Preschool Parent Guidelines
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Christian Service through Childhood Education 
The workers in the division, both employed and volunteer, share with the home the responsibility of nurturing the spiritual growth of the young child.  With this purpose in mind, the Preschool Ministries has developed the following policies and procedures.

General Policies
Preschool facilities will be available for special church-wide activities. 

If no children have arrived thirty minutes after the activity is scheduled to begin, the childcare workers may go home and provisions for the activity will be cancelled.

Childcare will be provided only for church functions and associational, state, and convention meetings.

There will be at least two workers on duty at all times.

Workers must have a complete record of parents’ location at all times. If approved functions are held away from the church, parents must leave the address and phone number where they can be reached.

Promotion within our younger preschool departments is based on physical development. Please do not promote your child without the Preschool Coordinator’s consent. Two-year olds are not promoted, however, until time for their placement in a three-year class.

Children will be received into classrooms ten minutes prior to an event. The time prior is needed for leaders to prepare for the group. 

Medical and Emergency Procedures 
Most situations requiring medical attention require only tender-loving care, cleaning of the wound, or application of cool water. Band-Aids and first aid cream are available in the first aid kits in the resource areas. Additional supplies are available in preschool lobby office. Gloves should always be worn when treating a child’s injuries. In case of a more serious emergency, we will follow the following procedures:

A teacher will stay with your child to keep him calm and reassured. He will send a fellow teacher for help. 

We will not move an injured child.

The person in charge will call the emergency number and give information and directions as needed. They will contact you, and advise you of the condition of your child and procedure suggested by medical personnel. 

If the child needs to be transported to the hospital, the person in charge will accompany your child. 

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Policies and Procedures for Parents

General Guidelines
Do not leave a child in any preschool room or on the playground unless a teacher is there to receive the child. The parent should stay with the child until a teacher arrives.

Please do not discuss your child's difficulties with his teacher in his presence. We will be glad to talk with you at your convenience when the child is not present.

Please discourage children from bringing toys from home.

Dress your child in simple, washable clothes.

Childcare is provided on Sunday and Wednesday evenings for church activities only. Out of courtesy, please do not ask our workers to keep your child for personal activities.

If a child contracts a childhood disease (chicken pox, etc.) following a session in a preschool class, the preschool office should be notified.

Any serious allergies, problems, or unusual feeding habits should be noted on the security label and pointed out to the teacher.

Children should be fed before coming to the Preschool Department. Infants through five year olds need to be taken to the Wednesday night supper in the Family Life Center until the Preschool Center opens.

A snack is served to ones and older. If a child has allergies, the teacher needs to be informed so that the child will not be given anything to eat that is harmful to him.

Please label all belongings with the child’s name: bag, bottle, pacifier, and/or sippy cup.

We understand that at times a child may cry or be upset. Don't be embarrassed; this is a normal reaction during specific periods in a preschooler's life.
Never slip away from your child or unduly delay your departure. Either of these approaches could create anxiety for your child. Tell him in a kind, firm voice that you will be back soon. Most children rarely cry more than a few minutes.

If a child has been unusually fussy, please use good judgement about leaving him in the preschool area.

Children who show signs of illness such as fever, sore throat, upset stomach, impetigo, rash, or diarrhea cannot be accepted in a preschool room.  Pediatricians usually recommend that a child be kept in for 24 hours after a fever.

Teachers have been instructed to notify parents to pick up their children immediately if they show signs of illness while in a preschool room. Teachers will not give medication to any child.

The learning opportunities in each room are planned for a specific age group of preschoolers. Please do not communicate to visitors (relatives, etc.) that they can go with your child to his class regardless of age.

Most preschoolers cannot grasp abstract concepts such as the salvation experience. If your child starts asking questions, please let him spend time talking with you about his increasing awareness of God and Jesus. Use questions which involve more than "yes" or "no" answers. Help may be received in the book The Faith of a Child, by Art Murphy. 

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Safety and Security 
Place a security label on each child for every class.

You may secure a pager, if desired, at the preschool lobby desk.

Your child should be picked up by one parent to avoid traffic congestion in the halls. The child will only be given to the person who has the matching security label. Please knock on the door and the child will be brought to you. Please do not disrupt the other children or your child by entering the room. Other boys and girls may not be able to understand why their parents have not returned. If the children are on the playground, please notify a teacher that you are taking the child.

Please pick up your child promptly after each service. Failure to do so creates anxiety for your child. If you wish to visit with friends, take the child with you away from the preschool area to avoid confusion and overcrowding. Also, our preschool teachers have family and friends who need them. The facilities will be closed by 9:30 p.m. for all meetings.

Just for Babies and Ones
A Sign Me In sheet should be filled out for all babies, birth through twelve months. This will help the teachers better meet the needs of these children.

A nursing room is provided for you to nurse your baby.

We recommend you send an extra bottle in case of an extended service, emergency, etc. Please discuss special needs of your child with his teacher.

All liquids should be brought in plastic bottles. Glass bottles create hazards when dropped.

Courtesy is expected in not asking teachers to spoon-feed children on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Bottles brought by the parents will be given to each baby according to his parents' instructions. Table food will not be served in the preschool department.

We provide diaper wipes. Please bring a sufficient supply of diapers (3-6) each time you attend.

Please include a change of clothing, marked with your child's name.

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