Little Ones Backyard Club

Parent Handbook

Where kids grow!

399 College View Drive

Rohnert Park, Ca. 94928

(707) 792-1620

Our Philosophy

Little Ones is a family owned and operated preschool and daycare, where we focus on nurturing the whole child. As a faith-based preschool, we provide a safe, loving environment that balances structure with opportunities for free exploration. Our goal is to help every child grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, and academically - while feeling right at home. We would love to have your family become part of ours!

The staff at Little Ones:

*Encourage children to do for themselves

*Encourage problem solving and co-operation

*Regard cultural diversity as a source of personal and community strength *Regard each child as an individual and strive to meet the child’s individual needs.

Daily Schedule

6:30 a.m. Arrival, Free choice time

8:30 a.m. Outside play

8:45 a.m. Pre-school enrichment time Children go to their classrooms for a structured learning time (songs, stories, letters, shapes, colors & art projects) & snack

10:30 a.m. Outside time with a variety of activities

11:15 a.m. Bible Circle

11:30 a.m. Wash hands & eat lunch!

12:00 p.m. Nap / rest time

2:00 p.m. Wake up from nap & eat snack

2:15 p.m. Outside play

3:00 p.m. Inside time with projects, learning activities, stories, and songs

4:15 p.m. Free choice time or outside time

6:00 p.m. Little Ones is closed!

First Day Checklist

[ ] Extra clothes to be left in the child’s cubby (underwear, socks, pants, and a shirt all labeled with the child’s name)

[ ] Lunch with protein such as a sandwich, yogurt, soup, cheese etc., a fruit / vegetable and a drink

[ ] First tuition payment

[ ] Completed registration packet

[ ] Any special nap items (pillow, stuffed animals etc.)

*Please remember to keep all toys at home

Lunches and Snacks

Each child attending during lunchtime is required to bring a lunch. Please provide well-balanced meals to help support your child’s energy throughout the day.

For safety and health reasons, soda and gum are not permitted and will be sent home.

Also, please avoid sending glass containers. Be sure to label your child’s lunch box, food containers, and water bottles with their name to ensure they are returned if misplaced.

The school will provide one morning and one afternoon snack, which will include options like crackers, fruit or vegetables, and cereal.

Clothing and Napping Items

Each child should have an extra set of clothes at school, including pants, shirt, socks, and underwear. These will be kept in the child’s cubby and can be used if needed during the day. This allows your child to feel comfortable if a change of clothes becomes necessary. All personal items, including jackets and sweaters, must be labeled with your child’s name in permanent ink to avoid mix-ups. Please dress your child in comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that is suitable for school activities like painting, climbing, running, and playing. Play clothes are always an excellent choice! For safety reasons, children are not allowed to wear slip-on shoes. All shoes must have a back strap that fits securely around the heel. Each child should also bring a small blanket for nap time, and if desired, a stuffed animal for comfort.

Tuition

Tuition payments are due in advance on the 1st and 15th of each month, or on the Friday prior if paying weekly.

• Families with multiple children enrolled will receive a 20% discount on the tuition of the additional children (applies to the lowest tuition rate).

• Parents/guardians who refer a new child to the school will receive one free week of tuition after the child has been enrolled for one month.

• Tuition fees are the same regardless of the number of days the child attends. Payment is required whether the child is present, except in the case of vacation. If a child is on vacation for a full calendar week and the director is notified in advance, payment will be adjusted for that week. The maximum vacation time allowed is two weeks per year.

• A $25.00 service charge will be applied for all returned checks.

• There are no refunds for tuition payments.

• There are no make-up days for missed attendance. Vacations: If your child will be absent for a full calendar week due to vacation, you may be eligible for a vacation credit (please refer to the fee schedule for details).

The director must be notified at least two weeks in advance to qualify for this credit.

Attendance

Our business hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Children may attend only on the days and times for which they are enrolled.

Please note that there are no make-up days; however, extra days may be arranged in advance for an additional charge, depending on space availability.

Admission and Registration

A non-refundable registration fee of $75.00 is required for the first child, and $50.00 for each additional child. This fee is due on the child’s first day or earlier, if requested.

At the time of registration, parents will also need to establish the child’s attendance days and hours. In accordance with California state regulations, all required registration forms, including an admission agreement that confirms your agreement to abide by the terms outlined in the Little Ones Handbook, must be completed and submitted on or before the child’s first day of school.

For school-age children, we provide transportation to and from the following schools: John Reed, Evergreen, Monte Vista, and La Fiesta.

Parents of school-age children are required to notify Little Ones of any changes to drop-off or pick-up schedules.

Failure to do so may result in additional charges. This includes changes for minimum days, field trips, or absences.

Health and Illness

Please check your child each day before bringing them to school. If your child has any symptoms of illness or is feeling unwell, they should stay home to prevent the spread of infection. Children should not attend school if they have any of the following:

• Cold with discolored mucus

• Sore throat

• Earache

• Swollen neck glands

• Fever

• Unexplained rash or skin eruptions

• Vomiting or diarrhea

Additionally, if your child is feeling unusually tired, drowsy, has a headache, flushed face, or displays any other unusual behavior, it is best to keep them at home. If you feel your child is not well enough to go outside or participate in activities, please let them rest at home.

If a child becomes ill while at school, we will contact the parents right away. We will do our best to keep the child comfortable and separate from the group until the parent or an authorized adult arrives to pick them up. For minor injuries or discomfort, we will administer basic first aid unless the parent requests otherwise.

Medication

If a child requires medication for allergies or a non-contagious illness, we can give it if it is in the original container with the child’s name clearly labeled.

A medication authorization form must be completed and signed by the parent at the school before any medication is administered. This policy also applies to items such as pain relievers, decongestants, ChapStick, and cough drops.

Please do not send any medication, including cough drops or vitamins, in your child’s lunch box or backpack for safety reasons.

Security

Please inform the school promptly if there are any changes to your phone number, address, employment, emergency contacts, or the individuals authorized to pick up your child.

Having up-to-date information is crucial for us in case of an emergency. Children will only be released to those listed on the Security List, which is provided by the parent or guardian. For safety reasons, anyone coming to pick up your child will be asked to show a valid I.D., even if they have picked up your child before.

Special Activities

Be sure to check the bulletin board in the foyer for any special activities and important notices throughout the year.

THE BACKYARD CLUB ACTIVITIES

During the summer vacation, children in the Backyard Club have fun participating in a variety of field trips including bowling, parks, arcades and more!

HARVEST PARTY

In October, we have an annual Harvest Party where children can come dressed in non-scary costumes. Parents may participate by helping at the party or by providing snacks.

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Each year we have an open house in December. The children do some special things to share with family, including art and songs and you get the opportunity to bring your family members to our school and talk with your child’s teacher.

JESUS LOVES ME PARTY

Each Valentine’s Day we have a “Jesus Loves Me” party. The children may bring valentines for their friends & have treats!

GRADUATION

In May or June, we have a graduation ceremony for the children moving up to Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.

BIRTHDAYS

Parents may bring a special birthday treat to share with their child’s class. Muffins are great but you can get creative!

Emergency Preparedness

In the event of an emergency, Little Ones is equipped with a supply of clothing and first aid materials to care for your child until help arrives. Our staff members are trained in Infant, Child and Adult CPR and First Aid to ensure your child’s safety. Little Ones has established emergency procedures that will be followed in the event of a disaster or other emergency. Your child will be well cared for until you are able to pick them up. Children will only be released to individuals listed on the child’s Emergency List or those for whom we have prior permission. For safety reasons, we cannot release a child to anyone else without your consent. If the building needs to be evacuated, we have designated the parking lot of the Redwood Gospel Thrift Store (located directly across the street) as the designated pick-up point. In the event of closures due to plumbing, heating, or electrical issues, we will notify you promptly by telephone.

Discipline and Disobedience
We understand that children are still learning how to navigate their feelings and behavior. When a child chooses to disregard a request, we see it as an opportunity for gentle guidance. Our first step is to redirect the child to another activity, providing them with a chance to refocus. If this approach is not successful and the behavior continues, we may ask the child to take a brief pause from the group. This "time-out" offers a calm space for reflection.
After the time-out, the teacher will kindly talk with the child, reinforcing positive behavior and gently reminding them of the actions we hope to see.
If a child continues to struggle with redirection or engages in behaviors like physical aggression, damage to property, or ongoing disobedience, we will document the incidents and share our observations with parents. We will then schedule a parent/teacher conference to collaboratively discuss the behavior and develop a plan for positive change. The teachers and director will closely monitor the child’s progress and keep parents informed. If, after a reasonable period, improvement is not seen, we may need to discuss other childcare options to ensure the best environment for the child’s growth and well-being

When Our Program Does Not Meet Your Child’s Needs…

When a child first joins our program, we understand that there is a period of transition and adjustment. For some children, this may involve a few weeks of challenging separation from parents, reluctance to engage in activities, or other signs of discomfort. During this time, we provide the child with extra one-on-one attention and plenty of care and support to help ease the adjustment. As the child becomes more comfortable, we will keep you updated on their progress and share when they begin to participate more fully. In some cases, a child may not seem to progress as expected and might show signs of frustration, such as physically hurting others, struggling with self-help skills, or consistently resisting participation. If this happens, we will collaborate with you to assess whether our program is the right fit for your child's needs. With input from parents, teachers, and the director, we may determine together that seeking alternative care could be the best option for supporting your child's development and well-being.