OTTER CREEK CHILD CENTER
2002-03
PARENT HANDBOOK

WELCOME TO OTTER CREEK CHILD CENTER!

 

CONTENTS

Page 1

Mission Statement
Purpose
Philosophy
Mission
Goals
Programs
Child care programs

Page 2
The scholarship program
The resource program
Hours of Operation
Late Pick-Up Policy
Morning Enrollment
Afternoon and Full-Day Enrollment
Avoiding Late Pick-Ups

Page 3

Late Fees
Calculating late fees
Payment of late fees
Forms
Positive Identification

Page 4

Children's Records
Payment Policies
Deposit
Tuition
Refund of Deposit
Health Policies
Keeping Sick Children Home

Page 5
Taking Sick Children Home
Immunizations
Health Guidelines
Fever

Page 6
Antibiotics
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Severe coughing
Conjunctivitis
Strep Throat and Impetigo
Chickenpox, Mumps, Roseola, etc.
Head Lice
Pinworms
Allergies

Page 7
Injuries
Medications
OCCC Harassment Policy
Philosophy and Procedure
Definitions

Page 8
Scope of Policy
OCCC Rights
Child Abuse and Neglect Policy
Daily Information
Signing In and Out
Clothing

Page 9
Food
Naps
Diapers

Page 10
Toilet Training
Celebrations
Walks and Field Trips
Fire Drills
Weather Emergencies

Page 11

Parents
Parents at the Center
Parents' Meetings
Parent Conferences

Page 12
Parent/Teacher Communication
Our Children
Children's Placement in Groups
Enrollment Contract
Children's Transition into Groups
Separation Anxiety

**********

Welcome TO OTTER CREEK CHILD CENTER!

We are delighted that you are interested in our program! We have developed this handbook to explain our goals, philosophy, and program policies. We hope that the information in this book will serve as a basic orientation to our program so you will know what to expect when you come to the Center.

There is much to learn and remember about a new program. Good communication and understanding between parents, staff, and children are very important in keeping our program running smoothly. We hope you will ask questions about things you don't understand and make suggestions to us for ways in which you think we can improve our program. We sincerely hope that your involvement with Otter Creek Child Center will be a positive and rewarding experience.


The OCCC Staff

Services of Otter Creek Child Center are available without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, disability, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status.

MISSION STATEMENT

Purpose
To improve quality child care options available to the Addison County community.
Philosophy
*Each child is an individual who deserves to be treated with love and respect at all times.
*Feeling loved, cared about, and safe are the most important aspects of good development.
*Children will let us know what they need to learn.
*In our very hurried world, children need time to be children in an unhurried way.
*Helping children grow into healthy adults is a very important aspect of shaping the future of the world.
*Discipline is an attitude, not just a variety of techniques one uses with children.
*An integrated student body is essential to a healthy developmental experience.
*Family is the foundation of a child's well-being.
Mission
*To provide high-quality child care.
Goals
*To foster the intellectual, social, physical, and emotional well-being of each child.
*To provide affordable child care within the constraints of fiscal solvency.
*To support families in meeting the needs of their children.

Programs

Child care programs

*Providing quality child care for children aged 6 weeks through age 5.
*Giving children a safe, healthy, clean environment with professional, dependable supervision in a home-like atmosphere.
*Offering varied and creative programs allowing for differences in individual developmental patterns.

The scholarship program
*Providing financial aid to allow families of varied financial resources to receive child care.
The resource program
*Maintaining a library of reference materials available for parents.
*Offering families referrals to various community services.

Back to table of contents


HOURS OF OPERATION
Otter Creek Child Center offers Full Year Enrollment for child care.
The Center is open each weekday from 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. except on the days listed in our calendar. In consideration of the staff and children, we ask that the Center's hours be respected, as follows:
*To allow staff adequate set-up time in the morning, and because we are only licensed to have children from 7:30-5:30, under no circumstances may children be dropped off earlier than 7:30 A.M.
*Children in the morning session must be signed out by 12:30 P.M. in order to maintain the proper teacher: child ratio for the afternoon group. Children attending in the afternoon may be dropped off any time after 12:30 P.M.
*The Center closes at 5:30 promptly. We recommend that, to avoid late fees, parents arrive no later than 5:20, to allow themselves adequate time for greeting their child, gathering his or her belongings, and chatting with teachers. To help parents with on-time pick-ups, staff will, whenever possible, prepare children by getting them dressed if parents have not arrived by 5:20.
The policy for late pick-up times is listed below.
Late Pick-Up Policy
Teachers will assess late fees if parents fail to meet the following requirements.
Morning Enrollment. For families enrolled for the morning only, children must be signed out by 12:30 P.M.
Afternoon and Full-Day Enrollment. For families enrolled for the afternoon or all day, parents and children must be out of the building by 5:30 P.M. All times are determined according to the front hall clock.
Avoiding Late Pick-Ups. If you know ahead of time that you are going to be late, you should make arrangements with your emergency contact, another family member, or someone else to take your child home, and then fill out a Pick-up Authorization Form for that person in the morning (see the section Positive Identification).

Late Fees
Calculating late fees. Families signing out or leaving late will be charged late fees on a per-minute basis determined as follows:
First occasion: $1 per minute; Second occasion: $1.50 per minute; Third occasion: $2.00 per minute. Subsequently add $.50 per minute for each additional occasion.
Payment of late fees. Notice of a late fee will be posted in the child's cubby as soon as possible after the late pick-up occurs. Payment of the late fee is due with the family's next tuition payment. All questions and concerns about fees or the late pick-up policy should be taken up with the Director within a week of the charge being incurred.

Back to table of contents

FORMS
Each child attending the Center must have the following forms completed, signed, and on file at the Center. New forms must be updated each year of the child's enrollment.
1. Enrollment and Registration Contract. Read this form carefully. It details your family's financial obligation to the Center. It also includes the Emergency Medical Permission form.
2. Child Admission Form. This form includes family information, phone numbers, emergency contacts, doctor's name and number, and the names of people authorized to pick up your child. There are also questions regarding your child's development, immunization record (a state requirement), and habits. No child will be allowed to attend the Center unless these forms are completed and on file.
3. Membership Application.* As a non-profit corporation, under the laws of the State of Vermont, and a tax-exempt 501 c 3 organization, we need to have parents apply to become members who then have certain rights, Including the right to attend the annual meeting of members and elect the Board of Directors. *Membership is by choice, not mandatory.

These forms will be filled out prior to the child's attending the Center. It is essential that the information on these forms be kept up-to-date. This could be critical in an emergency. Changes in address and phone numbers should be reported at once to the teacher or the Director.

Back to table of contents

POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION
Only those people listed on the Child Admission Form will be allowed to pick up your child from the Center. Please arrange a time for the staff to meet them so we will be able to recognize them. You must fill out a Pick-up Authorization Form each time someone other than you is to pick up your child. These forms are available from the teachers. If, in a real emergency (such as an accident), you must have someone else pick up your child and you are unable to fill out a Pick-up Authorization Form, we must have your verbal authorization, as well as a description of the pick-up person's appearance and a password that will identify him or her for us.
This state regulation is for your child's protection! We understand that things do come up on short notice for everyone. However, except in a real emergency, we will not release a child to anyone other than the parents until we have this authorization in writing.

Back to table of contents

CHILDREN'S RECORDS
Regulations regarding children's records were adopted by the State of Vermont in 1976. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure parents' rights of confidentiality, inspection, and amendment of children's records. A folder containing application forms, permission slips, and developmental forms is kept on file for each child enrolled at the Center. These records are kept confidential. Parents may request to review these records and request additions or corrections through the Director at any time.

Back to table of contents

PAYMENT POLICIES
All questions related to payments can be directed to the Director.

Deposit
A deposit equal to a biweekly tuition payment must be paid upon execution of the enrollment and registration contract, prior to a child's attendance at the Center. This deposit is applicable to the last biweekly payment of the contracted enrollment period.

Tuition
It is expected that all tuition will be paid on a biweekly or monthly basis, in advance. In cases where tuition is not received in advance, the deposit will be applied to any tuition not paid within five days of the due date. In addition, a $20.00 late fee will be assessed in order to cover the administrative costs of recalculating the status of the account, the time needed to contact the parents to inform them of the overdue account, and, in general, to discourage late payments.

If the tuition deposit is not restored and the late fee not paid, another late payment will render the child ineligible for child-care services immediately.

Parents are responsible for all enrolled hours even if the child does not attend.

Refund of Deposit
If a child is withdrawn from the Center before the expiration of the time period contracted for, the Center will retain the deposit unless the Center is able to enroll another child in the group that the child was withdrawn from by the date of the withdrawal. If the slot is filled on time, the Center shall refund the deposit, less $50.00 to cover the administrative costs incurred in finding a replacement.

Back to table of contents

HEALTH POLICIES
Keeping Sick Children Home
We understand that working and trying to raise a family is a very tough job. Parents are sometimes caught between the conflicting demands of family and work responsibilities. The stress of maintaining this balancing act when children are sick is difficult at best. We recommend that you have an emergency back-up plan for days when your child cannot attend OCCC due to illness. We ask that you help us keep everyone as healthy as possible by abiding by our health policies. We expect and appreciate your help.

There have been times when parents have brought their children to the Center and asked that they remain inside for health reasons. We do not have the staffing to accommodate such requests. Children need to be able to participate in all Center activities while they are here. If your child is too sick to play outside, then your child is probably too sick to be at the Center and we ask that you keep him or her home.
If your child is sick and will be staying home, we ask that you call us before 8:00 A.M. so we can plan for the day. OCCC's phone number is 388-9688.
Taking Sick Children Home
Should your child become ill or injured during the day, we will call you to come for him or her. If we cannot reach you, we will call the emergency person you have given us. Therefore, it is essential that your emergency person know that this will be an expectation and be someone who is close by and able to take care of your child on short notice. You or your emergency person are expected to come within an hour to get your child.
Immunizations
It is the Center's policy that all children must be immunized on a regular basis. A copy of each child's immunization record is kept in each file. Parents are responsible for keeping staff informed of updates to the immunization record.
Health Guidelines
The health and well-being of everyone at the Center is of great concern to us. Colds and flu do occur with greater frequency in a child care situation. Therefore, we have developed health guidelines to help ensure that both children and staff have as healthy a time as possible at the Center. We also follow recommendations of the Vermont State Licensing Regulations, which are available in each classroom.

A family must notify the Center whenever the child has a communicable disease. The Center reserves the right to send a child home or to refuse to allow a child to remain at the Center if the condition of his or her health warrants it.

*Fever. A child having a fever of 100 degrees oral/auxiliary or 101 degrees rectal must stay home until he or she has been fever-free for 24 hours. If a child develops a fever while at the Center, the teacher will contact you to pick up the child. If a fever is somewhat above normal but lower than the above reading, the teacher will call to let you know, re-check the child in about an hour and then call again if the child still has a fever. If your child has a fever at home or is sent home with a fever, they may not return until they have been fever-free for 24 hours. PLEASE DO NOT ASK TEACHERS TO BEND THIS RULE! A child who has been ill may look well and act well in the morning, but can become tired and develop symptoms by the afternoon. This policy protects your child from developing further infections when their system is already under stress.

An exception to the above statement will be considered by the Center if the child has a fever of 100 degrees or less from teething. It is very common for children to run a low-grade fever due to teething and this will be taken into account if the child appears healthy.

There may be other times when a child does not have a fever but seems too sick to be at the Center. In situations like this, the Center reserves the right to send the child home and will contact you. Childcare is stressful and hard work for children; even more so when they are not feeling well. A child who may seem well at home may just not have the energy it takes to get through a day at Otter Creek. Having a child in this state of health in the group puts an undue burden on the teachers and the other children.
*Antibiotics. A child with a contagious condition for which antibiotics have been prescribed may not attend the Center until he or she has been treated for approximately 24 hours with this medication.
*Vomiting. A vomiting child must stay home. The child will be sent home if he or she becomes ill while at the Center. The child may not return until the vomiting has stopped.
*Diarrhea. A child having three loose stools beyond what is normal for that child within a 24-hour period or a child having loose stools persisting for more than 48 hours must stay home until he or she is symptom-free. Exceptions will be considered if the diarrhea is due to a reaction from medication or food, as long as the child appears healthy and is in no danger of dehydration.
*Severe coughing. A child whose cough is constant, causes difficulty in breathing (for example, causes the child to turn red or blue in the face), or is associated with breathing problems related to croup, whooping cough, asthma, or pneumonia, must stay home until the condition is taken care of.
*Conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis ("pink-eye") is an infection of the eye in which the white of the eye becomes pink or red and the eye produces a discharge. Conjunctivitis can be either bacterial or viral. Bacterial infections must be treated with an antibiotic. Viral infections will go away by themselves. Please see a doctor to distinguish which type your child has, otherwise the Center will not allow the child to attend. This is a highly contagious disease. A child with conjunctivitis may attend the Center after being seen by a doctor and treated with antibiotics for 24 hours.
*Strep Throat and Impetigo. A child with a strep infection may exhibit some of the following symptoms: sore throat, cold, runny nose, cough, fever, headache, stomachache, earache, and swollen lymph nodes in the throat and neck. Impetigo is a common skin rash in children. The rash looks oozy, red, and round and may have a flat, honey-colored crust to it. The child must visit a doctor to be given antibiotics and follow the 24 hour period (see Antibiotics). The Center will notify all parents if strep cases have been reported in the Center.
*Chickenpox, Mumps, Roseola, etc. A child who has an infectious disease must stay home until all contagion is gone; that is, when all the sores are scabbed over. With roseola, by the time the rash appears and the fever is gone, the child is no longer contagious. Please inform the Center if your child has been exposed to an infectious illness.
*Head Lice. As in all schools, occasionally there may be outbreaks of head lice at the Center. This is not an indication of poor hygiene, either at the home or at the Center. In the event of such an outbreak, detailed instructions as to how to deal with the problem will be distributed.
*Pinworms. Pinworms are one of the most common intestinal parasites in children. Luckily, they are more of a nuisance than a problem. Symptoms can include itching around the anus, especially at night, restlessness, and irritability. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, please see your doctor. The child may return after 24 hours of treatment.
*Allergies. Allergies are a frequent problem with young children. If your child has any known allergies, please fill out the appropriate questions on the Child Admission Form and discuss the allergy and reaction with your child's teachers. In this way, we can do everything possible to ensure that your child does not come into contact with these substances while in our care. We will also know the course of action to take if he or she does.
*Injuries. In the event of a minor mishap, teachers will administer basic first aid (cleaning, ice, kisses, and Band-Aids). In the event of a major accident, the rescue squad will be called. The head teacher or teacher will accompany your child to the hospital and wait until you arrive.
Medications
We ask that parents try to schedule medications so that they can be given at home. If this is not possible, medications that are prescribed by your physician may be administered at the Center. Please give all medications to the teacher. We would also appreciate knowing if your child is receiving any medications at home, as this often has an effect on the child's behavior.

The following guidelines apply to all medications, including non-prescription drugs, such as Tylenol. The center may dispense medications only under the following conditions:
*The prescriptions must be in writing and must specify the date, child's name, time, and dosage to be administered.
*All medicine containers must be labeled with the child's name.
*Parents must sign an authorization for the Center to dispense medications.

Back to table of contents

OCCC HARASSMENT POLICY
(ADOPTED JANUARY 1998)
Philosophy and Procedure
It is the right of all people to enjoy freedom from abusive and threatening behaviors. OCCC provides an environment that protects this right because harassing behavior is unacceptable. If a parent harasses a staff member, the subject of the harassment should convey to the offender her/his desire for the behavior to stop. The staff member should report this behavior to the Executive Director or the Board President. If the behavior continues, an investigation will be conducted. The Board of Directors will determine the action to be taken by OCCC.

Definitions
Harassing behavior is any action taken by one person toward another that is offensive, threatening, intimidating, coercive, disruptive and/or causes fearfulness. These behaviors include, but are not limited to:

*Unwanted physical contact

*Foul language

*Badgering

*Slander

*Stalking

*Physical aggression or force

*Threats of force

*Offensive or derogatory jokes, remarks, and gestures

*Contacting staff member at home after staff member has requested that parent not call

Scope of Policy
This policy is intended to protect all OCCC staff members or anyone who is conducting OCCC business on or off premises.

OCCC Rights
If, at any time, an employee of OCCC is the subject of harassment by a parent, OCCC maintains the absolute right to require the immediate withdrawal of that family from its program. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, or the full Board of Directors, will make final decisions regarding such a withdrawal.

Back to table of contents

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT POLICY
Child abuse is against the law. All teachers at the Center are chosen very carefully and are required to have references on their file attesting to their suitability to work with young children.

The law requires that all people working with children and families report suspected or confirmed child abuse and neglect to the Vermont Social and Rehabilitation Services, reporting suspected abuse or neglect to. Otter Creek Child Center staff must abide by these state regulations.

Back to table of contents

DAILY INFORMATION
Signing In and Out
Parents are responsible for signing their children in and out of the Center each day. There are sheets placed outside each of the rooms for this purpose. It is essential that parents remember to do this. It is also a State fire safety requirement and it is our only record of who is here in case of a fire.
Clothing
Children should come to the Center comfortably dressed in play clothes that are easy to fasten and unfasten for toileting. We do a lot of messy activities each day, so it is important to send your child in clothes that can get dirty!

Since children will be going outdoors to play on most days, please dress your child appropriately, especially in the colder weather.

All children need to have two complete changes of clothing suitable for the season. It is especially important to have extra shirts, socks, pants, and underwear.

During the winter, snowsuits, boots, hats, and mittens (attached to the coat) are necessities.

During the summer, children must have appropriate clothing for water play. Toilet-trained children need a bathing suit. For sanitation reasons, children in diapers must have waterproof "swimming" diapers or plastic diaper covers.

For older children, these clothing changes can be kept in their cubbies. We ask that parents check cubbies daily to be sure there are adequate changes for their child. PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME! Indelible markers work well for this purpose.
Food
Please send a prepared lunch you are fairly certain your child will eat. Suggestions on workable bag lunches include: yogurt, a cup of fruit, last night's dinner, cheese, slightly cooked vegetables, etc. Very young children tend not to do well with sandwiches and very thin soups, but again we know there are many individual differences. You can place lunch bags and boxes (with your child's name on them) in the refrigerator in your child's room. If your child will be attending for a particularly long day, please include enough protein-rich food for the whole day.

Breastfeeding is strongly encouraged and supported. If you are expressing milk, please let the teacher know if it is fresh or frozen when you leave the bottle. Formula must be pre-mixed and brought to the Center in bottles clearly marked with the child's name. Please supply enough formula and clean bottles for your child for the day. This is very important because state law prohibits us from preparing formula at the Center. We prefer not to let infants fall asleep with bottles unless they are being rocked to sleep. Please let the teacher know your preference. Pacifiers will be given to any child whose parents supply them.
Naps
We will arrange naps for whenever children are tired. Infants will be sleeping in cribs and older children on washable mats. As infants get older, teachers will work toward a regular naptime after lunch. Individual variations will be happily accommodated. We welcome your suggestions about ways to help your child fall asleep.

Parents of older children need to provide bedding for napping purposes. Children are not allowed to sleep directly on the mat surface so you will need to provide two blankets, a blanket and a sheet, or a sleeping bag. If your child is in the Sea Pup group, you need to provide two crib sheets and a blanket. These must be taken home each Friday to be washed. This is a state sanitary requirement and we depend on you to follow through in this area. Please be sure your child's name is clearly marked on blankets and sheets.
Diapers
If you choose to use cloth diapers, please bring an individual diaper pail or medium-sized plastic bags with your supply of cloth diapers. You must take this home and return it daily, as teachers cannot wash out the diapers.
Our ordinary procedure is to wash the child's bottom with clear water, or soap if needed, and put on fresh diapers. We prefer not to use powder but will use whatever you request and supply for redness.

Toilet Training
Children at Otter Creek are at varying stages of toilet training. Communication between parents and staff are key to successful toilet training, keeping in mind that it is the child, not the adults, who will ultimately determine when he or she will be trained.
We will make every effort to work with parents on the toilet-training process, but may sometimes request that a child we feel is not developmentally ready be left in diapers until a later time. This is not a reflection on the age at which you plan to train your child, only the reality of needing to care for a group of children so that we cannot devote full time to the training of one.
Celebrations
We encourage you to join your child's group on birthdays or other special family times. If you would like to provide a special snack for these occasions, please let us know. We ask that birthday snacks be healthy snacks, such as muffins and fruit breads, carrot cake, and dried fruits. Be creative! Help us encourage good nutrition by providing healthy birthday treats!
Walks and Field Trips
Walks provide children with interesting experiences outside the Center. Walks are a regular part of the daily schedule and the Center has developed specific guidelines to ensure the safety of the children while they are away from the Center. Children may go to the municipal gym, the library, the downtown area, or the college.

Special field trips to the orchard, fire station, etc., will be scheduled occasionally. Parents will be notified ahead of time of these outings and will be asked to sign a special permission slip so their child may attend. Any field trip that requires children to ride in cars will require a permission slip and teachers may ask parents to leave car seats or to help with the driving. Please let us know if you would like to be involved in any of these trips. Your help is always appreciated!
Fire Drills
We are required to have fire drills periodically throughout the year. This will be done with as few children present as possible, since the alarm can be frightening to young children. The Center is equipped with a complete fire alarm system and a sprinkler system. We have in place an emergency fire escape plan that the staff will use in case of an emergency.
Weather Emergencies
On days when the schools are closed because of hazardous road conditions, OCCC will make every effort to be open. The number of children we can accept on those days, however, is contingent on the number of teachers present at the Center. Parents can listen to WFAD (1490 AM), to find out if we will be closed. Parents can also call the Center after 6:30 a.m. to listen for a special message on the answering machine.

If we are open, parents must call the Center to see whether there is room for their child at that time. The teachers who are present will make the decision about how many children can come using the State of Vermont adult/child ratio guidelines. Given the fact that groups may be mixed on those days, it is safe to say that we will be able to take four or five children for each teacher present, depending on the ages of the children.

If we already have the maximum number of children for the teachers present and there is a chance that another teacher will make it to work, we will put any additional children on a waiting list to be called when the next teacher arrives.

If you arrive at the Center without calling ahead, you may be asked to stay with your child until we have enough staffing to accommodate him or her. Also, if conditions during the day become hazardous, the Center reserves the right to close early. In such a case, parents will be called and expected to pick up their children.

Back to table of contents

PARENTS
Parents at the Center
Parents are warmly encouraged to spend as much time as possible at the Center. Your children, especially if they attend full time, spend many hours at Otter Creek. We feel that it is crucial to develop a strong link between the Center and home in order to provide the best possible care for all of the children.

If you can, spend time with your child's group occasionally. Participate in the activities, talk with the teacher. It is important for you to know what your child's day is like at child care and it is important for us to know how your child is at home. Good communication means good childcare! We strongly encourage your participation in our program and welcome your suggestions and comments.
Parents' Meetings
We plan parent meetings throughout the year. They include discussions on topics of interest and concern, speakers, and an opportunity to be involved in planning Center activities. We hope that you will be involved in these meetings.
Parent Conferences

We schedule conferences at the beginning, middle, and end of each session. This is the time to sit down with your child's teacher's to discuss your child's growth and development. Conferences can also be scheduled at any time during the session when there is a concern or if you just want to talk with your child's teacher's about how your child is doing. Teachers will always make time for these conferences.
Parent Participation
Each year, the Center organizes two "Parent Help Days." The work might include seasonal cleaning (such as washing windows and shampooing rugs), painting, small construction projects, or caring for the children who come with their parents. We expect each Otter Creek family to contribute to two (2) such days per year. This is one way we can all help the Center keep costs down, and it is also a way for parents to get to know one another. Please sign up to do your share.

Parent/Teacher Communication
If parents have issues to discuss with teachers, often it is better to make an appointment to discuss them, rather than try to find time during drop-off and pick-up; arrival and departure times tend to be hectic and teachers need to focus their attention on the children at those times. Parents can also leave a note; there are message centers in each program.

We believe that the key to having a happy and well run Center is direct and open communication between people, so please ask about anything and everything. Often the way we do things in a group setting is not the way you might do things at home. If you have a concern, we encourage you to speak directly to your child's teacher about it. We welcome the opportunity to explain why we do things a certain way and to learn about other ways that you have found successful.
If you need support in approaching your child's teachers, you can ask the Director for help. Should you still have questions after speaking with your child's teacher's and the Director, a meeting will be arranged with the chairperson of the program committee.
Vermont's toll free number for parental concerns regarding day care is 1-800-540-7942. This service has been established to assist parents with major concerns.

Back to table of contents

OUR CHILDREN
Children's Placement in Groups
Children at Otter Creek are placed in one of four groups, shown below:
Group Typical Age Range
Sea Pups: Infants and Toddlers
Otters: Older Toddlers
Tigers: 2 to 3-year-olds
Eagles: Preschoolers (3 to 5-year-olds)

Although children are placed in the groups based generally on the above age ranges, age is not the only factor used to determine a child's placement. Other factors include a child's developmental age, social skills, peer interaction, the current groups of children, and prior experience in child care.

In addition, the changing dynamics of each of the four groups from year to year plays a role in a child's placement. For example, placing an 18-month-old as a Sea Pup or an Otter might depend partly on the average ages of the two groups at that time. If most of the Sea Pups are around 18 months old, the child will probably fit well in that group. But if most of the Sea Pups are under a year old, that child might fare better as an Otter.

Children are placed in groups at the Center's discretion, based on the above criteria, although we welcome your thoughts and feelings in the process. Placements are usually final, but they can be changed if circumstances warrant it.

Enrollment Contract
Once children are placed in a program at Otter Creek, the space is non-transferable to another child or family.
Children's Transition into Groups
It is important to note that some children have more difficulties adjusting to a group situation than others. They may exhibit disruptive or aggressive behavior. Or they may appear withdrawn and shy. Each child has his or her own individual way of expressing stress.
If this situation persists for longer than what is considered a usual period of transition, teachers will arrange a conference with the parents to discuss the situation. Our goals in a situation such as this are to lower the stress that the child is experiencing, to facilitate his or her transition into the program, and to work together with the parents to provide the best care possible.

Several courses of action may be pursued, including, but not limited to, suggesting limited hours of attendance, encouraging more parent involvement in the child's daily program at the Center, offering community resource referrals, or changing the child's group placement.
If the above measures fail to alleviate the child's stress, the Center reserves the right to limit the child's hours of attendance in order to facilitate his or her transition into the program. In some cases it may be in the best interest of the child to find another child-care placement; the Center would then recommend this course of action.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can be a difficult issue for both parents and children, especially if this is the first time that you and your child will be separated from one another. It is just as difficult for parents to leave a crying child as it is for the child to be left. In fact, it may be even more difficult for parents; the child soon stops crying and becomes involved in activities at the Center, while Mom and Dad are at work not knowing how their child is doing. Take heart: separation anxiety is normal and will stop in a short time after the child begins to feel comfortable in his or her new environment.

Here are some things that you can do before your child starts attending Otter Creek to ease the transition between home and child care and prepare your child for his or her stay:
*Talk to your child about Otter Creek before you start coming. Even nonverbal children benefit from this.
*Explain to your child that you will be at work and will pick him or her up afterwards.
*Drive by the Center before you start coming and tell your child that he or she will be going there while you are at work.
*Talk about the type of day your child will have at Otter Creek (for example, "You will play games, paint a picture, sing songs, have lunch, and take a nap").
*Talk about the people who will be taking care of your child. Say their names so your child will know them when you arrive.
*Tell your child how much fun Otter Creek will be.
*Visit the Center with your child before he or she starts attending.
It may help your peace of mind to know that the teachers are trained and prepared to help a child with separating from his or her parents. Also, feel free to call from work to see how your child is doing; that can ease your mind while you are apart. We are always happy to help in any way we can to help with your family's transition to child care.


Finally…Welcome to Otter Creek!
We look forward to your family's participation in our program. We strive to make this a comfortable, welcoming place for everyone! We sincerely hope to be able to serve you in the best way possible.

Back to table of contents

Home | Mission Statement | Directors | Hours/Tuition Rates | Accreditation

Parent Handbook | Waitlist Form | OCCC Programs | Links