Communication between teachers and parents is essential. Brightwheel is our main communication tool and parents will be required to download and use Brightwheel for
administrative, billing, and communication purposes. Parents can call the Lapwai facility at 208- 843-9262 or contact Bobbie Penney 208-935-8587. Communication may include such messages as special pick up times, doctor’s appointments, names of others who will be picking up your child, or anything you wish to let staff know about your child for that particular day. Text messaging is an acceptable form of communication for emergencies only. Including but not limited to: closures, late arrival or pick-up, child illness or other concerns about immediate health or safety. Text

messaging will not be used to discuss matters of payment, contracts, or behavioral concerns. These matters will be recorded in writing in the form of an incident report or grievance letter. If a problem persists the parent or provider may request a meeting to clear up the matter of concern. Finally, a letter of termination may be submitted by the provider if no possible solution is foreseen. Parents/Guardians are asked to provide the following supplies:

Please ensure that children wear clothing that is comfortable, appropriate for the temperatures, and allows children to participate freely in creative activities.
● A ziplock baggie with 1-2 extra changes of clothes
● Clean blankets are allowed for children and must be taken home at the end of the week to be washed
● Week’s worth of diapers and baby food or formula may be left at the facility
● Expressed Breast Milk may be brought in for an infant in pre-filled bottles or bags.
● Backpacks or bags are not allowed.
● Medications/ointments must be clearly labeled with the child’s name and the instructions must be provided

While we teach respect for the property of others, accidents can and do happen. With the exception of special items for show and tell, children are encouraged to leave toys and other personal belongings at home. Books, tapes, and other educational articles are welcome to share
during specific group times.

Parents/guardians are asked to sign a field trip release form at time of enrollment. Parents will be notified of an upcoming field trip in advance. There will be a letter sent home for information on the field trip and it will have to be returned with a parents signature authorizing that their child(ren) can go. Most fieldtrips are FREE however Parents/guardians may be asked to supply a fee entrance charges when necessary. Parents/guardians are always welcome to volunteer to go on field trips but are required to use their own vehicle for transportation unless arrangements to come have been made.

Starting childcare or pre-school is an exciting experience for a young child, but it can also be a difficult one. However eager a child may seem for the new situation, there will be a moment when he/she realized that his/her parents will no longer be there. The apprehension that accompanies this realization is normal anxiety. Here are some suggestions that may help ease separation anxiety:

● Have the child visit Tiny Tots before starting care. Introduce the child to the classroom teacher and new classmates.
● Say good-bye to your child and explain you are leaving and details about when you will return. Try to leave quickly and unhesitatingly. If a child cries at the moment of, the
crying seldom continues for more than a few minutes after the parent/guardian is out of sight. If you have forgotten to tell the caregiver something, call later instead of going back into the child’s area of care.
● It is normal for the child to go through a period of adjustment during changes in life.

Remember that the adjustment period for every child differs. If after several weeks a child seems to be having a particularly difficult time adjusting to our child care setting, the child’s teacher and director will discuss the situation with the parent/guardian.

The staff at Tiny Tots Learning Center believes that a child’s social and emotional well-being is a critical part of a child’s development. Through adult guidance and association with playmates, the child is being prepared for self-control at a pace he/she can internalize. We attempt to help a child become more aware of his/her peer group, while learning to respect the rights of others and to conform to minor regulations. Discipline should teach a child the appropriate response to a certain situation. We set limits to help a child learn about safety, care of property, good health habits, and consideration for others. Tiny Tots uses a redirection method to address misbehavior. We will identify the behavior and
suggest the appropriate choices for redirection. Then if necessary a quiet refocus activity will be assigned for discipline is enforced. The child may be removed from the group if we see fit and allowed to regain composure. The caregiver makes sure that the child understands the reason
for the time out and helps him/her to re-enter the group in a positive way. Any type of corporal punishment is strictly prohibited. If disciplinary action taken is not effective for a particular child, the teacher and director will discuss the alternatives with the parent/guardian. Occasionally a child will exhibit behaviors for which our philosophy of discipline may not be effective. Examples include biting or consistently aggressive behavior; hitting, kicking, fighting, etc. The child will be immediately removed from the situation and parents will be notified and may be asked to intervene. While we try to work with parents to eliminate this type of behavior, in
severe cases, the family may be asked to seek other care.
Parents/guardians with specific concerns of questions should discuss them with Bobbie Penney
or Santee Penney.

Tiny Tots locations do not have the facility to provide care for ill children. If a child becomes ill during the day, parents/guardians will be notified to pick up their child and the child will be isolated from the other children until the parents arrive. The parent will be given one hour from
the time the first attempt is made to contact Tiny Tots to have their child picked up. If we are unable to locate a parent then the emergency contact will be notified and asked to obtain the sick child. Children experiencing temperatures of 101 degrees or above or who are exhibiting other signs of obvious illness (including COVID-19 symptoms) will be excluded from care. A parent/guardian or designated person is expected to pick up an ill child as soon as possible, after being notified. If a child is well enough to be in attendance, he/she is expected to participate in all program activities, including outdoor play. Parents/guardians are asked to alert either Bobbie or Santee when a child has been exposed to a contagious disease (including COVID-19). A person with a disease

is often contagious before he/she develops symptoms, so as soon as a parent becomes aware of the exposure we require parents to follow the care provider’s recommendation for quarantine and isolation. 

Children should not be in attendance if they have any of the following symptoms:
● Unusual spots or rashes
● Sore throat or difficulty swallowing or breathing
● Infected skin patches
● Unusual diarrhea, tea-colored urine
● Breathing trouble (especially important in an infant under six months old)
● Fever 100 degrees or above
● Unusual behavior (cranky, less active then usual, cries more, looks unwell)
● Frequent scratching of scalp or skin
● Gray or white bowel movement
● Headache
● Vomiting
● Loss of appetite
Children may return to Tiny Tots 24 hours after the disappearance of all symptoms and/or 24 hours receiving medication prescribed by a physician. In some instances we may require a medical release from your child’s provider.

Staff on an incident report will document all injuries and signs of illness and parents/guardians will
be informed through Brightwheel. If a parent/guardian cannot be reached, the designated person
in charge will secure and authorize medical care and/or treatment for the child. Any costs
incurred for medical treatment is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Medication (prescription or over the counter) will only be given with written consent of the child’s
parent/guardian. It must be in its original container labeled with: the child’s full name, medication
name, dosage, frequency, and its original label intact. All medications must be given to staff and
will be stored in a location inaccessible to children.
During the sunny months parents ask us to apply sunscreen. Waterproof sunscreen will only be
applied with written permission by parent/guardian and a medicine release form. Sunscreen will
not be applied on children’s face or lower arms due to risk of getting sun screen in the eyes. For
your child’s protection we strongly recommend that you send a hat for your child to wear while
outside.

All staff and volunteers are mandated by law to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
Abuse may be physical, emotional, or sexual. Neglect is the failure, refusal, or inability, for reasons other than poverty, to provide necessary care, food, clothing, shelter or medical care. Staff and volunteers who report in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability. Staff or volunteers who intentionally fail to report suspicion are subject to fines or imprisonment under the law. Tiny Tots ensures that all staff will follow procedures to avoid speculation of physical, emotional or sexual abuse on the business premises. Including but not limited, having additional staff
present.
To prevent child abuse and neglect, this program:
1. Trains staff to avoid one-staff-one-child situations if at all possible. If scheduling requires one adult to be alone with one child, the parent is always informed at pick-up or drop off.
2. Design our classrooms to avoid hidden and secluded areas.
3. Makes sure interactions between children and staff can be observed and interrupted.
4. Uses proper names for body parts.
5. Never forces children to give affection.
6. Tells children that if they have questions about someone’s behavior, the best thing they can do is ask about it
7. Explains that secrets can be harmful.
8. Trains staff in the Strengthening Families Protective Factor Framework and Stewards of Children Darkness to Light.
9. Requires a background check for all staff.
10. Develops positive, non-judgmental relationships with parents.
11. Is alert to signs of stress in parents and struggles in the parent-child interaction.
12. Communicates regularly with parents concerning a child’s progress.
13. Provides education including offering tips for specific challenges.
14. Provides opportunities for parents to become involved in their child’s care.
15. Provides information about community resources.
16. Models developmentally appropriate practices by allowing the parent observational
opportunities to see their child interact with child care staff.
17. Provides an atmosphere for parents to share their experiences and develop support systems.
18. Reaches out to fathers, grandparents and other extended family members that are involved in a child’s development.

Meals

Tiny Tots Academy mealtime vision is to provide a safe and healthy environment that encourages positive interactions among children and adults. It will also provide a learning environment that promotes good eating habits and social skills.
Breakfast, lunch, morning, and afternoon snacks are provided each day. Tiny Tots follows USDA guidelines for healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. The snack and lunch calendar is posted in the kitchen and runs on a four week rotating schedule. All children are encouraged to sample all
foods. 1% skim milk is provided by the center for breakfast and lunch. 100% fruit and vegetable juices are reserved for snacks and are served in moderation.

Meal Times are as follows:

● Breakfast: 7:30 am-8:30 am
● Lunch: 11:00 am-12:00am
● PM Snack: 1:30pm-2:00pm
Parents will be invited to join their children during mealtime during the summer months. A stove, microwave oven, and refrigerator are available for proper food preparation and storage.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded program administered nationally by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary goal of the program is to provide nutritious meals for children enrolled in childcare centers, outside school hours, family day care homes, and adults enrolled in day care centers. As will all federal programs, there are minimum guidelines that must by met by sponsors. All participating centers and homes must serve meals, which meet minimum U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional standards. The CACFP, in turn, provides financial assistance in terms of reimbursement based upon meals served and family-sized and economic levels of participants. In accordance with Federal lay and U.S. Departments of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from all discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Way Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800)-795-
3272 or (202)720-6382 (TTY).