Parent Handbook

Where Children Discover the World

Contact: Tanya Dalton

6036 Coburg Road Halifax, NS

Phone: 492-1986

E-mail: littleladybugs@gmx.com

A Childcare Program for Children 18mos - 5years

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Table of Contents History of our Center………………………………………………………………….4 The Center Logo………………………………………………………………………4 Our Philosophy………………………………………………………………………..5 Mission Statement………………………………………………………………….…5 Location of Parent information……………………………………………………….5 Our Goals……………………………………………………………………………....6 Our Program………………………………………………………………………..….6 Current Programs offered…………………………………………………………….7 Inclusion Policy………………………………………………………………………..7 Meals…………………………………………………………………………………....8 Breastfeeding………………………………………………………………………….8 Food Purchased/Donated……………………………………………………………8 Snacks and meal times……………………………………………………………….8 Program Options………………………………………………………………………9 Late drop off and Pick ups……………………………………………………………9 Registration……………………………………………………………………………10 Your Child’s First Day…..…………………………………………………………….10 What to Bring………………………………………………………………………….11 Parent Involvement…………………………………………………………………..12 Arrivals and Departures………………………………………………………………13 Fee Structure………………………………………………………………………….14 Holidays & Closures………………………………………………………………….14

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Storm Days……………………………………………………………………..……..15 Health Policies………………………………………………………………………..15 Medication…………………………………………………………………………….16 Emergency Medical Procedures…………………………………………………….17 Rest Time………………………………………………………………………………18 Behaviour Guidance Policy………………………………………………………….18 Abuse Policy…………………………………………………………………………..20

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Welcome to Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center!! This parent handbook has been created to help you familiarize yourself with your child’s new program. It will provide you with helpful information about our program and policies and will help answer some questions you may have. Please review it carefully and keep it as a future reference while your child is attending our program. If you have any questions, concerns, ideas or comments concerning the center, please feel free to speak to the Executive Director, or any staff person.

History of the Center

In 2005 a mother of two daughters adopted from China, developed a child care program designed to keep her daughters connected to their language and culture. With her daughters as her motivation, The Magic Ladybug Learning Centre opened its doors in a cozy home setting for 14 children. The program consisted of the Director, the Chinese Program teacher and the English program teacher. The Magic Ladybug Learning Centre remained open until the summer of 2009. During this time, the assistant director of The Magic Ladybug Learning Centre decided to continue on with the concept of the program and opened Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center in September of 2009 in its current downtown location. Since opening in 2009, Little Ladybug’s has grown from having two classrooms to having three, while continuing on with both English and Mandarin languages. Today, Little Ladybug’s has developed into having multiple cultures and diversity within the center, and staff members that offer a wide range of backgrounds and talent which we share with our families.

The Center’s Logo

Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center’s logo reflects the history within the development of the center with having the Chinese characters. The Characters simply say “Little Ladybug”.

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Our Philosophy

Children do not exist in isolation. They are a part of a family, community and a busy interactive world. Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center’s curriculum reflects the importance of connections between all of these relationships with each other, their family, their culture, their community and the world around them. Through active learning experiences that incorporate what the children are interested in, the children are encouraged to be the authors of their own learning. We believe in natural connections through play; they engage in self-discovery, problem solving and collaboration with their peers. As they explore the environment examining relationships between objects, actions and people, the children learn a variety of concepts that they will later apply to new situations and experiences. Children are adventurers and explorers, and as educators, we are guides assisting them in the understanding and expanding of their discoveries. We believe that this gives them a foundation to move forward within a global world.

Mission Statement To provide families with a high quality child care option where parents and teachers work together in raising the next generation of global citizens.

Location of Parent information

As set out by the Day care Regulations 44(2) the following information is located in the following area’s at Little Ladybug’s-

Day Care act and Regulations – Parent Information Board, Hallway

Copy of the Parent Handbook – Parent Information Board

License for the Facility – Parent Information Board

Copy of Most recent inspection – Parent Information Board

Copy of the Behaviour Guidance Policy – Parent Info Board

A copy of the Current Menu – Nutrition Board, Kitchen

Daily Program Plan and Routine – Each Classroom Board

Parent Committee Members – Parent Information Board

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Parent Meeting Minutes – Parent Information Board

Funding by the Minister – Parent Information Board

Our Goals

For Families:

To provide a loving, nurturing environment for their child that is an extension of their family unit.

To provide access to resources and information within the community to meet their family needs.

For Children:

To promote each child’s healthy motor, cognitive, social-emotional, adaptive and communication development.

To promote each child’s understanding and pride in being a part of a global world where all people are equal and part of a larger community.

To provide an environment that is dynamic and responsive to each child’s individual developmental needs and abilities.

Our Program

Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center offers a full day program for children aged 18 months to 5 years. Our licensed capacity is 58 children a day. Nutritious snacks and meals with multicultural focuses are provided. Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center uses a child-centered approach, where teachers pay close attention and respond to each child’s interests, abilities and learning style. Using a variety of hands-on materials, learning is made fun and functional. The children have opportunities to explore a wide variety of activities and play materials, which promote their motor, cognitive, social-emotional, adaptive and communication development.

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The curriculum is balanced between indoor and outdoor play activities, as well as a variety of individual, small group and large group activities.

Our Current Programs within Little Ladybug’s

Within Little Ladybug’s we have amazing teachers with a number of talents that we share with our families. By using teacher’s strengths within the program, we add value. This also ensures a strong focus on children’s needs and individual development. Teachers play a very important role within a center, and here at Little Ladybug’s we are pleased to be able to offer these additions to the program. Please see the director for a list of current programs offered.

Inclusion Policy

Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center recognizes and values the individual needs and abilities of ALL children. Individualized routine-based intervention plans will be developed for children requiring additional developmental supports and programming. These will be completed and implemented in collaboration with parents, and other service providers utilizing a team approach. The program plans will reflect skills which the child will need in order to function within the natural environments of home, school, and community. Additional resources will be sought as needed, through application for the Supported Child Care Grant provided by the Department of Community Services. Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center provides a safe environment for all children. Given our resources, facility limitations, we will provide families with the best possible circumstances within our means that we have available to us. Your family and Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center must at all times meet the needs of the child. If these needs cannot be met, we will do our best to help aid in the process, by suggesting and providing resources to find the right fit and need for the child and his/her family.

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Meals

Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center menus are approved by the Department of Health, Nutrition Services and follow the Canada Food Guide for Children. Our menu plan runs on a four week rotation and offers a wide variety of foods including multicultural options. Each week, the menu is posted on the Menu board (located just outside the kitchen) for your reference. Ingredient lists are available upon request. A mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack is provided each day and a family style lunch is served around 11:45am. Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center operates on two rotating menus – winter and summer. Our winter menu features homemade soups and fully hot cooked lunches. Our summer menu features portable lunches for outdoor picnics. Please inform staff if your child has any food allergies, or if your family has any cultural/religious preferences.

Breastfeeding

Little Ladybug’s is a breastfeeding friendly center and welcomes all families who choose to breastfeed their child while at our facility.

Food Purchased/donated to the Center

Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center does accept food donations to the center for special occasions such as children’s birthday’s or our Center socials. We ask that you check with the Director for all food approvals before bringing in food from an outside source. All food MUST BE nut free and have an ingredient list provided.

Snack and Meal time Environment and Routines

Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center provides children with a relaxing and enjoyable family style meal environment. Staff and Children all

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sit together and have open conversations that can cover a wide variety of topics. Staff respond to children’s hunger cues and feelings of fullness and children are not forced to finish all the food that has been served. Food is also not offered as rewards or incentives for behavior. While we do have structured snack and meal times, staff are responsive to children’s cues around hunger and will provide snacks and meals outside of the regular schedule as required. Further information on food and nutrition can be found in the Manual for Food and Nutrition in Regulated Child Care Settings.

Program options

Full - Time: Monday to Friday, 5 days/week Part - Time: Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 3 days/week Part - Time: Tuesday/Thursday, 2 days/week Please note: All options are full days with care being provided between 7:30am - 5:30pm. Regular arrival and departure times are important for your child’s routine and comfort level.

Late drop off and late fees

Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center starts the program with morning snack at 9am. We would like to have children in by this time, however we do realize that families do have various schedules. If you will be arriving after 9am, please let your child’s teacher know, or call the center. If you arrive after this time in the morning, you will be required to meet up with the group. Information will be posted outside of each classroom as to where they have gone. Parents who pick their child up after the closure of the center at 5:30pm are subject to a $20.00 late fee charge for part of and including up to 15 minutes. For every additional 5 minutes or part of, a $5.00 fee will apply. Money is paid directly to the staff members that have had to stay late with your child. If after 30 minutes there

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has been no contact between parents and staff, and all efforts have been made to reach you and your emergency contacts, the center assumes the child has been abandoned and local police will be contacted and a report filed. If for any reason staff at the end of the day feel that a parent has arrived and is in no way, shape, or form able to safely take the child from the center, staff will ask you if there is anyone they can call for you. If the parent still insists on taking the child with them, staff will notify the appropriate personnel. At all times the safety of the child and staff is our first priority.

Registration

Please fill out our Registration form, as this form provides us with valuable information about your child, which will assist us in our planning and preparation for his/her arrival in the program. It is also important to meet with your child’s teacher to share information that will assist in making your child as comfortable as possible. We also request that parents complete our Medical Information form, which helps us to ensure the health and safety of all the children and staff of the center. Parents of children new to the center are required to pay a $50 non-refundable administration fee to process the child’s registration in the program, as well as provide post-dated checks. Parents with children on the waiting list are not required to pay the fee or provide checks until their child has a space within the program.

Your Child’s First Day

We suggest that you and your child visit the center prior to his/her first day. This will help you all become more familiar with the center and allow you the opportunity to speak to your child’s teachers. Please share any information that might make you and your child’s transition easier. A visit may be arranged by contacting the Executive Director.

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We also suggest shorter days during your child’s first week, as it will help ease the transition. It is helpful to allow for extra time in the morning, as drop-off make take a little longer as you spend some time in the program with your child.

What to Bring

Please dress your child in comfortable, washable, play clothing with easy to manage elastic waistbands, buttons or larger zippers. Inside shoes with rubber soles or slippers are required. We will try to go outside at least twice everyday and in all kinds of weather, so appropriate outerwear will also be required, please see the list below - Fall/Spring - Sun hat, jacket, rain pants, raincoat, waterproof boots, running shoes, mittens and wool hat. Winter - Wool hat, snowsuit (or snow pants and coat), winter boots, 2 pairs of mittens and a sweater. Summer - Sun hat, summer jacket, waterproof rain boots, rain suit, running shoes (not sandals as these often cause falls while running outside), light sweater and shorts, sunscreen. For safety reasons, please ensure that clothing is free of drawstrings and that neck warmers are used instead of scarves. Flip flops are not permitted for inside or outdoor play. If your child is using diapers, please supply the center with diapers and wipes. A storage area beside the change table will be created with your child’s name on it. Notes will go home periodically to let you know if more diapers and wipes are needed. Please bring 2 extra sets of clothing including underwear, shirt, pants, socks, etc. (Please label all clothing with your child’s name or labels). A crib fitted sheet, with a light blanket and a pillow case for

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rest time are required. You may include a soft comfort toy and/or favorite blanket if you wish. We ask that children do not bring in favorite toys, books or treats from home. This helps prevent possible problems associated with sharing these items with classmates, and possible loss or damage. Children will be asked to place them in their cubby or have you take them back to the car. If your child arrives with his/her breakfast in the morning please ensure that all products are nut free and healthy. If your child arrives with candy, chocolate, chips, and other related “junk food” items, you will be asked to take them home with you.

Parent Involvement Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center has an open door policy and encourages parents to be involved in their child’s program. We also encourage parents to volunteer when possible! Two times a year (May and November) parent meetings take place. These meetings must consist of parents who have children in the program, staff members and the center director. Included in discussions are –

Safety, care and well being of the children

Status of the facilities license

Programs provided by the Center

Equipment and materials available to the children

Staffing patterns and staff qualifications. Other items will be discussed as well a notice will go up two weeks before the scheduled meeting to add topics. Minutes will be taken and posted at the center.

Arrival For the children’s safety, we ask that parents bring their child into the center and make contact with a staff member to ensure their child is signed in on the attendance sheet daily. The attendance sheet

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allows us to see who is on the premises during fire drills and emergencies, and to keep accurate attendance records. Please assist your child in locating his/her cubby and removing his/her outerwear. Then ensure they are safely with a teacher in the classroom. Please note our responsibility for your child does not begin until s/he is in the care of a staff member. Please notify the center if your child will not be attending that day or if s/he will be unusually late. Little Ladybug’s Child Care Centers daily schedule begins at 9am. We ask that you arrive between the hours of 7:30am-9am, so that the program is not disrupted. We understand if appointments need to be scheduled during morning hours, and will make efforts on our part to accommodate as best as possible. If arriving after 9:00am, you may be required to meet up with the group at the destination stated on the morning board, located outside the classroom door. During the summer months longer outdoor trips will be taking place, if you are required to arrive earlier, your classroom teachers will send a note home.

Departure

In the event that you are unable to pick your child up, please notify the center in advance regarding who will be coming for your child and the approximate time. Staff members will only release your child to those persons authorized by you on the Registration Form at the time of enrollment. Please keep us informed of any changes to this authorization list. If you would like someone not listed on the Registration form to pick up your child, please inform us in writing. If this is not possible, we must be able to contact you for authorization, or we will not release the child to the person. Also, please inform the person picking up your child that he/she may have to provide a driver’s license to verify identity. This is done for the safety of your child.

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Fee Structure

Program fees will be collected by post-dated checks for the 12 months of the year. Parents are asked to make checks payable to Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center and are to be made out for the 1st of the month. Parents who are unable to meet the payment schedule, are asked to see the Executive Director for an individual payment schedule. There will be a $40.00 fee on all returned checks. Payments are still required during vacation times, storm days, holidays and sick days. Parent accounts with outstanding balance at mid-month will receive a written notice. Balance is due and all outstanding fees will need to be paid by the end of the month. If payment has not been received, the Executive Director has the authority to terminate child care. If parents wish to remove their child from the program, they are asked to provide written notice of at least one month in advance. For example, if you wish to withdraw your child for July 1st, written notice must be received by May 31st. Mid-month withdraws will not be accepted, and you will be responsible for the month in full. If notice of withdraw is not received, a penalty of one month’s fees will be charged to their account. Fees for Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center increase annually in September as per the ‘per diem’ set out by the Province. Rate increases will be a MAXIMUM of 3% annually.

Holidays and Closures

The center will be closed on the following holidays:

Labour Day

Thanksgiving

Remembrance Day

Christmas and Boxing Day

New Year’s Day

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Family Day

Good Friday

Easter Monday

Victoria Day

Canada Day

Natal Day If any designated holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the holiday will be observed on the Monday immediately following. The center will also be closed during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Center closure at Christmas is reflected in the fees over the course of the year.

Storm Days

The center does not close for winter storms unless there is a power outage, public transit services are not running, or authorities are requesting people stay off the roads. The center may, however, be operating on limited staff. If you decide to keep your child home, please call the center to notify us. Parents are encouraged to call the center early in the morning on storm days to confirm when we will be opening. If adequate numbers of staff are not available, there may be delays in when we are able to accept children.

Our Program Policies

Health Policies: We are very concerned about the health and safety of all the children and staff at the center. Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center staff are strict about enforcing health regulations. Infections spread rapidly within a child care center, so universal precautionary measures are taken at all times. If your child is absent due to illness, please call the center to notify us. Please do not send your child to the center if s/he is exhibiting any of the following symptoms:

Diarrhea

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Vomiting

Rash with fever

High fever

Persistent cough

Or an identified infectious disease such as Chicken Pox. Our program is active and outdoor play is an important part of our curriculum, so we ask that the children be well enough to participate in all aspects of the program including outdoor play. If your child becomes ill while attending the center, you will be notified immediately and will be expected to have an authorized person pick your child up within a reasonable amount of time. Please inform the staff if your child has a contagious condition that has been diagnosed by a medical doctor. You will be informed of any contagious condition your child may be exposed to while at the center. Medication: Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center staff are only permitted to give medication authorized by a physician or parent. All prescription medication must be labeled with the child’s name, prescribed dosage and the Doctors name. Medication must also be in the original container provided by the pharmacist. Parents are required to complete an authorization form (or letter of consent) for each new medication. This form includes your child’s name, the date, the reason for the drug and complete instructions on the administration and dosage and any other special instructions from the parent or physician. Over the counter medication will not be given by staff unless written instructions are received from the parent or the physician as indicated above. Under no circumstances will cough medicine be given to your child by staff at Little Ladybug’s, even at your request.

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Emergency Medical Treatment: All staff have been trained in First Aid and CPR. If a child requires emergency medical treatment due to illness or injury, the parent will be contacted immediately. If the parent cannot be reached the authorized emergency contact will be called (and contact with the parent will continue to be made). If contact with the parent or authorized person cannot be made and the child requires immediate medical attention, a staff person will accompany the child to the IWK Heath Centre in a taxi. If the child’s condition is life threatening, an ambulance will be called and a staff person will accompany the child to the hospital. Efforts will continue to be made to reach the parent and/or contact person. Parents are asked to complete a Parental Consent for Emergency Care and Transportation Form at Registration. Lost Child Policy: Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center in the event that a child has gone missing, the following steps are followed by staff –

As soon as the child is unaccounted for, date and time are recorded

A search of the area, and 911 is called, and parents contacted.

Director is notified of the situation

Staff continue to search and retrace steps

Child’s description is given to emergency personal upon arriving on the location.

Please note that all these steps are all important and going on simultaneously by staff in the event that they have to be put into place. Supervision of Children: Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center’s number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of each child in the program. Ratio kept at 1:6 for children under 3 years of age and a ratio of 1:8 for children over 3 years of age. Children are never left alone, even at rest time.

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Technology: Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center uses photo’s of the children for center purposes only. Any postings of pictures on social media networks (Eg. facebook) is strictly prohibited. Professional Conduct: All staff at Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center are expected to respond and act in a professional manner while on Center property. Staff will respond to parents and children in a manner that is respectful, appropriate, and maintain confidentiality at all times. Rest Period: In accordance with Daycare Regulations, all children enrolled in a full-time program are required to have a rest period each afternoon. Our program is very active and a rest period is necessary in order for the children to be ready for the afternoon activities. Our rest time is from 12:30pm - 2:30pm each afternoon. All children are required to rest on their mats for 45 minutes, including children who do not sleep. After 45 minutes, these children may engage in quiet independent activities on their mat/table. Little Ladybug’s takes rest time seriously and understands the importance of sleep/rest during a busy day. While some children may not sleep, it is important to let those that do get the sleep that they need. Behaviour Guidance Policy:

According to the Daycare act -

6C No operator shall

(a) permit corporal punishment including but not limited to

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(i) striking a child directly or with any physical object, or

(ii) shaking, shoving, spanking, or other forms of aggressive physical conduct;

(b) require or force a child to repeat physical movements;

(c) use harsh, humiliating, belittling or degrading responses of any form, including verbal, emotional or physical;

(d) confine or isolate a child; or

(e) deprive a child of basic needs including food, shelter, clothing or bedding.

Standards for food and nutrition in Regulated Child Care settings section 11 – Food is not to be used to reinforce desired behaviours – section 11.1 indicates that -

Staff, volunteers and care providers do not offer food to reinforce positive behaviours.

Staff, volunteers and care providers do not withhold food as a consequence for inappropriate behaviours.

Food is not used as a reward for completing a task or finishing a meal(eg. Dessert will not be withheld if the child does not finish the main meal)

Our behaviour guidance policies are designed to assist children in developing self control and a respect for themselves, each other and centre property. Prevention strategies are used to prevent inappropriate behaviours such as creating a well-planned environment and a variety of developmentally appropriate activities to promote purposeful engagement. Appropriate behaviours are modeled by staff and positive guidance is provided so the children clearly understand what is expected of them (ex. “walk please”, instead of “don’t run”). Responsibility is encouraged through opportunities for choice making and participating in “Helper tasks” for their peers and teachers.

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Efforts are made to assist the children in identifying and expressing their feelings appropriately. When teacher intervention is required, redirection is encouraged, as well as, active problem solving where the children are asked for suggestions. If inappropriate behaviours continue, the staff will either limit or remove materials from the child/ren, or will remove the child from the situation. Child Abuse Policy: Staff at Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center are required to report any and all incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to the children’s Aid Society and Early Childhood Development Services. Defining Child Abuse and Neglect Child abuse happens when somebody or some situation threatens the development, security and survival of a child. Many forms of abuse are criminal in nature. Recognizing Signs of Abuse Children show many different signs of abuse or neglect. While all children have scrapes, bruises and birthmarks, it’s good to know some common signs of abuse and neglect. Take them seriously and act quickly if they are happening to a child you know. There are different kinds of child abuse:

Physical abuse The intentional use of force on any part of a child's body that results in injury.

Emotional abuse Anything that causes serious mental or emotional harm to a child, which the parent does not attempt to prevent or address.

Sexual abuse The improper exposure of a child to sexual contact, activity or behaviour.

Neglect Any lack of care that may cause significant harm to a child's development or endangers the child in any way.

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Reporting Abuse and Neglect If any of the staff at Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center suspect a child is a victim of abuse or neglect, we have to by law report our concerns to a Child welfare agency as soon as possible. The abuse of a child is a serious problem. Everyone has a duty to report a suspicion of child abuse. For further information on the program license, daily schedules, all postings of handbooks, behavior guidance policies please see the parent board, located within Little Ladybug’s Child Care Center.