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Symptoms in which a child will be excluded from care
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- DIARRHEA (MORE THAN 2 ABNORMALLY LOOSE STOOLS)
- VOMITING
- EARACHE (OR TUGGING/POKING EAR ALONG W/IRRATIBILITY)
- FEVER (101* OR ABOVE)
- SORE THROAT/TROUBLE SWALLOWING
PINK EYE (RED,PUSSY OR CRUSTY EYE )
SEVERE COUGHING/COUGHING WITH A WHOOPING OR CROUPY SOUND
HEAD LICE OR NITS
INFECTED SKIN PATCHES/CRUSTY, BRIGHT YELLOW, DRY OR GUMMY ARES OF THE SKIN
CHILD BECOMES RED OR BLUE IN THE FACE
DIFFICULT OR RAPID BREATHING
GRAY/WHITE STOOL
UNUSUAL SPOTS OR RASHES
SEVERE DIAPER RASHES (ANY PART OF THE DIAPER AREA THAT IS PUSSY OR BLOODY AND HAS AND HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY
SEEN BY A DOCTOR)
SWELLING AND/OR DISCHARGE FROM ANY PART OF THE BODY
YELLOW SKIN OR EYES
CHILD IS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES DUE TO COMPLAINTS OF PAIN OR ILLNESS
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Cleanliness and Hygiene
We do our best to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Children who are suspected to be contageous and exhibiting
symtoms of having a communicable disease (SEE TABLE ABOVE), will be sent home to avoid contamination of our enviroment.
In a small child care setting, an illness can spread rapidly. We appreciate parents making a swift pick up when called regarding
illenss.
Located indoors and outdoors is sink access, including a stool individual clean handtowels and liquid soap.
This allows children to wash hands frequently and often.
Following good health proceedures here helps, however we ask that parents do their part by bringing their children in bathed
and in a fresh diaper every morning at drop off.
Another way that parents are expected to help keep us well is to make sure they keep their child home when illness is suspected
We Wash Our Hands
- Before and after meals.
- After art or messy projects.
- After caring for pets.
- After using the toilet.
- Whenever needed.
Arrival and Departure
Children will miss their parents and may cry upon departure. It is normal for your child to cry on arrival, especially
for the first few weeks. It is a natural occurrence and the crying will stop within a few minutes after the parent leaves.
If your child does a significant amount of crying at drop-off time, please make your stay brief. It is harder on the child
when you prolong your stay. A smile, cheerful good-bye kiss, and a reassuring word that you will be back are all that is needed.
In my experience, children are nearly always quick to get involved in play or activities as soon as parents are gone. You
are encouraged to listen outside of the door if you are concerned; to be sure the crying stops, as it normally does.
Children tend to act out a bit at departure times. This is normal since they are excited to see parents, upset
about leaving and surrounded by more than one authority figure. Please be in control of your child during drop off and
pick up times. This is a time of testing when two different authority figures are present (parent and provider) and this situation
will be tested at one time or another to see if the rules still apply. I will remind your child if inappropriate behaviors
are being displayed. Children of all ages adjust to transitions from one activity to another differently. Most do not like
to be too rushed (sometimes just a quick look at what they have been doing all day will make departure a lot easier for the
child and some do not like to wait too long once they are ready to depart.
Parents must accompany their child upon arrival and departure. Please hold your child’s hand or carry them out to
the car and inside each day, as cars will be coming in and out of the driveway and may not see your child out there.
Pick Up Time
My normal procedure is to release the child only to his/her parents or someone else the parents designate in writing. If
someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, please notify me ahead of time. Please inform emergency contacts,
or people designated to pick up your child, that if I do not know them I will need to ask for identification. I do not
mean to offend them. This is simply a measure taken for the child's protection.
Drop off and picks up times are not good times to discuss serious problems (some examples: issues between parents
such as divorce or custody problems; any discussion which will take me away from children for an extended period) .
Little ears and minds hear and understand everything. Topics that concern day-to-day events or brief, light-hearted
discussion are fine. If there is something important you need to talk to me about you may call me after child care hours,
after 6pm.
Custody Issues and Unauthorized Persons
In the event that there is split custody (where parents share certatin days of custody), or one parent has full
custdody, parent must provide a copy of the court order confirming that one parent does not have (or has limited) visitation
rights.
I will not allow a child to leave with anyone who is not listed as an authorized pick-up person.
If there is any change in the legal custody of the child, the parent must provide written documentation confirming the
change. The custodial parent will be notified immediately if an unauthorized, (someone not on the forms or a non-custodial
parent), person arrives to pick up the child.
Clothing
Children should arrive dressed for play. We like to have fun! Having fun involves outdoor play and lots of messy activities,
so make sure that your child is dressed appropriately. The children are actively involved in their day, meaning paint will
be spilled and puddles may be splashed through. Please don't dress your child in nice clothing and expect them to be spotless
when you arrive to pick them up Durable washable clothes are essential, for the provider would much rather see a child freely
explore than worry about stains. Clothing should be comfortable and seasonally appropriate for outdoor play. Make sure to
include hats, mittens, boots and coats for cold weather. Each child must have a change of clothing in case of an accident.
These clothes need to be labeled with the child name and left at the daycare.
Policy Regarding Cleaning and disinfecting Toys
* when ever at all possible infants and toddlers will not share toys.
Toys which are used are to be washed and disinfected between uses by
Individual children.
* Toys which have been played with by an infant/toddler are to be retrieved
and placed in an area not accessible to children for washing at a more
convenient time.
* Children in diapers will only have washable toys.
* Toys and equipment used by older children and not put into their mouths
will be cleaned at least weekly and when obviously soiled.
* Clean and disinfect brushes and sponges used to clean toys (machine wash and dried).
Proceedure to wash and disinfect a hard plastic toy :
1. Scrub the toy in warm, soapy water. Use a disenfected sponge or brush to reach into crevices. Rinse the toy in clean water.
2. Put the
toy in bleach solution (see below) and allow it to soak in the solution for 10-20 minutes.
3. Remove the toy from the bleach solution and rinse well in cool water.
4. Air dry.
Make a fresh bleach solution every day using :
* 1 Tablespoon of bleach in 1 quart of water
-OR-
* ¼ Cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water
Clean off any visible soil with soap and water. To disinfect; spray with bleach solution. Do not wipe off solution.
Allow to air dry for 10 minutes. All Children’s sleep mats and plastic toys are cleaned and sanitized once a week.
All table and surfaces are washed and sprayed with bleach solution before meals and projects.
Sleeping Arrangements
Infants sleep in separate port-a-cribs. Beginning around 2 years old children rest on mats. Each child has a separate,
labeled mat which is cleaned with bleach solution weekly. I will provide new labeled sheets and small
pillows for each child which will also be washed at the end of the week in "Tide" powder detergent, (In the event the
child could be or is allergic to this detergent, I can make arrangements to wash their bedding in an alternative
detergent).
All materials will be stored in each child's labeled cubby, separate from the items of the other children in care.
Activities
It is my goal to have a variety of toys readily available to the children. Tactile and sensory projects are a part of my
basic program. We will utilize a variety of experiences each day. These experiences range from looking for bugs in the backyard,
to watching birds build their nests, to helping make lunch and snacks and lots of weather appropriate sand and water play.
As a provider I understand that there is a necessity for lots of outdoor time for discovery and explortation, and being
out doors just because it's fun! We spend 2 or more hours of time engaged in activities outdoors, (unless it is a "Spare-the-Air"
day in which the weather quality proves to be hazzardous). We are able to spend time out doors in most other instances, even
in rain, because we have an outdoor overhang.
Inside activities include books, child directed manipulatives and circle time. Circle times usually occur
2 times a day (just before transitions outdoors), and last from 5-10 minutes - depending on attentiveness (If
children are restless, their bodies are letting us know it is time for movement).
Circle times include:
- 2-3 age appropriate stories. Usually based on our weekly theme.
- Songs, fingerplays and felt board stories.
- Brief discussion related to weekly/daily theme.
- Sharing
- Flash cards or other visual/kinetic props (such as American Sign Language, numbers, letters, colors, hidden picture cards
and beginning math and phonics).
We hold Preschool from 9:30-11 daily (March through December. January and Feburary we do not run a preschool program.) using
Weekly Reader and Funshine express. These two curriculum models compliment each other in that Weekly Reader emphasises critical
thinking and pre literacy skills and Funshine express features self awareness, creativity building acitvities, arts and crafts
and community awareness.
In the hope that ages 2.5 - 4 will participate in the preschool acitivites, I am enthusiatic and draw from my experience
to bring the material to life.
In regard to the younger children, we offer modifications to the lesson plans that will apply to all ages.
Meals
I follow USDA guidelines regarding meals: Snacks contain a fruit or vegetable and a grain or protein. Lunches always have
a fruit/veg/grain/milk/protein.
I am, by choice, not a participant in the food subsidy program.
All meals are served family style; children that are able to eat at the child sized table can serve themselves. Child
sized bowls and utencils are offered with each meal. While children are encouraged to eat what they take, they are never forced
to eat.
I will provide 2 snacks and lunch. However for younger children who are formula feeding, I give parents the choice
of using the current brand of iron fortified infant formula I will provide at no cost or parents are always welcome to bring
breast milk or provide their own formula.
I can supply the bottles. I use Advent or, if parents prefer, The can bring a bottle from home. All
bottle are labled with child's name and date of serving.
When children are transitioning from breast milk or formula I can recommend the next steps for the child to try. However,
I will go by the parents cues and offer new eaters they types of foods they are currently trying at home.
For example, some parents do not want their child to eat meat at 16 months or younger; some families do not want
their child to eat meat at all. Others are cautious of products like wheat, barley, fish or dairy because of a family
history of allergic reactions. There is not one right way to have a child begin eating.
I mill all of my baby food by hand. It is usually what the older children are having, but milled, or pureed for a
different consistancy. As children get older and have more control of the muscles in the throat and mouth I begin to
introduce chunkier textures until they are eventually able to eat table food without being mill processed or chunked.
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