Please be aware that if I'm not expecting you, I may not be able to answer the door immediately. So please be patient!

Parents must give a two-week written notice (14 calendar days) when terminating childcare services. If a two-week written notice is not given,the parent will pay for two weeks of care in lieu of notice. In the event that small claim's court is needed to be involved, the parent will be responsible for all court costs.

Child Abuse:
I am required by law to report any form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse of any child in my care. I have been trained in the recognition of all forms of child abuse. If I notice any signs of abuse at any time, I will alert the child's parent(s) immediately both verbally and in writing, along with a full description of the symptoms (bruising, sores, sudden extreme behavioral changes, etc.). I will document the same information for myself and, if necessary, the proper authorities will be contacted. This includes forms of neglect, such as not using a proper child restraint in a vehicle. You may get notes about your child having bruises or scrapes without needing to fear that I suspect you of abusing your child. The notes I send home are just to alert you in general of any injuries noticed, and also to protect myself from mistaken accusations of abuse.

Items from Home:
Bringing things from home (toys, coins, jewelry with small pieces) is strongly discouraged - except for naptime necessities, which will be kept in the child's cubby . These things get lost, broken, may pose a choking hazard, and the children tend to not want to share things from home. Blankets and pillows used for naptime will be sent home every other week for laundering.

What to Wear:
Children should come to MunchkinLand dressed in appropriately-sized durable play clothes. This program is designed to keep children active. I take reasonable precautions to keep the children as clean as possible and to keep their clothing from becoming damaged. Please bring a labeled change of clothing. Daily outdoor activity is very important for young children and is a regularly planned daily activity. A child who is well enough to be in care is well enough to play outdoors. This provides the fresh air and movement needed daily for your child's general well-being and healthy development. You can help your child enjoy outdoor activities by making sure that s/he is properly dressed for the weather. In cold weather, this includes boots, warm coat, sweater, snow pants, mittens and hat. In warmer weather, this includes wide-brimmed hat, shorts, sandals, and sunscreen. Children play outside every day unless weather is inclement (below freezing, raining, etc).

Child Illness Policy:
Communicable illnesses are very common in childcare settings. Here at MunchkinLand, I strive to keep the children safe and healthy, therefore I must adhere to a strict illness policy. Please notify the provider at least one-half hour prior to the usual arrival time in the event your child will stay home sick, or is going to be late for whatever reason (but please no earlier than 7am). If I do not receive notice, and this happens more than once, your contract will be subject to termination. The operating expenses for MunchkinLand are the same whether your child attends or not. Therefore, no deductions in the weekly fee will be made for sick days. If your child stays home sick on a day when payment is due, payment must still be made by the end of the day or late fees will be added.

Health Department regulations prohibit the admittance of ill children into a family childcare home or center. A child cannot be brought to my childcare home if s/he is displaying, or has displayed within 24 hours:

Children may attend with common cold symptoms (clear, watery runny nose, happy and playful, no fever), but if the symptoms persist for more than the usual 7-10 days or are worsening (runny nose becomes thick, green or yellow, child is irritable, fever >100F orally), you will be asked to remove your child and seek medical attention to be sure a secondary infection has not set in.

If your child becomes ill while in my care, you will be called to come pick him/her up immediately. S/he will be kept in an isolated area until you arrive. You will have a one-hour window to pick up your child before I begin calling the emergency contacts in your child's file. The child may return to my childcare home when s/he is free of symptoms without the aid of medication for 24 hours or has been on antibiotics for 24 hours and is no longer contagious. Parents who consistently bring their child to my home while ill will be terminated. Although it may seem inconvenient when your child is sent home, you will appreciate knowing your child's exposure is minimized when other children become ill.

Medication:
When medication is to be given by the provider, the medication must be in its original container, clearly labeled, sealed in a Ziploc baggie with the child's name on it, and given directly to the provider. Please do not leave medication of any kind in a diaper bag or the child's cubby. A medication permission form is required by the state for all medications, including prescription, non-prescription, diaper rash cream, bug spray and sunscreen. Please be prepared to fill out this form at drop-off. I cannot give any medication of any kind without one.

Outdoor Play:
I take reasonable precautions to keep the children as clean as possible and to keep their clothing from becoming damaged. Daily outdoor activity is very important for young children and is a regularly planned activity. A child who is well enough to be in care is well enough to play outdoors. This provides fresh air and movement needed daily for your child's general well-being and healthy development. You can help your child enjoy outdoor activities by making sure that he or she is properly dressed for the weather. Children play outside everyday unless the weather is inclement (below freezing, raining, etc.).

Injuries:
Every attempt will be made to ensure that your child will be in a safe environment, but no matter how much we monitor conditions, accidents do occur. In the event of a serious accident, you will be contacted for instructions. If you or your emergency contact person is unable to be reached, emergency actions and/or whatever means is necessary will be taken in order to provide the best care for the health of your child. All incidents and accidents will be documented on an accident report with your signature.

Lice:
MunchkinLand has a no-nit policy. When an outbreak occurs, all toys made of cloth that can be washed will be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. Cloth toys that cannot be washed will be bagged and put in the garage for 14 days. The carpet will be vacuumed thoroughly. Each child will be checked regularly for nits. Any child with nits will be sent home immediately. Children may return to care when they have been treated and are nit free. If lice recurs, then a doctor's or nurse's note will be required before readmittance into childcare.

Infants:
All infants are put down to sleep on their backs, in the manner recommended by the SIDS Alliance and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Exceptions to this policy are made only *under the direction of the infant's pediatrician. Diapers are checked/changed every 2-3 hours, sooner if soiled. Infants are fed on demand.

Toilet Training:
The most ideal setting for toilet training is probably at home for a week or two of 1:1 with Mom and/or Dad. But for most of us, that ideal isn't feasible. Therefore, for practical reasons, but especially for sanitation reasons, I have adopted the following policy/criteria:
FREQUENCY - I will help and encourage and take your child to the potty at reasonable intervals (mid-morning, after lunch, after nap. . .) but I do not believe in the philosophy of taking a child to the bathroom every hour. It doesn't help a child learn bladder or bowel control.

SHOWS SIGNS OF READINESS

If your child is not exhibiting most of these readiness signs, be patient a while longer. Rushing a child through the toilet training process will result in tears and frustration. Starting too soon may actually delay the process. Toilet training will be easier when the child is ready.

CLOTHING

ACCIDENTS

OVERVIEW
I will not attempt to work with your child on toilet training until a good routine has been established at home FIRST! Children are very active and distracted in a daycare setting and accidents may occur more frequently. I will be more than happy to work WITH parents on toilet training ~ this is a partnership! I have also learned that if a child is not ready for this major milestone, it can be a very unpleasant experience for all involved, most importantly, the child. It may be necessary and even helpful to quit toilet training for a period of a week or two and then go back to it if the child becomes discouraged or unenthusiastic. This is an exciting time ~ let's work together to make it successful!

Field Trips:
Children participate in field trips at various times throughout the year. Parent volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. Notice of field trips will be given in the monthly newsletter. Occasionally, there may be fees related to the trips to cover entry fees or to pay for a helper if a parent volunteer is not available. I will take all possible precautions when transporting the children in my van.

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Times:
It is required that you or an authorized adult accompany your child inside at arrival and departure time. It is the parents' responsibility to deposit and retrieve their child's belongings to and from the cubby each day. This helps to settle your child in for their stay at MunchkinLand and shows him you care about his space. Coats go on the coat rack and shoes go on the rug by the door.

It is normal for some children to have difficulty separating from parents or cry when being dropped off. Please be very brief during drop-off times. The longer you prolong the departure, the harder it is for the child. A smile, a cheerful goodbye kiss, and a reassuring statement that you will be back are all that is needed. Children are usually quick to get involved in play or activities as soon as parents are gone. Please be very brief at departure times also. When two authority figures are in the same room together, children will naturally test the boundaries. Please help show your child that you respect my rules and me by reminding him that the rules still apply whether his parents are here or not. When parents enter MunchkinLand to pick up their children, they are no longer under our supervision. The parent is reponsible for the safety and behavior of the child at that time. Children should be supervised and not be allowed to run upstairs or outside alone. For the safety of other children, please do not leave your vehicle running when you drop-off or pick-up your child.

If somebody other than the parent is picking up a child, the parent must notify the provider in advance, and have the person's name listed on the child's information card. That person will be required to show I.D. before picking up the child. Please be sure that the provider is aware of your child's arrival and departure. Parents are responsible for providing copies of legal documents preventing non-custodial parents from picking up the child. Any person picking up a child in an impaired condition (under the influence of drugs or alcohol) will be encouraged to allow me to find alternate transportation. I cannot legally withhold a child from a parent or legal guardian, however, I will not hesitate to call the police if I feel the child is in jeopardy.

Fire Safety:
Fire safety is a regular theme of the children's curriculum. Evacuation routes and procedures are posted near the cubbies. Fire drills are held once a month to practice evacuating in under 2 minutes.

Nap and Rest Time:
All children participate in rest or nap time in the afternoon. Please do not ask me to keep a child awake during naptime. If the child falls asleep, then s/he must need the rest. Each child will have a cot (or pack 'n play for infants and young toddlers) and will be encouraged to rest quietly. Each child may bring a small pillow and blanket for rest time. Children are welcome to bring security objects from home if needed.

Discipline:
The philosophy of a child-centered classroom, with its freedom, independence and opportunities to make choices, does not overlook the importance of discipline. Safety and respect for the rights and feelings of children need to be incorporated into any method of discipline. Discipline for infants is a matter of safety. There is no such thing as a bad or naughty baby. They do not understand rules or consequences. A safe environment is provided to prevent problems by:

Toddlers are beginning to understand simple directions, but they are unable to remember things, so rules are repeated frequently. Because the toddler is struggling to understand his/her world, s/he often exhibits acceptable behavior with unacceptable objects; i.e. throwing blocks. Safety procedures used with infants are used with toddlers as well as:

Preschool and school-age children are better able to understand and remember rules and consequences. The children are reminded of what is expected of them at all times. When children know what is expected of them, problems are less likely to occur. The basic rules are: