WELCOME
Thank you for considering Dandelion Discovery Center as a childcare provider for your family. In this handbook you will find information about our Center’s daily routines, policies, our calendar and more. If you have any questions or concerns while reviewing this handbook, please feel free to contact the director Elizabeth (Betsy) Garthe-Shiner by email at betsy@dandeliondiscoverycenter.org.
Business Information
Dandelion Discovery Center
164 S High Street
Northport, MI 49670
Text or Phone : 517-348-2830
*Note: After enrollment, please use Brightwheel as the first line of communication except in case of emergency.
Director: Elizabeth (Betsy) Garthe-Shiner
Email: betsy@dandeliondiscoverycenter.org
Website: www.dandeliondiscoverycenter.org
Instagram: @dandeliondiscoverycenter
License Number: DC454015254
MISSION STATEMENT
Dandelion Discovery Center strives to provide children of Northport and surrounding communities with opportunities to tap into their wonder: to explore their world, their creativity and to grow through meaningful, child-led, play experiences.
VISION STATEMENT
We believe that children have the right to play, the right to explore their creativity, to make discoveries about their environment, to ask questions, and to participate as full members of their community. Children deserve to belong. Children deserve to be heard. Children deserve to make choices.
ABOUT BETSY GARTHE-SHINER, DIRECTOR
Dandelion Discovery Center was founded by Elizabeth (Betsy) Garthe-Shiner in 2024 with the intention of providing Northport and surrounding communities with high quality childcare. Growing up in Northport, Betsy’s first classroom experiences were spent as a teacher aide for Margie Tropf in the NPS kindergarten in 2007. Betsy studied Early Childhood Education, earning a BA in Child Development in 2013 from Michigan State University and spent time both in Lansing area elementary schools and MSU Lab Preschools. Through her experiences she met and interacted with inspiring, world class teachers. Through these experiences she realized she was drawn to creating meaningful learning experiences for young children, who were always filled with the most wonder.
In her years teaching she spent time in several Reggio Emilia Inspired settings in Lansing, MI, a Waldorf school in Maui, Hawaii, play-based programs that drew from Tools of the Mind in Haines, Alaska and Creative Curriculum at Leelanau Children’s Center in Leland, MI. Throughout her teaching career she has immersed herself in continual professional development and has found many mentors who provide continual inspiration and opportunities to deepen her knowledge of child development and best practice. She has studied virtually with educators all over the world; some of her biggest influences include the founder of Child-Led Mastery Academy and Fairydust Teaching Sally Haughey, play advocate Kristen Peterson and risky-play expert Rusty Keeler. Betsy is a lifelong learner and is committed to keeping up with best practice to provide enriching and exciting learning experiences to the children in her care.
PHILOSOPHY OF DANDELION DISCOVERY CENTER
Being firmly play-based and child-led means that children will always have a voice at Dandelion Discovery Center. We believe in and hope to embody Dr. Peter Gray’s definition of play.
True play must be:
Self-chosen and self-directed;
Intrinsically motivated (that is, the means are more valued than the ends)
Structured or ordered based on rules in the player’s mind
Imaginative, or has a creative aspect
A playful state of mind—the player is very engaged, alert, mentally active, and focused on the activity, but is not stressed about the activity (they have no fear of judgment, and there are no consequences that matter outside of the activity itself)
National Institute for Play. (n.d.). The basics of play. https://nifplay.org/what-is-play/the-basics/
From birth, humans are driven by discovery. First, we discover ourselves and our place in the world. Once we can move we discover how we can impact the world and what exists outside of ourselves, our homes and our communities. Dandelion Discovery Center is Reggio-Inspired meaning the role of the teacher is “co-researcher”; the teacher there to support children’s emerging interests. Children will be encouraged to engage in rich conversation, to build their language skills, and to experience natural conflicts. These interactions contribute to the development of self-regulation skills, social and emotional awareness, problem solving skills, fosters independence, and invites children to develop a sense of belonging to a community outside of their home. Ideas and input of the children are always welcomed, and children will be provided ample opportunities for learning through play.
Children will engage in process art, nature discovery, and big body play. They will explore literacy through oral storytelling, acting out stories, and reading. As they begin to document their discoveries alongside their teacher, they will develop a natural interest in pre-writing and writing skills. Providing children with ample opportunities to follow their interests and have a variety of experiences that support their overall development and learning.
Dandelion Discovery Center is a mixed-age program, accepting children from five months of age through five years of age, which provides a unique opportunity for children to learn from one another. Kisa Marx, owner of the Play Lab in Chicago, inspired Betsy when she spoke about the meaning of being ‘family centered’. In order to be responsive to families in Leelanau she realized it was necessary for Dandelion to accept our youngest residents. When babies are invited into play, the learning community can be enhanced. As a learning community, we will slow down. The youngest will observe older children as they interact and play, while older children will have the opportunity to become natural leaders. The interactions between the variety of ages allows children to develop social and emotional skills, to learn and share new skills, and will contribute to developing a sense of belonging in the community and in the world.
The Creative Curriculum will be used to support care and teaching strategies to guide the emergent, child-led curriculum. The Creative Curriculum includes an outline of objectives for development and learning for children at birth through third grade. Guidelines and ‘objectives’ for social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and the arts detail typical developmental progression. This tool is useful for defining the stages of development and identifying strategies to meet children where they are and guide them using developmentally appropriate strategies. Betsy has received training on this system and will use it to support learning experiences in the classroom.
You can learn more about the Creative Curriculum on their website, https://teachingstrategies.com/teaching-strategies-for-families/ or by asking to borrow hard copy materials from the center.
ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
We ask that prospective families visit Dandelion Discovery Center to meet the program director/lead teacher and visit the environment after hours. During the visit we will get to know each other, have the opportunity to ask and answer questions and give your child a chance to familiarize themselves with the center. Seeing the space and meeting the teacher in person will help determine if this program is a good fit for your child and family.
After the visit, we will move forward with the registration process. A registration fee of $100 per child will be required before being accepted into the program; parents of returning children will be charged a 50$ registration fee at the start of the school year, due by the first week of September.
Tuition may be paid on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on your family's needs and preferences. Tuition is due prior to the start of care. Bi-Weekly/monthly invoices will be provided via the Brightwheel app. Payments can be made online (credit, debit or automatic draft) via the Brightwheel app. All transaction fees will be covered by clients. If payers choose to pay with ACH, the fee will be 0.6% with a max of $2 per transaction. If payers choose to pay with a credit card, the processing fee will be a flat 2.95%. Payment can be accepted in cash or check at Dandelion Discovery Center. If cash or check payments are preferred, payments are due a week prior to online due-date to allow time for processing. DHHS payments are accepted and can be processed through Brightwheel. The remaining balance will be due bi-weekly. Contact Betsy if you need help with the DHHS process.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Early Morning Care 7:30am-8am
5$/day selected on the tuition agreement form
10$/day as a drop-in request requests must be made and approved a full day in advance via Brightwheel
Extended Afternoon Care Monday-Thursday 4 pm-5pm
10$/day selected on the tuition agreement form
12$/day as an approved drop in request made a full day in advance on Brightwheel
No extended care is available June-August
Dandelion Discovery Center is a 5-day per week, year-round program. Preference will go to families who choose to enroll full time, year round. Children benefit from routine and consistency of care and we believe providing a regular weekly schedule will help your child to thrive. In addition, changing schedules are difficult to manage, we must meet state staffing requirements, retain staff and balance our budget.
Our program will be available for families ‘year-round’. Families who choose to ‘disenroll’ in the summertime will be required to re-enroll with the full 100$ registration fee by the first week of September. Spaces may no longer be available when you plan to return.
Part time care is difficult to manage. For the 2024-2025 year, we will accommodate part-time care. In order to make Dandelion Discovery Center sustainable for years to come, we can only accept a limited number of families part time. One slot per age group can be used for part time care unless otherwise decided by the director. For example; if a family A chooses part time care 3 days a week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, a 2 day a week slot will be available for family B on Thursday and Friday. Other accommodations may be made at the discretion of the director.
Due to state requirements for child-age/staff ratios we cannot accommodate for flexible weekly schedules. ‘Temporary’ slots will be managed on a case-by-case basis. Temporary slots are impermanent and do not save a spot for full time enrollment. Notice that a prospective family will be enrolling full time and will be filling the 5-day-per week spot as soon as possible so that alternative care can be arranged.
Parents can opt-in to ‘early drop off’ or ‘late pick up’ on enrollment forms- this can be done for individual days. For example you may choose to have early drop offs on Mondays and Wednesday for the whole year but choose 8-AM drop off Tuesdays, Thursday and Friday. You also may choose to have 8 AM drop offs for the year but request an ‘early drop off’ or ‘late pickup’ for a specific day, week or month with approval.
LATE PICK UP
Un-approved late pick ups will result in additional charges. Unplanned late-pick up is defined by being more than 2 minutes late. A 20 dollar fee will be applied to your account for the first ten minutes. After ten minutes, you will be charged 1 dollar per minute. Fees will be automatically calculated at checkout and added to your bill on Brightwheel. We ask that you arrive on time to ensure that the Dandelion’s programs and the time, energy, and personal schedules of our staff are respected. If you will be late, please contact the center via Brightwheel to let staff know If late pickup becomes a regular occurrence, a meeting will be scheduled to discuss possible solutions.
**** Payments must be made following the agreed upon schedule.****
LATE PAYMENT
A late fee of $25.00 will be charged to accounts that are 10 days past due. After 10 days past due your child’s enrollment will be suspended until all late payments, including late fees are received in full.
Once all late payments/fees are received, a meeting with the director will be scheduled to create a payment plan that suits your family's needs in order to avoid late payments in the future. Tuition assistance is available through the DHS and local nonprofits. Please do not hesitate to ask for help navigating these invaluable resources!
****If an account is repeatedly past due, the childcare contract may be terminated.****
ABSENCES, VACATIONS AND UNPLANNED CLOSURES
As agreed upon in the Tuition Agreement Form, tuition is due in full, regardless of absences due to vacation or illness. Dandelion Discovery Center reserves a place and provides staffing to accommodate your child, and cannot make adjustments to account for occasions when your child is absent, whether the absence is planned or unexpected. Absences due to illness or vacation should be reported to the director or lead teacher via brightwheel messaging.
Snowdays and power outages will not reduce tuition. Weather related closures will be informed by Northport Public School. Any weather related public school closures will be announced on local news, radio and online. If Northport Public School is closed or delayed Dandelion Discovery Center will be DELAYED for 1 hour. Betsy will attempt to get to school on her regular schedule and assess the scene. NPS helps to plow and salt Dandelion and cannot do so if they are closed. If NPS is closed and significant snow is forecasted throughout the day, Dandelion will be closed for safety. The director, Betsy, will notify families ASAP if a closure will be necessary. Dandelion Discovery Center will send notice in addition to the public announcements via the Brightwheel alert system followed by a direct text message to parents. .
We are required by Michigan state licensing regulations to close if a power outage lasts for longer than 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, you will be notified that your child will need to be picked up by a parent, guardian or caregiver approved with prior written consent.
We apologize in advance for these inconveniences and understand the difficulty of navigating these situations. It is difficult to predict when these unavoidable and unanticipated situations will occur and appreciate your understanding. Policies like these are intended to keep your child and staff safe.
2025 CALENDAR
We have planned closures throughout the year to rest, research and recharge.
Date
Purpose
Tuition Charge
January 6, 2025 Dandelion Discovery Center Opening Day!
February 17, 2025 President’s Day & Staff Professional Development Day (Third Monday in February) No change in weekly tuition
March 24 - 28, 2025 Spring Break - Following NPS School Calendar 50% tuition charge
April 21, 2025 Staff Professional Development Day No change in weekly tuition
May 26, 2025 Memorial Day. (Last Monday of May) No change in weekly tuition
June 30 - July 4, 2025 Summer Break - Reopen on July 7 50% tuition charge
August 22, 2025 Celebration Day - Center open all day. Families invited to join year end celebration at the end of the day
August 25 - 29, 2025 In Between Sessions for Professional Development, Registration Processing, Deep Cleaning & Space Reset
No tuition charge
September 1, 2025 2025 - 2026 School Year Begins
Please mark your calendar and plan accordingly for alternative care. During holidays and planned closures that last more than 1 day, families will be billed 1/2 of the tuition, as agreed upon in the Tuition Agreement Form. 1 day breaks that are used for professional development will not affect billing. All questions and concerns regarding tuition, closures and late fee policies are to be directed to Betsy Garthe-Shiner, the program director.
ADMISSION AND CONTRACT TERMINATION POLICY
Documents that MUST be completed in full and submitted before your child is admitted to our program include:
Immunization records
Child Information Card
Signed and dated Family Handbook
Health Appraisal
Tuition Agreement Form (Including first payment)
Medication Administration Form (for children with emergency allergy medication)
In addition to the important paperwork listed above, we ask that you also complete the following so that we can better serve your family and child as they transition to our program:
Volunteer and Family Interest Survey
“About Me” Questionnaire - so we can learn a little about your family, your child and their likes and dislikes
‘Family Picture’ for comfort during separation and tough times at school. You can email photos betsy@dandeliondiscoverycenter.org to print to the center.
Some families may enjoy making this page; including photos of pets, siblings, parents, grandparents. You may want to write a little love note, trace your hands etc. reminding them you are thinking of them, too! We have a laminator to protect the page.
A portrait of your child taken by a staff member.
Termination
Dandelion Discovery Center reserves the right to terminate this contract without notice for the following reasons:
Ongoing behavior that is extreme, destructive, violent by a child threatening themselves, other children or staff members which doesn’t resolve following multiple parent and staff meetings.
Parental behavior that is threatening, abusive, and/or inappropriate, directed towards staff and/or children at the Dandelion Discovery Center.
Childcare fees are two weeks or more delinquent for the second time.
Termination of these types will be made effective immediately.
If your family moves or decides Dandelion Discovery Center is no longer a good fit you may terminate your contract. You will not be refunded for the current bill cycle but will not be billed for the following month.
STAFF, SUBSTITUTES, VOLUNTEERS
Dandelion Discovery Center has a roster of trained staff who are familiar to the children who are available on an on-call basis in the case of illness or emergency. Substitute or on-call staff meet all the requirements of regular staff, including state background check clearances and training requirements.
Families will be provided notification in the event of caregiver absences or emergencies via Brightwheel.
Dandelion Discovery Center may have community volunteers, parents and students working within the facility alongside staff throughout the year. Community volunteers will have a background check and will be trained on center policies. Regular volunteers will be offered CPR and First Aid training. At all times, volunteers, parents and students will be under direct supervision of Dandelion Discovery Center staff.
No child will be supervised by a person under 18 years of age
Direct unsupervised access (i.e. when an adult is alone with a child) will not be permitted for people who are not trained employees of Dandelion Discovery Center
Community volunteers, parents and students will be supervised by a Dandelion Discovery Center employee at all times.
Student teachers are not counted in staffing ratios of the center
Community volunteers are not counted in the staffing ratios of the center
Information including bios and qualifications about our staff and volunteers can be found on our website.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Before your child attends Dandelion Discovery Center, parents/guardians must submit all required paperwork listed in the ‘enrollment’ section of this handbook. We are required by state law to have this information on file before your child can attend this program. Failure to do so will delay your child’s ability to attend our center.
We ask that you read and follow the ‘what to wear’ section of this handbook and check your child’s backpack and cubby to ensure they have extra clothing when accidents occur.
We ask that you drop off and pick up at the agreed upon times. If you plan to drop off or pick up at a different time, please notify Betsy at the earliest convenience so we can plan accordingly.
We ask that you check your child in upon arrival on Brightwheel via the tablet near the entrance. At the end of the day, a staff member will check your child out.
Please connect with family and close friends to make a plan for emergency care. In the case of a snow day and power outage or on rare cases when a caregiver has a communicable illness (e.g. COVID-19) and substitutes are unavailable, the center may need to close unexpectedly and we cannot assume responsibility for loss of care. Please make arrangements for these emergency instances to prevent any confusion or frustration.
PARENT COMMUNICATION
We ask that you download and use Brightwheel so that we can send photos and updates to keep you informed on the daily activities and upcoming events at our center. An invite will be sent to your family once we receive and input information from your Dandelion Welcome Packet.
A strong connection between home and the center helps provide the best care for your child. As stated in the Creative Curriculum Foundation Guidebook, research shows that bonds between homes and childcare programs enhance children’s problem solving skills, social competency, reduce aggression at home and in the program and can help overcome the effects of poverty. Let's work together for the benefit of your child’s development and learning!
PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT
One easy way to participate and foster a home-to-school relationship is by collecting loose part materials to be used in our creation station. Recycled materials like toilet paper/paper towel tubes, plastic caps, extra large cardboard boxes or other interesting odds and ends are always welcome. If you have an idea of something ‘interesting’ you’d like to contribute, just ask! You’d never believe how excited children are to use recycled items that came ‘FROM THEIR HOUSE’. A list of ideas and the benefits of loose parts play will be available upon request.
Opportunities for parent involvement will be posted on sign-up sheets near the ‘check-in’ tablet.
During special events that happen during or after the school day may require extra hands on deck. We would love to have your help!
Family engagement and community nights will be offered throughout the year. Notices about events will be posted on the front door, bulletin board and reminders will be posted on Brightwheel. We hope you can join us to build our community!
BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE
Dandelion Discovery Center employs age-appropriate expectations. Young children are expected to have conflicts. They are just developing emotional regulation skills and have challenging behaviors including physical aggression and biting. It is our responsibility to help children regain control of their bodies, determine the cause of the unwanted behavior, and help them reach a positive solution.
We believe the foundation of a positive classroom environment is positive, trusting relationships between children and their caregivers. Making sure their basic needs are met; that children are not hungry or tired; using positive reinforcement to let children know they are valued, understood and respected; offering consistent routines to alleviate stress; and giving children opportunities to make choices/have control over their experience at the care center helps to develop this trusting relationship.
‘Pre-teaching’ and supporting and identifying positive behaviors and interactions will encourage prosocial behavior. Providing opportunities to practice turn-taking, self-regulation, breathing techniques and cooperation during group activities will help encourage the children to use these strategies when conflicts arise. Helping children identify emotions outside of high-intensity moments will help them to understand their emotional landscape and use the language themselves when things are challenging.
When challenging behaviors arise we feel it's important for you to know we will always treat your child with respect and keep their safety as our top priority. Before intervening, staff will determine if safety is a concern and give children a moment to ‘work it out’ before offering adult-led solutions. In instances where children are causing physical harm, adults will separate children and slow down the moment. We will acknowledge emotions, use specific language to identify what happened, how they felt and help children understand what they can do to communicate and keep each other safe. Allowing children the opportunity to work on developing conflict resolution skills and to practice self-regulation skills will assist in the development of emotional regulation and prosocial behaviors.
If a child needs time to ‘calm down’ before working toward a resolution, they will be encouraged to find the cozy alone space, their family page and a comfort item. A basket with fidgets and other calming objects will be available in this space, as well. A poster with emotion and their matching faces is posted in the ‘alone space’ to help children through these tough moments. In particularly challenging instances, an adult will help them with a breathing exercise and co-regulate.
In accordance with state law, all following means of punishment are prohibited in our facility:
Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting any other form of corporal punishment.
Placing any substance in a child’s mouth, including but not limited to soap, hot sauce or vinegar.
Inflicting mental or emotional punishment, such as humiliation, shaming or threatening a child.
Depriving a child of meals, snacks, rest or necessary toilet use.
Excluding a child from outdoor play or other gross motor activities.
Excluding a child from daily learning experiences.
Confining a child in an enclosed area such as a closet, locked room, a box or similar enclosures.
Time out
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Sun Exposure
Sunscreen is important for protecting your child’s skin. Sun shirts are a wonderful option for providing a physical barrier to protect your child’s skin. During the spring, summer and fall when sun exposure is increased, we ask that your child comes to school with a fresh layer of sunscreen. When that application has worn off, we will provide ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPF 50 sunscreen for all children. If you wish to send your child with a different brand of sunscreen please give it to the director in the original packaging with your child’s name clearly labeled directly on the container in permanent ink.
Medication
When possible, medications should be administered by parents before or after school. However, we understand that there are instances in which medications will need to be given during the day. If prescription medication must be administered at the center, a Medication Administration Form must be completed, signed by the parent/guardian and returned to the director. Any prescription medications to be administered at Dandelion Discovery Center must be in the original container, clearly labeled with your child’s name and given to the director, Elizabeth (Betsy) Garthe-Shiner, with a doctor’s note detailing dosage, times of day to be administered and length of treatment (i.e. ‘from 9/15/2024-10/15/2024’, or ‘daily’). The medication will be kept out of children's reach, in the office in a medication container marked with the child’s name. When the treatment plan has concluded, parents or guardians will be asked to take the remaining medication home for proper disposal.
Allergies & Emergency Medications
Allergy information will be recorded on child information cards stored in a box near the entryway for easy access and on their health appraisals which are kept on file in the office. All staff will review and familiarize themselves with this information at enrollment. Medical conditions will be indicated next to the child’s name on Brightwheel. Families will be informed of food allergies to ensure that special ‘birthday treats’ or other foods from home do not contain allergens that could contaminate the facility (i.e. a snack bar in a backpack). In the case that there is a severe allergy such as a life threatening peanut allergy, we will strictly prohibit the use of tree-nuts (nuts, oils, spreads) within the facility and all birthday treats will need to be ‘pre-packaged’ with labels indicating the items were made in a tree-nut free factory or made by trained staff within the center to ensure food safe practices are followed. Although this may seem ‘extreme’, nut allergies can be triggered by even the smallest amount of cross-contamination from oils.
If your child has medication that is to be administered in emergency situations (i.e. an epi pen for allergic reactions) all staff will be informed of where the medication is stored, how to administer the medication, and when administration is necessary. In the case of a walking field trip, staff will pack and carry emergency medication along with information cards in the first aid backpack and return the medication to its designated location upon return (i.e. a child has an epi pen for bee stings). ALL prescription medications MUST be in the original container with a prescription label affixed to the package. The prescription label must include: the name of the physician, the patient’s name (matching the name of the child in our care), the date the medication was prescribed and the instructions for dosage.
ILLNESS
If your child is sick, please seek alternative care options to prevent the spread of illness. In the case that your child develops symptoms while in our care, we will send a message on Brightwheel or call a parent/guardian listed on the child information card directly. If we cannot reach the parent/guardian after 15 minutes, we will call the emergency contact.. We will do our best to keep your child comfortable and isolated from other children until a trusted caregiver with permission indicated on their child information card is able to pick up the child.
The following criteria will be used to determine if a child is ‘sick’
The child has a fever of 100 degrees or higher
Inflammation, excessive redness, ‘glassiness’ or discharge in their eyes
The child is vomiting
More than one incidence of diarrhea, loose stool which is not contained within clothing
A communicable disease as defined by the Department of Health Services/Center for Disease Control
An unknown rash develops on their skin
Excessive ‘yellow’ or ‘green’ nasal discharge which can indicate infection
The child is in pain
The child or family members are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19
If your child is sent home due to illness, they cannot return until they are symptom free without the use of a fever reducer. Allowing your child the time to recover will help prevent the spread of illness to other children or staff.
The following guidelines can help you determine whether your child is ‘ready’ to return to school after experiencing illness.
Mood, appetite, behavior and activity has returned to normal
The child has not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication
Prescribed antibiotics have been used for a full 24 hours, 48 in the case of strep throat
Vomiting or diarrhea have subsided for at least 24 hours
Frequent coughing or excessive nasal charge has cleared
Pain (earaches, cramps, headaches) has resolved.
It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to notify the school if your child has a communicable disease such as measles, mumps, chicken pox or infestation of head lice. A child may be readmitted without a statement from a physician only if the child has been absent for a period of time equal to the longest incubation period of the disease as specified by the Department of Health and Social Services. The Benzie-Leelanau Health Department will immediately be notified of all communicable disease and a note will be sent out via Brightwheel and posted on the bulletin board near the entryway to notify families of potential exposure to a communicable illness in the center.
Please consult with the director if you need additional information or have questions relating to these policies.
Children who return to the center for care before showing signs of recovery as stated above will be asked to seek alternative care until they are no longer ill.
A medical log will be maintained and filed in the office to record medications dispensed by staff and injuries or accidents that occur while in the care of Dandelion Discovery Center.
STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ILLNESS
Staff working in childcare facilities and schools are frequently exposed to infectious diseases and may become ill. If a staff member or volunteer is experiencing diarrhea or vomiting the staff member will not be permitted to report to work until 48 hours have passed without symptoms. This is especially important for staff that prepare and serve food to children and staff that care for infants and toddlers whose responsibilities include preparing and serving bottles. We will do our best to contact and secure substitutes in the case of staff illness; in the rare case that no substitute is available the center may be forced to close.
SAFETY
As care providers, we consider it our number one responsibility to keep your child safe while they are under our care. We are committed to ensuring that our environment is clean, free of hazards and well maintained inside and out. Our staff understands the importance of global view and will maintain eyes-on supervision to ensure your child remains safe at Dandelion Discovery Center. Our staff is required to complete annual health and safety training and maintain up-to-date CPR and first aid certificates.
We believe in the importance of ‘risky play’. During risky play, your child may climb, balance, engage in rough and tumble play, get muddy and test their bodies while building their self-esteem, confidence and developing core-muscles that will contribute to later development. Rough and tumble play is not violent and does not come from a place of aggression. When monitored and consented to by the children, rough and tumble play is safe, natural and can contribute to boundary setting, emotional regulation, social development and joy. During risky play, your child may get minor bumps, bruises, slivers or scrapes. First aid needed may include ice packs or bandages for minor scrapes, and will be tended to immediately. We assume responsibility and it is the center policy to report injuries and accidents at pick-up and via an ‘incident report’ on brightwheel.
Notification will occur immediately via telephone call to parents or guardians for serious injuries, accidents or sudden illness that require more serious medical attention. If unable to reach a parent or guardian, emergency contact person(s) listed on the child information card will be contacted immediately.
Reasons we would contact parents and emergency contacts directly include, but are not limited to:
Head injuries
Injuries requiring medical attention beyond our first aid training (in which case 911 would be our first line of contact)
Allergic reactions
including ‘first’ bee-sting exposures when allergic reactions have not yet been recorded
Seizures
Asthma attacks
Unconscious child
Fever
Vomiting
Additional instances in which parents will be contacted IMMEDIATELY include but are not limited to
Incidents resulting in a lost or missing child
Physical discipline of a child by a staff member
Alleged sexual contact between children or between a child and staff member or volunteer
Below you will find the steps our staff will follow in the case that any injury or medical emergency occurs while your child is in our care.
The child will be assessed and obtain the needed supplies.
If further information is needed, staff members trained in first aid will refer to the CDC website.
First aid will be administered. Non-porous gloves (nitrile, vinyl or latex*) will be used if any blood is present. If an injury/medical emergency is life-threatening, one staff person will stay with the injured or ill child and administer appropriate first aid while another staff member calls 911. If only one staff member is present, the staff member will assess breathing and circulation, administer CPR for 2 minutes if necessary, call 911 via cell phone with speakerphone and return to the child to continue CPR until medical professionals arrive or until the child recovers- in which case the child will be put in ‘recovery position’ until medical professionals arrive.
A staff member will call and notify parent, guardian or designated emergency contact. For major injuries/medical emergencies a staff person will stay with the injured child until a parent, guardian or emergency contact arrives including transport to the hospital.
Staff will record the injury/medical emergency on injury/incident report via brightwheel. The report will include date, time, place and cause of the injury or medical emergency, the treatment provided, the names of staff providing the treatment and person(s) who have been contacted.
A copy of the incident report will be sent to parents via Brightwheel and a hardcopy will be stored in the child’s file located in the directors office. For major injuries and medical emergencies, parents/guardians will be required to sign for receipt of the report.
All serious injuries/incidents will be recorded on the injury log, located in the director's office. The entry will include the child's name, the staff involved and a brief description of the incident and resolution.
The child care director (if not present) will be called immediately for serious injuries or incidents which require medical attention.
DAILY HEALTH LOG
A daily health log will be kept on our Brightwheel application. More information about brightwheel use in the section titled “Brightwheel Policy.” Diapering will be logged on a dry-erase log near the toileting area.
MANDATORY REPORTER
Caregivers in child care settings are considered Mandated Reporters for suspected child abuse and neglect in the state of Michigan. The full law can be found below:
Mandated reporters shall make an IMMEDIATE report to Centralized Intake (CI) by telephone or through the online reporting system, of suspected child abuse or child neglect. Within 72 hours after making an oral report by telephone, the reporting person shall file a written report (DHS-3200). If the immediate report has been made using the online reporting system, no additional written report is required.
Reporting the suspected allegations of child abuse and/or neglect to the head of the organization does not fulfill the requirement to report directly to DHHS.
The verbal report can be completed by calling 855-444-3911. or online via ISD_PartnershipLanding (michigan.gov).
The individual who had contact with the child must make the report and provide as much detail as possible about the following information:
The child's primary caretaker, including name and address.
Names and birth dates for all members of the household.
Name and birth date of the alleged perpetrator(s).
Whether the alleged perpetrator lives with the child.
Address where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred.
What makes the mandated reporter suspect the child is being abused or neglected.
The Child Protection Law requires that the written report include the following information:
Name of child.
Description of abuse or neglect.
Names and addresses of the child's parents/guardians.
The person(s) with whom the child resides.
Child's age.
Other information available to the reporting person that might establish the cause of the abuse or neglect, and the manner in which the abuse or neglect occurred.
MDHHS encourages the use of the Report of Actual or Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect (DHS-3200) form when filing the written report, which includes all the information required under the law. If more than one mandated reporter suspects child abuse or neglect based upon the same incident, they may submit just one DHS-3200 form.
As mandated reporters we are obligated by law to report any suspected cases of child abuse. It is not the mandated reporter’s responsibility to determine abuse; it is their obligation to report suspected abuse to MDHSS who will investigate and make that determination.
The safety of your child is our number one concern. Staff have been trained as mandated reporters. Staff will first report to the director to explain the situation. The director will be present when the report is made. If the director is not available for any reason; the staff will file the report and notify the director via phone and email.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Below you will find our schedule. Please note that ‘diapering and toileting’ are offered at routine times throughout the day but soiled diapers will be checked and changed as needed. Toilets will be available (and encouraged with the potty dance performance) throughout the day. Although bottles and snacks will be offered at ‘snack times’, infants will be fed on demand. Similarly, although rest times are listed, infants will sleep on demand. A detailed description of the day will be included in your welcome packet.
Drop Off and Separation/ Morning Choice Time 7:30-8:15
Morning Snack Table Open 8:15-9:00
Tidy/Diapers Time/Morning Meeting 9:00-9:15
Outdoors - 9:15 - 10:15
Literacy and Music Circle, dismiss to bathroom, diapers 10:15-10:25
Free Choice 10:25-11:50
Lunch 12:00-12:30
Rest/Literacy Circle 12:30-1:15 (or until wake)
Dandelion Discovery Center staff members are all trained on safe sleep practices. We follow safe sleep guidelines from the State of Michigan. To learn more about these practices :
https://www.michigan.gov/oca/continuing-education/safesleep
Afternoon choice, snack offered 1:15-2:30
Transition to Outdoors/ Limited indoor choice 2:30
Books, Puzzles, Playdough 3:30-4:00
Auxiliary Room/Literacy/Music special activities until late pickup- 4:00-5:00
WHAT TO WEAR
Please send your child to school in loose fitting, comfortable play clothes. Play clothes are defined as clothing that is “okay to get messy”. PLEASE do not send your child to school in special clothing items as we will get messy with art materials and play outside daily. Clothing may get muddy, covered in paint or occasionally torn while playing. The center will not be held responsible for special clothing items becoming stained or damaged. Infants should wear comfortable clothing that is seasonally appropriate. We encourage and foster independence at all ages and ask that your child is sent in clothing that they can or can work toward putting on and taking off themselves. This is especially important while your child is toilet training. Elastic banded pants are encouraged. Large buttons or snaps on shirts can be a fun challenge for your child when developmentally appropriate however they may cause frustration or accidents in a rush to the ‘potty’ when they are on pants or overalls.. Please avoid overalls or jumpers for children who are toilet training as they hinder children’s independence.
In the case that your child has an accident, gets muddy/wet outdoors, has a messy art experience a smock didn’t cover, or feels ‘too hot’ or ‘too cold’ we ask that you send your child with at least two pairs of underwear, two pairs of warm socks, two pairs of seasonally appropriate pants/shorts, two tee-shirts and a long sleeve shirt to be kept in a bin above their cubby. We will send home soiled clothing in plastic bags and do our best to help remind families when ‘extras’ are running low. Dandelion Discovery Center will have spare clothing on hand for emergencies and ask that they be washed and returned promptly so that they can remain available for future emergencies :-)
Children should bring indoor shoes, warm socks or slippers to wear inside the center to reduce the amount of dirt and mud on floors. When your child arrives in the morning, help them change from their outdoor shoes into their ‘indoor’ shoes/slippers. Keeping our floors clean is important because babies and tots will be spending lots of time on them!
SNACKS AND LUNCH
Lunch and AM/PM snacks are to be packed and brought to school by parents. Lunch boxes should be labeled clearly with your child’s name. Lunch boxes can be stored in the fridge. If your child’s food needs to be cut up, please do so before sending your child to school. Silverware will be provided at school to reduce the use of single use plastics. In the case that there is a child with severe allergies, such as a life threatening peanut allergy, all families will be notified that the program will prohibit foods that contain the allergen to ensure safety for all of the children in the program.
Please pack nutritious, filling foods for your child to enjoy for lunch. Leftovers from last night’s dinner are always welcome and staff will be happy to warm foods packed in microwave safe containers. Snacks like fruits, vegetables, whole grain crackers and cheese are encouraged. We ask that you limit ‘treats’ (ho-hos, twinkies, big cookies, candy, etc.) and sugary drinks like kool-aid, sodas, etc.
DIAPERING AND TOILETING
Staff members at Dandelion Discovery Center are all formally trained on diapering procedures. Although it may be an ‘unpleasant’ daily task, diapering is an opportunity for your child to learn about and get ‘in-tune’ with their body, have ‘one-on-one’ conversations, learn the language they can use when they are toilet training, and understanding the sequence of events
i.e. “First I'm going to pull down your pants. Okay, let's get your feet out- one, two! Now I'll rip the tape on your diaper. First the left, then the right. Listen to that sound! I’m going to put this dirty diaper into the trash. Now, I’ll use this wipe to clean your body… It will be cold and wet. That's better! You’re all clean. Now, lift your bottom and I will slide the clean, dry diaper under you. Let's put the tape on- one, two! Now it's secure. Is it comfortable? Lets slide your pants back over your feet. Do you want to help pull them up? Okay, Now we wash, wash, wash our hands! Look at those bubbles! I love the feeling of that warm water. All the germs are going down the drain. Pat, your hands dry and now you can go play!”
Diapering can be a time to slow down, and connect. When shame and embarrassment are kept off the diapering table, toileting and ‘going potty’ just seem like a fact of life.
As your child gains motor control, language and independence they will be interested in learning to use the potty! We are happy to work with your family to guide you through this exciting developmental milestone. We do not recommend ‘rushing’ or ‘forcing’ this transition on children as this can increase stress and aversion to toilet training but will use positive language, informational children’s books and reminders to encourage your child to choose the child sized toilet when they are ready.
Signs that your child is ready to start potty training may include:
Increased interest or ‘wanting to watch’ when family members are ‘using the potty’
Staying ‘dry’ for longer periods of time
Wanting to sit on the potty, even with clothes on
Telling you when they are ‘wet’ or soiled diaper
Announcing when they are about to have a bowel movement
We will not force children to use the potty but we will calmly and consistently encourage them to use it when they are ready. Opportunities for toileting will occur throughout the day (before going outside, before rest etc.) and your child will have the chance to ‘try’. When accidents occur, we will treat them matter of factly. Being calm and understanding will help them to continue having a positive attitude about toileting. When your child is consistently choosing to use the potty and consistently staying dry for long periods of time we encourage transitioning to potty training underpants EVEN when accidents are regularly occurring. Modern diapers and pull ups are wonderful because they ‘feel dry’ however that ‘dry feeling’ makes it hard for children to actually feel when they are ‘wet’. Children who are actively potty training will be reminded to use the potty frequently. In the beginning of the toilet training process, pull ups can be sent for nap time. During this transition period we will ask that you send lots of extra undies and pants (and will help launder what we can). We will have extra undies and pants on hand if their supply runs out. Anything that is soiled will be sent home in a plastic bag and put in your child’s cubby to take home.
For male children, if parents have a preference of ‘standing up’ or ‘sitting down’ please let the caregivers know so we can best support your child. It may be easiest for your child to learn to aim and relax when sitting and transition to standing after they are ‘pro potty users’. Sitting first can also help reduce confusion when trying to poop and ‘pee is coming out, too!?’
FIELD TRIPS
We may take walking field trips to explore our community, join story time at the Leelanau Township library and go on ‘adventures’ on the Nagonaba trail. Parents will always be notified of these planned excursions in advance. A ‘walking field trip’ permission form will be completed during enrollment.
On special occasions we may plan outings during or after school that require parent attendance and transportation such as a trip to Garthe Farm to pick fruits, flowers or veggies. Family engagement activities will be planned in advance and will be informed by parent schedules so those who want to participate can!
ITEMS TO AND FROM HOME
Morning snack, Lunch, Afternoon snacks
Cups with water will be provided at mealtimes. However, your child should have a water bottle to get drinks throughout the day and for use outdoors. Water Bottles should be taken home for washing.
Several changes of clothing (underwear, pants, shirts, socks) to be kept in a bin above their cubby
Slippers or ‘school shoes’ to be worn indoors
Specific brands of sunscreen (in the original packaging, clearly labeled and given directly to the director)
formula/breastmilk
Diapers and special brand baby wipes (we will supply kirkland brand wipes)
For Tots and older: Blanket, pillow and one stuffy/snuggle toy for rest time. Crib sheets and rest mat covers will be provided by the center. Sleep sacks may be used with infants with approval; hands must be free so they may need to be modified.
Seasonally appropriate clothing for outdoors. Warm layers, snow suits, rain coat/rain pants, waterproof boots, warm socks
During the summer, we may engage in water play to keep cool and ask that a bathing suit be left in their cubby to limit wet clothing and extra laundry.
Please do not bring any toys from home as they may create conflicts, may be broken or lost.
PHOTO POLICY
Photographs are a powerful tool for documenting your child’s development and learning. When children see pictures of themselves they are able to integrate memories, process their learning and discuss ‘what happened’. We will post photo-stories around the school and on Brightwheel for families in our program to help bring their learning to life.
In addition to in-school postings and Brightwheel, we may use photographs to document our centers’ happenings on our Instagram @dandeliondiscoverycenter, community postings or advertising material. Photos of children WILL NOT BE USED in any public domain without written permission from parents on the photo/social media agreement form included in the welcome packet. It is important that we protect and respect your privacy. If at any time you wish to change your permissions, please just ask.
We ask that you, too, respect the privacy of all families in our program for each family’s sense of safety in the wider community. Photos that are shared to Brightwheel are for your family to enjoy. Brightwheel is a closed-loop system. Our Brightwheel posts will only be visible to families enrolled in our center. You are welcome to save and share photos of your OWN child. Please do not share photos including other children from our Brightwheel account to social media. Each family will have the opportunity to sign social media waivers for Dandelion Discovery Center’s use. The rights to post these photos must remain with Dandelion Discovery Center to ensure each family's privacy preferences are protected.
BRIGHTWHEEL POLICY
Brightwheel is an incredible tool for tracking classroom happenings. We will be using it to track attendance, diapering, food intake and rest for infants and tots. When a child is toilet training, Brightwheel will be used to log attempts and successes for parent/guardian viewing.. Incidents that result in minor injuries will be logged on Brightwheel and shared with parents. We will also use Brightwheel to share photos of class activities and individual achievements. Although Brightwheel can be accessed and updated from staff smart-phones we will limit our ‘screen time’ to ensure best practice engaging and supervising children. Child information will be logged on paper in the classroom; information and photos will be updated when staff are available to do so during rest times or after hours.
EMERGENCY POLICIES
All staff maintain up to date certifications in CPR and First Aid. To ensure a safe environment, we practice preparedness for potential emergency situations. We schedule and practice fire and tornado drill evacuations as required by individual state child care licensing regulations. Practicing these procedures ensures that staff and children understand exit plans and responsibilities. In addition the crisis procedures, facility information and list of important phone numbers are posted in every classroom and near every exit door. Evacuation procedures with marked fire exits are located in each room. Familiarize yourself with the location of the evacuation maps in the case of an emergency evacuation while you are at the center.
SECURITY
Keeping your child safe while they are in our care is our number one priority. The entryway will have a camera to track comings and goings of all visitors. The entry will be unlocked during ‘arrival’ from 7:30-8:30 and at pick-up 3:30-5 but will remain locked throughout the day to ensure security. If you will be late at drop off or early at pickup send a text or knock for entry.
Check In/Out
We strictly adhere to our arrival and departure policy. Children in our care will only be permitted to leave the premises with adults who have explicit, written permission to pick up, signed by legal guardians. Parents or guardians will have the opportunity to create this ‘pick up’ list on the child’s information card at enrollment and can add to the list of permitted adults at any time by asking the director. All children must be signed into Brightwheel by parents or caregivers and signed-out by staff via Brightwheel. We request that parents or guardians inform staff of absences via brightwheel messaging or text message so we can properly plan for our day. We adhere to these guidelines for your child’s safety and in accordance with individual state child care licensing regulations.
The Enrollment Agreement, which must be completed before your child can attend this center, includes sections which identify ‘primary’, ‘emergency’ and ‘release’ contacts. These sections authorize specific individuals who have permission to pick up your child. It is your responsibility to maintain accurate, complete and current information. As stated above, if at any time you would like to add to or remove an approved person(s) you can request to make changes at pick-up or drop-off.
Written authorization must be on file at the center prior to your child’s release to anyone. This means that an unplanned signed, dated note from a parent will not be accepted. For the safety and security of your child, telephone requests are not encouraged. If a telephone authorization must be utilized, you will be asked ‘security questions’ outlined on your enrollment agreement.
Please inform any listed on your Enrollment Agreement that they will be asked to verify their identity. Staff members will ask unfamiliar person(s) for government issued I.D. (e.g. Approved for pickup Grandmother visiting from Florida who is unfamiliar to staff). Although this may seem intrusive or overbearing, these policies are in place to keep Dandelion Discovery Center safe and secure for your child. We will not release a child to listed Emergency Contacts who are younger than 18 years of age except in the case that the individual is the legal parent/guardian.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND CHILDREN’S RECORDS
All information contained in your child’s records, including your personal information, is confidential. Anyone who is not directly involved in the care of your child or affiliated with child care licensing, protective services or other governmental agencies will not have access to the records without your written authorization or court order. As a parent or guardian, you may request access to your child’s records. We are happy to provide access to these records (enrollment agreement, incident/accident reports, family communication sheets or progress notes) within 24 hours of request to ensure that our staff remains within ratio.
NOTICE OF LICENSING NOTEBOOK
The licensing notebook contains all of the licensing inspection and special investigation reports and related corrective action plans for the last five years.
The licensing notebook is available to parents during regular business hours. Licensing inspection reports, special investigation reports and corrective action plans from at least the past three years are available on the department’s child care licensing platform at
www.michigan.gov/michildcare
Below is the website where parents can access these rules