Policies/Philosophies

POLICIES/
Philosophies

Carousel Child Care Centre Inc. guidelines to make a happy and safe environment for parents, staff, and children.

Program and Philosophy:

Carousel Child Care Centre Inc. supports and encourages positive relationships among children, parents and staff. The centre provides a complement to parental care within a warm and caring learning environment that both nurtures the individual child and supports the families & needs.

Our program is rich in discovery, fun and learning activities that are designed to help enhance each child’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth.

Children are introduced to activities and opportunities that support their emotional, social, creative, cognitive and physical growth. The children participate in an
environment that promotes active learning, autonomy, freedom, and a sense of responsibility and order. Our staff strive to stimulate each child's natural curiosity and
encourage personal expression through real experience and play.

The centre has a commitment to foster the values of co-operation, kindness, empathy, respect and
responsibility.

In order to achieve these objectives, a daily schedule of activities has been developed which includes both active and quiet play, indoors and outdoors.

Free play and structured learning periods, large and small group activities and walks around the
neighbourhood.

Daily Schedule:

The centre is open form 7:30-5:00

7:30-9:30 Free play

9:00-9:30 Arts and Crafts

9:30-9:45 Clean up and Books and Puzzles (bathroom break)

9:45-10:15 Snack

10:15 -11:25 Outside time rain or shine (backyard, walk, park or beach)

11:30- 12:15 Bathroom and Lunch

Nappers have a quiet time from 12:30-2:00

Non-nappers have outside time play from 12:30-2:00 or inside play

2:00-3:00 Circle (pick up not available)

3:00 (bathroom break)

3:00-3:15 Snack

3:15- Free play

Active Play Policy:

At Carousel Child Care Centre, we appreciate and encourage children to experience many various forms of physical activity throughout the day. Carousel has a large indoor gross motor activity room where children are free to play games, dance, jump, build and move within that space that is appropriate and safe.

Obstacle courses and dances that use large full-body movements to encourage balance, coordination and gross motor skills are encouraged with ECE supervision.

Everyone goes outside for a minimum of 1.5 hours per day and can be up to 6 hours each day, depending on the weather. In the play yard the children have the opportunity to ride bicycles, run, roll down hills, climb, kick balls, dig, and play with weather appropriate materials.

Weekly, the children will go on various field trips that will include walking to local parks and playgrounds, exploring beaches in the neighbourhood, and outdoor un-facilitated play. These field trips will take place in the mornings and may be in addition to the scheduled time in the play yard.

In the months that we don’t have access for weather reasons we include a weekly class (dance, music, etc.…)

Guidance Policy:

•Guidance should be handled in such a manner that it leads to a positive learning experience which helps the child learn to control, modify, change and maintain behaviour. Acceptable guidance implies age appropriate expectations and natural consequences; praise and encouragement; modeling; consistent limits and effective communication.

•No teacher will use physical, emotional or psychological punishment on any child. The staff will set reasonable limits and give age appropriate and logical consequences. It is important for all staff to model appropriate behavior at all times and to encourage the children to use their words to express their feelings rather than acting out.

•The staff try and give more attention to the children when they are behaving appropriately, rather than only when they are acting out; to stress appropriate behavior and build self-esteem.

•There are times when a child will keep pushing the limits a teacher has set, therefore risking himself, others and/or the environment. This may mean the child will be removed from the situation and redirected to another area of play. Then the situation can be discussed and the child may re-enter play activities.

•Typically in a group childcare centre setting you will find that the children will have conflict with one another from time to time and this is normal. The conflicts provide opportunities for the children to learn about boundaries, appropriate ways to handle situations, and how to function successfully in a larger group of peers.

Aggressive Behaviour:

Biting, scratching and hitting are part of normal development but are unacceptable behaviours. Parents will be notified when their child exhibits such behaviours.

Staff at Carousel will establish an action plan specific to the child and his/her behavior so the staff approach is consistent and appropriate.

If behavior persists the parent will be advised to seek professional help on behalf of the child. If the child’s behavior cannot be modified and he/she poses a threat to the well-being of other children, then the parent will be asked to withdraw the child from Carousel Child Care Centre Inc.

Potty Training Policies:

We strive to support your efforts of potty training at home right through the day here at Carousel. However, there are some key signs to look for before we are able to help you train your child at the centre. The key signs of readiness for potty training include:

• The child is able to pull down and up their pants and underwear/pull-ups on their own with little or no assistance, pants that don’t have buttons would be best.

•The child is able to communicate to the staff when they need to go to the bathroom.

•The child’s diaper is dry after nap times and for long periods during the day.

•The child is able to hold their bowels and bladder until they get to the potty once they realize that they need to go.

If these signs are not present, your child is not ready to potty train at school. We will always encourage children to use the potty regularly and we begin to introduce sitting on the toilet.

When your child does potty train, we ask that you provide extra clothing and remove soiled clothing daily.

Preventing Illness’s to spread at Carousel Child Care Centre Inc.:

•If a child is not well enough to take part in the regular program at Carousel, we will ask for them not to be at the Centre, as we do not have the staff or the space to separate ill children.

•If Carousel calls your child home with any of the below symptoms please keep them away for 48 Hours after symptoms have subsided.

•Ultimately, the care of a child who is ill is the parents responsibility.

Symptoms which should exclude a child from attending Carousel:

Parents should be advised to keep their child at home or to seek alternate care arrangements for the following:

Your child should stay home for the first 48hrs of any illness symptoms:

• Pain- any complaints of undiagnosed pain.

•If you feel that your child needs medicine for whatever reason (other than prescription) before coming to school than they are to stay home.

Medicine FREE students only please!

• A common cold - with listlessness, runny green or yellow discharge from nose or eyes, coughing, a sore throat, and a horse voice. No more than three coughs or nose wipes in an hour.

•Once the child's temperature (48 hours fever and medicine free), well-being and energy have returned to normal, the child may no longer be contagious, and may return to Carousel.

Generally speaking, a person who catches a cold can spread it to others for one day before symptoms appear, and about 5 days after the cold symptom (above) begin.

• Difficulty in breathing – wheezing or a persistent cough (no more than three times an hour).

• Fever (100 degrees F or 38.3 degrees C or more) is when we will call home and ask for a child to stay home until fever is gone for 48hrs without medicines.

•Pink eye or discharge from the eye - a student may return 4 days after the first application of eyedrops and as long as the eye is no longer oozing any discharge

• Infected skin – rash, we may need a doctor's note to rule out that it’s not contagious.

• Hand foot and mouth disease - please stay home until open sores are covered, usually 7 days.

• Unexplained Diarrhea, Vomiting or high temperature - these symptoms could indicate a bacterial infection (flu) and could easily be passed from one child to another.

Please keep the child away till all symptoms have stopped for 48 hours fever and medicine free.

• Lice - we are a lice and nit free facility (we will check child upon reentry).

• Children with a known or suspected communicable disease.

Photo Disclaimer:

All photographs and video at Carousel Childcare Centre may be used for pictures on the walls and website, unless otherwise informed.

Screen Time Policy/ Music:

During regular childcare days, there are no screens (TV) for children to access in the program.

Occasionally there may be devices (cell phones) used for circle or preschool.

The Children listen to jazz or classical music in the nap room, as well as during quiet time. We also use music in circle or preschool, as well as seasonal music for fun and dance.

Sunscreen and Baby wipes:

When appropriate and with consent, we will use baby wipes for hygiene purposes, and apply sunscreen provided by the daycare. (You may also provide your own).

On Your Child’s First Day at Carousel Please Bring:

•Extra clothes

•Slippers or indoor shoes

•Hat (we do not provide hats to share)
•Boots

•Proper coat for the time of year

•Wet pants

•Snuggly if they have an afternoon nap

Please do not bring toys from home they may get lost or broken.

What to Bring Each Day:

Each child is allotted a cubby in which to keep an extra set of clothing. If your child needs to be changed and there are no spare clothes we will call you to pick up your child or drop off clothing.

Please label all clothing. In addition, children should keep at the centre: boots, slippers and if needed a supply of diapers. All children should have appropriate outside wear.

We ask that parents help keep the cubby tidy. If your child is enrolled part time they may have to share the cubby with another child.

Each child will need to bring a lunch and afternoon snack from the Canadian food guide each day. We will provide a healthy morning snack. Please insure your child’s lunch is healthy, with no candy, pop, chips or other junk food. On children’s birthdays a special treat is welcome.

Any major change in your family such as, a new baby, death of a family member or pet, separation or divorce, moving or anything that might cause stress in your child should be reported to Emma or Danielle so that we can help your child cope with their feelings.

EMERGENCY CENTER CLOSURE:

In the event of Carousel Child Care Centre having to close due to reasons beyond our control (including but not limited to snow days, intense heatwave of 32+, earthquakes, fire, flood, health emergencies or teacher’s strike) you will be contacted to pick up your
child immediately.

There will be no refunds for emergency school closures. However, in the event of more than 5 consecutive days of emergency closure, fee credits will be calculated and will be applied to your next invoice. Fee credits for the entire closure time cannot be given due to ongoing operating costs (e.g. rent, insurance, staff wages, etc.).

If SD 61 closes for extraordinary circumstances so will we. This is to ensure the safety of our clients and staff. Thank you for your understanding.