GENERAL POLICY

Dropping your child off:

  • Parents are required to bring their children to their teacher when they arrive at the center

Parents of infants and toddlers are responsible for the following:

  • Label all foods and bottles, and place in the refrigerator
  • Fill out the top section of the Child’s Activity Record
  • If you have an older sibling at the center in addition to your infant/toddler, we ask that you do not take them down to the infant/toddler rooms with you when dropping your children off or picking them up.

Picking your child up:

  • Your child will not be released to anyone but his/her parents or legal guardians without written permission given to the teacher in charge. These people must also have their name on the white information card which is filed in the office.

All parents must provide:

  • A complete change of clothes per day. They must be labeled with the child’s name.
  • Appropriate outdoor clothing. We will be going outside everyday-weather permitting.
  • A favorite stuffed toy or small blanket for your child’s nap. Please do not send toys, candy, or gum with your child. (Unless arrangements have been made in advance with your child’s teacher.) We do not want to be responsible for toys getting lost or broken.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN POLICY

The Child Protection Law requires that anyone working with children must report any concern, which could be interpreted as child abuse or neglect.

We value the families in our program. We would like to discuss our concerns with you before calling Protection Services. However, they have asked us not to. In all cases we make no judgments about the possible occurrence of abuse or neglect; we leave that determination to Protective Services.

Child Development Services’ primary goal is to work with children and their families. We call in reports to Protective Services not only because it is the law, but also, because if we do, families in need may be able to obtain free services they would normally be unable to receive.

DISCIPLINE POLICY

Infants: During infancy, discipline involves meeting a child’s needs, responding to their cries and signals, and providing secure and warm care giving.

Toddlers: As infants grow into toddlers, they need limits and controls from adults. The guidance of adults will help the very young child begin to learn to guide his/her behavior. The staff will use positive methods of discipline, which encourage and praise desirable behavior. They will use actions, as well as words, to guide the toddler. Often the toddler knows what he/she is doing is not acceptable, but can’t stop. The caregiver needs to help him/her stop and redirect behavior.

Preschooler: Discipline means to teach, not to punish. Our goal is to help children learn self-control that comes from within them and is based on a healthy self-concept. The staff will use positive methods of discipline, which will encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation. We strive to demonstrate methods for handling discord with respect and love for one another. Children are encouraged to express their feelings verbally.

When a verbal reminder and/or warning do not solve a problem situation, a child is asked to sit apart from the group for a short time-out. The child is talked with briefly to assure that he/she understands why this was necessary. Our objective is to help the child learn self-discipline.

CENTER CLOSINGS

The center will be closed the following holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. We will also be closing at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve. You will be charged for these days. Occasionally, the holidays fall on the weekend so they are observed on Monday or Friday. If this happens and for this reason or any other reason we have 10 or less families scheduled for care, we will close and it will be charged as a holiday.

HEALTH POLICY

Preventative:
All children and staff will wash hands; before preparing, serving, or eating food; after toileting, diapering or handling of soiled clothing, diapers, potty chairs, toilets, or a sick child.

Illness:
We are not able to provide care for sick children. You must keep your children at home if they have any of the following symptoms: Fever (100^), vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or signs of any communicable illness such as a rash. These symptoms must be absent for 24 hours before your child may return to the center. If, at anytime, the director feels that your child is too ill to remain at the center, you will be notified and arrangements must be made for the child to be picked up within the hour.

Please keep in mind that we take the children outside twice a day (morning & afternoon) every day. If your child is not able to participate in all of our daily activities, please find alternate care for them.

Medication:
If a child requires medication while at the center, parents must fill out a permission form available from your child’s teacher or located by the sign-in sheet. All medication must be kept in a specified container or refrigerator. We will not give your child a fever reducer to keep their temperature down. If your child has a fever, for any reason, he or she is too sick to be at the center and must be kept home until the fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.

All prescription medications must be in the original container indicating the child’s name, medication name, instructions, and physician’s name.

Non-prescription medicine must be in original container, clearly marked with your child’s name and instructions for use.

Records:

The center also needs an updated copy of your child’s shot record. It is your responsibility to keep us updated on all shots your child receives while attending the center.

VACATION TIME/WITHDRAWAL

Two weeks of vacation time is given to each family per fiscal year (our fiscal year runs from September to September). If you pay for full time care you can use 10 vacation days a year. If you pay for part time care, for example 2 days per week, you can use 4 vacation days a year. You will not be charged for these days as long as the center’s director is given two weeks advance, written notice. In the event that insufficient notice has been given, the usual rate will apply.

Parents must notify the center in writing at least two weeks in advance of withdrawing your child or changing his/her schedule. A longer notice is appreciated. The tuition deposit will only be applied to your last week of tuition if appropriate notice is given.

To avoid confusion and miscommunication about vacation time or schedule changes, we have created a “Schedule Change” form. These forms are located by the payment box in the office. Please fill out a form completely when making any changes in childcare schedules. Place the filled out form on the desk in the office.

We reserve the right to request that a child be withdrawn at anytime if we feel we are unable to meet the needs of the parent/child. This will be done only after consulting with the parents and working with them and the child to solve the problem.

EMERGENCY POLICY

All accidents will be reported to the parents. Staff will treat minor injuries as they occur. The Child Information Card (Form DSS-3731) filled out and signed by the parent at the time of enrollment, gives the center written permission to seek emergency medical treatment in extreme circumstances. Parents will always be notified immediately.

In case of a tornado watch, the children will continue on with regularly scheduled indoor activities. If a tornado warning should occur while children are present, the children and staff will take shelter against walls without windows. Tornado drills will be held periodically during tornado season. Fire drills will also be held at least quarterly to acquaint children and staff with the routes and procedures.

DIAPERS/TOILET TRAINING

The parent must provide disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are not to be used except for medical purposes. All diapering will be done in a designated diapering area. The caregivers will thoroughly wash his or her hands after diapering, and after cleaning up bodily fluids, using soap and running water. If you do not provide enough diapers for your child, you will be charged $.50 a diaper for every diaper that you use from the center.

When you are ready to begin toilet training, you must make arrangements to meet your child’s caregiver. It is very important that you work together to maintain consistency between home and the center. This will make the process easier on the caregiver, the parent, and most important, the child.