I will notify parents 1 month in advance of any vacation. I will be taking a one week paid vacation. In addition to vacation, I will have 5 paid personal days to use at my discretion throughout the year. These personal days are paid and I will give you at least a 2 week notice before the week of the personal day needed. In the event of an emergency or illness concerning me as the Childcare Provider, parents should be prepared with their own backup. Parents must notify me 2 weeks before the start of their vacation and will still be required to pay to hold your child’s spot.   

Your children must be fully dressed (including socks) for the day when they arrive. NO PAJAMAS! Remember to bring your children in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or damaged as well as an additional COMPLETE change of clothing. They will be participating in arts and crafts, going outside to play, going on field trips. Also, make sure to update the extra clothes as the weather changes. If your child is not fully bathroom trained, they must wear training underwear such as “Pull Ups”.

On special occasions we might have treats and / or parties for birthdays and holidays for the children. All the children love this and it makes them feel special. Presents are not expected. Feel free to provide a treat to share, (cupcakes etc…) with the children on your child’s birthday. Please inform me ahead of time about holiday events. I may provide a holiday treat sign-up sheet if parent wish to participate.

Toys, games and technology items from home are NOT ALLOWED to be brought with your child at any time nor for any reason. This causes fights as it is hard for young children to share and they might lose it.

Technology items are such as, but not limited to:

-Cameras (Digital and film)

-Tablet computers (iPad), laptops and netbooks and eReader (Nook, Kindle) tablets.

-Handheld games (Vsmile, Nintindo DS, Sony PSP).

-Cell phones.

-iTouch or iPods, CD players, CDs and MP3 players.

-Portable DVD players, DVD or Blue Ray Discs, small televisions and radios.

-All storage media (hard drives, flash drives, SD cards, video games and media discs of any kind)

Personal toys, games and technology items from home might cause problems or become lost or damaged. The only exception is for school when E-learning is required. A wide assortment of toys and activities are provided to entertain. A special pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal can be brought for nap times. The nap time items will be kept secure or in your child’s bag until nap time.

*Orange Blossom Childcare is not responsible for any of the above items if they are damaged, lost or stolen.

If your child has any of the following illnesses:

• Fever: Children will be sent home if their temperature is 100.0 or higher and must stay home the next day for observation. Children must be free of fever (any temperature above 98.6 degrees) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. The same policy applies if your child develops a fever at home. They must be fever free (any temperature above 98.6 degrees) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
• Rash: Any rash other than a common diaper rash or skin irritation will require that child to be sent home for an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing of exactly what it is. They may return to school based on that written doctor’s evaluation, and clearance that it is not contagious.
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye): Children will be sent home if there appears to be an unusual amount of discharge from or irritation to their eye(s) and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school they will need an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing of exactly what it is.
  If the diagnosis is BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS children must have received at least 24 hours of treatment.
  If the diagnosis is VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS your child may return AS LONG AS THERE IS NO DISCHARGE.
  If in fact they do not have “pink eye” we need a doctor’s note with a diagnosis and a clearance that it is not contagious.
• Thick White, Green or Yellow Discharge: Children will be sent home if they appear to have any thick white, green or yellow discharge. This is often indicative of an infection and they must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school they will need an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing and at least 24 hours of treatment. If in fact they do not have an infection we need a doctor’s note with a diagnosis of exactly what it is with a clearance that it is nothing contagious. The Department of Health and most doctors are of the opinion that once on antibiotics for 24 hours, the discharge is no longer contagious even though it may persist for up to two weeks.
• Hand foot and mouth disease:  A common illness of infants and children characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on the hands, feet, mouth and diaper area.

• Diarrhea: Children will be sent home if they have 2 or more loose bowel movements in one day and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to daycare (after the day of observation) children must be free from diarrhea for 24 hours with at least 1 regular bowel movement. If your child has one or more loose bowel movements on their first day back they will again be sent home.
• Vomiting: Children will be sent home if they vomit and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school (after the day of observation) children must symptom free with no vomiting for at least 24 hours.
• Persistent Hacking Cough: Children will be sent home if they have a persistent hacking cough and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school they will need an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing and at least 24 hours of treatment. If in fact they do not require any treatment we need a doctor’s note with a diagnosis of exactly what it is with a clearance that it is not contagious.
• Lice: Children will not be readmitted until 24 hours after treatment and must be nit free. I will make an evaluation and determine if the child can be readmitted.
• It’s up to my discretion as the owner of Orange Blossom childcare to allow a child to return even with a Dr’s note if I believe your child is still contagious. Especially but not limited to  in the case of Hand foot mouth disease.

Children suffering from a common cold will be assessed on an individual basis.

Factors of consideration include the developmental level of your child in congruence with our ability to limit the spread of germs.

The younger your child, the more difficult it is to keep the spread of germs down. For example: hand to face contact, mouthing of toys, uncontrolled nasal discharge, uncovered sneezing and coughing etc.

 They will not be accepted for care until the symptom(s) is gone for 24 hours from when the last symptom(s) appeared and be back to a normal temp of (

98.6. This is a state law. If a child becomes ill or injured during the day, you will be notified immediately and together we will decide the best course of action concerning care. This may include your child leaving for the remainder of the current day. Sick children will have to be picked up within 1 hour of the phone call if not sooner. Bringing your child to daycare by masking a high temperature with fever reducing medications such as Tylenol, or Motrin is strictly prohibited. Meaning your child has a temperature in the morning and you give them a fever reducing medication and the temperature comes back after the medicine wears off.  A fever means your child may be contagious and puts the other children and adults at risk. You would not appreciate other parents putting your child at risk so please keep them at home. Parents are responsible for all medications for their child and / or any medical items needed for their child’s care. Remember to label, with your child’s name, all medicines, bandages, etc. Any special medical instructions for the care of injuries should be given as soon as possible before childcare is provided. Written permission must be given before I administer any medication, including Tylenol. I will only administer a fever or pain reducer one time per verbal instruction by the parent without a doctor’s prescription.

I keep records of your childcare payments for not only our tax preparations but for yours as well. The provider at Orange Blossom Childcare will provide at the end of the year, payment information and EIN # to be used on your tax returns. Please make sure you are keeping track as well. This childcare facility does not answer whether your childcare expenses may be deductible, we suggest you check with your tax accountant on the deductibility of these expenses.