Allergies need to be identified on the child's face sheet at the time the child is enrolled. All allergies are posted in each classroom and all staff members are informed of any children with allergies or food sensitivities. In addition to listing your child's allergy on the required form, please also discuss the allergy with your child's teacher prior to their first day at the center. An allergy action plan must be signed by a parent and physician and kept on file for all children with allergies.

Biting is not uncommon when groups of small children are playing together. Every precaution is taken when a child at the center has trouble with biting. Most situations where biting occurs can be managed within the program. If an incident of biting has occurred, an accident report will be completed and the parent of the child bitten will be informed. We do not disclose the identity of the biter. Please see biting policy for more specifics.

If your child has been exposed to chicken pox, please notify the staff so we can be aware of potential symptoms. The incubation period is from 7-21 days. It is highly contagious until all scabs are dry (10 days to 2 weeks) All parents will be notified if a child at the center comes down with chicken pox. If your child develops chicken pox, she can return to the center one week after the rash begins, or when all the blisters are dried up and crusted over. All children over the age of 18 months are required by Massachusetts regulation to have a doctor verified case of chicken pox, or have had the Varivax immunization.

Conjunctivitis is an infection of the eyes, commonly known as pink eye. It is most often caused by a virus but can also be caused by bacteria. The whites of the eyes may become pink or red, the eyes may hurt, feel scratchy or itchy, and they may produce lots of tears and discharge. In the morning, the discharge may cause the eyelids to stick together. Conjunctivitis is easily spread among small children as the discharge is infectious. Children with red eyes and any yellow or green discharge must not come to the center until they have been seen by their doctor. Children with conjunctivitis may not return to the center until they have been on antibiotic eye medicine for 24 hours.

If a child has diarrhea which cannot be contained in his/her diaper or if a child who is toilet trained has 3 or more episodes of diarrhea while at the center, a parent will be called and instructed to pick up their child. If your child has abnormal bowel movements while at home, please do not bring your child to the center that day since this is a common indicator of a more serious illness coming on.

Occasionally young children have loose bowel movements when on antibiotics, these cases will be decided upon on an individual basis. Children may return to school when they have had normal bowel movements for at least 24 hours.

Parents will be notified immediately when a complaint of ear pain is verbalized or demonstrated consistently. If a child is having discomfort, a parent will be called and asked to pick up their child as soon as possible. Once the child has been on antibiotic for 24 hours, the child may return to the center providing there are no other symptomatic complaints.

Please keep your child home if he or she has a temperature above 100.5. If a child develops a temperature of 100.5 or more during the day, the parent will be called and arrangements for picking up will be made. The child may return to the center once their temperature has returned to normal (untreated) for 24 hours. Please do not give your child a fever reducer and send them to the center if they have shown signs of a fever the night before.

A child who has vomited will be sent home as soon as possible, and must remain home until the vomiting has ceased for 24 hours. If your child has vomited within a 24 hour period, please keep your child home.

Generally children may attend school when they have colds. Children should be kept home if the cold is accompanied by fever, uncontrollable cough, lethargy or irritability that requires one on one care.

Any unidentified rash needs to be seen by a physician. Rashes can be a symptom of an underlying condition.

Children should be kept home if they have any illness that prevents him or her from participating fully in daily activities or requires a greater need for care than the staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of the other children. Children should also be kept home if he or she has discomfort or pain which cannot be eased or requires continuous one on one attention.

NOTE: Parents shall be notified in writing when any child enrolled at the center becomes infected with a communicable disease such as measles or salmonella. Parents shall receive notification no later than the end of the first day we are informed of the infection. No child shall be named when notifying parents.

Any child who becomes ill while at the center (including vomiting, fever, excessive diarrhea or any prolonged complaint of illness) shall be removed from the other children to an area where the child will be allowed to rest until the parent can be picked up. The parent will be notified immediately of the child's condition. The child may return to the center after they have been symptom free (unmedicated) for a period of 24 hours.

Sometimes a child who seems well, yet has a fever is harboring a virus or bacterial infection which has not become apparent. Because we strive to keep all the children and staff from infection we would like to stress that even if your child seems well, if they have a fever they are probably contagious. Please do not bring your child to the center if they are ill.

NOTE: These guidelines are important in keeping everyone as healthy as possible. Please help us provide a safe and healthy environment for your children by sticking to them. Thank you for your cooperation.