Kidoodle Learning Center, Inc. Parent Handbook Effective 2015-2016

Child’s Name ______Please read and sign this agreement:  I hereby agree to comply with the rules and regulations of Kidoodle Learning Center regarding fees, attendance, health requirements, parking, clothing, and other items specified by the director each year.  I understand that my child will only be released to a parent, guardian, or those specified on the registration form, unless permission has been given in advance as to whom will be picking my child up. The specified party must produce a valid driver’s license to be copied and kept on file. I will notify anyone scheduled to pick up my child of this procedure.  I have provided the necessary information and signed the emergency card.  I am aware of the scheduled school holidays, and the possibility of closure due to emergency or inclement weather.  I agree to notify the school 30 days, in advance in writing, of withdrawal of my child(ren). My security deposit will then be applied to the final weeks of tuition.  I have read the parent information package and understand the policies on illnesses, positive discipline, expulsion, release of children, and administering medication.  I have read and understand the Kidoodle Learning Center Tuition Policy.  I have read and received a copy of the Information to Parents document prepared by The 1360 Route 23 North Bureau of Licensing in the Division of Youth and Family Services.  I give permission for my child to use all of the play equipment and participate in all Butler, NJ 07405 activities of the school.  I understand my child will not leave school grounds. In the event of a scheduled field trip, permission slips will be sent home in advance. All trips off grounds will be authorized and 973-850-6570 supervised. My child does not need to participate in an off school ground trip, if I do not wish. Alternate care for my child will be provided at the school. [email protected]  I grant permission for my child to be included in evaluation and pictures connected with the school program.  I grant permission for the director or staff to take whatever steps are necessary to obtain medical care, if warranted, for my child.  The school will not be responsible for anything that may happen as a result of false information given to the school by parents at the time of enrollment.  I give permission for Kidoodle Learning Center to use my child’s picture in displays, advertisements, and new papers articles. Signature of mother or legal guardian Parent ______Date ______Signature of father or legal guardian Handbook ______Date ______Kidoodle Learning Center Philosophy

Dear Parent(s), Our center must have a policy concerning the expulsion of children from enrollment at the center. Please review this policy so we can work together to keep your child in our center. The goals of our center include providing a variety of age – Parents are entitled to review the center’s copy of the Bureau of appropriate experiences through the avenues of dramatic play, Licensing’s Inspection/Violation Reports on the center, which are issued after creative arts, and fine and large motor activities. An emphasis every State licensing inspection of our center. If there is a licensing complaint investigation, you are also entitled to review the Bureau’s Complaint is placed on social skills, and learning to play and share Investigation Summary Report, as well as any letters of enforcement or other together. The teachers use a multilevel approach to learning actions taken against the center during the current licensing period. Let us know if you wish to review them and we will make them available for your review. that encourages each child to progress at their own rate, using Our center must cooperate with all DYFS inspections/investigations. their own learning style. Children are also learning how to DYFS staff may interview both staff members and children. become more independent and self - directed, and they are Our center must post its written statement of philosophy on child discipline in a prominent location and make a copy of it available to parents upon developing their own unique personalities. We encourage the request. We encourage you to review it and to discuss with us any questions you children to take responsibility for themselves by asking them may have about it. to cooperate, follow directions, respect others, help put away Our center must post a listing or diagram of those rooms and areas approved by the Bureau for the children’s use. Please talk to us if you have any toys, and participate in daily activities. Children love a questions about the center’s space. challenge, and soak up information like little sponges. Lesson Our center must offer parents of enrolled children ample opportunity to plans and notices will be placed on the bulletin board in each participate in and observe the activities of the center. Parents wishing to participate in the activities or operations of the center should discuss their interest classroom, and daily work will be placed in your child’s folder with the center director, who can advise them of what opportunities are available. when ready to be taken home. Please make an effort to read Parents of enrolled children may visit our center at any time without notices, check folders daily, and read the newsletters and having to secure prior approval from the director or any staff member. Please feel free to do so when you can. We welcome visits from our parents. flyers that are sent home. Please feel free to contact me at Our center must inform parents in advance of every field trip, outing, or any time should you have a question or concern. special event away from the center, and must obtain prior written consent from We anticipate, and look forward to a wonderful school year. parents before taking a child on each such trip. Our center is required to comply with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), P.L. 1945, c. 169 (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), P.L. 101-336 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). Sincerely, Anyone who believes the center is not in compliance with these laws may contact the Division on Civil Rights in New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety Norah Mc Laughlin for information about filing and LAD claim at (609) 292-4605 (TTY users may Director dial 711 to reach the New Jersey Relay Operator and ask for (609) 292-7701), or may contact the United States Department of Justice for information about filing an ADA claim at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY). Anyone who has reasonable cause to believe that an enrolled child has been or is being subjected to any form of hitting, corporal punishment, abusive language, ridicule, harsh humiliating or frightening treatment, or any other kind of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation by any adult, whether working at the center or Our center must have a policy concerning the release of children to not, is required by State law to report the concern immediately to the Division of parents or people authorized by the parent(s) to be responsible for the child. Youth and Family Services’ Office of Child Abuse Control, Toll – Free at (800) Please discuss with us your plans for your child’s departure from the center. 652 – 2873 (1 (800) NJ-ABUSE), or to any District Office. Such reports may be Our center must have a policy about dispensing medicine and the made anonymously. management of communicable diseases. Please talk to us about these policies so Parents may secure information about child abuse and neglect by we can work together to keep our children healthy. contacting: Community Education Office, Division of Youth and Family Services, CN 717, Trenton, NJ 08625. Guidelines for Positive Discipline Information to Parents Dear Parent(s), Positive discipline is a process of teaching children how to behave appropriately. In keeping with New Jersey’s child care licensing requirements, we are Positive discipline respects the rights of the individual child, the group, and the adult. obliged to provide to you, as a parent of a child enrolled at our center, with this Positive discipline is different from punishment. Punishment tells children what statement. they should not do; positive discipline tells children what they should do. Punishment The statement highlights, among other things, your right to visit and teaches fear; positive discipline teaches self – esteem. We are role models for the children. The behaviors we demonstrate are the behaviors they observe our center at any time without having to secure prior permission, the will imitate. center’s obligation to be licensed and to comply with licensing standards, and the Planning Ahead obligation of all citizens to report suspected child abuse/neglect/exploitation to the  Anticipate and eliminate potential problems State’s Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).  Have a few consistent, clear rules that are explained to the children Please read this statement carefully, and if you have any questions, feel  Have a well planned daily schedule free to contact me at the following number 973-850-6570.  Understand that your schedule may need to be changed or altered to meet the children’s needs Sincerely,  Include some group decision making Norah Mc Laughlin  Provide time and space for each child to be alone Director  Make each child feel that he/she has a positive influence on the group  Guide the children on how to appropriately resolve their differences Our center is required by the State Child Care Center Licensing Law to  Share ownership and responsibility with the children; talk about OUR room, OUR toys, etc. be licensed by the Bureau of Licensing of the New Jersey Division of Youth and Intervening When Necessary  Always try re-directing to a new activity to change the focus of a child’s behavior Family Services. A copy of our current license must be posted in a prominent  Provide one – on – one attention to help the child deal with a particular situation location at our center. Look for it when you’re in the center.  Provide alternative activities and acceptable ways to release feelings To be licensed, our center must comply with the Manual of  Point out physical or logical consequences of specific behaviors Requirements for Child Care Centers (the official licensing regulations). The  Offer a choice only if there are two acceptable options regulations cover such areas as: physical environment/life safety; staff  Instead of criticizing the child, put an emphasis on the behavior; examples: We do not tell a child he/she is “good” or “bad”; instead we say, “You’re doing a great job cleaning qualifications, supervision, and staff/child ratios; program activities and up!” or “When you take Bobby’s toy, that hurts his feelings. You play with the blocks and equipment; health, food and nutrition; rest and sleep requirements; he’ll play with the car.” parent/community participation; administrative and record keeping requirements;  When all of these options have been exhausted, use “time out” by removing the child to a part of the room where they can see what is going on so that he/she may regain self - control. and others. (One minute for each year of the child’s age is a good rule of thumb.) The child will be Our center must have on the premises a copy of the Manual of supervised at all times. When the designated time has passed, the teacher will then discuss Requirements and make it available to interested parents for review. If you would the situation and possible alternative behaviors for use in similar situations in the future. like to review our copy, just ask a staff member. Parents may secure a copy of the Showing Love and Encouragement Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers, for a nominal fee, by writing to  Respond to and reinforce positive behavior; acknowledge or praise to let the child know that you approve of his/her behavior the Bureau of Licensing, Division of Youth and Family Services, CN 717,  Provide positive reinforcement through rewards for good behavior that is specific to each Trenton, New Jersey 08625. individual child We encourage parents to discuss with us any questions or concerns  Use encouragement rather than competition or comparison about the policies and program of the center or the meaning, application or  Overlook small annoyances, and deliberately ignore being provoked by a child alleged violations of the Manual of Requirements. We will be happy to arrange a  GIVE HUGS AND CARING TO EVERY CHILD EVERY DAY  Positive discipline takes time, patience, repetition, and the willingness to change the convenient opportunity for you to review and discuss these matters with us. If way you deal with children. you suspect our center may be in violation of licensing standards, you are entitled to report them to the Bureau of Licensing. Of course, we would appreciate your bringing these concerns to our attention, too. 1. The following illnesses do not require pick up but you will be notified.

-temperature 100.5 to 101 (requires medication) -any abrasion causing significant bleeding Policy on the Release of Children -bite mark breaking the skin If a child exhibits any of the following symptoms, he/she may not attend the center. Each child will only be released to the child’s custodial parent(s) or a person authorized by that parent to take that child from the center. The parent(s) will designate people to assume If any of the below symptoms should arise at school, your child will be isolated from responsibility for their child in an emergency if the custodial parent(s) cannot be reached. the group, and you will be required to take him/her home within ½ hour.

The center will ask for proof of identification, such as a driver’s license, to verify the 2. The following illnesses require 24 hours symptom free to return to school identity of a person picking up a child. - Severe pain or discomfort -vomiting These procedures will be followed by a staff member if the parent(s), or person(s) -diarrhea authorized by the parent(s), fails to pick up a child at the time of the center’s daily closing. 1. The child must be supervised at all times. 3. The following illnesses may return after 24 hours symptom free and/or 2. Staff members will attempt to contact the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the with a doctor’s note stating free of contagious disease if returning before parent(s); and 24 hours. 3. After 7:00 pm, and provided that other arrangements for releasing the child to -swollen joints his/her parent(s) or authorized person(s) have failed, and the staff members -stiff neck cannot continue to supervise the child at the center, the staff member will call -green discharge from eyes or nose The Division of Youth and Family Service’s 24 hour toll free hotline to seek -temperature of 101.0 or higher assistance in care for the child, until the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the child’s parent(s) is able to pick up the child. 4. The following illnesses require a doctor’s note to return to the center.

DYFS HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1-800-792-8610 -red eyes with discharge -difficult or rapid breathing These procedures will be followed by a staff member(s) if the parent(s) or person(s) -visibly large lymph nodes authorized by the parent(s) appear to be physically and/or emotionally impaired, to the -blood in urine extent that, in the judgment of the director and/or staff member, the child would be placed at -temperature of 102.0 or higher risk of harm if released to such an individual. -yellow eyes or jaundice skin 1. The child will not be released to such an impaired individual -infected, untreated skin patches 2. Staff member(s) attempt to contact the child‘s other parent or alternate person(s) -skin lesions, weeping or bleeding authorized by the parent(s) -broken bones 3. If the center is unable to make alternative arrangements, as noted above, a staff -any symptoms suspicious of a contagious disease and/or illness member shall call the Division of Youth and Family Services Hotline telephone Table of Excludable Communicable Diseases number to seek assistance in caring for the child. **requires a doctor’s note and may not return until symptoms are resolved for 24 hours.** DYFS HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1-800-792-8610 Respiratory Illnesses Gastrointestinal Illnesses Contact The center also maintains the option of calling the local police department for assistance, if Illness necessary. The parent(s) or other authorized person(s) may pick up the child at the local Chicken Pox Giardia Lamblia* Impetigo police station. German Measles Hepatitis A* Scabies Hemophilus Influenzae* Salmonella* Measles* Shingella* Meningococcus* Mumps* Strep Throat Tuberculosis* Whooping Cough* *Reportable diseases that will be reported to the health department by the center School Illness Policy 5. The center has come to the decision to have a No-Nit Policy pertaining to Head Lice. This policy indicates that if a child is exhibiting the following (revised August, 2013) symptoms of Lice, we ask that the child be removed from the school within the ½ hour and either receive appropriate treatment or obtain a  The time and by whom the medication was administered to the child; doctor’s note. All children must be nit-free before returning to school. and Any adverse effect the medication may have had on the child. -Extreme itching  -Lice eggs or nits on hair shaft that are difficult to remove from hair when Do not take medication of your own in front of children, as they may try to pulled or brushed imitate you. Don’t refer to medication as “candy” and don’t give or threaten to -Lice the size of a sesame seed or larger give medication as a punishment. Help the children understand that medicine is -Small red bumps on neck, scalp, and shoulders helpful and important, but it must be treated with care.

Guidelines for Administering Medication

We will only give medication after written consent has been given by the Policy Concerning the Expulsion of Children child’s parent(s). We reserve the right to expel a child at any time, without All medication must be kept in a secured area that is inaccessible to the children. Non – prescription medication should be stored in a labeled notice, if the child exhibits excessively dangerous behavior, container with a child - proof cap. We will not accept it in any other form. endangering himself or herself, or anyone else at the center. Any prescription medication for a child must be prescribed for that child. Prescription medication MUST BE stored it its original container, which has been Kidoodle Learning Center will notify parents or guardians labeled with the child’s name, the name of the medication, the date it was for any behavior that could potentially lead to expulsion. This prescribed or updated, and directions for its administration. notification may be written or verbal, and may require a Unused medication will be returned to the parent when no longer being conference with the teacher and/or the director. In this notification administered. there will specific guidelines and timelines for resolution of Non – prescription, over – the – counter medication may ONLY be given inappropriate behavior. These guidelines and timelines will be according to the directions on the label. Please make sure the medicine is directed made on a case-to-case basis, depending on the severity of the for the age of your child otherwise we will not administer it. We ask you to check behavior. the recommended dosage for the age and weight of the child, as well as the time interval between doses. You may give antihistamines/decongestants, cough suppressants, acetaminophen (aspirin substitutes), or topical (skin) ointments with ------a note from the child’s parent. Other types of non – prescription medication may PEANUT BUTTER/NUT PRODUCTS only be given with a doctor’s note, as they have harmful side effects. It is especially important not to give aspirin unless a doctor orders it, because it is associated with a life – threatening illness called Reye’s syndrome. If a child Kidoodle Learning Center has come to the decision, as have shows any side effects of medication, report them to the parent. many schools before us, to put a ban on PEANUT When giving medication, follow directions carefully. Use a medicine spoon with BUTTER/NUT PRODUCTS for the Infant Room and marked amounts, not an ordinary teaspoon, for giving liquid medication. Do not Toddler 1 classrooms. These age groups are simply too give food, juice, soda, or anything except water with the medicine unless the young to handle their own food properly enough to avoid directions call for it. Watch the child to be sure the medication has been swallowed, and be sure to put the container out of reach right away. cross contamination. They are often covered with the peanut You must record the following on the medication consent form that was signed butter on their faces and hands, making it difficult to contain by the parent: and clean. Please understand that this may be a minor  The child’s name and parental authorization; inconvenience to you, but a potential life saver to others.  The name of the medication;  The instructions for administering the medication, including the dosage and frequency; Registration Fees cover a school year, from September through August.  Security Deposit: A security deposit equal to 1 month of tuition is required. Notify the school 30 days in advance before your child’s last day of attendance, and your security deposit will be applied to the final month of tuition. If 30 days notice is not given to Kidoodle Learning Center, the security deposit cannot be used, and will not be returned. If there is an outstanding balance owed to Kidoodle Learning Center, we reserve the right to send your account to collections. Kidoodle Learning Center  Late pick – up: After 6:30 pm there is a $1.00 per minute charge for each child. Late payment must be made Tuition Policy immediately to the caregiver on duty. The school does

st not pay staff after 6:30 pm. In the case of emergency or  Tuition is pre – paid, on a monthly basis, due by the 1 of inevitable lateness, please call the school so alternative every month. care can be arranged. If you have not picked up your child  Tuitions are subject to change without prior notice. by 6:45 pm, and we have not been able to contact you, we  If tuition is not paid by the 5th of the month at 9:00 am, a will call the emergency contacts listed in our child’s file. late fee will be added to your account. Late payments are After 7:00 pm we may exercise our option as directed by subject to a $25.00 overdue charge per payment, per week The Division of Youth and Family Services to leave your late. The director reserves the right to suspend care if child at the local police department, or to call DYFS for tuition remains unpaid for two weeks or for N.S.F. further instructions. If a caregiver has been gracious returned checks. enough to stay late with your child, please do not be angry  There are NO ADJUSTMENTS in tuition for time not about being charged a late fee. It is not their fault that you used, including holidays, absences, or emergency closings. are late, and they may have had to cancel their own plans  Minimum registration for the Infant Room is 5 days per to accommodate you. We are more concerned that your week over 6 hours. The Toddler 1 room, Toddler 2 room, child remains well cared for and safe. Pre School room and Pre-K room require a minimum registration of 2 days per week under 8 hours per day. Pre- K and Kindergarten minimum registration is 5 half days.  Part – timers may not bring in children for unscheduled days without pre – approval from the director. Part – timers must set their days of attendance at the time of registration. Part – timers must attend the same days every week. All children are subject to a $5 an hour charge for any time they spend beyond their daily scheduled hours.  Registration Fee: There is a $100 Registration Fee due at the time of Registration and each subsequent September.