COVID-19
UPDATED POLICIES TO KEEP FAMILIES, CHILDREN, PROVIDERS, and COMMUNITIES SAFE
Change is never easy, especially when it is forced. New and added stress are difficult for children, parents, child care providers, educators, and businesses. We must stay connected and care for each other as best we can during this time, especially supporting those who are working on the front lines. As an agency, we want to help influence a positive mindset that will get us all through the coming weeks/months.
On March 17th, at the direction of our local authorities, we temporarily closed our doors. To do our part to "flatten the curve," this closure was expected to last until April 5th. Unfortunately, each of our homes has different levels of risk. For this reason, Little Lambs stands behind each provider's individual right to remain closed if they choose.
Reopening our doors is going to look a little different. New policies are in effect to minimize risks and keep everyone as safe as possible. Our strategies and requirements come from multiple sources, including WHO, HPEPH, Hastings County Children's Services, Provincial leaders (Ontario and across the country), and the Ministry of Education.
On March 17th, at the direction of our local authorities, we temporarily closed our doors. To do our part to "flatten the curve," this closure was expected to last until April 5th. Unfortunately, each of our homes has different levels of risk. For this reason, Little Lambs stands behind each provider's individual right to remain closed if they choose.
Reopening our doors is going to look a little different. New policies are in effect to minimize risks and keep everyone as safe as possible. Our strategies and requirements come from multiple sources, including WHO, HPEPH, Hastings County Children's Services, Provincial leaders (Ontario and across the country), and the Ministry of Education.
Please note, some of our protocols are "above and beyond" what has been mandated by the Government. We feel to reopen with a safety-first mindset listening to the most current science-based recommendations is a priority. As a private business, it is within our right to create, implement, and enforce these policies.
Licensed Child Care Providers with Little Lambs who choose to reopen their programs will only be accommodating care for children approved by Hastings County Children's Services. This is EMERGENCY care only. As much as we may want to we cannot at this time give priority to our current child care clients.
Parents/guardian's are to call Hastings County Children's Services @ 613-771-9630 or 1-866-414-0300 to apply for emergency child care.
This is not going to be business as usual. Children who access daycare to socialize and otherwise get out of their house will not be permitted to return to our programs at this time—rationale: to support social distancing recommendations and to support frontline workers.
Additionally, children or children of individuals who are currently on mandated quarantine will not be permitted to access our programs, including persons who are self-isolating due to symptoms or who have recently traveled.
Reminder: These policies are in effect due to the current crisis we are enduring. Eventually life will return to "normal" and we will celebrate and throw a giant party when we can return to business as usual. We cannot wait to welcome all of our child care clients back. Our providers miss their littles and their littles miss them. We miss our child care parents too ;) However for right now we have to follow the guidance provided by the Ministry of Education and Hastings County.
Parents/guardian's are to call Hastings County Children's Services @ 613-771-9630 or 1-866-414-0300 to apply for emergency child care.
This is not going to be business as usual. Children who access daycare to socialize and otherwise get out of their house will not be permitted to return to our programs at this time—rationale: to support social distancing recommendations and to support frontline workers.
Additionally, children or children of individuals who are currently on mandated quarantine will not be permitted to access our programs, including persons who are self-isolating due to symptoms or who have recently traveled.
Reminder: These policies are in effect due to the current crisis we are enduring. Eventually life will return to "normal" and we will celebrate and throw a giant party when we can return to business as usual. We cannot wait to welcome all of our child care clients back. Our providers miss their littles and their littles miss them. We miss our child care parents too ;) However for right now we have to follow the guidance provided by the Ministry of Education and Hastings County.
First a few important notes from HPEPH,
Many signs and symptoms are similar to other upper and lower respiratory infections, and can range from mild cold symptoms to more severe illness with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia.
There has been evidence of transmission through close contact between humans, most likely from secretions or droplets in the air or on surfaces due to coughing and sneezing. At this time, it appears that the virus is most often being spread through close contact with another infected person who is showing symptoms. While experts believe that spread from a person who is asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) is possible.
Prompt identification, monitoring of symptoms and appropriate management of symptoms is the only treatment for the virus at this time. (full Q and A found here)
How does this information adjust our current illness policy?
Effective April 6, 2020 and continuing for the foreseeable future ANY symptoms of ill health will be regarded as potential COVID-19 symptoms. Person's with symptoms are required to self-isolate for a period no less than 14 days and call Hastings Prince Edward Public Health at 613-966-5500, contact your own health care provider, or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 for direction. We empathize that many childhood illnesses present the same symptoms; however, we are unable to make exceptions at this time. The risk is just too high.
Symptoms of ill health requiring families to self isolate/social-distance/not access our services:
as written on HPEPH website
IMPORTANT: medicating your child with over the counter cold medications, acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (brand name: Advil) or another fever suppressing/cold symptom suppressing drug will result in the immediate termination of care. As a community, we are incredibly hopeful that parents/guardians are just as concerned about the common good and protecting our most vulnerable that these illness policies are followed seriously.
We are not able at this time to necessarily readmit children after 24 hours symptom-free. Return to care dates will be set individually in consultation with medical professionals.
all person's residing at the child care premises are to be included in active screening measures.
Many signs and symptoms are similar to other upper and lower respiratory infections, and can range from mild cold symptoms to more severe illness with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia.
There has been evidence of transmission through close contact between humans, most likely from secretions or droplets in the air or on surfaces due to coughing and sneezing. At this time, it appears that the virus is most often being spread through close contact with another infected person who is showing symptoms. While experts believe that spread from a person who is asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) is possible.
Prompt identification, monitoring of symptoms and appropriate management of symptoms is the only treatment for the virus at this time. (full Q and A found here)
How does this information adjust our current illness policy?
Effective April 6, 2020 and continuing for the foreseeable future ANY symptoms of ill health will be regarded as potential COVID-19 symptoms. Person's with symptoms are required to self-isolate for a period no less than 14 days and call Hastings Prince Edward Public Health at 613-966-5500, contact your own health care provider, or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 for direction. We empathize that many childhood illnesses present the same symptoms; however, we are unable to make exceptions at this time. The risk is just too high.
Symptoms of ill health requiring families to self isolate/social-distance/not access our services:
as written on HPEPH website
- fever (38 degrees celcius)
- cough
- difficulty breathing
- muscle aches
- fatigue
- headache: in children who are not yet verbal, headaches can be expressed as crying for an unknown reason, holding head, distancing or withdrawing from regular play, wanting to sleep more.
- sore throat: in children who are not yet verbal, sore throat can be expressed as not wanting to eat or drink, or trouble swallowing.
- runny nose: This is genuinely a difficult requirement to make because we are all aware of how common this symptom is. It is normal for both adults and children to have to blow their noses throughout the day. Standard tissue requirements are not considered runny nose. As defined by the Mayo Clinic, "A runny nose is excess nasal drainage. It may be a thin clear fluid, thick mucus, or something in between. The drainage may run out of your nose, down the back of your throat or both." If, as a parent, you need to support your child to blow/wipe their nose every 5-10 minutes or our child care provider needs to do this, your child will be separated from the other children and sent home. Spring is upon us. Trees are starting to do their thing and grasses are starting to grow. If your child suffers from seasonal allergies, medications are available to suppress these symptoms. Allergy medications will not conceal any signs of true ill health. We suggest you speak with a pharmacist concerning any plan of treatment for your child's allergies. Our child care providers are not medical professionals and will not distinguish between different types of "runny noses."
IMPORTANT: medicating your child with over the counter cold medications, acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (brand name: Advil) or another fever suppressing/cold symptom suppressing drug will result in the immediate termination of care. As a community, we are incredibly hopeful that parents/guardians are just as concerned about the common good and protecting our most vulnerable that these illness policies are followed seriously.
We are not able at this time to necessarily readmit children after 24 hours symptom-free. Return to care dates will be set individually in consultation with medical professionals.
all person's residing at the child care premises are to be included in active screening measures.
An unprecedented time in our society requires us to act with the utmost respect for its severity. For this reason, parents/guardians are not permitted to enter the home child care premises. Most local retailers and businesses have put similar practices in place to reduce exposure between the public and their essential service workers. We are exposing the child care provider's family (children, spouse, others living at the premises) to increased risk by allowing daycare children to return. By not allowing parents/guardians to enter the home, we ae mitigating this risk. Clearly, this is different from standard practice. We are hopeful that by following extreme measures, we can support ES and EMS workers while also helping to flatten the curve. Together we will get through this, and life can return to as normal as possible for everyone.
Procedure for Daycare Drop off:
Ideally Parents/guardians can supply extra clothes, wipes, diapers etc that can stay at the home child care premises. This avoids unneeded potential for cross contamination. It also makes drop off and pick up easier.
Best practices for parents who work in direct contact with the public/patients:
Medical professionals have recommended that persons coming in direct contact with patients/the public change their clothes before interacting with their families after work. This practice is strongly suggested before picking up your child from daycare.
Procedure for Daycare Drop off:
- Parents will call child care provider and inform if the child or anyone in their home is ill.
- Parents/Guardians will knock on the door upon arrival and wait.
- When the provider opens the door, the provider will immediately complete COVID-19 screening (see active screening sheet).
- IF the child can attend care, they will be permitted access into the home. Parents will pass the child care provider any diaper bags/supplies.
- Once the child enters the home, the provider will support them to take off their coat and shoes, put their bags away, etc. and then wash their own hands and help the child to wash their hands. (see daily routines)
- Parents/guardians are to call their child care provider upon arriving at the home child care premises and remain outside.
- The provider will get the child dressed to go home, and belongings (if required) packed and ready to go.
- The provider will open the door and wait in the doorway with the child for the parent to approach. Quick updates concerning the child's day can occur while respecting social distancing. Our providers use HiMama for documentation purposes. We encourage parents to log into their parent accounts to view daily reports as well.
Ideally Parents/guardians can supply extra clothes, wipes, diapers etc that can stay at the home child care premises. This avoids unneeded potential for cross contamination. It also makes drop off and pick up easier.
Best practices for parents who work in direct contact with the public/patients:
Medical professionals have recommended that persons coming in direct contact with patients/the public change their clothes before interacting with their families after work. This practice is strongly suggested before picking up your child from daycare.
If a parent has a concern related to the home child care premises and requests a tour of the home, this request will not be denied. However, Little Lambs Home Daycare partners with amazing women who we trust to provide quality care, each home has received a thorough inspection upon licensing and monthly home visits by our staff. Requiring a tour should not be necessary.
Routines and Sanitary Policies
Handwashing
As mentioned above, handwashing will be increasing in frequency.
Specific times of the day:
Additionally, anytime a child puts their hands in their mouth, their eyes, their nose, puts their hand in their pants or touches their friends face they we will be required to wash their hands. Ideally, everyone at the home child care premises should be washing their hands every 30 minutes or so.
Tooth brushing:
Tooth brushing is not permitted at this time at the child care premises. The exception being overnight care, applicable information will be shared with child care providers who provide extended care to ensure safety and sanitary protocols are implemented/followed.
Toys and resources:
All removable soft surfaces should be removed from the daycare space. Including carpets, blankets, pillows, stuffies, dress-up clothes, and fabric books. Fabric drapes that children can access should be removed or tied out of the way during daycare hours. We all know how much children love to play games like hide-and-go-seek or peek-a-boo with their friends. Long drapes create the perfect opportunity for this type of play while simultaneously being hard to sanitize.
Ensuring daily cleaning/sanitizing requirements, we recommend that only easily cleaned toys/resources be made available for the time being. Painted wooden toys are fantastic resources that we all love. However, cleaning them with a bleach solution daily will likely damage them. It may be in your program's best interest to revert to plastic, metal toys or wooden toys sealed with a water-repelling solution. The important note here is we need to be able to sanitize all toys/resources touched by children. Toys should be offered in a number that allows for a variety of interests while being in quantities that are manageable to clean.
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts are a staple within our programs. Our RECE colleagues suggested making bins for each child. Pencils, markers, crayons, glue sticks, paintbrushes, and scissors are all hard to clean between uses; especially the rapid-fire approach children often use when creating. Individual bins seem like the best compromise while still allowing children to participate in arts and crafts. Listed are many art supplies, do not feel as providers that you "need" to have everything listed in each child's bin. If you currently only have enough crayons to make individual bins, that's fine. Make bins that only contain crayons. The takeaway is not to share these resources between children.
Sensory play:
Group sensory play is temporarily banned at all of our child care programs. Where appropriate individual sensory play is okay. Homemade playdough is a fantastic sensory resource. For the duration of this pandemic playdough (and any similar activity) needs to be single-use/thrown away at the end of the day and not shared. Each child would have a portion of their own and not touch their friend's playdough. All surfaces and tools used during sensory play need to be cleaned and sanitized after each use. (tools, added bits and bobs are not be shared between children either).
Mealtimes:
Children should be seated in such a way that respects social distancing. For our purposes, social distancing for mealtimes implies that no child can touch another child's body, food, utensils, or cup. All cups, plates, utensiles and eating surfaces need to be cleaned between uses.
Water needs to be available throughout the day and whenever requested. However, all cups/drinking vessels need to be out of children's reach. The child care provider can pass each child their water as-needed/requested and then return the water to it's "safe space."
Napping/rest time:
A space of no less than two meters/six feet is to be provided for each child at nap time. Multiple rooms will likely be needed to ensure adequate spacing. Direct visual checks every 30 minutes or sooner (as-needed) are still required. Child Care providers are requested to take each child's temperature 30 minutes after rest/nap time to ensure normal temperature and good health.
Sanitary Policies
All providers are encouraged to review our current sanitary policies and procedures available via the downloadable PDF file bellow. These are our normal sanitary policies. Covid-19 policies as written on this page are in addition to and/or, supercede our normal sanitary policies.
Handwashing
As mentioned above, handwashing will be increasing in frequency.
Specific times of the day:
- arrival to the child care premises
- before and after mealtimes
- after nap/rest time
- after going outside
- after toileting/diaper change
Additionally, anytime a child puts their hands in their mouth, their eyes, their nose, puts their hand in their pants or touches their friends face they we will be required to wash their hands. Ideally, everyone at the home child care premises should be washing their hands every 30 minutes or so.
Tooth brushing:
Tooth brushing is not permitted at this time at the child care premises. The exception being overnight care, applicable information will be shared with child care providers who provide extended care to ensure safety and sanitary protocols are implemented/followed.
Toys and resources:
All removable soft surfaces should be removed from the daycare space. Including carpets, blankets, pillows, stuffies, dress-up clothes, and fabric books. Fabric drapes that children can access should be removed or tied out of the way during daycare hours. We all know how much children love to play games like hide-and-go-seek or peek-a-boo with their friends. Long drapes create the perfect opportunity for this type of play while simultaneously being hard to sanitize.
Ensuring daily cleaning/sanitizing requirements, we recommend that only easily cleaned toys/resources be made available for the time being. Painted wooden toys are fantastic resources that we all love. However, cleaning them with a bleach solution daily will likely damage them. It may be in your program's best interest to revert to plastic, metal toys or wooden toys sealed with a water-repelling solution. The important note here is we need to be able to sanitize all toys/resources touched by children. Toys should be offered in a number that allows for a variety of interests while being in quantities that are manageable to clean.
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts are a staple within our programs. Our RECE colleagues suggested making bins for each child. Pencils, markers, crayons, glue sticks, paintbrushes, and scissors are all hard to clean between uses; especially the rapid-fire approach children often use when creating. Individual bins seem like the best compromise while still allowing children to participate in arts and crafts. Listed are many art supplies, do not feel as providers that you "need" to have everything listed in each child's bin. If you currently only have enough crayons to make individual bins, that's fine. Make bins that only contain crayons. The takeaway is not to share these resources between children.
Sensory play:
Group sensory play is temporarily banned at all of our child care programs. Where appropriate individual sensory play is okay. Homemade playdough is a fantastic sensory resource. For the duration of this pandemic playdough (and any similar activity) needs to be single-use/thrown away at the end of the day and not shared. Each child would have a portion of their own and not touch their friend's playdough. All surfaces and tools used during sensory play need to be cleaned and sanitized after each use. (tools, added bits and bobs are not be shared between children either).
Mealtimes:
Children should be seated in such a way that respects social distancing. For our purposes, social distancing for mealtimes implies that no child can touch another child's body, food, utensils, or cup. All cups, plates, utensiles and eating surfaces need to be cleaned between uses.
Water needs to be available throughout the day and whenever requested. However, all cups/drinking vessels need to be out of children's reach. The child care provider can pass each child their water as-needed/requested and then return the water to it's "safe space."
Napping/rest time:
A space of no less than two meters/six feet is to be provided for each child at nap time. Multiple rooms will likely be needed to ensure adequate spacing. Direct visual checks every 30 minutes or sooner (as-needed) are still required. Child Care providers are requested to take each child's temperature 30 minutes after rest/nap time to ensure normal temperature and good health.
Sanitary Policies
All providers are encouraged to review our current sanitary policies and procedures available via the downloadable PDF file bellow. These are our normal sanitary policies. Covid-19 policies as written on this page are in addition to and/or, supercede our normal sanitary policies.
| sanitary_policy_2019.pdf |
In addition to our current policies the following COVID-19 specific protocols must be followed
If a child begins to experience symptoms of COVID-19 while attending childcare, it is recommended that:
reference: Ministry of Education, covid-19 guidance for emergency child care
- (everything already mentioned in hand washing, toys/resources, napping/rest time, mealtimes, sensory play, arts and crafts, drop off and pick up)
- Frequently touched surfaces are most likely to become contaminated, including doorknobs, light switches, toilet handles, and tabletops, and must be disinfected at least twice a day; or when visibly soiled.
- Only use disinfectants that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN). Low- level hospital grade disinfectants may be used; such as bleach and water, hydrogen peroxide etc)
- Checking expiry dates of products used and always following manufacturer’s instructions; concentration/contact time required
- Encourage more physical space between children by: creating different stations, educating children about personal space, enforcing "use your words" to express your feelings (both positive and negative feelsings), have children sit in chairs for story time instead of crowding together on the floor etc.
- Do not use community playgrounds ; providers are to stay on their property. HPEPH .
- respect social distancing: no mingling with other child care programs, no home visitors. No friends or family during daycare hours.
- Linens must be laundered between children; at the child care premises, ideally linens are not sent back and forth between children's homes and daycare.
- Children must not share soothers, bottles, sippycups, toothbrushes (toothbrushing is only permitted at this time for children accessing overnight care, an additional policy will be provided to caregivers if providing this service), facecloths,etc. Label these items with the child’s name to discourage accidental sharing. (stated again for urgency)
- When holding infants and toddlers, use blankets or cloths over childcare providers clothing and change the blankets or cloths between children.
- Avoid getting close to faces of all children, where possible.
- Thermometers must not be used between children/staff without single-use protective covers or disinfecting between use.
If a child begins to experience symptoms of COVID-19 while attending childcare, it is recommended that:
- Symptomatic children are immediately separated from others in a supervised area until they can go home. In addition, where possible, anyone who is providing care to the child should maintain a distance of 2 metres.
- If a 2-metre distance cannot be maintained from the ill child, advice from the local public health unit will be necessary to prevent/limit virus transmission to those providing care.
- While contacting the public health unit, at minimum the child and childcare worker should wear a surgical / procedure mask (if tolerated and/or available).
- Hygiene and respiratory etiquette should be practiced while the child is waiting to be picked up.
- Tissues should be provided to the child for proper respiratory etiquette, with proper disposal of the tissues and proper hand hygiene.
- Environmental cleaning of the space the child was separated should be conducted once the child has been picked up.
- Contact the local public health unit to notify them of a potential case and seek input regarding the information that should be shared with other parents of children in the childcare program.
- Children with symptoms must be excluded from childcare for 14 days after the onset of symptoms and/or 24 hour symptom free.
- Children or staff who have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 or symptomatic person(s), should be excluded from the childcare setting for 14 days if they remain asymptomatic (no sypmtoms).
- If a confirmed case of COVID-19 is present at one of our childcare programs the entire premises will be closed for a minimum of 14 days and follow all guidance from the Public Health Unit.
reference: Ministry of Education, covid-19 guidance for emergency child care
| Letter to Parents/Guardians |
| Provider Daily checklists |
