Our roles as caregivers are:
* To respect and enjoy children;
* To encourage children’s efforts;
* To model kindness and patience;
* To use calm and helpful language;
* To set clear, age-appropriate limits;
* To ensure that limits are presented to children in developmentally appropriate ways;
* To take the time to teach limits;
* To offer choices;
* To teach children what to do rather than what not to do;
* To understand that children’s misbehaviour is normal and natural;
* To focus on the child’s behaviour rather than on the child himself or herself.
To help the children in our care to develop a good self-image:
* Recognize the child as an individual with his or her own wants and needs;
* Encourage individual thinking, allow the child to pursue his or her own interests whenever possible, and do not compare his or her efforts with others;
* Allow the child the joy of making simple choices at an early age;
* Respect the child’s views, and show understanding and fairness when differences occur;
* Encourage the child to solve his or her own problems by thinking out solutions and support his or her with suggestions if he or she asks for help;
* Give the child more responsibility as they grow older and are able to handle it;
* Handle relationships and situations in a way that will guide the child;
* Work out difficult problems together;
* Allow the child to participate in decision-making in whatever way he or she is able to.
We use different policies to meet children’s individual and unique needs. We do not permit the use of physical, emotional, or psychological punishment for any child at any time in our daycare center.
Healthy children need rest, relaxation, good nutrition, good hygiene, regular exercise, regular outdoor play, and a safe and clean environment. We develop and maintain healthy habits through:
* Regular hand washing;
* Providing nutritious foods;
* Meeting children’s individual needs;
* Proper diaper handling techniques and practices;
* Proper personal grooming habits;
* Providing a place for rest and relaxation;
* Keeping the environment clean;
* Proper infection prevention practices.
Wellness Assessment
Every child should be assessed when entering the daycare. If your child appears to have an infectious or contagious condition (i.e. pink eye, head lice etc.), you will be asked to take him/her home or to a pediatrician to get checked out. Please do not be offended if your child is too ill to stay at the daycare and you are asked to take him/her home.
If your child has had a rough night the previous day, please assess them before bringing them to the daycare. If you ever have any doubts about whether or not your child should be at childcare, please do not hesitate to call and ask us. We would be more than willing to help you make that decision before you have to drop off your child for the day.
Doctor’s Permission
In some instances, you will be asked to keep your child home until we have written permission from your doctor saying your child is well enough to return to childcare. Please understand this is for your child’s well-being along with the well-being of the healthy children at the center and their families.
If your child is not infectious and your doctor has said they may return to the center, but your child is still not feeling 100%, please know that we have everything to make him/her comfortable. Items such as extra clothing, pillows, blankets, medication, etc. are very helpful to your child.
Medications
If your child goes to the pediatrician and is prescribed medication, please keep your child home until they have completed 24 hours of antibiotic treatment. If your child is to receive antibiotics at childcare, please bring in the labelled bottle from the pharmacy and a syringe or other measuring device. We can administer antibiotics and other medications to your child with your written and signed consent.
Immunizations
When it is time to schedule your child’s shots, please do so on a Friday or a day when you can be with them for the following 24 hours.
Illness of Care Providers
If our care provider is sick, we will have a backup plan and ensure that the parents are aware.
Children are too ill to attend childcare when they have the following signs and symptoms:
Fever
Fevers are common in young children and are often a signal that something is wrong. If your child has a fever of 38.3 0c or higher, please keep him/ her home. If your child develops a fever of 38.3 0c or higher while at the daycare, you will be called to pick him/her up. If your child’s fever is less than 38.3 0c, you will be notified and you may express your wishes to our care providers at that time.
Our policy is that your child must remain free of fever for 24 hours before returning to Daycare. The 24 hours begins when your child’s fever has broken and remains in a normal range.
Diarrhea and Vomiting
Diarrhea and vomiting due to illness are highly contagious. If your child has three or more diarrhea episodes, or any uncontained diarrhea while at daycare, you will be called to pick him/her up. If your child vomits at childcare, you will be called immediately to pick him/her up. Please understand that germs from diarrhea or vomiting can be spread through floors, toys, air, and direct contact. It is very difficult to keep from spreading these germs to other children.
Coughs and Colds
Colds are a common occurrence. However, there are some symptoms that warrant keeping a child home. These include, but are not limited to: bad cold with hacking or persistent cough, green or yellow nasal drainage, productive cough with green or yellow phlegm being coughed up. These symptoms may be present with or without a fever.
If your child has a cold, please notify our care providers. We encourage extra fluids and proper handwashing. If there are cold medicines you know will make your child more comfortable, we will administer them with your written permission. Please do not expect our care providers to keep a child with a cold indoors. If your child cannot participate in the ordinary daily routine, he/she is probably too sick to be in childcare. Fresh air with proper attire is always healthy.
Rash
A rash may be a sign of many illnesses, such as measles or chickenpox. In infants, an external rash may be a sign that something is going on internally. Please do not send your child to the center with a rash until the doctor says it is okay to do so.
Sanitation & Masks
Toys, toothbrushes, dishes, and common areas are sanitized daily according to licensing guidelines. For more information, please visit this site. Masks will not be required indoors but teachers will wear them when outside or when there are visitors (currently limited).
Symptoms of COVID-19
If you or your child has been exposed to or suspected to have been exposed to COVID-19, please do not come to school. Typical symptoms include fevers/chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, loss of taste of smells, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. For more details, please visit the CDC website.
Field trip means a trip away from the childcare center and may involve transportation by car, public， or hired bus. If the childcare provider transports to and from school in a vehicle for children, this is considered a field trip， and all safety procedures must be in place.
Field Trip Policy:
1) Before a field trip:
* We will visit the proposed destination to ensure that the site is free of hazards and can be supervised by the number of staff who will accompany children;
* Suitable to the age of the children who will be visiting;
* Mode of transportation—If a private vehicle is used requirements are:
# A car-seat or booster-seat for each child;
# Driver who has class 5 license;
# Appropriate and adequate insurance;
* Routes for traveling to the destination are safe;
* Travel time to and from the destination is reasonable;
* Ensure first aid kits are fully stocked, cell phone battery is charged;
* Children’s emergency information is up to date;
* Consent forms are provided to each parent or legal guardian;
* Parents or legal guardians are given full details of the field trip;
Before each field trip parents or the legal guardian must sign a consent form that describes the destination of the trip, mode of transportation, date of the trip, time children will leave and return, child’s requirements (snack/bathing suit etc.), the reason for the trip (part of the program theme attend a concert etc.). Signed forms will be taken on the field trip and after the trip, filed in the child’s file.
Start A Field Trip:
* Carry the daily Outing Supplies;
* Carry the First Aid Kit;
* Carry Children’s emergency information;
* Carry any special medication required by individual children;
* Cell phone or change to make a telephone call.
Daily outings include daily walks to a local park, public school, or other destinations that do not require that the children be transported. If volunteers accompany children on an outing, we will ensure that the volunteers are familiar with children’s needs and safety rules are understood and followed.
* Everyday we will choose areas away from the center for children to play that are free of hazards, and are easily supervised by us;
* We will ensure that once they arrive at a location that there are no hazards present (ie. a local park or playground). If there are any climbing structures, swings, teeter-totters, or other equipment that appears to be hazardous to children, we will either leave the area or move to an area that is safe.