Little Learners Child Care Learning Center

Parent Handbook
Our Program Philosophy

We strive to create a positive learning environment. Our Center features a child-

lead curriculum. Our teachers guide children to find their individual learning paths.

Family and Children come first! Little Minds offers information on local family
resources and free monthly workshops. We acknowledge that family is the biggest
factor in the futures of our children. Little Minds is one big happy family!

Our Educational Philosophy

We utilize the creative curriculum for infants, toddlers, and pre-school age. The
activities we plan for children, the way we organize the environment, the selection of
toys/materials, and interactions with children are designed to ensure positive
outcomes for all children as they travel on the road of school readiness.

The Parent Involvement Philosophy

Little Learners Child Care Learning Center believes in the parents. Our program is
family-centered and designed to foster the parent’s role as the principal influence on
their child’s development. Parents have opportunities to participate in all aspects of
the center. We seek our parents’ strengths and welcome their initiatives. We are
committed to involving family members in all activities. When parents and children
have the opportunity to grow and learn, the benefits to both are apparent.

We are community- based as well. The center provides family opportunities to

establish relationships with other service providers and leaders in the community.
Center Information
Hours of Operation

We are open Monday through Friday during the hours of 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Parents who are late to pick up their child will receive a $1.00 late charge each
minute staff must remain at the center will the child after closing.

The center will be closed during these holidays:

o Martin Luther King Day
o President’s Day
o Memorial Day
o Independence Day
o Labor Day
o Day before Thanksgiving
o Day after Thanksgiving
o Christmas Eve
o Christmas Day
o New Year’s Eve
o New Year’s Day

We will provide reminders two weeks in advanced on our website and postings on
our Parents’ Board in the center.

Attendance- Sign in/out

Children must be signed in upon arrival and signed out before they are taken from
the center each day. For your child’s safety, children will only be released to
authorized adults listed on the emergency card. Persons under 18 will not be
permitted to drop-off or pick-up children. In addition, all authorized adults will be
asked to show proper picture identification when picking up your child.

If you would like to have someone pick up our child that is not listed on the
emergency card, you must come to the center and add them. Notes and/or phone
calls will not be accepted. Little Learners Child Care Learning Center will not
release a child to a parent/guardian if restraints are placed or subsequently put in
place against one or both parents. The center must be given a copy of the court
order issuing such restraint. Without a court order, the center is obliged to release a
child to a parent.
Emergency Cards

Current Emergency Information Cards must be filled out by a parent/guardian for

each child enrolled. Parents/guardians must provide the following information to the
center:
 Parent’s name
 Parent’s address
 Phone number
 Names/phone numbers of at least two other persons who are
authorized to pick up the child or in case of an emergency where the
parent cannot be reached

Please be sure to update your child’s Emergency Card as soon as any information
changes.

Classroom Information

Field Trips

Children will occasionally participate in field trips throughout the community. Infant
and toddlers excursions will be limited to short walks around the neighborhood or
other appropriate activities. Parental permission for field trips will be obtained at t he
time of enrollment and prior to each field trip. Parents will be notified two weeks in
advance of such trips. If a signed permission slip is not on file, your child will not be
permitted to attend the field trip.

Parents are welcome to participate in all field trips and provide supervision.

Rest/Nap Time/ Quiet Time

Infants and toddlers will rest according to their individual schedules. Infants will be
provided with a crib, fitted sheet, and blanket for sleeping. Crib linen will be
changed daily and laundered by the center. Toddlers and preschoolers will be given
a cot or mat and blanket for naps in the afternoon. Nap schedule is designed per
teacher.

Personal blankets from home are to be labelled and will be sent home with the child
weekly to be laundered.

Individual needs of children will be accommodated by offering quiet time for those
not prepared to nap/rest.
Meals

Breakfast, lunch and snack are provided by the center and served to children. Baby
food will be provided as well. No outside food is permitted in the classrooms. Whole
milk is provided for infants. Children over the age of two will be served

Children with food allergies will be provided alternative menu items at meal/snack
time. All children who are enrolled in the center is provided to the Kitchen Staff and
posted in kitchen area.

Transportation
Little Learners Child Care Learning Center will provide transportation from school to
the center for children enrolled in the after-school program.

If you child rides the bus, a name tag will be provided by the center. Nametags will
be placed on the child by the bus monitor when your child gets on/off the bus.
Nametags will be kept at the center.

If there are any changes in information, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian

to notify the center as soon as possible, so changes can be made.

Heath/Medical
Immunization

It is vital to protect the well-being of all our children enrolled at the center. To
provide a healthy environment, each child must have a current immunization
certificate upon enrollment. Each child’s immunizations must remain current as long
as they are enrolled at the center. The assistant director will provide a 30 -day notice
prior to the expiration of the immunization certificate.
Illness

Per State regulations, any child exhibiting signs of a communicable illness must be
denied admittance to the center. If a child becomes ill (i.e. diarrhea, vomit ing, fever)
or exhibits symptoms of a possible communicable illness during the course of the
day, the parent or authorized contact will be contacted immediately and
arrangements must be made for the child to be picked up. Depending on the nature
of the condition or illness, a note from the child’s physician may be required before
the child is readmitted to the center.

Signs and symptoms of illness or infectious conditions include:

 Uncontrolled coughing
 Difficulty breathing or wheezing
 3 or more episodes of diarrhea
 Vomiting
 Skin rashes/lesions
 Head Lice

Allergies

Please inform director and classroom teacher if your child has any allergies or has
any allergic reaction to any common food, insect bites, or any other allergens. All staff
needs to be aware of the warning signs and know what corrective action to perform
during an allergic reaction. All food allergies are posted in the classroom and shared
with the center staff to ensure that your child remains safe at all times.

Please update your child’s health history form as often as needed.

Medication

Daily, written parental/guardian permission is required before staff can administer any
prescription medications. Staff is permitted to administer any over-the-counter
medications to any child. All medication must be in the original container and clearly
labelled. Prescription medication labels must have the child’s name, dosage, and
name of the drug clearly indicated.

All medications will be kept in a locked cabinet. For medications requiring

refrigeration, a locked medicine box will be kept in the refrigerator. If your child rides
the bus to the center, please do not put medicine in your child’s backpack. It must be
given to the bus driver upon loading.

Please do not place ointments, powder, or diaper cream into child’s diaper bag.
I have received a copy of the Little Learners Child Care Learning Center and have
read it thoroughly. If I have any questions, I will contact the Center Manager.

______________________________________ ________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date

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Center Manager Signature Date

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Director’s Signature. Date