SonShine Kids Early Education Information

SonShine Kids Early Education – Nutrition Plan

At SonShine Kids Early Education, we are committed to promoting healthy nutrition for both the children in our care and the adults who support them. Proper nutrition is essential for energy, growth, and overall development, and we strive to provide meals and snacks that support these needs in a nurturing, faith-based environment.

We proudly participate in the Association for Child Development (ACD) Food Program, ensuring that all meals and snacks meet current federal nutritional guidelines. Children are offered well-balanced, age-appropriate meals that support their physical and developmental stages.

We encourage children to explore new foods using the “No Thank You Bite” approach, which invites them to try each item without pressure. While children are never forced to eat, alternative food choices will not be provided unless a documented food allergy requires a substitution.

In addition to providing nutritious meals, we actively engage families by sharing educational materials and activities related to healthy eating. We discuss the benefits of nutritious foods and help children learn to make positive choices. Trying new foods is part of our daily adventure, and we love celebrating when children discover something new they enjoy!

Resources from ACD are available in our Parent Resource Book, and we are always happy to provide additional information to support healthy habits at home.

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Health Plan 

The purpose of this health plan is to provide guidelines to keep children, and adults, safe and healthy. The state of Michigan requires Child-In-Care Statements to be kept on file.  These must be updated yearly, and we will be sure to have all parents review, and sign them, as needed. 

Sick children may not attend childcare.  This is a state regulation.  Under no circumstances should you bring your child to care sick. 

Health Department regulations prohibit the admittance of any child into a family childcare home that exhibits any of the following symptoms: 

• Fever (100.5F or higher) - child needs to be fever free for 24 hours, without the aid of medication 

• Vomiting – child must be symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of medication 

• Runny nose with colored discharge – check with doctor 

• Rash – check with doctor 

• Discharge from eyes or ears – check with doctor 

• Lice – child needs to be treated and nits removed before return 

• Communicable diseases – chicken pox, measles, mumps, conjunctivities (pink eye), influenza, Covid, hand foot mouth, etc 

If you are not sure whether your child is well enough to attend, you can all or text, and discuss it with me. Masking your child’s symptoms with over-the-counter medications and bringing them anyway, is NOT allowed and could be a cause for immediate termination. It is also inconsiderate to all families involved.  Sick children make the other children sick too.  “Sick,” according to the regulations, is any child that may be running a fever, has a rash, unexplained symptoms, or who appears to be less than healthy. If a child becomes ill at SonShine Kids, the parents will be notified and expected to pick up the child within 2 hours of call.  Ill children will be isolated, to the best of our ability. 

I have the right to refuse to care for a sick child.  If your child develops any of the above symptoms while in care, you or your alternate will be required to pick up your child. 

Your child may return to care 24 hours after symptoms of illness end without the use of medication. This means, if your child is sent home with fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, they cannot return until they have been symptom free for 24 hours, without the aid of medications.  I am responsible for the health and well-being of many children, as well as adults.  I understand and respect your need to be at work, but your cooperation is extremely important on this.  If you are unable to stay home with your sick child, it will be necessary for you to make other arrangements. 

In the event I am too sick to care for your child, I will give you as much notice as possible.  I apologize in advance if this occurs.  It will be your responsibility to find alternate care if this happens.  I would hate for your child to contract whatever illness I may have. 

As a provider, I strive to provide information, periodically, about well-child checks, immunizations and developmental milestones.  If it is necessary, I will discuss concerns with you, and you can choose to involve your pediatrician.  I have a resource notebook for referrals for assistance, as well as local pediatricians. 

 

Cultural Competency 

The goal of this cultural competence plan is to allow all families to feel like they are represented, welcomed and appreciated, at SonShine Kids Early Education.  Families come from many cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.  SonShine Kids Early Education respects this and does as much as possible to incorporate diverse cultures within the program.  To achieve this goal, I use different books, music and movement materials, cooking activities, and toys throughout the program.  Each year, I strive to participate in professional development training to keep myself educated in cultural competency.  I find out about these trainings from Great Start to Quality, other early childhood professionals and through networking groups, along with flyers/pamphlets sent to me from other early childhood organizations.  I encourage families to share their cultures and traditions with our daycare.  We love to learn! 

 

SonShine Kids Early Education Special Needs Plan 

My goal as a provider is to be committed to working as a team, with parents, to accommodate any special needs their child may have.  This includes, but is not limited to: 

• Food allergies 

• Developmental delays 

• Physical delays or impairments 

• Behavior needs 

Special needs will be addressed on an individual basis.  A written plan to accommodate children, with special needs, will be in place to help families, as well as myself.  The purpose of this plan is to meet the full potential of each child. I have resources and support through Great Start to Quality, and I have attended trainings on how to provide the best care for children with special needs.  If a child’s need is something I am unqualified to accommodate, I will recommend parents seek out care that is better fit to address their child’s needs. 

 

Discipline Policy 

Children are small, tough, exasperating, interesting, and loveable. To be “good” with children, we watch each face and listen to each voice. We observe what each child is like, how each is feeling, how each child plays and moves around. We get to know the weaknesses and strengths of each child and of the group. This is how good discipline begins.  The word “discipline” is derived from the word “disciple,” someone who follows the teachings of another. Discipline means learning. It does not mean punishment, tears, or humiliation. It means a chance to learn how to live in a social world. Discipline is not something adults do to children. It is something they do with children. 

 The goals of discipline are self-control, responsibility, and self-discipline. Children need help in controlling their behavior. Most important, they need to become responsible for their own behavior and develop self-control. 

 I am most likely to achieve the goals of discipline when I respond to the cause of behaviors as well as to the behaviors themselves. I ask, “why?” silently before reacting/responding. 

 I may utilize a variety of discipline techniques to meet the needs of different situations: 

• Let children make some decisions and choices – one good way to teach responsibility is to give the child as much responsibility as possible.  I may use green (positive) choices or red (negative) choices.  The choices will be real, age appropriate and valid. Children will be allowed plenty of time to respond (3, 2, 1), which in turn gives them the opportunity to decide their course of action. 

• Give reasons for rules – understanding the reasons for rules make it easier to remember and follow them. 

• Be consistent in our language and behavioral response to children – consistent behavior by adults facilitates development of inner control through modeling. 

• Remove children from situations they can’t handle – if a child is too young to understand, or there is no way to change the cause, it may be possible to change the situation.

• Redirect children’s behavior – often there is a way to let children do something in a better place or safer way. 

• Let children learn the consequences of their actions – experience is the best teacher. 

• Reinforcements will be given when children do right. 

• Children will be encouraged to talk things over, with each other as well as adults.  They will also be encouraged to "make it right," which includes apologies and hugs. 

Always Avoided: 

**Methods that will shame, frighten or humiliate. 

**Time outs are never used for children under 

**Physical abuse. 

**Comparisons among children. 

**Carryovers from the incident. (Once it is over, it will be left behind.) 

**Consequences that are too long, punitive, or postponed. 

**Making promises that cannot be kept. 

**Being overly helpful. (Children will be allowed to do as much as they can by 

themselves, including solving conflicts.) 

**Threatening with loss of affection. 

**Use of substances on children as punishment (hot sauce, soap, etc) 

**Restricting or restraining, except for the risk of injury to themselves or someone else 

**Depriving of food or bathroom use 

**Confining children

**Children under 3 years old & time-outs.  They are redirected and encouraged to make a better choice.

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SonShine Kids Early Education Emergency Procedures 

IN A FIRE: 

• The smoke detectors will sound.  They are placed in the daycare room, kitchen, living room and the nap/storage room. 

• All children and adults will exit the home by the safest route possible. The front and back doors are primary exits with the windows in the dining room and daycare room and nap/storage room as secondary exits. 

• 911 will be called when everyone is safely out and at our meeting place, which is the sidewalk next door. 

• Once everyone has safely arrived at the meeting place, if necessary, we will walk to the mobile home park’s office, our evacuation point. 

IN A TORNADO WATCH: 

• An emergency bag will be readily available.  It will contain flashlights, blankets, food, first aid kit, which will include needed medications, cups for water, toys, books and other activities. 

• The children will play in the daycare room, near the front door. 

• Televisions, radios, tablets, phones, and/or Alexa’s will be on to monitor the storm. 

• At the first signs of a warning, the children will be packed into vehicles to head for shelter. 

IN A TORNADO WARNING: 

• There are 2 choices for a tornado shelter: 

1. The park clubhouse

2. The home of a current family

• Once in shelter, parents will be notified that we are secure and safe. 

• Pick up will not be permitted during a tornado warning, for the safety of parents, children, and caregivers. 

• Any parents that arrive will be asked to join us in the safety of the shelter. 

• Once we are in an all clear, parents will again be notified. 

• If a tornado touches down and damage occurs, the safety of the children is our number one priority. Once any emergency is taken care of, parents will be contacted at that time. 

SERIOUS ACCIDENT/INJURY PLAN: 

• Parents will be notified immediately if any major injury occurs, or if a child loses consciousness, for any reason. 

• Major injury – twisted, sprained or broken bone, concussion possibility, deep cut, etc. Parents, of injured child, will be contacted and given the choice of whether they want an ambulance to be called or if they want to pick the child up. 

• Medical Emergency – Unresponsive, not breathing, unable to stop bleeding, etc. 911 will be called immediately and parents will be notified to meet us at the hospital. 

• In any emergency that requires a child to leave before a parent can arrive, Becky will leave with the child. The remaining children will be in the care of Mark. 

LOCKDOWN/SHELTER IN PLACE: 

• In the event of a bomb threat, active shooter, or other human caused event, we will be in lockdown. 

• If children are outside, they will be brought in immediately. 

• All doors and windows will be checked and locked, as well as all curtains closed. 

• We will remain in the daycare room and continue our day as normally as possible. 

• Parents arriving for drop off or pick up will be required to call/text on arrival and will be met at the door. 

• In the extreme, but unlikely chance that a threat is inside the home, and if safely possible, children will be escorted out of the home and to our evacuation point at Parkwood Green’s office. 

• Parents will be notified, ASAP, during any lockdown situation. 

LEAVING THE PROPERTY: 

If we do leave the property during an emergency (fire, in home threat), we will be at our evacuation point, the office of Parkwood Green. All neighbors are aware of the daycare, and I have no doubt they would help us or offer shelter when needed. Parents will always be notified where we are. 

INFANTS, TODDLERS AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: 

Ideally, infants and toddlers will be placed in car seats, strollers, or wagons, depending on if it is safe to enter the shed to retrieve these items.  If it is not safe, children will be carried.  Any children with special needs, and unable to follow our emergency plans on their own, will be carried as well. As much as safely possible, children with chronic medical conditions will have their medical equipment, and medications, brought with us to shelter.  Once in a safe and secure location, their specific needs will be evaluated and met. 

SCREENING AND SUPERVISION OF VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING PARENTS: 

As required by the State of Michigan, visitors, and volunteers, including but not limited to parents and authorized adults listed on childcare forms, shall be directly supervised by Rebekah, always, while in contact with children in care. 

 

Safe Conditions Policy 

The following steps will be taken to ensure that children are safe while at SonShine Kids Early Education.  Children will be actively supervised, at all times. 

SonShine Kids Early Education will take the following steps to maintain the facility  

• Clean the facility. 

• Keep the facility in a sanitary condition always. 

• Sanitize toys, furniture, and other equipment used by children, daily, weekly and when they become soiled or contaminated. 

• Wash all soiled items prior to sanitization. 

 

Child Abuse Protection 

Becky and Mark are both mandated by law to immediately notify the local child protection agency if they suspect that a child has been abused or neglected. 

  

Parent/Guardian Communication 

• Family conversations will take place for all children frequently.  Topics discussed will include interests, development, strengths, and areas of individual need. 

• Parents of children in the program will have daily opportunities at morning drop off and pick up to discuss the events of his/her child’s day. Written communication may also be in your child’s cubby, so please make sure to check it daily. 

• Parents may also receive and/or send communication to me through Brightwheel, which is a free download to a computer and/or phone. 

• We will complete parent/provider conferences twice a year, as a means of tracking growth and development of each child. Special conferences available, on request.

• To further foster whole family relationships, parents or guardians of children enrolled at SonShine Kids Early Education are welcome to visit at any time.

• SonShine Kids will provide information for community resources and referrals, on request.

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Breastfeeding Support

• We provide an atmosphere that welcomes breastfeeding families. We support mothers who continue to breastfeed their infants/children as they return and continue to work.

• We will create a private area, in the living room, for mothers to breastfeed their children. Other children will be encouraged to allow mothers space, to minimize distractions and maximize privacy. 

• We work with parents prior to their first day in child care to transition the infant to bottle or cup feedings.

• Freezer space is available for milk storage.

• We will coordinate with parents about the quantity of milk remaining in containers to avoid waste.
   

Air Quality Response

In the event the air quality is questionable, we will utilize the Air Now app, as well as Weather Bug and Storm Team 8 apps, to view the breakdown provided in the details for individual particles. We will take into consideration and frequently observe breathing of children with reactive airways who may be easily triggered. Micro-dust particles can bypass the nose and throat and can be absorbed by lungs and into the bloodstream, leading to unhealthy effects. To protect the air inside, we will run our air purifiers and keep our windows and exterior doors closed. We will also set the air conditioner to the recirculation setting. To further reduce exposure, we will remain inside and pause outdoor play, for anything above the orange level. We also will make sure our carbon monoxide detectors are in proper working order.

Infant/Toddler Plan: Stay in child care space and operate as normal.

Air Now

Weather Bug

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Social and Emotional Behavior

At SonShine Kids, we track social and emotional development semi-annually. Development is tracked using Ages and Stages Social and Emotional Questionnaires.  

We also track social and emotional behavior, on the Brightwheel App, daily.  

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