Happy Feet Montessori Child care COVID-19 Safety Plans

 

 

1-Post signage at entrances to the daycare reminding parents not to enter the center if they have symptoms associated with COVID-19.

 

2-At drop off, we will implement a daily “yes/no” verbal confirmation that children do not have symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or another respiratory disease. We will not accept a child drop off if the answer is yes.

 

3-Will communicate to parents and caregivers the requirement for them to assess their children daily for the presence of symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or other infectious respiratory diseases prior to dropping off.

 

4-Have children outside often, including for learning activities, snack time, and playtime.

 

5-Reassure children and parents that playgrounds are a safe environment, and encourage appropriate hand hygiene practices before, during, after outdoor play.

 

6-Child Care settings should be cleaned and disinfected.

 

7-General cleaning and disinfecting of the centre should occur at least once a day.

 

8-Frequently-touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day. These include doorknobs, light switches, faucet handles, table counters, chairs, electronic devices, and toys.

 

9-Clean and disinfect any surface that is visibly dirty.

 

10-Use common, commercially-available detergents and disinfectant products.

 

11-Remove toys and other items that cannot be easily cleaned (e.g., avoid plush/stuffed toys).

 

12-Empty garbage containers daily, at a minimum.

 

13-Wear disposable gloves when cleaning blood or body fluids (e.g., runny nose, vomit, stool, urine). Wash hands before wearing and after removing gloves.

 

14-Clean and disinfect cots and cribs after each use, and launder crib linens between children. If parents are providing their own crib linen, the linens should be laundered and placed in sealed plastic or washable bag before bringing to the center. Do not shake the linens.

 

15-Clean diapering stations after each use.

 

16-Staff should minimize the frequency of direct physical contact with children and encourage children to minimize physical contact with each other.

 

17-Younger children should be supported to have minimized direct contact with one another, while older children should be supported to maintain physical distance whenever possible.

18-Children from the same household (e.g., siblings) do not need to maintain physical distance from each other.

 

19-Avoid close greetings.

 

20-Remove toys that encourage group play in close proximity or increase the likelihood of physical contact. Keep toys that encourage individual play.

 

21-Help younger children learn about physical distancing and less physical contact by creating games that include basic principles such as “two arm lengths apart”.

 

22-Consider using books, individual games, video and online programs as a part of learning so children can sit independently and distanced from each other.

 

23-Increase the distance between nap mats, if possible. If space is tight, place children head-to-toe or toe-to-toe.

 

24-Stagger snack or mealtime to allow spacing between children during meals.

 

25-Minimize the number of additional adults entering the centre, unless that person is providing care and/or supporting the inclusion of a child in care (e.g. supportive child care assistants, speech-language pathologist, etc.).

 

26-Pick-up and drop-off of children should occur outside the child care setting unless there is a need for the parent or caregiver to enter the setting.

 

27-Stagger the timings of pick-up and drop-off.

 

28-Parents and caregivers should use their own pen and avoid touching the sign-in/out sheet directly.

 

29-Parents and caregivers should practice hand hygiene before and after touching the sign-in/out sheet.

 

30-Children and staff should:

A-Cough or sneeze into their elbow sleeve or a tissue.

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B-Throw away used tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene (“Cover your coughs”).

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C-Not touches their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands (“Hands below your shoulders”).

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D-Recommend to the parents that children wear cloth or homemade masks. Parents and staff can teach and reinforce these practices amongst children.

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E-Label personal items with the child’s name to discourage accidental sharing.

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F-Ensure each child has their own individual meal or snack. Reusable utensils must be cleaned and sanitized after each use.

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G-Children should not be allowed to prepare or serve food.

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H-Ask parents and caregivers to only bring personal comfort items (e.g., stuffies) if they are clean and can be laundered at the end of each day.