LHCC programs serve children from age 6-weeks to kindergarten and is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. five days a week. LHCC is licensed by the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services (Division of Licensing, Telephone Number 296-3971) to serve 38 children.   Return to Top

Before your child is enrolled in our program, a short conference is arranged between you and the director and/or head teacher. This conference will give you and your child a chance to know us before actually starting at the center. There will be several forms to complete before enrollment, among them a health care summary and immunization record.

State regulation requires that each child have a health statement and immunization information form completed by their doctor before they can be admitted to the program.

A new health care summary is required whenever a child advances to a new age group. Update the immunization record in the center's office whenever your child receives additional immunizations.   Return to Top

The daily contact between parents and staff is very important. By sharing information concerning your child, we can work together to best meet their needs. Please be sure to check your child's cubby every day, check the parent information board for your child’s group and, perhaps most important, please take time to carefully read information that you receive. Often times, important dates, policy information, etc. is sent home in printed form and could be missed if not read by you.

All parents will have the opportunity to meet with their child's teacher in a specially scheduled conference each fall and spring. We encourage all parents to take advantage of these conferences and meet with our staff. Parents of infants and toddlers under age two will have telephone or personal conferences every two months. Infants and toddlers under two years old will receive daily reports on their activities.

Parents of enrolled children are invited and encouraged to visit the center at any time during the hours of operation.   Return to Top

If a parent should have a grievance, they should bring the problem directly to their child's head teacher. If the problem cannot be solved between the parent and head teacher, it can be brought to the center director by either the parent or head teacher.

The center director will have an answer for the parent and/or head teacher within three days.   Return to Top

Behind our guidance and discipline practice is the idea that a person's rights and interests can be pursued only as long as they don't infringe on someone else's rights. We try to convey a feeling of respect for others and respect for materials. We encourage the children to look for their own solutions to problems, helping them recognize how their behavior affects others and discover appropriate alternatives. In guiding children's behavior we emphasize positive reinforcement given through verbalization of feeling and actions. We feel this best helps young children to internalize control of their behavior.

We prompt appropriate behavior using three kinds of prompts: Verbal, usually called instruction; visual, usually called a model; and physical, usually called physical guidance.

There are three factors in determining which prompt to use:

1. The child's developmental level.

2. The previous success using one procedure in teaching the child the appropriate behavior.

3. The ultimate goal of fading out all assistance and enabling the child to perform the behavior on their own.

The guideline of our behavior policies is respect for ourselves and others. We do not use shaming or physical punishment. We know that everyone's feelings need to be recognized and we appreciate each child for who they are. Use of time out is limited and reserved for the following as much as possible:

1. Inappropriate behavior persists after using all other kinds of prompts.

2. When, in the teacher's judgment, a child is physically abusing playmates.

Time out is kept to a minimum. Time out is never used for an infant.   Return to Top

Breakfast is served promptly at 8:15 a.m. each day. Children who arrive after 8:15 p.m. will not receive breakfast. Snacks are served at approximately 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. We are continuously striving to prepare nutritious and appetizing breakfasts and snacks. Food served for breakfast includes toast, cheese, cheerios, bananas, milk and juice. Peanut butter is not served. Snacks consist of graham crackers, fish crackers, cheese and juice.

Bag lunches are required as we do not have on-site cooking facilities. Remember that bag lunches must include a protein, a bread or cereal, a vegetable and a fruit. We will provide the milk.

A $6.00 charge will be charged if your child's lunch is not brought in for the day and the center has to provide lunch for your child.   Return to Top

 Preschool and Toddlers:

1. Complete change of clothing (4-5 pairs of training pants if toilet training). 

2. Disposable diapers and square diaper wipes if not toilet trained

 3. Blanket to use at nap and/or any special sleeping toy.

 4. Bag lunch.

 Infants:

All of the above, plus

 1. Formula or breast milk

 2. Baby cereal and baby food

 Only disposable diapers are used at LHCC.  Please be sure to bring your child in disposable diapers as we do not have the facilities to store soiled cloth diapers.  Diapering procedures are approved by our health consultant and are posted in the diaper changing area.

 Baby food and opened cans of prepared formula are kept in the refrigerator.  Only commercially prepared, unopened cans of formula or baby food may be brought to the center.  No opened cans will be returned by the center.  The center will discard outdated opened food.

 Breast milk must be brought in ready-to-feed bottles prepared at home.  Staff will not transfer breast milk from container to container.  Breast milk is warmed by setting the bottle in warm (not boiling) water.  All bottles must be marked with your child’s first and last name.

 What Should Remain At Home

Toys should remain at home.  Special toys brought from home only create problems for the teachers and we cannot assume responsibility for their safekeeping.  Also, please do not bring your child into the center with coins, food or chewing gum. 

 When food is brought from home as a special treat, the food must be purchased from a store.  It is against state regulations to bring homemade food to the center.

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You must be sure that your child’s teacher is aware that your child has entered the center.  If you have any special instructions for the day, you can indicate them in the sign-in book at that time.

 Be sure to call the center by 9:00 a.m. if your child will not be in that day.

 Please do not plan to drop your child off between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m. This is when breakfast is being served and all teachers are busy at this time.  We like to greet each child in a relaxed manner and this cannot happen when everyone is busy. 

 Remember, we can only release your child to an authorized person as filled in on the registration form.  If someone other than an authorized person is picking your child up, you must inform us either by phone or in writing beforehand.

 Our closing time is 6:15 p.m. All children and parents must be out of the center by that time. The late fees will be due if you are in the center after 6:15 p.m.  A late fee of $2.00 per minute is charged for the first five minutes after 6:15 p.m. The second five minutes are charged at $4.00 per minute and the third five minutes are charged at $6.00 per minute.  The late fee must be paid to the staff person at that time.    The late fee is there to encourage all parents to pick up their children by closing time.

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The operation of Linden Hills Child Care Center is solely dependent on tuition received from each child. It is essential that you pay your tuition promptly and regularly. IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT, TUITION IS STILL DUE.

Tuition should be paid on the first day of the week that your child is in attendance at LHCC whether you choose to pay weekly, every two weeks or monthly. If tuition is not paid by Wednesday of the first week of service, a $5.00 per week late fee will be charged.

Tuition is due on days that the center is closed for holidays. The schedule of holidays observed is: New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday following Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

If your schedule changes because of a holiday and you would like to send your child to the center for an extra day because of that, you must pay for an extra day if we can accommodate you.

These payment policies apply to both full and part time children.

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If your child is absent the entire week, half of the normal tuition will be assessed, but no adjustment is made for less than a full week's absence.    Return to Top

Transportation to and from Linden Hills Child Care Center is the sole responsibility of the parents/guardians or persons designated by the parents/guardians.

If transportation is provided for field trips, all children must be restrained in an approved child restraint system. Parents will be asked in advance to provide LHCC with a federally approved restraint system for field trips.

Written parental permission must be provided for all field trips.    Return to Top

Written permission must be obtained from each child's parent before taking a child on a field trip. Private cars are used for field trips with parents accompaniment. Each child must have an appropriate car seat.  Return to Top

We must have a two week notification of any changes in your schedule. We also require a two week notice of termination from the program.   Return to Top

Linden Hills Child Care Center hires new employees and admits children to its program without regard to race, color, creed, age or sex.   Return to Top

In the event of a weather emergency, please tune into WCCO radio. If the Minneapolis Public Schools are closed because of storms, Linden Hills Child Care Center will also close. If there is a question about the center being open, call the center at 612-922-4501. Information will always be left on the answering machine.

If severe weather should threaten, the children will be taken into the basement of the facility and remain in the lower hallways until the danger passes.   Return to Top

Written permission must be obtained from a parent before a child is involved in experimental research or public relations activity involving a child while at the center.    Return to Top 

We must be notified in writing of any food allergies your child may have.  Allergy information is posted in the kitchen area to inform staff.

Parents will be informed if pets are ever brought into the center.   Return to Top

When your child is first exposed to a group of children, you will have to expect an increase in illness for the first three to six months. Your child is being exposed to a greater number of bacteria and viruses when they are enrolled in child care. However, your child will build up resistance to infections. Being prepared for illness is important to your peace of mind. Having a plan of action when your child becomes ill is very important.

If your child becomes ill at Linden Hills Child Care Center, they will be taken to a quiet place to rest and you will be contacted to pick up your child. A staff member will remain with your child and monitor his/her condition until they are picked up. If neither parent is available, we will call the emergency numbers on your child's emergency card. The prevention of communicable disease is an extremely important task when caring for groups of children. Our staff works closely with a Public Health Nurse assigned to the center to make sure we do all possible to prevent illness. Specifically this relates to hygiene procedures in diapering, toileting and feeding of children. Proper and frequent hand washing by children and staff is a very important part of disease prevention and is encouraged to the maximum.

We follow medical recommendations from the Minnesota Visiting Nurse Association which sends a nurse to visit the center on a monthly basis.

We administer medication when necessary when it can not be given at times that the parent can't administer. We DO NOT keep medication to administer "when necessary". When you bring medicine into the center for your child, you must hand the medicine directly to your child's teacher or to whomever is in charge of your child's group at the time. NEVER leave medications in your child's cubby or lunchbox.

In consideration of your child and the other children at the center, we REQUIRE that you DO NOT bring your child to the center when she/he is not feeling well or has a contagious disease. You must not bring your child to LHCC when the following is present:

1. FEVER. Axillary temperature (under the arm) over 100. Glass thermometers are discouraged for oral temperatures for children. If a child enters the center and is known to have had a fever during the previous 24 hours, staff will take the child's temperature to determine admission.

2. BEHAVIOR. If your child looks or acts differently; awake all night and crying, unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, irritable or restless.

3. RESPIRATORY. Breathing difficulties, e.g. wheezing.

4. VOMITING. More than usual infant spitting up.

5. DIARRHEA. Is characterized by frequent watery or green-colored bowel movements which are not related to medications or food reactions.

6. RASH. Undiagnosed rash other than mild diaper or heat rash.

7. SORE THROAT. Sore throat that needs culturing because other signs are present. The child may be re-admitted upon receipt of a negative throat culture.

8. When your child is not able to participate in the child care program activities with reasonable comfort, including outdoor plan or who require more care than staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of the other children in care.

We do not always point to a child's fever when requiring that an ill child be picked up by a parent. If in your child's teacher's observation and opinion your child is not acting in a normal, healthy manner, you will be required to bring your child home until he/she is feeling better.

In the event that emergency medical care of warranted, the center director or in the absence of the center director that child's teacher will take whatever steps are necessary to obtain needed care. These steps may include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Attempt to contact a parent or guardian. We prefer, when feasible, that the parent or guardian accept responsibility for seeking medical care.

2. If it is considered necessary, 911 will be called before the parent is contacted.

Under no circumstances will a child be transported in a medical emergency by staff members of the center.

All staff at the center are required to have first aid training every three years. The center also maintains a complete first aid kit for accidents and non-emergency first aid. A staff member trained in CPR is always on site.