NURSERY PROTECTION GUIDELINES
The nursery of Laurel Street Mennonite Church is designed to provide a place of safety and caring for our youngest church participants, while allowing their parents to participate in worship or activities. As such, the following policy is designed to protect the children, parents and volunteers who participate:
1. Parents will complete a Nursery Registration/Medical Information & Release form when the child first enters care and will also receive a copy of the Nursery Guidelines for Parents.
2. Parents should sign children in and out in the Log Book or Nursery Sign-In Sheet each time children are delivered to care, and children will only be released to those listed on the Registration form.
3. Parents should label all bottles, juices, blankets, toys and any other personal belongings. Pacifiers should be attached to the child. Only dry food snacks are allowed in the nursery. Snacks containing nuts are never allowed due to allergies. Small snack items that can be choked on, such as grapes, are not permitted.
4. Discipline Plan: Limit-setting is directed toward maximizing the growth and development of the children and is for protecting the group and the individuals within it. Positive reinforcement is the major tool of appropriate discipline. Approved Adults or caregivers will verbalize to the child when she/he is behaving in an inappropriate manner. Approved Adults or caregivers will redirect a child who appears to be “headed for trouble.” If a child is repeatedly displaying inappropriate behavior and redirecting has not worked, parents/guardian will be asked to come to the nursery. Nursery Approved Adults or caregivers WILL NOT:
Use corporal punishment, including spanking Subject children to cruel or severe punishment, humiliation or verbal abuse Deny any child food as a form of punishment Punish any child for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet
5. If a child needs to proceed to the bathroom, an Approved Adult or caregiver shall accompany him/her. Stay outside the door and let the child use the toilet. If help is needed with wiping or dressing, help the child while keeping the door to the bathroom open. Encourage the child to wipe him/herself. Let the parent know that the child used the toilet and whether or not assistance was needed. Help the child wash his/her hands thoroughly with soap and running water. Wash your own hands. If a problem arises when a child needs to use the toilet, a parent will be contacted.
6. Children must be picked up immediately following service or church activities and checked out in the Log Book by a parent or a person designated on the emergency contact form.
7. At least one parent/guardian shall remain in the church while the child is in the nursery after worship or other official church activities have ended.
8. Should an incident occur that results in physical injury, parent(s) will be notified and an incident report will be completed.
The nursery of Laurel Street Mennonite Church is designed to provide a place of safety and caring for our youngest church participants, while allowing their parents to participate in worship or activities. As such, the following policy is designed to protect the children, parents and volunteers who participate:
1. Parents will complete a Nursery Registration/Medical Information & Release form when the child first enters care and will also receive a copy of the Nursery Guidelines for Parents.
2. Parents should sign children in and out in the Log Book or Nursery Sign-In Sheet each time children are delivered to care, and children will only be released to those listed on the Registration form.
3. Parents should label all bottles, juices, blankets, toys and any other personal belongings. Pacifiers should be attached to the child. Only dry food snacks are allowed in the nursery. Snacks containing nuts are never allowed due to allergies. Small snack items that can be choked on, such as grapes, are not permitted.
4. Discipline Plan: Limit-setting is directed toward maximizing the growth and development of the children and is for protecting the group and the individuals within it. Positive reinforcement is the major tool of appropriate discipline. Approved Adults or caregivers will verbalize to the child when she/he is behaving in an inappropriate manner. Approved Adults or caregivers will redirect a child who appears to be “headed for trouble.” If a child is repeatedly displaying inappropriate behavior and redirecting has not worked, parents/guardian will be asked to come to the nursery. Nursery Approved Adults or caregivers WILL NOT:
Use corporal punishment, including spanking Subject children to cruel or severe punishment, humiliation or verbal abuse Deny any child food as a form of punishment Punish any child for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet
5. If a child needs to proceed to the bathroom, an Approved Adult or caregiver shall accompany him/her. Stay outside the door and let the child use the toilet. If help is needed with wiping or dressing, help the child while keeping the door to the bathroom open. Encourage the child to wipe him/herself. Let the parent know that the child used the toilet and whether or not assistance was needed. Help the child wash his/her hands thoroughly with soap and running water. Wash your own hands. If a problem arises when a child needs to use the toilet, a parent will be contacted.
6. Children must be picked up immediately following service or church activities and checked out in the Log Book by a parent or a person designated on the emergency contact form.
7. At least one parent/guardian shall remain in the church while the child is in the nursery after worship or other official church activities have ended.
8. Should an incident occur that results in physical injury, parent(s) will be notified and an incident report will be completed.