Parent-Child Separation

As hard as it may be at times, it is usually best to be brief when saying goodbye to your child. Children more easily accept a quick a hug and a cheerful “see you after snack” than a drawn out farewell. Your cheerfulness lets your child know that you feel good about where your child is in your absence; therefore it must be fine to be at our center. Often a new child and occasionally a child who has been here before will cry at separation. The crying usually subsides within minutes, as the child becomes involved in the activities going on around him or her. You are welcome to phone the center to see that your child has settled down form the separation anxiety.

Saying Goodbye - The 4 B's

1. Be aware of your own feelings. Don’t pass your anxieties on to your child.
2. Be firm. Say, “Good –bye, I’m leaving now.” Never say: “Is it okay if I leave now?”
3. Be specific. Young children have a haze sense of time. “I’ll see you after snack,” is better than “I’ll be back later.”
4. Be there. Don’t betray your child’s trust. If you’re going to be late, or if someone else will be picking up your child, be sure to let him/her know.

Behavioral Guidance

Our approach at the center is to guide each child’s behavior rather than wait until behavioral problems evolve and then “react” to those problems. The following principles outline our approach towards behavior management with young children.

1. Provide a positive role model of acceptable behavior. Children learn more from what you do than from what you say. Respect each child’s individuality.
2. Use developmentally appropriate guidance techniques.
3. Redirect children and groups away from problems by providing constructive activity in order to reduce conflict.
4. Teach children acceptable alternative problem solving techniques in order to reduce and manage conflict.
5. Protect the safety of children and staff.
6. Provide immediate and direct consequences for a child’s unacceptable behavior.
7. Despite intervention, if a child’s behavior continues to threaten the safety of others, the child may be asked to leave the center.
8. The Center will maintain a policy of “three strikes and you are out” if unacceptable behavior continues. The child(ren) will be expelled from MEC and not allowed readmission.

The Center has a responsibility to protect the safety of all children as well as that of volunteers and staff. Therefore, when a child engages in persistent unacceptable behavior (e.g., violent behavior, chronic biting, and inappropriate language), the following procedure will be followed:

1. Staff will observe and record the behavior of the child and staff responses to the behavior.
2. Staff will work with parents and other professionals (if needed) to develop a plan to address the unacceptable behavior.
3. If the unacceptable behavior persists in spite of the use of the plan, a parent conference will be held to share behavioral concerns and to discuss a referral to an appropriate outside resource.
4. A “permission to refer slip” must be signed by the parent(s) before a referral to an outside resource can be made.
5. If parents do not give permission for a referral and the child’s behavior is disruptive to the group, the child may be asked to leave the Center.

Things Your Child Will Need

Below are a list of things that your child(ren) will need on their first day at MEC:

• pull ups (if potty training)
  wipes
  
• fitted sheet (crib sheets fit our cots best)
  
• blanket
  
• small pillow (optional)
  
• 2 full changes of clothes (weather appropriate)
  
• lunch (ex. peanut butter & jelly sandwich, fruit, 100 % fruit juice, and (1) snack)

Dropping Off and Picking Up

Each child will be greeted individually by a teacher as he/she arrives. Your child will be released only to persons authorized by you as indicated on your registration form. Parents should discuss special arrangements with their child’s teacher on the day of the occurrence. Children will not be released to anyone under 16. Please see the director for special circumstances. Please advise anyone who picks up your child that they will need a picture ID.

Formal parent-teacher conferences will be held twice a year (fall and spring). Conferences are an opportunity for teachers to share information with you about your child’s intellectual, physical, social and emotional development. In addition to parent-teacher conferences at any time you may request a meeting with your child’s teacher.

Parents are not allowed to "spank" their child(ren) on MEC's premises under any circumstances.

Corporal punishment, emotional abuse, punishment for lapses in toilet habits, or the withholding of food, of light, of warmth, of clothing, or medical care as a punishment for unacceptable behavior by’ parents or staff is prohibited. Staff and parents will prohibit the use of physical restraint, other than to physically hold a child when containment is necessary to protect a child or others from harm.

1. Teach your child to handle conflict. Tell them that it is okay to be angry but it is not okay to hurt others.
2. Teach your child ways of handling anger without hurting themselves, others or property.
3. Endeavor to understand your child’s developmental stage. Biting and hitting is very common among toddlers.
4. Understand the childcare is a group situation, where there are a wide variety of personalities and naturally conflicts will occur.

What Teachers Do When Hitting and Biting Occurs

1. Focus on the child who was injured.
2. the aggressive child will be redirected
3. Simple language is use “Biting hurts.”
4. explain to the child that they need to use gentle touches
5. Accident/injury reports will be given to parents of a child who bites, as well as the parents of the bitten child. Teachers track occurrences of biting or hitting listing the time of day, reason (if known), and staff response.
6. Conferences with parents will be scheduled at the teacher’s discretion.
7. A joint parent-teacher strategy will be developed to reduce hitting/biting behavior.

Parental Grievance Procedure

A grievance is defined as a verbal or written statement alleging a violation of the center policies or principles. We hope your child will enjoy attending Milestones Enrichment Center. However if you should wish to file a grievance, the following procedure has been set up so your concern can be properly addressed:

1. Discuss the problem or concerned with the teacher of your child. If the issue is not resolve, then:
2. Discuss the problem or concern with the Director.
3. Discuss the problem or concern with the director and all staff involved.