Frequently asked questions.

Are you Licensed?

Yes, we have a WA state childcare license.

Is Puddleduck a Home Daycare or a Childcare Center?

Puddleduck is technically a home daycare, but the daycare house and outside yard is completely separated. The daycare house is its own detached house on my residential property in a quiet neighborhood.

Sick Child Policy

If your child has one symptom, such as a congestion they can still attend.

If your child has 2+ symptoms, example: congestions, cough, and fatigue they need to stay home. When they have multiple symptoms and they are too lethargic to participate in activities they need to stay home and rest.

If you child has a fever, or vomiting (projectile vomit, not just spit up), or diarrhea (2 or more times in 24 hours), then they must be kept home, or if it starts happens at daycare you will be called to come pick up your child. Your child will not be allowed to return until they have gone 24 hours without any of those 3 symptoms.

** If your child is new to daycare, expect them to get sick about once a month for the next several months, starting daycare exposes them to so many more germs. **

Do you accept DSHS?

Unfortunately we do not take subsidy.

Is there a strict drop off and pickup time?

Not really. We know how little children, work schedules, and ever changing toddler sleep schedules can be. BUT, we do not do drop off or pickup during the nap time window of 12:00-2:30.

Preferred dropped off is no later than 10:00am, this helps a lot with transitions.

Preferred pickup is no earlier than 3:00pm too sleeping kids don’t get disturbed.

Do you have pets?

Yes. I have a very friendly and quiet female Australian Sheppard that occasially visits when we are playing outside. She has never shown any kind of aggression to any human or creature. Our dog is not allowed inside the daycare house.

Late pickup fee/Policy

We have a 5 minute grace period.

After 12:15pm if Part Time AM, or after 5:05 PM for Full Time or Part Time PM, then there is $3 for every 5 minutes you are late.

If you become 20 minutes late, the fee ups to $5 for every 5 minutes.

If you become 45 minutes late, fee ups to $10 for every additional 5 minutes.

If you cannot pickup your child and no one else can pick them up either (for example dangerous weather like too much snow to drive) and the child has to sleep over, it’s $500 for the night. Please do not ignore weather warnings…

Habitual lateness is grounds for termination.