At Nature’s Children, the health and well-being of every child in our care is very important to us. To keep our environment safe and comfortable, we ask families to follow these guidelines:
When to Keep Your Child Home:
Fever of 100.4°F or higher within the past 24 hours
Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
Contagious illnesses such as strep throat, pink eye, flu, or COVID-19 until cleared by a doctor or after the recommended exclusion period
Rashes that are unexplained or possibly contagious
Any illness that prevents your child from comfortably participating in daily activities, indoors or outdoors
Returning to Care:
Children must be fever-free (without medication) and free from vomiting/diarrhea for at least 24 hours before returning. If antibiotics are prescribed, children should be on the medication for at least 24 hours before rejoining care. A doctor’s note may be requested for certain illnesses before your child returns.
Provider Sick Days
As this is a small, home-based program, there may be occasions when the provider is ill and unable to operate.
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Each provider is allotted up to 5 paid sick days per year.
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If both providers are unavailable due to illness, the program will close for the day. Families will be notified as soon as possible (by phone, text, or email).
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Sick days are rare, but families should have back-up care arrangements in place.
We appreciate your understanding as we prioritize the health of all children and staff.
Why It Matters: These guidelines help protect all children, families, and providers, and ensure our days are happy, healthy, and full of play! We appreciate your partnership in keeping our Nature’s Children community safe and thriving.