Children and staff will wash hands before meals are prepared and served. Children will be seated family style in their classrooms for meals. Hands again will be washed after the meal.

Morning snack will be 6:30am. This will consist of at least two of the following: milk, or milk products, fruit, fruit juice, vegetable, peanut butter, or other protein, whole grain or enriched bread or cereal.

Breakfast will be served at 9:00am. This will consist of at least two of the following: milk, or milk products, fruit, fruit juice, vegetable, peanut butter, or other protein, whole grain or enriched bread or cereal.

Lunch will be served at 12:00am. This meal will consist of: Protein enriched food, fruit and vegetable, cereal or whole wheat or enriched bread products, and 2% vitamin D pasteurized milk.

Afternoon snack will be served at 3:00. This will consist of at least two of the following: milk, or milk products, fruit, fruit juice, vegetable, peanut butter, or other protein, whole grain or enriched bread or cereal.

Supper will be served at 6:00. This meal will consist of: Protein enriched food, fruit and vegetable, cereal or whole wheat or enriched bread products, and 2% vitamin D pasteurized milk.

Evening snack will be offered before the evening children go to bed.

School age children will be given breakfast if they come before school and a snack upon arriving after school.

All liquids will be given in cups. We only use bottles for formula for infants. Toddlers who are just beginning to eat will have their food cut up small and served at a highchair. Enough food shall be prepared on site for each meal so that second portions of vegetable or fruit, bread and milk are available to children.

Menus will be planned monthly by the administrator. All menus will follow the DHFS Regulations and posted on the parent bulletin board. If there is a change to the menu the change will be noted on the menu that is posted on the parent bulletin board.

Your child will be encouraged to eat, but never will be forced to eat. We never withhold food as a punishment.

All meals are served family style where the children serve themselves and have time to socialize. Teachers will sit with the children at the table.

If there is a specialty menu or any food allergy this will be posted on the refrigerator in the kitchen. It will be the parent’s responsibility to bring in special foods or milk if the child has an allergy. Parents may pack portions of lunches for children who are allergic to certain food on the menu. Any meal provided by parents must be labeled with the child’s name and date to be served and will be given to the head teacher whom will put it in the refrigerator.

Infants are always fed on demand. Available space in the classroom may be used for breast-feeding by nursing mothers. The center will offer one iron-fortified formula. Parents of infants have the right to select the center provided iron-fortified formula or choose to bring their own breast milk or formula. Infants will be fed on demand. All infants will be held while being fed formula/breast milk from a bottle. Children will not be allowed to walk around with a bottle. I will work closely with you to meet the needs of your child. As infants transition into baby food & infant cereal we will provide this but you always have the opportunity to bring your own. As they transition to table food they will receive the same foods that the infant/preschoolers do.

Parents will receive a pamphlet about family childcare licensing and regulations, “Your Guide to Licensed Child Care,” as part of an enrollment packet. All information in children’s folders is kept confidential.

Parents are welcome to visit and observe my program at anytime during operating business hours including the evening program unless access denied by a court order. If a court order is in effect, we will keep a copy in the child’s folder and all staff will be notified of this. If the parent who has the court order comes to see their child we will call law enforcement so that they can handle the situation.

We encourage parents to become actively involved in their child’s care. We develop portfolios for children two years of age and up to see what developmental skills every child has so that we can work with each child individually to help challenge the skills they have and help them attain new skills.

We require that we meet with each family twice a year to go over developmental milestones and the portfolios. We will put a note in your cubby when we are getting ready to meet with you so that we can schedule a convenient time to get together.

We also appreciate any skills or talents you may be willing to share with the children.

We will accept children without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, creed, or disability. I am licensed for children 6 weeks – 12 years.