Child Lab Policies | Child Labs | BYU-Idaho

# Child Lab Policies

The following are policies relating to children participation in the child labs. Please review prior to enrolling children in the labs and use frequently as a reference regarding parking, illness, or holiday observance in the labs.

This handbook is for parents who have children participating in the child labs. It has program information, policies, etc. Click the button below to get access. 
 
Parent Handbook

In an emergency, if evacuation of the building is necessary, children will be taken to the Smith Building and parents notified. Parents may pick up their child from the Smith Building at the West entrance. 
 
If you have any concerns or questions specific to your child during an emergency please visit with the lab student supervisor. If there are specific items that your child may need you are welcome to place them in a large zip-lock bag with their name written on the label. We will return all unneeded/unused items at the end of the semester.

Please dress your child in comfortable play clothes that are appropriate for messy play, as well as the weather. We will play outside each day, except in very extreme weather. 
 
At the beginning of the semester please send an extra set of clothes, including socks and diapers or underwear. Please label them with your child's name so they can be returned to you at the end of the semester. 
 
Children should not bring toys, gum, candy, or food to labs. 
 
Sunscreen should be applied prior to arriving at school. We spend time outdoors daily.

We will have a nutritious snack each day. You will receive a copy of the snack schedule before classes begin. ****Inform the lab**** ****teachers at the home visit**** of any unique dietary restrictions or allergies. Licensing guidelines prohibit distribution of homemade food. You should discuss any exceptions to this policy with your lab student supervisor.

To ensure an environment of cultural respect and equality we do not include holidays and/or birthdays as part of our child lab curriculum or instruction. If you would like to bring a store purchased individually wrapped treat, in recognition of a birthday or holiday, please consult with your lab student supervisor.

Parents will be notified, but written permission will not be requested, when children go on walking field trips on campus (ex: for activities in the ballroom or a walk to the garden). Parents are welcome to attend on-campus field trips. Please arrange participation through your child's teacher.

We follow the guidelines of the photo consent form you filled out as part of the enrollment paperwork. You may make video recordings and take photos of your child prior to check-in but not during lab time. Video recordings and photos of children in the preschool/toddler lab classrooms taken by students or faculty are for educational purposed and viewed by preschool/toddler lab faculty, staff and students. If you have concerns about this practice, please contact the lab director.

Parent partnerships are a valuable part of any preschool/toddler program. We hope you will take advantage of the following activities: 
1. ****Home visits**** 
 
2. ****Classroom observations from the booth****: Booths are open any time preschool/toddler lab are in session and are located in rooms 201, 215, & 221for preschool and for toddler in room 275. 
 
3. ****Classroom involvement****: Schedule with the supervisor how you'd like to be involved in the classroom. 
 
4. ****Extending classroom learning experiences in the home****: Regular communication about the activities the children participate in will come through Brightwheel. You can prepare your child for each day's activities (such as field trips) and discuss activities when you pick up your child. 
 
5. ****Individual parent conferences****: Please contact a teacher or program director if you would like to schedule an individual conference. 
 
6. ****Abused, abandoned, or neglected****: As mandated by Idaho Code § 16-1605, if we have reason to believe that a child has been abused, abandoned, or neglected, we are required to report our concern to the authorities. If you have any questions, please consult a faculty member. To protect your children, we endeavor to prevent child abuse in the lab by completing fingerprinting and background checks for all lab personnel, providing child abuse and guidance training for students each semester, maintaining two-deep teacher staffing, conferencing daily about concerns, and supporting each other in stressful situations. 
 
7. ****Additional Safety Measures:**** In addition, we strive to keep children healthy and safe by training our students to meet national health and safety standards, including (but not limited to): appropriate handwashing, sanitation, food preparation and handling, and management of body fluids. Our students are certified in pediatric CPR and First Aid and trained in emergency evacuation procedures in the event of fire, earthquake, and an active shooter.

****Social Competency**** 
 
In the BYU-Idaho child labs, we use guidance practices in our interactions with children. We want children to develop self-control and problem-solving skills. To that end, we apply the following principles: 

1. Structure the environment and curriculum to minimize problems.
2. Model appropriate behavior.
3. Set reasonable and positive expectations.
4. Offer choices.
5. Trust children, respect feelings, and calmly talk about problems.
6. Encourage children's success in self-control and problem solving.
7. Remind children of safety guidelines when they forget and engage in inappropriate behavior.
8. Redirect inappropriate behavior to something appropriate.
9. Protect children in jeopardy of hurting themselves, others, or property.

We do not use time out; take away food, play, or bathroom privileges; or use corporal punishment. 
 
We do our best to prevent challenging behaviors through guidance, though sometimes it still occurs. In cases where challenging behaviors are persistent, the teachers, faculty supervisor, and family will work together in creating an individualized plan for the child to address the challenging behaviors.

If your child is ill or has had any of these symptoms in the last 24 hours please keep him/her at home. This avoids exposing other children and teachers to possible illness. Notify us if your child develops a condition that might be transmitted to other children, such as chicken pox or head lice. If any of the following symptoms exist, please keep your child at home: 

- Headache
- Vomiting
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Pink eye
- Fever over 100.4
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- New loss of taste or smell
- Unusual spots, rash or infected skin
- Runny nose with any colored discharge
- Any condition that would take your child out of the mainstream and require that a teacher spend an inordinate amount of time with just your child

If we notice any of the above symptoms your child will not be admitted. If your child becomes ill during lab, you will be notified to pick him/her up. If parents are unavailable, alternate contacts listed on the child lab forms will be notified. In a severe emergency we will call 911 and allow emergency medical services to take appropriate action. Parents will be contacted immediately. 
 
The staff is not able to administer medication to any child without written directions from a physician and permission from a parent or legal guardian.

****Labs Offered:**** 

- ****Toddler:****18 months-36 months
- ****Preschool:**** 36 months-5 years
- ****School Age:**** Kindergarten-3rd grade

| | ****Check-In**** | ****Lab Time**** | ****Check Out**** | ****Late Fee**** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ****Preschool M/W AM**** | 8:45-9:00 am | 8:45-11:00 am | 11:00-11:10 am | 11:11 am |
| ****Preschool M/W PM**** | 1:15-1:30 pm | 1:15-3:30 pm | 3:30-3:40 pm | 3:41 pm |
| ****Toddler M/W**** | 8:30-8:45 am | 8:30-10:30 am | 10:30-10:40 am | 10:41 am |
| ****Toddler TH**** | 8:15-8:30 am | 8:15-10:15 am | 10:15-10:25 am | 10:26 am |
| ****After School**** | 2:30-2:40 pm | 2:30-5:00 pm | 5:00-5:10 pm | 5:11 pm |

Child labs are offered twice a week for a 10 week period in the fall, winter, and spring semesters. 
 
To enroll a child, parents must submit an application online at BYU-Idaho Child Labs, and then their child will be put on a wait list. Child lab spots are often in high demand and families will likely experience a waiting period from the time they apply for their child to be in lab to the time their child is actually enrolled. Children are accepted to the program according to the waitlist order. We strive to have an equal number of boys and girls in each of our classrooms, which will be taken into consideration when offering spots to children. Children are accepted into each class according to age, gender, and waitlist order. Our goal is to offer each child 2 semesters in each age group (2 toddler, 2 preschool, 2 school age), when possible. With enrollment, there will be a tuition fee and paperwork, both of which must be completed by the deadline, or your child will not be able to attend lab. 
 
****Parking, Drop Off, & Pick Up:**** 
 
****Parking**** 
During your home visit, you will receive a parking pass permitting you to park in the designated area of the Clarke lot. This pass can ****only**** be used during the time your child is in lab and will expire at the end of the semester. The pass is only for your time in the lab observing or volunteering in the classroom. The pass cannot be used for other purposes. For example, working out in the Hart gym or attending a class while parked in the lot is not appropriate. 
 
****Drop Off**** 
You ****MUST**** accompany your child to their classroom when you drop him/her off. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD IN ALONE. When you arrive at the classroom, you will be given a QR code that you can scan through your LineLeader app to check in your child. Children will not be checked in early as teachers need that time to prepare for lab. 
 
****Pick Up**** 
All adults picking up children must be on the pickup list or previous notification of an adult not already listed on the pick-up list and showing a government issued photo ID. At any time in the semester, if a teacher does not recognize a person arriving to pick up a child, the teacher will ask for a government-issued photo ID and ensure that the person is an authorized person on the pick-up list. Children will not be released to anyone under the age of 18. 
 
****Late Fees**** 
Late fees will begin being assessed 10 minutes after the class ends. The fee is $1.00 per minute for each child. Families with outstanding late fees will not be invited to participate in future semesters in the BYU-Idaho Child Labs.