About Us
General Details
Hours of Operation
Candyland Child Development Center will be open Monday-Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The center closes promptly at 6:00 p.m. If you are late in picking up your child, you will be charged a late fee of $2/minute per child for every minute beyond the 6:00 p.m. closing time. If the staff has not heard from the parent by 6:00 p.m., the staff will then call the next person on the emergency form. Upon enrollment you will be asked to set hours for your child to be agreed upon by administration. Please adhere as close as possible to these set times as they affect our staff to child ratios. During Ellsworth Air Force Base Exercises (depending on the number of children) we may get more staff to accommodate our parents during these times.
Program Description
Candyland Child Development Center will be open Monday-Friday 6am-6pm (option of longer hours during Ellsworth Air Force Base Scheduled Exercises). Candyland Child Development Center can provide care up to 140 kids ages 4 weeks-14 years. Age appropriate daily activities such as group time, learning centers, free play, outside play, music, arts and crafts, etc. This will help in their gross and fine motor skills in addition to their social, emotional and intellectual development.
Program Activities
Routines and consistency are important to a child’s development. Children are able to develop trust and independence that prepare them for activities and transitions that occur throughout the day. Routines and consistency provide a calm learning environment while promoting positive interactions. The general flow of the day supports children so they know what is coming next while allowing for flexibility and following a child’s interest. A surprise once in awhile is exciting and fun too! Of course, South Dakota weather is a factor that influences the choices made for the day.
Curriculum
Curriculum is guided by South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines, other early education resources, and the interests and curiosities of the children.
Daily Schedule
- 6:00-8:00a.m - arrival/free play
- 7:00-8:00a.m - breakfast
- 8:00-9:00a.m - centers
- 9:00-11:00a.m - teacher guided activities
- 11:00-11:30a.m - recess/free play
- 11:30-12:30p.m. - lunch/prepare for nap/rest time
- 12:30-2:30p.m. - nap/rest time
- 2:30-3:00p.m. - wake up, get ready for snack
- 3:00-3:30p.m. - snack
- 3:30-6:00p.m. - recess, free play, centers, clean up
Sign In/Out
All children must be signed in and out daily on our computer system. Candyland Child Development Center will not assume responsibility for a child until child is signed in.
Absences
When your child will not be attending, we ask that you please notify us. If your child is out because he/she is ill, please inform the staff as to what the illness is. We will post contagious diseases so that parents of the other children can be aware of what they may have been exposed to.
Withdrawing Your Child
Candyland Child Development Center requires a two-week written notice when planning to withdraw your child from the center. Parents are responsible for the contracted rate for these two weeks, whether our services are used or not.
Staff Members
Candyland Child Development Center pick their staff members for their passion and interest in working with children. Primary staff member must be at least 18 years of age and a secondary staff member must be at least 14 years of age and work under a supervision of an adult. All programming is planned and overseen by the Director. It is preferred that teachers have or are in the process of receiving their Child Development Associates Degree and at least one year of childcare experience. Each staff member requires 20 hours of training annually. All staff members undergo a background check and are CPR and first-aid certified. We maintain the following staff to child ratios.
- 4 weeks to 3 years - 1:5
- 3 years to 6 years - 1:10
- 6 years to older - 1:15
Parental Involvement
We believe communication between parents and staff is essential to a great child care program. We encourage parents to visit or call at any time. Confidentiality will be maintained at all times.
Confidentiality
The confidentiality of information about the children and their families is extremely important to the staff and administration at Candyland Child Development Center. We will keep any information confidential. Staff will be informed on a need to know basis.
What to Bring
Parents of infants and toddlers should bring diapers, wipes, and any ointment or lotion they may use. They should also have at least two changes of clothing. Preschoolers should have at least one change of clothing. Everything should be clearly labeled with the child’s full name. We recommend comfortable and washable clothing and shoes that can be managed by the child. Most of our art supplies are washable but sometimes they do not come all the way out of clothing. We will do our best to protect your child’s clothing but there may be times when clothing may get stained. Please do not send your child in clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.
Security System and Cameras
The doors to the center are kept locked at all times in order to limit access. The front entrance has a keypad that will, when a code is entered, release the magnetic lock on the inner doors. If your code does not work ust ring the guest bell and we will let you in. When you enroll your child, you will be given the number combination to enter into the keypad for independent entry. Please do not give out the entry code to others, even if they are authorized to pick up your child. Photo I.D. is required and kept on file for who is authorized to pick up your child. KidsVision live streaming cameras allows you access to real time quality streaming of your child during the day. This system of cameras is also to ensure the safety of your child and the team. Only authorized users will have access to the KidsVision daycare webcams. All access (both successful and unsuccessfull attempts) are logged and monitored closely.
Transportation
Transportation is provided for before and after school care, field trips and certain activities. When being transported in a van all occupants will be required to use a seat belt or age appropriate child restraint. Any vehicle will only carry the allowed number of children by the vehicle passenger capacity.
Termination Policy
If Candyland Child Development Center feels it can no longer enroll your child for one reason or another, the director will notify you. Examples for reasons of termination include but not limited to:
- failure of tuition payment
- failure of child to adjust to the center after reasonable amount of time
- behavior that endangers other children and staff
- failure to provide state and or center required paperwork
The center may terminate the contract effective immediately without giving any notice at their discretion.