Betty Schiffer

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

Child A's Guardian stated that one morning when she dropped of Child A for care, she informed Ms. Schiffer that she would like her to start toilet training at the child care with Child A. Later that day when Child A's Guardian arrived at the child care to pick up Child A, Ms. Schiffer informed her that Child A did not go down for a nap that day. Ms. Schiffer explained that Child A had a big lunch and needed to have a bowel movement. Ms. Schiffer informed Child A's Guardian that Child A remained on the toilet all of nap time from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. Ms. Schiffer waited in the other room for Child A to finish. Child A found things to play with in the bathroom while she sat on the toilet. Child A's Guardian stated that Ms. Schiffer added that she didn't want to tell her how long Child A sat on the toilet for because she wasn't sure that Child A's Guardian would approve. The following day, Child A's Guardian spoke to Ms. Schiffer about toilet training and explained that she did not want Child A sitting on the toilet for more than 10 minutes at a time, that she should not be left alone, and that Ms. Schiffer should encourage Child A to use the toilet. Child A's Guardian stated that she spoke to Child A's caseworker about her concerns and that Child A no longer attends the child care. Ms. Schiffer stated that Child A recently began toilet training at her child care. She does not have the children wear pull-ups or diapers when they are toilet training as she believes it makes them take longer to learn. Ms. Schiffer was having Child A use the toilet when the other children in care did. She stated that the longest she thinks a child has sat on the toilet was for 30 minutes, but usually they will get up when they want to. She later stated that maybe it's not that long that a child has sat. It doesn't seem like they stay in the bathroom very long. If they don't want to sit, they get up. Ms. Schiffer added that you can't make somebody go the bathroom if they don't have to go. She also stated that one child she has in care will say they are done going to the bathroom, but when she goes to check the child hasn't gone. She tells 3 them to try for a little bit. The child fusses a bit and says they don't have to go but after they sit for a few minutes they will go to the bathroom. Ms. Schiffer encourages the child to use the toilet but does not force them to sit there. She did not recall telling Child A's Guardian that Child A sat on the toilet for three hours. She added that she may have made statements such as "it seems like she was on there all day" or "she spent all afternoon on the potty," but she did not actually mean that Child A sat on the toilet all afternoon. Ms. Schiffer added that Child A did not normally nap, so she wasn't sure why it was alleged that Child A missed her nap because of sitting on the toilet. Ms. Schiffer sent me several screen shots of the text conversations that she had with Child A's Guardian. On 09/06/2021, Child A's Guardian texted Ms. Schiffer to inform her that Child A wore underwear all weekend and kept them dry, so she was going to have Child A start toilet training at the child care. The only other bathroom related text was on 09/20/2021 when Ms. Schiffer texted Child A's Guardian to inform her that she had just changed Child A's diaper and the crease of her leg was red. Ms. Schiffer told her that Child A may have been digging at her leg. Ms. Jonna David, child care staff member, stated that Child A did not sit on the toilet for three hours. The children will sit on the toilet and if they don't have to go, they will get up. The longest a child sits is for maybe five minutes. The child care staff member stands outside the bathroom while the child uses the toilet and then helps the child wash their hands. Ms. Roxanne Ryan, child care staff member, stated that she assists the children with toilet training. The children do not sit on the toilet for very long. The most she has witnessed a child sit is 10 minutes

View state record

R 400.1923 · R 400.1923 Diapering and toilet learning. (6) Toilet learning must be planned cooperatively between the parent and the licensee so the toilet routine established is consistent.

Child A's Guardian stated that Child A had bruises on her legs and some red spots on her arm. She asked Ms. Schiffer if she knew what they were from or if Child A had gotten hurt and Ms. Schiffer was unaware of how the marks occurred. Child A's Guardian requested that Ms. Schiffer write up an incident report regarding the marks to have documentation for Child A's caseworker. Ms. Schiffer indicated that she wasn't sure what to write on an incident report if she didn't know what happened to Child A. Ms. Schiffer added that if Child A's caseworker did not notice the marks at the last visit, then she probably wouldn't notice them again. Child A's Guardian stated that Child A had red marks on the inside crease of her elbow. She also had bruises on the front of her shin on her legs. Child A's Guardian added that she requested an incident report because Child A's caseworker requested one. Child A's Guardian added that Child A is very clumsy, and she could see the injuries on her legs being from falling. Child A's Guardian also stated that the marks on Child A's elbow looked like scratch marks. 5 Ms. Schiffer stated that she was not aware of any injuries that occurred to Child A while she was in care. Ms. Schiffer stated that Child A engaged in self-mutilation a lot. One time she had a mosquito bite that she kept scratching by her eye. Child A picks at her skin a lot. Ms. Schiffer stated that she remembered talking to Child A's Guardian about the red marks on Child A's arms. Ms. Schiffer was not sure what caused them. Ms. Schiffer stated that Child A probably had small bruises at one point from trips and falls, but that there were no noteworthy incidents that occurred. She did not feel that Child A was more accident prone than any other child her age. When Child A's Guardian asked her to document the injuries, she didn't know what to write because she didn't know what happened or if the injuries even happened at her child care. On 08/23/2021, Ms. Schiffer texted Child A's Guardian to inquire if Child A had a mosquito bite under her eye. Child A's Guardian replied that Child A did have a few mosquito bites on her face. Ms. Schiffer replied that the bite under her eye was swollen, and she just wanted to let Child A's Guardian know. On 09/03/2021, Child A's Guardian texted Ms. Schiffer to inquire if she was aware of how Child A got scratches on her arms. Child A's Guardian stated that she wasn't worried and that she thought maybe she had fallen while playing but that she needed an incident report for Child A's caseworker. Child A's Guardian stated that she noticed it a few days prior. Ms. Schiffer stated that she wasn't aware of a scratch but would look at Child A. Ms. Schiffer replied that she noticed the scratches a few days ago and thought they were eczema. Ms. Schiffer told Child A's Guardian that she was not aware of Child A falling or scratching herself. She added that she would always inform Child A's Guardian if Child A fell or bumped into anything. Ms. Schiffer stated that at this point the scratches looked healed, so she wasn't sure what she could write an incident report on. Ms. Schiffer also added that she talked to Ms. David and that she indicated that Child A was scratching her arm. Child A's Guardian stated that she noticed Child A scratching her arm as well and that she thought they were scratches from playing. Child A's Guardian added that she would just tell Child A's caseworker that Child A probably just fell and that nothing major happened. Ms. Schiffer replied that the caseworker probably wouldn't see it if she didn't notice it last week. Ms. Schiffer added that she couldn't see it when she showed Ms. David. Ms. Schiffer also provided a note that Child A's Guardian gave her that addresses some behavior concerns with Child A. The note indicates that Child A tends to throw big fits and tends to self-harm while doing that. She has a hard time self-soothing. Child A's Guardian also stated that they are working with Child

View state record

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

Child A's Guardian was discussing some behavior concerns regarding Child A with Ms. Schiffer. Ms. Schiffer stated that Child A's Guardian needed to implement physical punishment at home. Child A's Guardian explained that Child A has a lot of special needs and that type of punishment would not be effective on her. She also explained that she is not allowed to physically punish Child A. Child A's Guardian also stated that she was not comfortable with physical punishment. Ms. Schiffer stated that she thought it was best and that no one would know if Child A's Guardian didn't tell them. Child A's Guardian added that Ms. Schiffer did not directly say that she should physically discipline Child A, but she implied it. She said, "You know you need to handle that, and you know what you need to do." Ms. Schiffer made a statement about "A little spank on the butt. It just takes one time, and they will respect you and they will know better." Ms. Schiffer also mentioned that all of the child care children know better than to act out. Ms. Schiffer stated that she does not use physical punishment with the children in care. She stated that she recalled having a conversation with Child A's Guardian about Child A's behavior. Ms. Schiffer stated that she does not think there is anything wrong with a child being spanked, so she may have suggested that to Child A's Guardian. Ms. Schiffer stated that she knows she is not allowed to use physical punishment with the children in care, so she does not. She stated that time out is used for children as discipline. Ms. Schiffer provided me with a copy of her discipline policy. The policy indicates that time out will be used with children over the age of three for no more than one minute per age of the child. The discipline policy also indicates that Ms. Schiffer would not engage in any form of corporal punishment, including physical contact or withholding food or rest. Ms. David stated that she does not use physical punishment, not even with her own children. She referred to herself as "the pushover." She added that for discipline, she has the child sit down for a couple of minutes. There is no physical discipline at the child care. Ms. Ryan stated that time out is used for the children in care. No physical punishment like spanking is allowed. She had never overheard Ms. Schiffer recommend to a parent that they should spank their child. Child B, C, and D's Mother stated that she has no knowledge of physical punishment being used at Ms. Schiffer's child care. Her children have never stated that they have been spanked or witnessed that occur with someone else. Ms. Schiffer has never suggested that Child B, C, and D's Mother spank her children.

View state record

R 400.1961 · R 400.1961 Parent notification required; incidents; accidents; illness; disease; isolation. (1) A licensee shall promptly report to a child's parent any of the following: (a) Any incidents, accidents, suspected illness, or other changes observed in the health of a child.

Ms. Schiffer notifies the parents of the children in care when their children are injured.

View state record

R 400.1913 · 1 R 400.1913 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. I

Ms. Schiffer does not spank the children in care. I

View state record