Information & Policies

Registration Packet

You have received several forms with your application; most forms are required by the Child Care Administration for our licensing.

1. Family Handbook: Information and Policies – This ICDC information and policies manual.
2. Emergency Card – Provide names and numbers to be used in an emergency. It is imperative that these are kept up to date.
3. Health Inventory – Includes immunization records.
4. Contract- This form covers understanding and acceptance of the policies and procedures of ICDC. Included on this form are permission for photographic release, email address for communication and any modifications agreed upon with the director.

Hours

1. ICDC is open 7 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.
2. A fee of $5 will be charged if a child is left past 5:20 p.m. If the child remains past 5:30 p.m. an additional $5 will be charged and $5 for each subsequent quarter hour. Please mindful that habitual lateness is inconsiderate toward staff who also have personal responsibilities.
3. To bring continuity to our program and consistency to your child’s life, we ask that your child be in attendance by 10 a.m. unless previous arrangements have been made.
4. Naptime is 1-3 p.m. and we ask that you let us know ahead of time if you must pick up during this time. We can have your child ready so there is minimal interruption.
5. When the child’s class is scheduled for a field trip, no coverage will be offered for children who do not attend the field trip

Holidays

1. ICDC will be closed for the following holidays:
   1. New Year’s Day
   2. Good Friday
   3. Memorial Day
   4. Fourth of July
   5. Labor Day
   6. Thanksgiving Day
   7. Thanksgiving Friday
   8. Christmas Eve
   9. Christmas Day
2. These holidays will be observed on the federal holiday. If the holiday is on a Saturday, we will close on the preceding Friday. If the holiday falls on Sunday, we will observe it on Monday.
3. We will post a reminder for each holiday the center is closed.
4. Your child’s fee will be charged for these days.

Communication

1. Developmental screenings for Infant and Toddlers are performed within 90 days of enrollment and results are shared with families and references made when appropriate.
2. Families and the Infant and Toddler teachers create a developmental plan and work with parents to keep their child’s developmental plans updated every three months.
3. So that we might provide the best care for your child please inform the center of IEPs or IFSPs.
4. Family conferences are offered twice a year: for children two and over, conferences are held in October and April (more frequently as needed); for children under two, conferences are held within 30 days of enrollment and every three months thereafter. A sign-up sheet is posted on the parent board. Please sign up to meet with your teacher to discuss any issues that arise. Conferences will be scheduled within one month.
5. Often a teacher-generated conference will be requested when a child is transitioning from one developmental/age group to the next. This is a great time for the teacher to share expectations pertaining to this new milestone in your child’s life.
6. If you have concerns, suggestions or questions, please address them to the Director.
7. The center has a board that meets as needed to oversee the Center. Should you have any questions that the ICDC Director cannot answer, he/she will direct the questions to the board or you may contact the Pastor.
8. The Director has available and keeps updated community resources and referral sources for children with disabilities and special health care needs. It is our desire to work with the family and community agencies to better meet the needs of the child.

Emergency Plan

1. In case of an emergency affecting only our facility, we will vacate the building and walk to Impact Church, across our parking lot. We will have the ICDC phone with us and also can be reached at the church (410-543-2484).
2. In case of an emergency affecting the whole Impact Church campus (including the Impact Child Development Center), we will transport children by personal vehicles to the Stepping Stones facility at 402 W. Main St., Fruitland, MD. Their phone number is 410-341-7668.
3. We will have emergency cards with your numbers with us and will make every effort to contact you.

Inclement Weather and/or Public Health Emergency Closures

In case of severe weather, please tune to local television stations WBOC-16 or WMDT-47. Normal fees apply to closures.

In case of a Public Health Emergency Closure, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, it may be necessary for ICDC to close. This may include, but will not necessary be limited to, instances when ICDC is required to close in compliance with a federal, state or local government order or when the ICDC is required or advised to close to address a confirmed or suspected outbreak among staff or children. Please be advised that if ICDC must close for any period of time due to a public health emergency or related circumstances, tuition remains in effect for up to two weeks. After two weeks, if a family wishes to maintain their child’s placement, payment will be expected at the rate of 50%. If the parent or guardian does not wish to reserve the child’s placement, the child must be withdrawn in writing and their placement will be forfeited.

What To Bring

1. Clothing – Children should have a complete change of clothes at the center at all times.
   1. Please put your child’s name on the items that you bring. We cannot be responsible for unmarked articles.
   2. In spring, fall and winter, please have a pair of pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a pair of socks and two pairs of underpants at the center at all times.
   3. In summer, please have a pair of shorts, a short-sleeved top, a pair of socks and two pairs of underpants at the center at all times.
   4. Potty training: If we are helping to potty train your child, please dress your child in pants (without snaps, etc.) that your child can easily pull down and pull up. When we begin in underwear be sure to have several changes of clothing at the center.
   5. Please do not dress children in clothing that they may not play in. Childhood is a carefree messy time. Belts are not a recommended accessory for children during this stage of development.
2. Footwear – Shoes should be easy for 2-5 year olds to put on. Shoes with backs or back straps are expected. No flip-flops or mule-type shoes. Feet should be well protected at all times.
3. Outerwear – Children should have a jacket or sweater at the center at all times, with the exception of very hot summer months. We recommended one that stays here. In colder months a coat, hat, and mittens/gloves are required for outdoor play. We suggest a set of head and hand covering that stays at the center
4. Jewelry – Any accessories deemed unsafe by staff will be removed.

What Not To Bring

For the children 2 years and older do not bring:

• Bottles
• Pacifiers
• Sippy cups
• Personal toys (unless instructed by teacher)

Cubbies

Each child has a cubby to “house” coats, lunch box, bedding, etc. All personal items should be kept in the center section. Bottom is for bedding. Top is for parent-teacher communication and sunscreen only. Clean out daily.

Curriculum/Learning Centers

Here at ICDC we believe each child’s activities should be individualized to address their developmental needs. Within the daily schedule of Indoor and Outdoor Child- Initiated Play Times, Circle Time, and Calendar there is a balance of individual and group opportunities, and quiet and active experiences that meet the child’s needs. The Center’s Learning and Work Time activities feature directed play and exploration, supportive dialogue and conversation. Opportunities for skill building occur through Music and Movement time. Daily living activities are addressed through clean up, snack, nap and potty/diaper time. We provide many resources for extending learning through extracurricular activities, including field trips and guest visitors. We consider these resources crucial to maintaining an individualized, balanced and exciting curriculum.

1. Your child’s preschool classroom has been designed to be developmentally appropriate and accessible to all children.
2. The space is designed to meet the needs of all early learners and is reflective and adaptable to the interests of the children.
3. Each classroom is divided into Learning Centers that provide self-guided or directed activities that are realistic and child friendly, and can be individualized to meet specific developmental needs.
4. Children learn while at play and each of these centers encourages the developmental skills children need to thrive. Some examples of the learning centers are: housekeeping, science, reading, art, blocks, etc.
5. Screen Time Policy: Infants and Toddlers will have no exposure to screens (electronic media: TV, computer, etc.). Children 2 and up will have limited exposure to TV, primarily used as a transition activity from lunch to naptime and when it supports curriculum; content will be age-appropriate and support learning and development.

Positive Guidance/Discipline Techniques

1. It is our goal to use a positive approach in our interaction with the children entrusted to us. Staff will be positive role models. We realize each child is special and we want them to grow and develop in a positive way. Appropriate guidance techniques may include using redirection, modeling problem solving, establishing clear rules and providing natural consequences, such as not putting on shoes means no outside play, no new toy till the present one is cleaned up. Every effort will be made to recognize and praise positive behaviors in order to reinforce the desired actions.
2. The children will work together with the staff to develop understandable expectations and consequences for inappropriate classroom behavior. These expectation and consequences will be reviewed and changed cooperatively.
3. Unacceptable behaviors include such actions as hitting, slapping, biting, pushing, kicking, throwing items, spitting, bad language, destroying property. Leaving the playground or classroom area without permission is not allowed. Disrespect shown to staff, such as yelling at teachers, talking back, failure to listen and obey instructions, sticking out tongue, making faces, etc. is also not acceptable.
4. The following techniques are used to correct such behavior:
   1. Child is spoken to about what is wrong with his/her behavior.
   2. Child may be removed from the situation and given choices from other activities.
   3. If behavior doesn’t improve, the child will be removed for a time of reflection. After an age-appropriate period of time, staff will talk to the child about the undesired behavior and discuss with the child how things could have been handled differently.
   4. In order to prevent undesirable behaviors, whenever possible staff will work to identify triggers for negative behaviors and assist children in making better choices.
5. We will often ask parent’s assistance in helping to change a child’s undesirable behavior. If kindness, respect, firmness and consistency do not alter unacceptable behavior, we will not be able to continue to provide care.
6. We may recommend parents use the free services provided by the Lower Shore Early Intervention Program. They work with the child, day care staff and family to make positive behavioral changes.
7. On occasions when a child’s behavior is out of control, we reserve the right to call a parent and ask them to remove the child from the ICDC immediately.

Nutrition and Physical Fitness

1. We serve a morning and afternoon snack with a drink. Every effort is made to provide wholesome food that has limited fat, sugar and salt. Please examine our posted monthly snack menus whenever you like.
2. The child is to bring his/her own lunch in a lunch box or bag, marked with their name. (Milk is provided at lunchtime by the center.) Lunches should be made up of mostly nutritious foods; the staff monitors mealtime and will contact the family if the nutrition value of the food provided is of concern.
3. Each child needs to have a main course (ex. leftovers, sandwich, Lunchable). ICDC policy at lunchtime is for the child to eat half of his/her main dish before having snacks.
4. Mealtime is a social and learning time. They will carry these habits through a lifetime.
5. Child Care Regulations require that milk be served to your child. If a child brings a supplementary drink, it must be 100% fruit juice. Please do not send candy for your child.
6. Please check your child’s store of food in the kitchen and cubbies regularly and remove. We do not have room for an abundance of excess food storage.
7. If ICDC agrees to accept a child who requires a modified diet for medical reasons, we require a written prescription for the diet signed and dated by the child’s licensed health practitioner within the previous six months.
8. To promote physical fitness, children engage in outdoor play (weather permitting) twice daily to encourage large motor skill development and active, free play.

Illness

1. According to Child Care Center Regulations, a center may not admit a child or allow a child to remain in care when the child is exhibiting symptoms of acute illness.
2. We cannot re-admit a child to the ICDC after an absence due to illness for three days or more without first receiving a written statement from the parent or physician. In the case of a fever, a child may not return to the ICDC until their temperature is normal for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
3. A child showing signs or symptoms of illness shall be temporarily isolated in a suitable area until a parent or designated person can be contacted.

Medication

1. Child Care Regulations permit child care centers to administer prescription and non-prescription medication to children in care under certain conditions and with prior written permission from the child’s parent. If possible, however, arrange the time of dosage so that the medication will not have to be given while your child is in care. At least one dose of the medication must have been given to the child at home. A separate form for each prescription and/or non-prescription drug must be filled out by the parent or physician. These forms are available at the center.
2. Non-Prescription Medication
   1. Except for acetaminophen and topical medications, only one dose per illness may be administered during care unless a licensed health practitioner approves the administration of the medication and the dosage.
3. Prescription Medication
   1. Medication must be in a container labeled by the pharmacy or physician with the child’s name and expiration date.
   2. Medication may only be administered according to the health care practitioner’s written instructions or the instructions on the label of the medication, whichever is more recently dated.
   3. In regards to diagnosed asthmatic children, ICDC will administer inhalers/nebulizer treatments per physician’s orders and the center will notify the parents regarding dates and/times medications were administered.

Family Engagement Opportunities

ICDC encourages family engagement to support and enhance learning:

1. Several times a year parents/guardians will have opportunities to join the children on field trips.
2. A Christmas program and fellowship opportunity occurs each year in December.
3. An open house is held at the end of each school year.
4. We also encourage parent/guardians/family members to share your time or talents with the children. Please speak to your child’s teacher to see how you can be a part of your child’s experience at ICDC.

Arrival and Leaving

1. Except for Infants and Toddlers, children should walk (not be carried) in and out of the center.
2. Please notify ICDC if a different person will be picking up your child or if there is someone who is not allowed to pick them up. Upon registration, you will be asked to give a list of those who you will allow to call for your child as well as listing who may not call for your child.
3. If you have an active custody/ visitation/restraining order or other legal document pertaining to the protection/ pick up/decision making rights of the children in our care, we must have a current copy on file at the center at all times.
4. Any visits by others to the center other than the registering guardian/s must be preapproved by the center director.
5. It is important that you observe the hours of care you have agreed upon with the director. Any changes must be agreed upon by the director. For example, if you say that you will be leaving your child from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., that is what the center expects.
6. For safety reasons, we ask that only adults (guardians or teachers) open the center door and also the playground gates.
7. As per Maryland law, do not go around the public school bus when it is in our parking lot. Remind anyone who might transport your child.
8. Please do not be on your cell phone, bluetooth, etc. when you enter and leave the building. We often need to communicate with you and cell phone usage prohibits this dialogue.
9. Smoking Policy: To ensure the safety of children in our center and to provide each child with an appropriate learning atmosphere, the ICDC has a strict no smoking policy. Please refrain from smoking in, on or near the center. This includes any areas near the parking lot, playground or building.