The following are examples from our parent family maual - further information can be obtained by contacting the Executive Director

HEALTH AND MEDICATION

The staff of Day Nursery Centre actively try to reduce the spread of illness with good hygiene practices. Even so, children in day care run a greater risk of coming in contact with bacteria and viruses because there are a large number of children from different families in one place. These health policies were designed to serve the best interests of both you and your child as well as the other children in our care.

1. As a precautionary measure, the provincial Day Care Office has recommended that we have a protective health policy against infectious and communicable diseases. Day Nursery Centre has devised a policy which applies equally to all staff and all children.
2. Staff will use disposable plastic gloves when assisting any child who is bleeding or any child who needs assistance because of a bathroom accident.
3. As Your Child Starts At The Centre:
   If your child has any special health conditions, the staff will need more information in order to provide any specific care that your child requires. We have forms to be completed by your doctor (prior to enrollment) for the following medical conditions: allergies, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, heart conditions.
   Immunization is the most effective way of preventing many common childhood infections. Be sure that your child has received all the recommended immunizations for the following infections: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, haemophiles influenza b. A chart showing the recommended age for children to be immunized for the above infections is posted in each of our centres.

Communication Between Parents and Staff
If your child is sick, please let us know in the morning as early as possible that he/she will not be coming to the centre. Describe the signs and symptoms. The staff may ask you to take the child to the doctor for a diagnosis and/or treatment. Please call us after your child has seen the doctor to let us know the results.

If your child becomes sick at Day Nursery Centre, you will be contacted to take the child home as quickly as possible. If you cannot be reached, your alternative care person will be contacted. The staff may ask you to take the child to the doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

Exclusion Criteria
Certain illnesses require the exclusion of a child from our centre. Day cares are busy places. Children need a quiet, relaxing environment to recover from an illness and often require more one-on-one attention than we can provide in the centre.

A child will be excluded if one or more of the following conditions exists: the illness prevents the child from participating in the centre's activities; or the illness results in greater need for care than the staff can provide without compromising the care of other children.

A complete list for the Management of Illnesses is available. It contains information on how specific illnesses are spread, the signs and symptoms, the infectious period, as well as if and how long a child must be excluded from the centre. This list is also posted in the centre. A child who has a communicable disease will not be allowed to return to the centre until after the recommended exclusion period.

Please ask staff for Fact Sheets on various illnesses.

The final decision as to whether an ill child can remain in or return to the centre is ultimately the decision of the Centre Director; it will depend on what is best for the child's care as well as for the other children.

Eight signs and symptoms of illness to look for in a child are: unusual behaviour, runny nose, cough, croup, wheezing or difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, any change in skin colour, rash, fever, any communicable (contagious) disease, i.e. chicken pox, impetigo, measles, pinkeye (see Day Nursery Centre for a complete list).
No matter what the cause of a child's symptoms, a change in behaviour always provides an important key to help a caregiver or parent judge how serious the illness is.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION

Day Nursery Centre staff need your support and co-operation if we are to provide quality child care for your child. Our programs are built on a foundation of understanding and communication. Parents are welcome to drop in anytime to observe or play with your child. We welcome your suggestions, ideas and help.

Please talk to a staff person daily about how your child slept/ate and any other important information which will help us care for your child throughout the day. Please inform the Centre Director of any major change in your home environment, such as separation, move, death, etc.

Keep yourself informed about the centre and especially look for notices and signs on the bulletin board.

Become involved on the Day Nursery Centre Board of Directors.

Parents are encouraged to volunteer their time and skills to help in the centres. Please talk to the Centre Director about any ideas you may have.

Newsletters are sent home with your child monthly informing you of special events, accomplishments, etc. We welcome your comments about our newsletter. You are encouraged to save "beautiful junk" for use in creative art, i.e. milk cartons, meat trays, buttons, ties, ribbons, string, wool, bits of material and trim, cardboard tubes, boxes, etc.

During the year, Day Nursery Centre will be organizing fundraising activities to provide for special equipment and materials. Your help, support and co-operation with these will be appreciated!

If Day Nursery Centre can be of any assistance to your family or if you have any suggestions on how we can improve our service to you, please speak to the Centre Director or put your suggestions in our suggestion box.

Day Nursery Centre
103-222 Furby Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 2A7