Drop-Offs & Pick-Ups
Come Ready for the Day
To help your little one have a great experience, please ensure your child arrives with everything they need for the day. A smooth transition is key, so here are a few tips to ensure your child is ready and comfortable as they settle in:
1. Drop-Off Requirements: When dropping off your child, please ensure they are awake, dressed, have had breakfast, and are ready to play. To maintain a harmonious environment, we ask that no food be brought into the daycare. If your child needs to finish their food, please do so in the car before entering.
2. Authorized Pickup and Drop-Off: Only individuals listed on your emergency contact form are permitted to pick up or drop off your child. If someone not on the form will be handling this, please provide written consent in advance. Identification will be required to verify their identity if I haven’t met them yet.
3. Schedule Adherence: My hours of operation are from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and I cannot accommodate drop-offs or pick-ups outside of these hours. During the enrollment process, I will ask for your preferred drop-off and pick-up times. It's important to adhere to this schedule once we've agreed on it. If you need to make any changes to your schedule, please notify me as soon as possible in writing. Thank you!
4. Transition and Waiting at the Door: If you arrive at the door while another parent is dropping off or picking up their child, please wait until they have completed their process before approaching. This helps keep things organized and calm for the children and allows for some privacy for families during these moments. If you’re in a hurry, just let me know, and I will do my best to get your child quickly for you.
5. Minimize Transition Time: To help your child feel comfortable, try to keep drop-off and pick-up times brief. This period can be anxious for children, and they may test boundaries. I am here to support your child during these transitions as needed. I’m always available to discuss your child’s needs, so feel free to reach out later through call, text, or email if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to a wonderful experience together!
Bringing Appropriate Outdoor Clothing
It's crucial for your child to come dressed in the right outdoor clothing for the season. Children tend to feel the cold more easily than adults, especially since they may not be as active. Here’s a breakdown of what to pack for each season to ensure your child stays comfortable and safe:
Spring & Summer:
- A hat to protect from the sun
- Running shoes or sandals that fit securely (avoid flip-flops)
- A raincoat if there's a chance of rain
- Rubber boots if the ground is wet or muddy
Fall:
- A warm coat
- A hat to keep their head warm
- Light mitts
- A raincoat if it’s rainy
- Rubber boots for wet conditions
- Running shoes for active play
Winter:
- Insulated winter boots
- A winter hat to keep ears warm
- A neck warmer for added protection against the cold
- Waterproof winter mittens (preferably long enough to cover up to their elbows)
- Snow pants to keep them dry
- A warm winter coat
Please note: Children without the appropriate clothing may not be able to join in certain activities, depending on what items they’re missing. Dressing your child properly ensures they can participate fully and enjoy their time outdoors!
Nap/Quiet Time Policy
It's essential for every preschooler to have at least one hour of rest or sleep each day, as recommended by the Ministry of Education. Therefore, all preschool children will have a designated quiet time after lunch.
I encourage children to develop independent and self-soothing sleep habits. Each child will have their own playpen with individual bedding, which I will wash at least once a week. Younger children will sleep in their designated bedrooms. They are allowed to bring a stuffed animal or a soother to bed; however, for safety reasons, pillows and large blankets are not permitted.
Nap and quiet times are scheduled at 9 am and 1 pm for those children who need two naps a day, with a 30-minute window for settling down. I aim to stick to these times to create a consistent routine for your child. Unfortunately, I cannot accommodate individual nap schedules for each child, so all children will rest at the same time, although the duration of their rest may vary according to their needs.
As you're preparing for your little one to start home daycare, I want to help make this transition as smooth as possible. It would be beneficial to start getting them used to a similar sleep schedule at home before their first day. Additionally, teaching your child how to fall asleep independently will ease their adjustment during our quiet times.
For safety reasons, please note that we cannot allow any bottles or sippy cups during nap time. This policy is in place to ensure the well-being of all the children. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Illness Policy
What happens when my child is sick?
When is a child too sick or contagious to be brought to my daycare home? This is a question that will probably arise at one point, and to protect your child and the other children in my care, I have set up some guidelines on illness.
Three Questions to Ask
It can be challenging to determine if your little one needs to stay home from school or if they are well enough to attend. A few simple questions can help you decide if your child needs to rest at home.
- Are they running a temperature? If your child has a fever, that’s a sign they are fighting a bacterial or viral infection. They would need to stay home until they are fever-free for a minimum of 24 hours without the aid of any medications.
- How are they acting? If your child seems sleepy, drowsy, achy, or nauseated, they probably won’t be able to manage daycare and should remain home. A day or two of rest can go a long way and help them feel energized enough to participate.
- Are they contagious? If you suspect your child might be contagious, it's wise to take precautions. Keep them at home until their symptoms have improved, and consult a doctor to determine the issue and prevent spreading it to other children and families.
Symptoms to get looked at by a Dr/Pharmacist:
Only a healthcare professional can diagnose your child and tell you for sure what’s wrong. It’s essential to seek medical advice when your child shows the following symptoms:
- Persistent fever
- Severe sore throat that lasts more than 48 hours
- Rashes
- Severe ear pain
- Uncontrollable cough
- Eyes that become crusty and/or discharge mucus
- Diarrhea
Any child who is ill and unable to participate fully in regular activities should be cared for at home.
My number one priority is the well-being of ALL the children in my care. It is for this reason that I have strict rules around the Illness Policy. Please take time to read this carefully, and if you have any questions, please call me to discuss. Please inform me ASAP when your child is too sick to come to child care.
What Symptoms Require My Child NOT to be at Daycare?
As your child’s caregiver, if at any time I feel your child is too sick or is contagious, I do have the option of not allowing your child into the daycare home. Please have a friend, neighbour or family member on call to care for your child if you cannot when your child is ill.
This is a list of some of the reasons your child should remain home to reduce the spread of illness to other children and families.
- Feeling Ill
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Runny Nose & Cough
- Lice/Nits
- Rashes
- Crusty/Runny Eyes
- Pink Eye
- Impetigo of the skin
- Hepatitis A
- Measles
- Scabies
- Ringworm
- Mumps
- Infectious Diarrhea
- Roseola
- Chicken Pox
- Scarlet Fever
- Strep Throat
- Hand, Food, & Mouth
- Communicable Diseases: May Not Be Permitted by Law to attend childcare.
- Immunizations: Not permitted back to childcare after vaccination until your child has been monitored overnight – side effects are possible (Example: shots at 10:00 am = return to care the next morning if no side effects).
You may be asked to pick your child up as soon as possible.
Communication is key to reducing the spread of any illness. When a child is at home sick please let me know as soon as possible what is wrong, and I will inform other families of the child's symptoms so they can monitor their child(ren) for any signs of the same illness.
PLEASE NOTE: Depending on the symptoms, the amount of time needed to remain out of care will vary. We will look at each case on an individual basis.
24/48 Hour Rule:
- Sick children must be kept home for 24-48 hours after their symptoms disappear and they are healthy enough to play with the other children, without the aid of any over-the-counter or herbal medications.
Examples:
- If you take them to the doctor at 2 pm on Monday to get antibiotics for an ear infection, then they can not return to daycare until Wednesday morning at their regular time (min of 24 hours after the medication is in their system).
- If your child is sent home with a fever on Monday at 11 am and has an ongoing fever until Wednesday afternoon, they should be kept home. Then your child can not return to daycare until Friday morning at their regular time (24 hours after their last fever takes place).
- If your child throws up during the night on Tuesday and they don't throw up again, then your child may return to daycare Thursday morning at their regular time (24 hours after their last vomiting takes place).
Administration of Medication
Please administer all medications at home when possible.
The following is to ensure that all medications are administered to the correct child in the proper amount. All medications will be stored in a safe place out of the reach of the children in my care.
- Written Permission Required - A signed Medication Waiver, filled out by a parent, is mandatory for the administration of any medication, including over-the-counter medicines such as decongestants, Tylenol, and acetaminophen.
- Original Container - Medications must be provided in their original containers as issued by a pharmacist or purchased over-the-counter.
- Labelling Requirements - Each container must be clearly labelled with: Child's name, Name of the medication, Dosage, Date of issue, Expiration date, and Clear instructions for administration and storage
- Side Effects Information - All medications should include information on possible side effects and guidance on how to address them.
- Storage of Emergency Medications - Inhalers (puffers) for asthma and EpiPens will be kept in the same room as your child. If an EpiPen is necessary, please ensure your child has it with them at all times; they cannot attend daycare without it.
- Doctor’s Note for Allergies - For medications like puffers, EpiPens, or Benadryl, you must provide a written note from a doctor detailing: 1) The specific allergy, 2) When and how the medication should be used for your child
- Expiration and Recalls - All medications must be current, meaning they cannot be expired or subject to a recall.
By following these guidelines, we can ensure that all medications are administered safely and correctly to your child. Thank you for your cooperation!
Payment is still due for your child(ren) when he/she’s sick or have an appointment.
Child Illness Policy
1. Stay-at-Home Requirement:
- If your child is unwell and unable to engage in regular activities, they must stay at home.
- Children should remain at home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours and can interact with others without medication.
2. Payment Policies:
- Payment for your child(ren) is still required even if they are sick or have appointments.
3. Medication Policy:
- Administering any medication to reduce fever in order to bring your child to childcare is grounds for Immediate Termination. This includes, but is not limited to Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, herbal remedies, etc.
- Please administer all medications (such as antibiotics and prescriptions) at home when possible.
4. Communication on Health Status:
- Keep me informed about your child’s health status. I am genuinely concerned about your child's well-being and want to provide the best environment for all children in my care.
5. Immunization Records:
- Parents are required to provide current and up-to-date immunization information upon contract signing and throughout the child's care. This is a requirement under the Child Care and Early Years Act.
- If you choose not to immunize your child, please inform me of your decision prior to contract signing, as I cannot accept non-immunized children into my care. This policy is in place to minimize risks to other children in the program.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for your cooperation.