Introduction-

         The Children's Center at Purchase College is a childcare center located on the Purchase College Campus. The center is licensed by the Office for Children and Family Services and accredited by the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We provide full-time childcare for children between 18 months and 5 years of age.

A full-time staff of teachers, a director, an assistant director, and an administrative assistant provide the core staff. Because of the college affiliation, there are also student assistants with regular hours during the academic year. In addition to paid student staff, some students come to the center to augment their coursework in psychology, social science, education, and related fields.
Another result of the affiliation with the college is that the center's schedule derives from the schedule of the college. Extended schedules are available for families needing care beyond the academic calendar.

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      The Children's Center at Purchase College, Inc. (NAEYC accredited) is a campus-based early childhood center and instructional facility. The families served are those of students, faculty, and staff of the college and of the community at large. The primary commitment of the professional staff of the Children's Center is to provide high quality child care in a safe, healthy, happy and stimulating learning environment. Designed to facilitate each child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth, the program emphasizes gender equity and the development of a positive self-concept. These goals require that all members of the staff respect and maintain open, positive communication with the children, their parents, and each other.

Purchase College students utilize the center in conjunction with course work, independent study, field experience, and senior projects. The Children's Center also pays particular attention to the needs of the community by offering parents invaluable informational resources, referrals, seminars, and conferences. The Center tries to be responsive to issues that face communities as a whole, such as public health, child nutrition, teacher training, and mainstreaming.

A very important part of our curriculum focuses on the integration of campus resources and early childhood practices. The children visit the Neuberger Museum for a diversified cultural and ethnic experience. We utilize the dance and music buildings to experience sound, rhythm, and movement through the performing arts. The children learn about science through our nature walks and outdoor activities.

In an open environment setting, the Children's Center provides children with developmentally appropriate activities, ongoing assessment of the children's development, and an anti-bias curriculum emphasizing inclusion and anticommercialism.

Play - the universal language of childhood - is used at the Center to foster the growth of elementary concepts of time, space, number, and color. Games, painting, construction, modeling, dance, outdoor play, and music are used to sharpen cognitive and perceptual processes, as well as to allow children to interact constructively with others. The purpose of these exercises is to create an atmosphere of self-respect and self discipline, and to provide numerous opportunities for teachers to guide the children as they learn to make their own choices and decisions.

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Our Philosophy in Practice-

Children's best understanding of new ideas comes through hands-on learning, which is most effectively accomplished during play. While children are playing, they are developing knowledge, skills, dispositions, and feelings that will influence them for the rest of their lives. As they develop, children's play becomes more elaborate. Interactive dramatic play is a very sophisticated form of play which children reach around the age of three and become highly skilled at during their prekindergarden year. Children accomplish a great deal during this imaginative role play. Because they must interact with their peers, they learn to regulate their behavior. In fact, in a play setting, children can display more self-regulation than in other settings, readying them to extend their self-control to "real life" situations. Imaginative play also fosters important cognitive development. The use of one object to represent another in an imaginary scenario is a step toward the separation of thought from objects - a separation that becomes crucial in later academic pursuits. Therefore, although formal academics are inappropriate for children of this age, their play is perfect preparation for the abstract thinking introduced later in school.

The environment of the Children's Center is designed to reflect the important role of play in children's development. The physical arrangement of the classroom and the schedule of the day are carefully considered ingredients in the learning environment. There are distinct spaces for different types of toys. Children's physical development is encouraged by active outdoor play and large-scale blocks for large motor skills and by small-scale manipulatives for fine motor skills. Props such as dress-up clothes, telephones, plates, pots and pans, and dolls are offered for role-playing. Art supplies from pencils to crayons to paints and more are all used. All areas of the classroom provide opportunities to gain knowledge and to develop skills through the use of materials and the interactions with peers and teachers.

The daily routine is consistent enough for comfort, but also flexible. Lunchtime, naptime, and, in the older groups, circle time are full group activities. The rest of the day is usually divided between indoor free play and outdoor free play. During this free play, the teachers are both observers and facilitators. They watch to learn about each child's strengths and needs, and they step in to provide guidance when appropriate. They guide children in negotiating resolutions to conflicts, and they suggest directions to children's play which will help them to grow beyond what they can accomplish on their own. They may suggest activities and work with children individually or in small groups. They select materials and introduce them in ways designed to foster each child's continuing development.

The principle of respect is employed in the way in which teachers interact with children. A limit placed on inappropriate behavior is generally accompanied by a set of acceptable options. Positive, warm encouragement comes frequently.

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Parent Participation-

The Children’s Center at SUNY Purchase tries to address many of the needs of its children, but this goal cannot be achieved without parent participation.  Parent involvement is considered an integral part of life at the Center. Parents and teachers interact by sharing their observations, immediate concerns, and long range goals for their children.  When desired, we are able to arrange parent sessions with Dr. Marilyn Cooperman, Psychologist and additional lunch time sessions with center staff.  Parents organize and run fund-raising events and serve on the Board of Directors.  Parents are encouraged to contribute to the program by sharing their expertise and talking to the children about their work, cultural practices etc.  A parent-teacher partnership such as this significantly enhances each child’s overall growth and development.

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Visitors-

Visitors must check in at the administrative office.  At that time they will be expected to sign in. 

Health Information-

We work hard to limit the transmission of infection. We have concentrated on the physical set-up of the classrooms. Diapering areas are separate from eating areas. Both staff and children wash their hands frequently, and always before handling food and after using the toilet or changing a diaper. Ventilation, heating, and lighting are all factors that are crucial to the control of infection. Despite these precautions, all children get sick sooner or later. They will get sick whether or not they are in day care, but in a day care center diseases can spread easily because large numbers of children from different families spend hours together swapping germs every day.
When we are ill, our bodies repair tissues and cells while we sleep or rest. We often find that children need a bounce back period - time to be at home with a little more rest and quiet. After an illness, our immune system is weakened, making us more susceptible to reinfection. This is not an ideal time to return to school where the child is put into an active environment with other children (and other children's germs).

Indications of illness to check for in your child include:
1. Fever: one degree higher than normal may indicate illness.
2. Change in behavior: may be an increase or decrease in energy level. This is often the first symptom we see: be alert to your child's unspoken symptoms.
3. Pain
4. Change in appetite
5. Vomiting
6. Diarrhea
7. Rashes
8. Respiratory Symptoms: Sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, cough, wheezing, and/or shortness of breath. One of the most difficult illnesses to evaluate is cold or upper respiratory infection. (URI) Here are some guidelines:

If the child has a normal body temperature, is normally active and has a normal appetite that child should be allowed to engage in normal activity and play. Some children with colds get better very quickly, others have persisting symptoms for many weeks. Still others will wind up with ear infections. This happens because of the nature of the particular virus and the individual's basic genetic disposition to secondary problems.

We cannot and should not isolate a child with a cold. If we did, most two to five year olds would not see another human being all winter long. However, some children with common colds may feel irritable, sleepy, or have a fever. These are the children that should be kept at home, where they can rest and get extra Tender Loving Care.
Droplets pass from one child to another easily as young children are not adept at covering their mouths or using Kleenex. Encouraging this practice at home helps; encourage independence in nose wiping and proper disposal of Kleenex.

9. Drainage: of any type from eyes, ears, wounds, etc.

What you can do to help:
1. Use the above as a guide in assessing whether your child is able to attend school. If you have reservations, it's best not to send him/her. If your child becomes ill during the school day, we will send the child home. Your quick response to our calls about a sick child is important.
2. Keep the staff informed of your child's moods, behaviors, falls, aches, etc. when you drop him/her off. This is helpful in determining a change in a child and noting signs of illness quickly.
3. Please notify staff if your child has been taking medications. Some medications may cause symptoms that normally indicate illness.
4. Reactions to immunizations are not contagious, but children are often listless and uncomfortable enough to warrant sending them home or keeping them at home.
5. Familiarize yourself with the Center's health policies.

The best way to be prepared for unavoidable illnesses is to plan ahead. Think ahead as to what your choices are:

• If you work during the day, find out your employer's sick leave policies.
• If it is difficult for you to take time away from work, find an alternative caregiver. This might be a relative, neighbor, friend, or other dependable adult you could call when your child is too sick to be at the Children's Center.
  

Health Care Philosophy
It is the philosophy of The Children's Center at Purchase College that good health is a basic necessity for a child's success and happiness. Based on this, we believe in and encourage every effort to provide the children, staff, and parents with the support needed to prevent illness and maintain optimum wellness.
The Children's Center at Purchase College will serve

• Toddlers
• Well Children
• Preschool Children
• Children taking Medication (program will administer medication)

Employee Health Policies
Before the start of employment, all staff and volunteers are required to have a physical.
A physical exam is then required every two years. The employee is given the physical examination form one month prior to the exam due date to allow time for scheduling an appointment. It is the responsibility of the Administrative Assistant to keep employee health records up to date and advise the staff when physicals are due.

The physical must include a test for tuberculosis. N.Y. S. licensing regulations now requires a Mantoux (PPD) test. A staff member who has had a positive tuberculin test in the past is required to have a annual chest x-ray that shows he/she is free from communicable disease and an annual doctor's statement that the employee if free from symptoms of tuberculosis. After 3 consecutive negative chest x-rays the time between x-rays may be extended upon the documentation of the staff member's doctor

The records of all physical exams, tuberculin tests, and chest x-rays are kept on file in the general employee folder. In addition, staff emergency information - doctor's name, nearest relatives, pertinent medical information - is kept in the employee's folder

Child Health Policies

Immunizations:
At the time of registration and/or receipt of the Health History the Administrative Assistant or Director will check the child's immunization status. Children will need to follow the CDC recommended childhood immunization schedule. Those children who are up-to-date but still need additional immunizations are reminded of their appointment dates so that they will be in compliance with the NYS Public Health Law #2164.

Illness:
If a child comes to school when he/she is not feeling well, he/she will be vulnerable to infection. It is in the best interest of the other children and staff of The Children's Center at Purchase College to send the child home when he/she is ill. A child needs to be well to participate in the program.

If a child has an elevated temperature he/she should not come to school. In order for the child to come back to school the child must be fever free for 24 hours. If a child is well enough to come to school, we will expect him/her to go outside with the class, weather permitting. If a child becomes ill while at school, the parents will be notified to pick the child up promptly.
If a child is sent home because of an infectious disease, he/she will need a doctor's note to return to school.

Parents are informed of The Children's Center at Purchase College's illness policy at time of admission into the program and in the Parent Handbook.

Medication Plan:
The responsibility of administering medication at The Children's Center at Purchase College program will be assumed when necessary. If a child needs medication, parents are asked to have their doctor schedule the dosage for home administration. If this is not feasible, the school will administer the medication to his/her child. If necessary, other plans regarding medication administration will be made on an individual basis with the assistant director and parent.

Procedure for the safe administration of medication during the time a child is attending The Children's Center at Purchase College

Over-the-Counter Medication (OTC)
Over-the-counter ointments may be given on an infrequent, non-routine basis under written signed instructions from the parent. Topical ointments may be applied as needed for protection against the sun or diaper rash with written signed parental instructions (consent form in back of this section).

Orally administered over-the-counter medications may not be given without written signed instructions from the child's health care provider and parent (consent form in back of this section).

Prescription Medication
Prescription medication may only be given upon written signed order of the child's health care provider stating that The Children's Center at Purchase College may administer such medication and specifying the circumstances, if any, under which the medication must not be administered, accompanied by written signed instructions from the parent (consent form in back of this section).

Prescribed drugs must be in the original container and have the original label.

The label should show: 1) Child's name
2) Current date
3) Name of the medication
4) The dose, route, and frequency (times) of
administration
5) Special storage instructions, if any (e.g. keep
refrigerated, keep out of direct light, etc.)
6) Expiration date if the medicine is for repeated use
7) Physician's name and license number

The physician's consent form should include (all of the above and the following)
1) The reason for the medication
2) Specific time limits, if any, (e.g. antibiotic x 7 days)
3) Specific instructions, if any (e.g. before meals, give with food)
4) Possible side effects

Medication should be supplied in the smallest quantity required and the program will ensure that the parent does not give up the portion that is needed for home administration.

A medication check list will be completed before any medication is accepted

Medication will be received by the medication trained staff or the assistant director from the parent/guardian and returned to the parent/guardian for disposal when medication is no longer needed.

Medication will be stored in a locked box.
The OCFS MAT certified staff member will administer medication.
Medication will always be administered when the center is expected to do so. If for some reason the medication is not given because the child refuses to take it or the child is too ill to take it the parent will be informed that day by phone call or written note. Contact with the parent will be documented on the Log of Medication Administration (sample form in the back of this section).

The name of the person administering the medication, the dose, and the time of administration must be recorded on the child's individual medication form to assure that a permanent record of medication administration is maintained. This form also contains a section to record any side effects noted and how and when the parent/guardian was notified if a side effect occurred. The Log of Medication Administration also accounts for the administration of PRN medication and parent notification of it being given.

Records will be kept on an individual basis, reviewed by the director or assistant director, and filed in the child's health folder when the course of the medication is completed or on a monthly basis.

If a medication error occurs, the parent, the health care provider, and the Office of Children and Families will be notified.
The OCFS will be notified within 24 hours of the medication incident using the Medication Special Incident Forms given with the MAT training course (sample form in the back of this section).

A Physician's Desk Reference is also available at The Children's Center at Purchase College as a resource for information on drugs.

Infection Control:
An early childhood center is a place where germs can spread easily. Children come in close contact, sharing airspace, toys, and sanitary facilities.

Handwashing has been shown to be an effective way to help minimize germ transmission and prevent unnecessary sickness.

Staff, volunteers, and children wash their hands with soap and running water at the following times:

(i) after using the toilet;
(ii) before any food related activity such as setting the table, food
preparation, food handling, or consumption;
(iii) whenever hands are contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids;
(iv) after handling pets or other animals;
(v) after sneezing or coughing;
(vi) after outdoor play.

Staff and volunteers also wash their hands with soap and running water:

(i) before and after giving medications;
(ii) before and after bandaging a wound. Nonporous gloves are available in each classroom and will be worn if there is the chance of contact with blood or blood-containing bodily fluids.
Hands must be washed even after wearing gloves.
(iii) after assisting a child with toilet use.

Gloves: Nonporous gloves must be worn by the staff when they are in contact with spills of blood or other visibly bloody body fluids. Gloves are in each classroom, in the director's / assistant director's office, in first aid kits and they are present with the teachers on the playground and on class trips.

The Children's Center has a Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Control plan found in the Health Policies and Procedures Manual; universal precautions are reviewed with staff at the beginning of each school year and within 6 months of hire for new employees. Spills of bodily fluids (e.g., urine, feces, blood, saliva, nasal discharge, eye discharge or any fluid discharge) must be cleaned and disinfected immediately in keeping with professionally established guidelines. These OSHA (Occupational Safety Health Administration) guidelines are in the Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan These guidelines are also given to the employee as part of the new employee packet at the time they are hired.

Any tools and equipment used to clean spills of bodily fluids must be cleaned and disinfected immediately. Other blood-contaminated materials must be disposed of in a doubled plastic bag with a secure tie.
Diapering: The Children's Center has adopted sanitation and hygiene procedures for diapering that adequately protect the health and safety of the children served by the program and the staff.

The following should be followed by all staff members:

- wear gloves when diapering
- assemble all supplies in advance - disposable diapers, pre-moistened towelettes, clean clothes if necessary
- diaper on a nonporous surface used only for this purpose. Cover this non-porus surface with a disposable under pad,
- situate the diaper changing area as close to hot and cold running water as possible. This water source may not be used for toothbrushing, food preparation or dishwashing.
- be mindful of contamination risks, taking precautions to minimize those risks.

Both adult's and child's hands should be washed after diapering.
Soiled diapers must be disposed of immediately into an outside trash container or put in a tightly covered plastic-lined trashcan in an area inaccessible to children until outdoor disposal is possible.

Diaper changing surfaces must be cleaned with a germicidal solution after each use; a 1:16 bleach solution made up daily will meet these requirements. The cleansed surface should be allowed to air dry.
Under pads must be discarded after each use.

5. Daily Health Checks: Teachers are aware of their responsibility to do physical appraisals of the children in their care on a daily basis. Upon arrival they observe the child for general appearance, posture, and condition of hair, teeth, and skin. Children are checked for visible bruises on arrival. Any deviation from the norm is reported to the assistant director and/or director. Their findings are documented on the Incident Form. The Director follows up with a phone call to the parent. If child abuse is suspected, CPS will be informed immediately. Teachers and staff have annual in service training on Child Abuse, Basic First Aid, and an Infectious Disease Overview.

THE CHILDREN'S CENTER AT PURCHASE COLLEGE

EMERGENCY TREATMENT PLAN

1. The Director/ Administrative Assistant will obtain signed authorization by parent or guardian at time of admission for emergency treatment. This permission is kept with the child's health record. A sample of this form is in The Children's Center at Purchase College Health Policy and Procedure Plan.

2. Practical application of First Aid is renewed annually with the American Red Cross staff by the site assistant director. There is a first aid certified staff member at each site.
3. When an injury occurs, the head teacher, assistant teacher, assistant director or staff member in charge should:

1) Assess the injury.
2) Administer first aid as needed, i.e. cleanse the abrasion, cleanse and cover an open wound etc. First Aid instructions are posted in each classroom.
3) The staff member taking charge will remain with the child until the parent assumes responsibility or until treatment is obtained.
Her assistant will:

A. Notify parent of the injury. Use emergency contacts if parent is unavailable. Emergency numbers- blue cards are kept by the family worker.
B. Request parent's preference for treatment at emergency room or private doctor if time permits.
C. Transportation: Parents may transport child to obtain treatment or child may be transported via ambulance to hospital emergency room. The local police must be called-
911- to request transportation via ambulance. A staff member will stay with the child until a parent arrives.
D. Assistant will obtain child's health record and authorization for emergency room treatment. Staff member in charge will bring complete health record to doctor or emergency room with the injured child.

4) The adult present at the time of the accident will complete the accident report.

5) The Children's Center will be notified in the event of serious injury or death.

6) The Children's Center will immediately notify the Office of Children and Family Services upon learning of the death of a child enrolled in the center if the death occurred while the child was in the care of the center or was being transported by the center.

Minor injuries are noted in an accident report, a copy of which is given to the parent. When a child suffers serious illness or injury while at the Children's Center, the head teacher sees to it that the child (and the child's file with the Emergency Health Care Permission and Medical Forms) is taken to the college Health Services. The parent is called and told of the illness or injury, and the teacher will stay with the child until the parent can come to take custody. If an ambulance is needed, the director or a teacher calls 911 or campus security.

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Nutrition Information-

A breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack are provided based on US Department of Agriculture guidelines for balanced meals. The menu cycle is posted at the front of the center. A licensed dietician certifies the menu once every two years. Sample menu

Daily Schedule-

MORNING
8:00-9:30 CHILDREN ARRIVE: Please have your child here no later than 9:30. Free play periods in classrooms; teachers greet children and parents.
8:30-9:30 BREAKFAST : Children eat as they arrive in the morning.

8:30-10:00 FREE PLAY: Children select from one of the interest areas:
Art; Blocks; Library Corner; Table Toys; Computers; House Corner; Sand and Water.
10:00-10:15 CLEAN-UP: Children put away toys and materials: as they finish they prepare for group time.
10:15-10:30 GROUP TIME: Conversation and sharing time; music,
movement, rhymes, fingerplays
10:45-11:45 OUTDOOR PLAY: Children select from climbing activities, wheel toys, balls, hoops, sand and water play, woodworking, gardening, and child-
initiated games.
11:45-12:00 CLEAN-UP: Children prepare for lunch

**The length of group and story time varies with the ages of the children. A group of three-year olds, or three and four- year-olds with limited group experiences may have difficulty participating in a 15-minute group time. A shorter activity will be planned and lengthened during the year as children's abilities to interact with the group expand.

LUNCH & REST
12:00-12:45 PREPARE FOR LUNCH, EAT LUNCH & CLEAN UP:
As children finish lunch, they go to the bathroom in small groups and
then read books on their cots in preparation for nap time.
12:45-1:00 QUIET ACTIVITY PRIOR TO NAP: Story, quiet music, or story record.
1:00-3:00 NAPTIME: As children wake, they read books or play quiet games such as puzzles or lotto on their
cots; children who do not sleep or who awaken early are encouraged to do quiet activities.

AFTERNOON SCHEDULE
3:00-3:30 SNACK AND PREPARATION TO GO OUTDOORS

3:30-4:30 OUTDOOR PLAY: Children select from climbing activities, wheel toys, balls, hoops, sand and water play, woodworking, gardening and child-
initiated games.
4:30-5:00 FREE PLAY: Children select activities requiring minimum clean- up time.

5:00-5:15 PICK UP TIME: Remaining children are brought to the main entrance to await the arrival of their pick up person. We have found late pick-ups to be disruptive to your child's routine and sense of security. There will be a $5.00 charge for every fifteen minutes beyond scheduled pick-up time.

Arrival in and departure from the center are risky times of the day. In order to reduce the likelihood of accident, we ask that you follow the procedures outlined below when bringing children to the center in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon.
Upon arrival, we ask that parents bring their child into the building, escort him or her to the classroom, and confirm that s/he is under the supervision of the teacher before leaving. When picking up the child, the adult escort should make certain that the responsible teacher has been told that the child is leaving for the day. As part of this process we ask that you sign your child into the center upon arrival and sign out at departure. There is a book posted next to the classroom door for this purpose.
For safety reasons, we ask also that you closely supervise children in the driveway, lobbies, and elsewhere in the center. In addition, we must also ask that you help your children continue to follow the center guidelines regarding walking (rather than running) while in the center. We recommend that children exit from cars on the curb side of the driveway and be offered a hand to hold while approaching the entrance. When departing, children should wait for their adult escort before exiting the center.

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Calendar-

Please notify the Center if your child will be out for an extended period of time.  An absence of more than two weeks without notice may result in that space being given to another child.

Current calendar

Bad Weather Information-

1. The Purchase College weather hotline is 914-251-7500. If the college closes, we must also close.
2. If the weather is bad, we will open the doors as soon as the first staff person is able to get here, which will be as close to 8:00 a.m. as possible.
3. If bad weather develops during the day, please make arrangements to leave work early. We don't want children and staff stranded at the Center.
4. If we call you during the day to say that the Center is closing early due to serious weather conditions, you need to pick up your child by the designated time. If you will not be in your office or home, please be sure to leave a telephone number where you can be reached during the day.
5. We take the children out to play in the snow. Please send your child with snow pants, boots, hat, mittens and a warm jacket. The extra clothes are important in case clothing gets wet.

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Observation Room Policy-

The observation room is designed to provide a laboratory school environment within the Children's Center. The room is used primarily by psychology students and other Purchase College students. The one-way windows and the sound system allow students to collect data for research projects. Under special circumstances, the Director may invite parents to observe their child, especially during the child's early adjustment to the Center. At all times, access to this space is considered a privilege, and the rights to privacy of staff, parents, and children must be respected.
Procedures for Use of Observation Room
1. Request permission from the Director or the Assistant Director.
2. Sign in/out of the log book (maximum time - 20 minutes).
3. Staff (both classrooms) must be notified that the room is being utilized.
4. Information gained from observations is confidential.
5. All observations must be supervised by the Director or the Assistant Director.

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