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Carolyn Moses leads songs and rhymes.

Bob McKeown

We speculate there might be a
dramatic need for Jewish day care in
the Oak Park-Southfield area," says
Stern. But she isn't making any prom-
ises. "We won't have the results for
another six months and we are ap-
proaching this issue very cautiously.
-
We don't want a duplication of efforts.
We want to be sure this is needed be-
fore we begin setting something up.
With liability insurance, it is a very
expensive proposition."
There is only one day care center
within the Jewish community. The
-
0. Maple-Drake Jewish Community
Center offers a licensed, 7 •.m. to 6
OP- p.m. program, five days a week for
children two months old through kin-
dergarten.
Its flexible two-, three- or five-day
a week options accommodate approx-
imately 100 children. Twenty-four of
those children, ages two months to ap-
proximately 21/2 years, are cared for by
six adults in the infant-toddler room,
which is in great demand.
"For the last three years, we have
had a one-year waiting list for the
infant-toddler room," says director
Fredelle Schneider. "Mothers call
when they are pregnant to get on the
waiting list. We try to give priority to
families with one child already in our
program."
"We've looked into expanding the
program, but right now we don't have
any more space, so it isn't in any im-
mediate future plans," says Schneider.
The program boasts a better ratio
of adults to children than required by
Michigan licensing standards, modern
and well-equipped facilities, creative
Judaic content and a caring, educated
staff with low turnover. Many parents
and their children share a sense of
•
family with the center's staff.
Ronnie Tischler, a social worker,
and her husband Steve Robinson, a
business executive, have used the cen-
ter for their children, 3 1/2 year old
Michael and five month old Rachel,
since Michael was an infant. Tischler
is impressed by the center's consistent
staff. "The same person who took care
of Michael in the infant-toddler room
now takes care of Rachel."
The center's emphasis on open
communication between caregivers
and parents is also a plus. "The
•
caregivers in the infant room write
down diaper changes, napS and feed-
> ings," said Tischler. "I could look at my
child's daily schedule and know what
to expect when I got home."
For Tischler, the inconveniences
of waking up early and dragging
sleepy children into a day care center
far outweighs the alternative of em-
ploying a caregiver in her home. "I
wanted a richer, more stimulating
environment for the children. The
JCC's day care is buzzing with ac-
tivity. It's colorful and there are lots of
playmates for my children."
Parents sharing Tischler's feel-
ings, who would rather not bring a
•
caregiver into their home, are often
•

Susan Shapiro hired Shirley Morris to
help care for Susan's daughters, Rebecca
and Aimee Sable, as well as Kitty and
Poozer.

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