FOOD DISTRIBUTION:

CHABAM provides snack in the Ready...Set...Grow...! drop-in program area every two hours and during special programming. The times for snack distribution are as follows:
10:00am
12:00pm
2:00pm
4:00pm
6:00pm
8:00pm

A "snack" menu with name brands is included in the parent information binder located at the registration area. This "menu" is complete with photocopied ingredient labels so that parents with specific concerns (re: allergies) can preview CHABAM's offerings. In addition to these snacks, CHABAM offers fresh fruit and 100% fruit juices and water.

CHABAM recognizes that children may be enrolled during or over a period that includes a mealtime. Can parents bring in food for children? CHABAM does provide snacks every two hours. Children may also bring in a bagged lunch or dinner that is clearly marked with their name and is dated. This food (ready to eat) will be stored until CHABAM's designated snack times (which occur every two hours). For children bringing in food, CHABAM recommends foods such as yogurt, cheese sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, etc. CHABAM is committed to providing a healthy environment for children and suggests snacks and/or meals that support CHABAM's mission.

CHILDREN WHO HAVE BOTTLES

Children who bring bottles on-site will be permitted to have the bottle in the area where food is to be distributed (at appropriate snack times). Bottles must be clearly labeled with the child's name and the date.

PEANUT SAFE

CHABAM strives to create a safe environment for everyone. Since many children have severe peanut allergies, CHABAM will be a "peanut safe" facility. "Peanut safe" means that CHABAM will only offer snacks that do not contain peanuts or peanut butter. We also require that any food brought into the facility by parents or team members does not contain peanuts or peanut butter.

KOSHER?

The CHABAM facility is not kosher, but we are happy to accommodate this need.

HOW SHOULD CHILDREN DRESS?

CHABAM is an active learning environment for children. Children will paint, move, etc. while engaged in programming. Therefore children should be dressed appropriately to fully participate in all activities. CHABAM does provide smocks to protect clothing while children are engaged in art programming. For safety reasons, we recommend that long hair be pulled back. Comfortable shoes (i.e. tennis shoes) are also recommended.

INFECTION ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Provided by Dr. Arthur Lavin, Pediatrician
Created: January 2005

Overall Policy
CHABAM is committed to minimizing the risk of children (and team members) to catch an illness while at play, and to decreasing the needless exclusion of a child who would like to play.

To these ends, the following policy has been established at CHABAM:
1. Children are welcome to play at CHABAM as long as they are well enough to participate comfortably, and present no risk of increased contagion to other children or team members at CHABAM.
2. CHABAM remains committed to contacting parents/caregivers if the initial assessment of these concerns changes during their child's stay at CHABAM.

Common Exposures

As we all know, colds seem to be a constant part of our lives. These and other viruses sweep through the country on a very regular and seasonal basis. Some bacteria, in particular strep, also sweep through our national community. No intervention has ever significantly affected the presence and spread of cold viruses or strep.

As a result, during the right season, all of us are exposed to the viruses and bacteria listed below essentially every day. Hand washing helps reduce the chance of catching these illnesses, but nothing can eliminate exposure or totally prevent catching these illnesses.

CHABAM has strict policies to promote effective hand washing, but recognizes that all the children and families who come to learn and play may catch these viruses whether they attend CHABAM or not. Therefore, these common infections in no way increase the risk of contagion if present at CHABAM, and will not be reported or used as reason to exclude.

The list of some of the more common infections that appear in our community on a very predictable basis are:

Cold viruses: (causes most colds, flus, and pink eyes) Year round, more common in the cold months
RSV: (a cold virus that can cause more severe colds, flus, and pink eyes) October-May
Influenza virus: (causes a third of all colds, flus, and pink eyes) December-March
Stomach flu: year round with peaks in February-May (rotavirus) and June-October (enterovirus)
Strep throat: the only bacteria in this list, similar to cold viruses, present year round, more common in the cold months

Surprisingly, many common infections are not very contagious, so that playing together should present little risk at all. Infections that are not contagious or very poorly spread:

Ear infections: Not at all contagious
Warts: Very poorly contagious
Pneumonia: If viral, catching the virus is far more likely to cause a cold than pneumonia. If bacterial, not contagious
Pink Eye: If viral catching the virus is far more likely to cause a cold than a pink eye. If bacterial, not contagious soon after antibiotic eye drops are placed.
Strep Throat: Not contagious after 24 hours on antibiotics.
Ringworm: Not contagious once anti-fungal cream/ointment has been placed.

Infections of Note:
CHABAM will post any announcements of exposure to contagious infections that may require attention. This will also be posted on the CHABAM website, and parents/caregivers will also be alerted at the time of pick-up of any significant concerns.

PAYMENT, REFUND and MAKE-UP POLICY:

Payment for CHABAM's programs is due upon class registration or at the time of checkout. Payment may be made in cash, check, credit or debit card.

If a parent/caregiver fails to pick a child up from the Ready...Set...Grow...! program at the end of the four-hour maximum period, a late fee of $5 per 1/4 hour will be assessed. The cost of the Ready... Set... Grow...! program is $5 per each 20 minutes, with a minimum of 1 hour. If a child is not picked up after their class, he/she will be placed in the Ready...Set...Grow...! program and charged accordingly.

Refunds for classes are 100% one week before the start of class, 50% after session 1 and no refunds at the end of the second session and beyond. Any changes in fees will be posted for at least 30 days prior to the start of class. Class fees will be pro-rated if child is enrolled prior to the halfway mark of the class.

Can a child make up a class?

CHABAM is happy to accommodate the need for a child to make up a class. A parent or child should contact the receptionist to find out when the next class is scheduled and we will work to place the child into an appropriate class.

POTTY TRAINING (Ready...Set...Grow...! Program):

CHABAM realizes that "accidents" happen. Children will be supported and valued even when an accident does happen. Children's soiled clothes will be sent home in a sealed plastic bag.

CHABAM recommends that children who are enrolling in the drop-in child development program should bring:

• One set of extra clothes (clearly marked in bag with name)
• Food (if there are special dietary needs or the child will be in program over a mealtime)
• Diapers, wipes and any other products wished to be used during their time at CHABAM

Due to allergies etc, CHABAM does not provide wipes, diapers or any type of ointment or powder. Parents are requested to bring all supplies for a child who is still in diapers.