LA Aish HaTorah Community

Dear Community,

Below is a summary of our childcare meeting last week. Please take a moment to review it, and especially to read the “Parent Involvement” section.

If you have any questions, comments, or additional suggestions please let me know.

Thank you!

Childcare Meeting, October 31, 2011

High Holiday Childcare:

-Non Jewish nannies just sit around, and don’t provide any educational aspect to the program

-A few years ago, we had parents volunteer (30 minute shifts). This worked very well.

-Outside children (from Helkeinu) made the job much harder. We can barely accommodate our own numbers, so the additional children created chaos. Also, the children were new to the environment and to the program, which also added difficulties.

Possible solution: Have a few nannies as well as parent volunteers. This way if the parent’s don’t sign up (or don’t show up), there is a backup plan. If the parents tell stories and talk about Yom Tov, we can infuse the program with a little Jewish education too during the High Holidays. Create a structured schedule so that the babysitters know where their group should be when.

Space

-We do not have enough space. The Seminar Room used to be a childcare room but is now used for a minyan. Additionally, the Annex has been reduced in size. The little girls’ group is currently using the hallway, which is not conducive for playing and learning.

-With the winter coming up, the children will not be able to spend as much time outside as they currently do.

Possible solutions: The Seminar Room should become the room for the older boys. Sharon Saks had a plan for the Annex. If we move the current divider closer to the alley entrance (almost flush against the wall) and then, put in a second divider, we can split the now larger room into two rooms- one for the babies and toddlers, and one for the little girls.

Structure

-Children seem to be running all over the place.

-Too much free time.

-Especially immediately after davening, there seems to be chaos.

Possible solution: Have a schedule hanging on each door that the counselors follow. Instead of having free play at the end of the program, make sure that the kids are inside when Fredy is setting up Kiddush and when the adults first come out.

Boys

-Boys 12+ wander the halls and go into the other groups (especially the older boys), disrupting the group and refusing to leave when the counselors ask them to.

-There are weeks where there are a lot of boys (up to 20) and only one counselor.

-Bullying is becoming a problem among the boys. There was one incident where a boy brought handcuffs and handcuffed some of the younger boys.

-The older boys run wild during Kiddush. They’re often in the Annex, bullying younger kids and climbing on the bookshelves.

Possible solutions: It is important to get parents involved in cases of bullying, even if it means asking the parent to keep the child home for a few weeks. Boys 12+ should be in shul (we can put an announcement in the bulletin). Boys cannot be in the Annex during Kiddush. We can either put up a sign saying “This room is for little children only,” or we can lock the Annex as soon as the program has finished. Have the counselor provide us with approximate numbers from week to week. If the numbers are indeed so large, we’ll need to hire a second/assisting counselor.

Games and prizes

-Boys have stolen prizes and destroyed games.

-Prizes should be given to the younger children every week and to the older children once every 3-4  weeks. The younger children’s prizes can be small, but they need instant gratification.

-Prizes should change as frequently as possible.

Possible solution: Keep the games and prizes locked up in Rabbi Cohen’s office. If the problem still persists, we may need to involve the parents.

Parent involvement

-Parents seem to have the attitude of “it’s not my problem” once they drop their kids off at shul.

-During Kiddush, parents socialize while their kids run wild. They do not know that the childcare program is technically over and the counselors are off duty.

-If parents see a child acting in an inappropriate way they should inform the parent of the child. If that does not work, Rabbi Cohen should be told.

Possible solution: Let’s make the parents aware! We can publish monthly childcare notices in the bulletin and put out emails. We can also put guidelines at the bottom of each schedule so that the parents know what’s going on. Most importantly, parents should be on the same page as Odeliah and the rest of the counselors so that the children don’t receive any mixed messages.

Miscellaneous ideas and suggestions:

-Let’s resume “Kid of the Week”

-Have parents send in the names of the kids so that the counselors can have a roster of sorts. This is a good thing to have in order to regulate the number of kids, and in case of an emergency.

-Send out reminders, especially before a Holiday, about childcare guidelines. If there’s anything that parents should know pertaining to that specific Holiday, include it. (Ex. No childcare on Simchas Torah).