infant Feeding 65 -- Mealtimes 67 -- Food Choking and Digestive Hazards 70 -- Chapter 5 Schedules and Routines -- What Is a Good Daily Schedule? 75 -- Why Schedule? 76 -- Routines 77 -- Transition Times 78 -- Chapter 6 Physical Environment -- Physical Environment 82 -- Goals and Objectives 82 -- Organizing Your Environment 84 -- Setting up Your Environment with Learning Centers 85 -- Chapter 7 Activity Areas -- Group Time 92 -- Musical Activities 95 -- Art Center 97 -- Manipulative Area 99 -- Sensory Experiences 101 -- Science Area 102 -- Dramatic Play 105 -- Block Area 109 -- Library or Book Area 111 -- Outdoor Activities 112 -- Quiet Area: A Place to Escape 115 -- Chapter 8 Curriculum -- Goals and Objectives of the Curriculum 118 -- Evaluating Your Curriculum 120 -- Guidelines for Appropriate Activities 121 -- Activity Planning 122 -- Evaluating Your Activities 123 -- Chapter 9 Guidance and Discipline -- Guidance and Discipline 128 -- A Sense of Structure 129 -- Some Important Guidelines to Remember 134 -- Chapter 10 Communication -- Communication 138 -- How to Communicate with Parents 138 -- Sharing Information 140 -- Parents' Resource File 140 -- Setting up a Parent-Teacher Conference 141 -- Conference 142 -- Ways to Promote Communication 143 -- Communicating with Children 144 -- Chapter 11 Role of a Caregiver -- Role of a Caregiver 150 -- What Responsive Caregivers Do 151 -- Appendix A National Child Care Organizations 159 -- Appendix B State Contact Information 161 -- Appendix C Sample Management Forms 197.