Health Protocols & Sick Policy

A Message From Playful Learning

At Playful Learning, we are committed to providing a safe and joyful place for children to discover, grow, and learn together. To ensure that this happens, it’s helpful to have a common set of health guidelines, to which we all adhere and to keep lines of communication open.

We have a lot of amazing learning experiences planned, and it’s important that we all stay healthy and happy.

Please review our safety protocols below carefully, and let us know if you have any questions or need clarification. We have a lot of amazing learning experiences planned, and it’s important that we all stay healthy and happy.

Fondly,

The Playful Learning Team

GENERAL HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Start at home

  • Keeping children healthy requires a partnership between school and home. Keeping lines of communication open is essential for a healthy and happy school experience.

Drop-off procedures

  • Upon arrival at the studio, children will be informally screened for symptoms.
  • Teachers and staff are trained on how to monitor children’s wellness throughout the day.

Staff

  • Upon arriving each morning, all staff members will be informally screened for symptoms.

Fresh air & outdoor adventures

  • We make sure our students get plenty of fresh air! Our studio garden and outdoor classrooms bring the natural environment into our learning experiences through daily nature explorations and investigations. We spend approximately one hour per day (of a three-hour day) outside all year.

Small groups

  • We limit our enrollment in each of our classes. This small-group experience allows for greater open space in our classrooms, and a more personalized learning experience for the children.

Sanitizing and cleaning

  • Children, staff, and parents are required to wash hands before entering the building.
  • Children and staff will thoroughly wash hands before snack, after bathroom use, and after outdoor time.
  • ALL areas in the studio, supplies, and toys are disinfected daily. If a toy is mouthed by a child, it is removed from circulation until thoroughly sanitized.​
  • Playful Learning uses a Merv 13 filter on our central air and heating system and has air filtration units in each classroom.

SICK POLICY

General guidelines:

  • Please do not send your child to school if:
  • The child is too ill to participate in program activities.
  • The illness results in a need for care that is greater than the staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children.
  • There is an acute change in behavior – this could include lethargy/lack of responsiveness, irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing, or having a spreading rash.
  • Fever: Temperature above 101℉ orally, or 100℉ or higher taken axillary (armpit) or measured by an equivalent method, accompanied by behavior change or other signs and symptoms (e.g., sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulty, or cough).
  • Diarrhea: Diapered children whose stool is not contained in the diaper or if the stool frequency exceeds two or more stools above normal for the child. Toilet-trained children if the diarrhea is causing soiled pants or clothing. Blood or mucous in the stools not explained by dietary change, medication, or hard stools.
  • Vomiting more than two times in the previous 24 hours unless the vomiting is determined to be caused by a non-infection condition and the child remains adequately hydrated.
  • Abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours or intermittent pain associated with fever or other signs or symptoms of illness.
  • Mouth sores with drooling unless the child’s health care provider states that the child is not infectious.
  • If your child is out sick, please report their absence via Brightwheel immediately.
  • If a child develops symptoms during their time at Playful Learning, they will be safely isolated in a comfortable space or in a shaded, outdoor spot—until parents/caregivers arrive.
  • Any child who is sent or stays home with symptoms can return when they:

    1. Have been fever, diarrhea, and vomit-free, without the use of fever-reducer for 24 hours (a child is considered to have a fever if they are above 101 degrees orally or 100 degrees taken auxiliary). Refer to "Responding to Specific Illnesses", below.

    2. Have resolving symptoms, and typical energy levels.
  • If your child suffers from seasonal allergies and related symptoms, please submit a letter from your doctor.
  • Please refer to the "responding to specific illnesses" section below for more information on when to keep your child home.​

Responding to Specific Illnesses