Bunny Patch Daycare

R 400.1911(1) · R 400.1911(1) Care; supervision; children. {1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. 11

On November 19. 2021 1 made an unannounced on- site inspection at e child care home. We spoke with licensee, Ruth TerAvest and child care staff members Jennifer Jones, Riley Garrett, and Honesty Santos. read each allegation to Ms. TerAvest. Ms. TerAvest stated on Rovern er 17, 2021, lunch was being prepared and set up by another staff member. Ms. TerAvest said she was changing diapers. Child A was in the living room/playroom. He was crying because he was getting hungry. She picked him up and said, "let's go in the room." She said she took him to a bedroom on the main floor that is a playroom and placed him in an activity saucer located near a window in the room. The diaper changing table is located in this room. She continued changing diapers and helped children wash their hands in preparation for lunch. The bathroom is located next to the room she was in. Ms. TerAvest stated that she was in and out of the room where Child A was situated in the activity saucer. He was in the activity saucer for two to three minutes before he stopped crying. She said that once he was calm, she picked him up and changed his diaper. Then took him back to the living *11a roorn. Ms. TerAvest stated the room was not dark. She stated that was resent that day and in the living room when s e om the living questioned her about placing Child A in the room. Ms. TerAvest statreod othmat. sMhee xp ined to that she placed Child A in the room to help him calm down and self-soothe because he was over stimulated. Ms. TerAvest said that Child A is related to her. I have provided technical assistance and consultation to ensure children are using age-appropriate equipment and about providing appropriate supervision when children are in the activity saucer. I inspected the play room where Child A was placed in the activity saucer. There is a large window in the room with no curtains or blinds. With the lights off in the room, there is an abundance of natural light that enters the room. 3 Child care staff member Jennifer Jones stated she has worked at the child care home for a couple of years. Ms. Jones stated that if children are over-stimulated, staff will place the children in the activity saucer in the bedroom on the main floor for a couple of minutes to let them calm down. She said staff will check on them and bring them back when they are calm. Sometimes they will take a small group of children into the room to play. When children are placed in the activity saucer either a staff member will be in the room with them or someone will be in and out because they are changing diapers. She said children are not left alone in the room. Child care staff member Riley Garret stated she has worked at the child care home since July 202.1. She said she has no concerns about how children are handled at. the child care home. If children are crying, she will distract or redirect children to another activity. Sometimes the children need to be "away'' from the other children. She said that staff will put children in the playroom in their portable play pen or the "bouncer" with the door open. Typically, someone is in and out of the room changing diapers so the children are being supervised while in the room. If staff are not changing diapers, they will check on the child every 15 minutes. Child care staff member Honesty Santos stated she has worked in the child care home since October. She has no concerns with how children are handled while in care. Ms. Santos stated that if children are crying, she will try to comfort the child. She added that sometimes children are inconsolable. She said there was an incident With Child A on November 17, 2021, where Child A was crying very loudly and `Nvas frustrated". She said that Ms. TerAvest was changing diapers. Ms. Santos saw Ms. TerAvest approach Child A. and asked him, "What's going on?" Ms. TerAvest picked up Child A and said, "OK.. can) come back once you are calmed down." Ms. TerAvest took Child A and placed him in the activity sauce

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R 400.1911(1) · R 400.1911(1) Care; supervision; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

Ms. TerAvest denied holding Child B's hands and shoving food in his mouth. She said that on November 17, 2021, he ate, pears, toast, fried potatoes, and milk for breakfast. He did not eat the eggs. She said when she asked him if he wanted eggs, He said "No,'. She said "OK" and took his plate away. She said that if children refuse to eat; she and staff will ask the children if they want the food item. If they say they do not, they are not "made to eat the food." Ms. TerAvest stated that staff will serve the food at meals but children can choose what they will or will not eat. Ms. TerAvest stated that Child B is related to her through marriage. Child care staff member Jennifer Jones said that at meal times if children do not eat a food item, staff will encourage them to try it by sitting next to the children and eating some of the food themselves. She said they continue to introduce the food to the children and eventually the children will try some of the food. She said that staff do "not force" children to eat food. Child care staff member Riley Garret stated that if children refuse to eat something at a meal, they are not forced to eat anything. She said she will encourage children to try the food or offer them other meal items. If children do not like something that is served, they do not need to eat it. Child care staff member Honesty Santos stated that children are not forced to eat food. Staff will ask children if they would like to eat what is served, if not they do not have to eat it. She said children can choose to eat what is served. November 29, 2021, 1 spoke with B's Mother on the telephone. She reiterated that she did not have any concerns about the quality of care provided for Child B at the child care home. She stated that she is related to Ms. TerAvest through marriage. On November 22, 2021, I spoke with n the telephone. stated that she was sitting in the living room"wit an RnaInt, so she did not "completely" see what happened. The living room is a few steps down from the kitchen. She said, it was lunch time, Ms. TerAvest was standing in front of Child B's high chair. She heard Ms. TerAvest say, "ok, you don't like it." She saw Ms. TerAvest take Child B's meal away. I were present during the transition to lunch. One staff member was in the kitc en preparing the meal and the other staff members were around the table helping children get bibs on or helping serve the food. We heard staff say, "do you want some ?" Sometimes the children would say, "no". Staff would say, "ok" and offer other items from the meal instead. We did not see any staff forcing children to eat any food. On November 23, 2021, I spoke with Child J and K's Mother on the telephone. She has no concerns wit ow Child J and Child K are fed at the home. She added her children, "eat all the time" while in care. On November 22, 2021, spoke with Child F, G, H, and I's Mother on the telephone. She said that Child F (female, age' months) and Child G female, age years) currently attend the child care home. Child H (female, age and Child I (ma e, age' years) have not attended since the end of 2020. She state she has no concerns with how children are fed at the child care home. She added that when Child H attended, she did not like having milk at meals. Child F, G, H, and I's Mother asked if Ms. TerAvest could give her something different. She said Ms. TerAvest offered her something different to drink at meals. On December 6, 2021, I spoke with child care staff member, Honesty Santos on the telephone. She stated that she did not observe Ms. TerAvest "shove food" in any children's mouth on November 17, 2021. She stated that she has not witnessed Ms. TerAvest force any children to eat food.

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R 400.1913(3)(a) · R 400.1913(3)(a) Discipline; child handling. (3) Personnel shall not do any of the following: (a) Hit, spank, shake, bite, pinch, or inflict other forms of corporal punishment.

Ms. TerAvest denied "smacking" Child C or any other child. She stated that she nor any staff "hit kids." She said that the discipline used with younger children is redirection. She stated that Child C is not related to her. Child care staff member, Ms. Jones said that the child are home is a "phenomenal place and parents are lucky to have their children here. The children are safe and well-cared for. They learn to be independent and are encouraged to try things for themselves." Child care staff member, Ms. Garret stated she has not witnessed any staff hitting children. On November 22 2021, 1 spoke with on the telephone. stated that on November 17, 2021. she observed s. TerAvest slap Child C's hand. She said, he might have been hitting another child. Ms. TerAvest walked over to Child C, said "No", and slapped his hand. It turned "bright red' and he started to cry. She stated that she and Ms. Santos were present when this happened. On November 23, 2021, and I spoke with Child J and K's Mother on the telephone. She stated that she has no concerns about the discipline used at the child care home. She is aware that personnel will use distraction, redirection, or timeouts for older children. Child J and K's Mother said that the `staff are great" and "super friendly." She appreciates that there is a routine and this helps with the children's behaviors. On December 6, 2021, l spoke with child care staff member, Honesty Santos on the telephone. She stated that she did not observe Ms. TerAvest hit any children on November 17, 2021, or any children on any other day. ..............................................................................................................

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R 400.1911(1) · R 400.1911(1) Care; supervision; children. (1) A licensee shall ensure appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

Ms. TerAvest stated that when children are crying, she and staff will pick up and soothe" the children; then they will put the children down again. If they cry, they will let them cry a little to practice "self-soothing" and then pick them up again. She denied saying that she does not pick up children when they are crying. Ms. TerAvest stated that on November 17, 2021, Child F was having "tummy time" and was fussing a little. She denied that Child F was "full out screaming." She said, was present during this time. Ms. TerAvest said she told that she could sit by Child F. She told not to pick her up for a coupe minutes to let her try to calm down and then she could pick her up. Ms. TerAvest stated that Child F is related to her. Child care staff member, Ms. Jones stated that children will sometimes cry, especially during Tummy Time. She said that personnel do not leave children to cry. She said that if children cry staff will try to comfort the children, give them a bottle, check their diaper, or lay them down to rest. Ms. Santos stated that during Tummy Time children will get fussy. She said she will turn infants on their backs if they get too fussy and that children are not left to cry. On November 22, 2021, 1 spoke with on the telephone. stated that she was sitting next to Child F and two"ot r children in the living room. Child F was "screaming loudly." -stated that Child F was on her back playing with 9 a toy, she was not on her stomach for Tummy Time. She said that she picked up Child F and Ms. TerAvest "yelled, (we) don't hold (them) when they cry, just let them cry." stated she asked why. She said Ms. TerAvest said, "don't hold them when they cry.

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MCL 722.115n (8) ... child care staff member; criminal history check; requirements; duties of department. (8) The individual may serve as a child care staff member pending the results of the record and database checks required by this section and section 5q if the individual is supervised at all times.

and child care staff member, Honesty Santos were not supervised at all times when Ms. TerAvest left them alone with children to take children to the bus stop. Both - and Ms. Santos were to be supervised at all times.

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