The Agency received notice from Alberta Children’s Services that childcare programs are no longer required to follow specific sector guidance related to mitigating the transmission of COVID-19 in childcare settings. This includes the isolation requirements when someone tests positive or has symptoms, which, while no longer mandatory, continues to be recommended.

As an Agency we recommend the following actions:

· If your child tests positive for Covid-19 they stay away from the day home for 5 days.

· If your child is showing core symptoms for Covid-19 they are kept away from the day home, tested and monitored. Core symptoms are Fever (over 38 degrees), Cough, Shortness of Breath, Loss of sense of taste or smell. Child can return to the day home when symptom-free.

Please be reminded that even though the restrictions have been lifted, the Provincial Day Home Standard for Illness (Standard 10C) remains in effect – please see below

Standard 10C: Illness

If an educator notices that a child exhibits any of the signs or symptoms listed below, the educator must ensure that:

• the child’s parent(s) arranges for the immediate removal of the child from the program premises; and
• the child does not return to the program premises until the educator is satisfied that the child no longer poses a health risk to others in the program (e.g., the parents provide a physician’s note, the parents declare that the child has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.

Signs or symptoms of illness exhibited by a child include:

• a child vomiting, having a fever, diarrhea or a new unexplained rash or cough;
• a child requiring greater care and attention than can be provided without compromising the care of the other children in the program; or
• a child having or displaying any other illness or symptom the staff knows or believes may indicate that the child poses a health risk to persons on the program premises.

For your reference, please see the Agency Illness Policy below

Illness Policy

Parents must be notified as soon as the educator has determined that a child is ill. The parent must arrange for the immediate removal of the child from the day home. The educator must obtain emergency medical assistance as required. The child does not return to the day home until the child no longer poses a health risk to others in the day home, e.g. parents provide a physician note or the parent declares that the child has been symptom free for at least 48 hours.

In order to protect the health of all the children and the families in the family day home, the educator can refuse care to any child if that child has:

• A temperature of 38 degrees °C
• Recurring diarrhea
• Had recurring vomiting that morning or the night before or has continuing symptoms such as fever, lethargy and cramps etc.
• An undiagnosed illness, rash and pain
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye) or any other eye condition where the eye is itchy, red, swollen or oozing pus
• Any other contagious condition such as chicken pox, measles, hand foot and mouth disease, lice, impetigo, ringworm, pinworm, scabies etc.
• A severe cold with fever, runny nose, sneezing or productive cough

• Please check with your educator if they are open on Heritage Day. If they aren't, please inform them if you need back up care.
• Once you know your summer vacation plans, please inform your educator. Please note that the fee is due and owing on the same terms and conditions as if the children were present when they are on vacation as the fee is being paid in order to reserve a space in the day home according to our Parent/Agency agreement.

It can be hard to know when a child is ready to start becoming independent, and responsible for certain aspects of their own lives.

Here are some strategies to support children’s independency

1.Give them chores

Appointing your children’s chores will help them be successful later in life. Whether they're small tasks or big to-dos around the house, giving your child some sort of responsibility will help them with time management, commitment, and goal setting in the future.

2. Reward them with an allowance

Rewarding your child for completing their chores is a great way to teach kids about independence. A chore chart can be helpful here, especially when first getting started

3.Teach them how to take care of others

Let your child take care for a pet (you can start small and buy them a goldfish!), or, if your child is older, allow them to help care for a younger sibling.

4. Let them get ready for school themselves

Letting your child get themselves ready for school will teach them the importance of time management and responsibility. This can mean packing their own lunch, setting their clothes out, filling their water bottle, waking up to their own alarm and more.

5. Allow your child to solve conflicts by themselves

Being there for your child during an argument or conflict is important—but it's also important to teach your child how to handle it themselves. Teaching them how to appropriately work through conflict themselves will teach them how to appropriately deal with their emotions, talk through their feelings and, ultimately, move forward—all very important life-long lessons.

By showing your child that independence is a positive for both of you, and by supporting them when they feel clingy or like they need more space to do things on their own, you are setting the stage for your child to move toward independence at their own pace, with confidence and self-assurance.

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