We are closely monitoring the latest updates from the CDC and MDH as well as those of Jennifer Richardson, owner of Health Consultants for Child Care, our public health nurse. Using information from these experts, we have developed these guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of our children, their families and our staff.
Increased illness exclusion policy
We will continue to enforce our written illness guidelines of excluding children who are ill as well as our guidelines for COVID-19. We are following exclusions as written by the Minnesota Department of Health’s Decision Tree for people with COVID-19 symptoms in childcare programs.
Our Covid-19 Policies
Staff and Children follow the COVID trail
Over the past year TLC-ELC has worked closely with our Public Health Nurse, Jennifer Richardson, in creating and keeping the safest place for the children and staff of TLC-ELC. This includes mask wearing, noting any illnesses of the children and staff, intense cleaning, maintaining small groups, spending time outdoors and following the guidelines set up by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for the children, especially regarding quarantining. We are continually working to find that balance between keeping the children in the center as much as possible so that families work schedules and the children's routines aren't being disrupted and meeting the health and safety concerns of the children and staff.
Increased Cleaning
We have enhanced our efforts to sanitize our classrooms, toys, and other high-touch areas. We have removed most fabric items and other difficult-to-sanitize items from our classrooms.
Masks Worn By Staff
Masks or cloth face coverings will be worn by our staff in all areas of the building. Families will be required to wear masks or cloth face coverings when entering the building for drop-off and pick-up. Masks are required for all school aged children.
Increased Handwashing
Handwashing has always been very important at TLC ELC. It plays a major role in preventing the spread of diseases. Due to the recognition that washing hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading and following of this practice on the part of the children and the adults at the center, there hasn’t been a great change in the handwashing routine at TLC ELC. Teachers know to wash their hands in over 10 different situations.
Teaching the children how to wash their hands continues to be in every group’s curriculum, as well as assisting the children with handwashing. They also are washing their hands in 8 different situations throughout the day.
Food Preparation and Meals
Our cooks wear masks while preparing and delivering the meals. We have eliminated family-style dining to limit the spread of germs. Teachers who plate the food and serve it to the children wear masks. Children are seated together for meals but spaced adequately apart.
Naptime Cot Placement
Children’s cots are placed up to six feet apart whenever possible and will be positioned alternating head-to-toe or toe-to-toe so they aren’t breathing each other’s air while sleeping.
““When COVID-19 hit TLC-ELC went above and beyond by ensuring all kids entering the building had temperatures taken, parents were not to step foot outside of the foyer, there is an individual monitoring the door. Education wise, TLC-ELC provided guidance with schooling, i.e. sending daily reports on our children, homework’s that needed or needs to be completed and so much more. GroupMe.com was implemented with multiple forms of electronic communication between the TAC staff and parents.””
Staff and children Follow the covid trail
Over the past year TLC-ELC has worked closely with our Public Health Nurse, Jennifer Richardson, in creating and keeping the safest place for the children and staff of TLC-ELC. This includes mask wearing, noting any illnesses of the children and staff, intense cleaning, maintaining small groups, spending time outdoors and following the guidelines set up by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for the children, especially regarding quarantining. We are continually working to find that balance between keeping the children in the center as much as possible so that families work schedules and the children's routines aren't being disrupted and meeting the health and safety concerns of the children and staff.
Increased cleaning
We have enhanced our efforts to sanitize our classrooms, toys, and other high-touch areas. We have removed most fabric items and other difficult-to-sanitize items from our classrooms.
Masks worn by staff
Masks or cloth face coverings will be worn by our staff in all areas of the building. Families will be required to wear masks or cloth face coverings when entering the building for drop off and pick up. Masks are required for all school aged children.
Increased handwashing
Handwashing has always been very important at TLC-ELC. It plays a major role in preventing the spread of diseases. Due to the recognition that washing hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading and following of this practice on the part of the children and the adults at the center, there hasn’t been a great change in the handwashing routine at TLC-ELC. Teachers know to wash their hands in over 10 different situations.
Teaching the children how to wash their hands continues to be in every group's curriculum, as well as assisting the children with handwashing; they also are washing their hands in 8 different situations throughout the day
Food preparation and meals
Our cooks wear masks while preparing and delivering the meals. We have eliminated family-style dining to limit the spread of germs. Teachers who plate the food and serve it to the children wear masks. Children are seated together for meals but spaced adequately apart.
Naptime Cot Placement
Children’s cots are placed up to six feet apart whenever possible and will be positioned alternating head-to-toe or toe-to-toe so they aren’t breathing each other’s air while sleeping.