Playhowse

About Us

Health

Health & Sickness Policy

All bottles & cups must be labeled with the child’s first and last name.

Pacifiers cannot be attached to a child.

The centers cannot accept or use cloth diapers.

We understand that it is difficult to leave or miss work, but to maintain the health and well-being of every child in the centers, sick children, or children that have noticeable fever, rash, or infection are not permitted to attend the centers.

It is imperative that children are kept at home if one or more of the following symptoms are present: earache, headache, diarrhea, cold, virus, vomiting, pinkeye, discharging eyes, rash, nausea, chills, sore throat, contagious illnesses, lice, fever of more than 100.4 degrees.

We cannot keep a child inside while others go outdoors for daily gross motor. We cannot accept your child if he/she cannot participate fully in the indoor and outdoor programs.

If a child becomes ill while at the centers, the parent will be notified and required to pick him/her up as soon as possible.

*Parents have one hour from the time of being notified to pick up their sick child. The Playhowse staff are required to contact Ouachita Parish Child Welfare if a sick child is not picked up within one hour past notification as it is considered neglect.

A child may return to the centers after being fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. A child must also be diarrhea free for 24 hours. This is a State Health Department policy and must be strictly enforced.

In the event that a child develops a contagious illness and/or skin condition, a physician’s note stating that the child’s condition is no longer contagious will be required to return to our care.

Please notify the centers if your child has a contagious illness such as chicken pox, flu, hand foot & mouth, measles, pinkeye, lice, covid, etc.

The centers will notify parents of an outbreak of contagious illnesses as appropriate and will maintain confidentiality for all involved.

Parents of children affected by lice will be notified and informed that their child must be treated before returning the next day. The Playhowse will maintain a no nit policy.

Emergency medical treatment will be provided if necessary.

Medication Policy

Prior to The Playhowse staff administrating medication to a child, the parent/guardian must complete and sign a “Medication Authorization Form”.

All medication brought to the centers must be brought from home by the parent/guardian in its original container and labeled with the child’s first and last name and must not have an expired date. The medication cannot be inside their diaper bag or bottles.

For any prescription medication, the pharmacy’s print out of possible side effects must be present as well.

Any medication that gives a minimum weight or age for dosages must be strictly followed.

Authorization for “as needed” prescription and non-prescription medication shall be updated as necessary or at least every six months by the parent and shall include circumstances for administering “as needed” medication and any applicable special instructions.

If the dosage recommendation says to consult a physician for any child under a certain age, we will not be allowed to administer the medication without a physician’s signed statement with dosage amount listed.

Prescription medication cannot be shared among siblings. The medication will only be given to the child whose name appears on the container.

All aerosol medications must be delivered to the centers in pre-measured dosages.

The centers cannot apply topical ointments, sprays or creams without a written authorization signed and dated by the parent.

Children shall not administer their own medications without written authorization from the parent and such children shall administer medication in the presence of a staff person.

Medication administration records shall be maintained for all children regardless of who administers the medication. Records shall include the following:

  • Name of the child and medication name and dosage administered.
  • Date and time medication administered.
  • Documentation of telephone contact with parent prior to giving “as needed” medication.
  • Signature of person administering medication or witnessing the child administering own medication.
  • Signature of person completing the form.

When a parent administers medication to his/her own child on centers premises, the medication administration record shall be documented by either the parent or a staff member.

Children that require medical procedures such as tube feeding shall have specific instructions from a health care provider as part of the overall care plan for the child.

Administration of feedings or medications through a tube-feeding apparatus shall be performed by a staff member trained and authorized by the parent or individual designated by the parent.

Parental authorization and training shall be documented and shall include the name of child, date of training, name of staff trained, signature of staff trained, and signature of parent.

Documentation of feedings and medications administered shall include the name of child, date, time, what was administered, and signature of administering staff member.

All staff members who administer medication shall have current medication administration training that includes auto-injectable epinephrine.

Children shall not be administered any form of supplements (herbal or other dietary, nutritional, or other food or medical supplements administered to be ingested by children orally, in aerosol form, or in any other manner) without prior written parental authorization.

Anaphylaxis & Stock Emergency Medications Policy

Early learning centers may have stock emergency medications.

Stock supply in the name of and for use by the early learning centers can only be prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional authorized to prescribe said medication.

Life-saving emergency medications can be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist or licensed prescriber for stock supply.

Emergency medications are medications that can be administered to treat life-threatening conditions. Such medications may include, but are not limited to Epinephrine, Albuterol, Naloxone, and Glucagon.

At least one employee at each early learning centers shall receive training on the use of auto-injectable epinephrine. Early learning centers employees may be trained by a registered nurse, a licensed medical physician, an anaphylaxis training organization, or any other entity approved by LDH.

Early learning centers employees may be trained on the use of other stock medications such as albuterol, naloxone, and glucagon by a medical emergency training organization, a registered nurse, or a licensed physician who is on the LDOE registry of approved trainers on the administration of emergency stock medications.

Employees administering any of these emergency stock medications shall be trained annually on the following:

  • a. techniques on how to recognize signs of a life-threatening emergency
  • b. procedures on the storage of emergency medications
  • c. administration of emergency medications
  • d. emergency procedures such as calling emergency medical services (EMS) immediately before or after administering a life-saving medication
  • e. any protocols, including those issued by the LDH for the administration of the emergency stock medications
  • f. procedures for proper disposal of the stock emergency medications along with the means by which the medication was administered.

Once trained, early learning centers employees can administer and must properly dispose of any stock emergency medications, upon the earlier of the prescription’s usage or expiration, to a child on the premises who is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency and has received written authorization for administration of said medication, in accordance with the protocol in the emergency medication standing order.

Children who require emergency medications, such as an EpiPen or Benadryl, shall have a written plan of action that shall be updated as changes occur or at least every six months, and shall include:

  • Method of administration.
  • Symptoms that indicate the need for the medication.
  • Actions to take once symptoms occur.
  • Description of how to use the medication.
  • Signature of parent and date of signature.

Medication administration records for emergency medication shall be maintained and include the following:

  • Symptoms that indicated the need for the medication.
  • Actions taken once symptoms occurred.
  • Description of how medication was administered.
  • Signature of administering staff member.
  • Phone contact with the parent after administering emergency medication.

The Playhowse Learning Centers will:

  • Assure that all staff who interact with the child understand allergies, can recognize symptoms of anaphylaxis, and know what to do in an emergency including the administration of an epinephrine auto-injector.
  • Keep Epinephrine in an easily accessible secure but not locked location central to centers personnel who are properly trained in epinephrine administration.
  • Confirm that the child always has access to epinephrine, including off-campus centers events.
  • Be prepared to handle a reaction and ensure that multiple, epinephrine-trained staff members are available during the center’s day regardless of time or location.
  • Provide all centers staff with annual re-education on child-relevant medical issues, including but not limited to allergies and anaphylaxis.
  • Follow federal/state/district laws and regulations regarding sharing medical information.

Sleep/Rest Policy

Infants shall be allowed to sleep according to their individual schedules.

  • A safety approved crib shall be assigned to and available for each infant in care.
  • Cribs shall be free of toys and other soft or loose bedding, including comforters, blankets, sheets, bumper pads, pillows, stuffed animals and wedges when the child is in the crib.
  • Children are prohibited from sleeping in playpens or cribs with mesh sides.
  • All infants shall be placed on their backs for sleeping.
  • Written authorization from a physician is required for any other sleeping position.
  • Written notice of the specifically authorized sleeping position shall be posted on or near the crib.
  • Infants shall not be placed in positioning devices, unless the centers has written authorization from a physician to use a positioning device.
  • Written authorization from a physician is required for a child to sleep in a car seat or other similar device and shall include the amount of time that the child is allowed to remain in said device.
  • Infants who use pacifiers shall be offered their pacifier when they are placed to sleep, but it shall not be placed back in the mouth once the child is asleep.
  • Pacifiers shall not be attached to a child.
  • Bibs shall not be worn by any child while asleep
  • Nothing shall be placed over the head or face of an infant.

Children under the age of 4 years shall have daily rest time of at least 75 minutes.

Small dolls or stuffed animals may be brought for nap time but must be kept in the child’s cubby for the remainder of the day.

Children ages 4 and 5 shall be offered the opportunity for daily quiet time.

Potty Training Policy

Potty training is most successful when there is a strong family/teacher partnership.

We are committed to working with families to make sure that potty training is carried out in a manner that is consistent with each child’s physical and emotional abilities.

Each classroom that holds children that are old enough to show interest in potty training includes bathroom access.

The Playhowse staff will respond promptly to a request from a child for toileting assistance.

Children will be changed and cleaned immediately following a toileting accident.

It is the parents’ responsibility to send their child with adequate amounts of clothing and pull-ups in case of accidents.

Children must be fully potty trained (a pull-up only worn at nap time if needed) before beginning our Pre-K 3 and/or Pre-K 4 programs.

Physical Activity Policy

Children under the age of 2 shall be provided with time and space for age-appropriate physical activity both indoors and outdoors, weather permitting, for a minimum of 60 minutes per day.

Children aged 2 and older shall be provided with a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity per day that includes a combination of both teacher-led and free play both indoors and outdoors, weather permitting for a minimum of 60 minutes per day.

Outdoor plays occur on a daily schedule per age group. The schedule varies during the summer months.