General Information:

Toddler Town Daycare

521 Pleasant Street

Grand Ledge, MI 48837

toddlertowndaycareGL@gmail.com

DG230414433

 Monday – Friday 7:00AM – 5:00PM

Saturday – Sunday Closed

 MiRegistry ID:

111135 (Moriyah)

138177 (Yonee)

Capacity/Ratio:

We are licensed for a maximum capacity of fourteen (14) children, with a ratio of no more than seven (7) children per one (1) provider at any given time. These limits are set by the State of Michigan and are strictly followed. Ratio requirements also vary based on the ages of the children in care, which adds a layer of regulation and planning to our daily schedule. For this reason, all enrollment is based on a set schedule agreed upon in advance and documented in the signed contract.

Smoking:

Smoking is NOT permitted in Toddler Town Daycare or on the property. This includes Marijuana and vaping. Please dispose of any cigarettes or vapes before arriving to our daycare.

Our Family:

Meet our family! We have Yonee, Moriyah, AJ, and Gabriel. Our pets are Russell, Lily, and Phoenix. Russell is our “old man” doggy. He is a Boxer mixed with Great Dane. His favorite activity is sleeping and cuddling with us. Lily is our pup. She is a Labrador mixed with Terrier. Her favorite activities involve playing with her numerous collections of toys and running around with the kids. Phoenix is our lovely cat. He loves to sleep all day and play with his toys all night. He is the friendliest cat you will ever meet!

State Licensing and Continuing Education:

We are a licensed daycare in the state of Michigan. All of our caregivers have the certifications and training required by the state licensing office. This includes but is not limited to: CPR and first aid certification for infants/child/adult, health and safety refresher courses, administration of medication, and much more. We follow all state guidelines on continuing education.

We have regular unannounced visits from the childcare licensing department. Their visits will include observation of your children, how we interact with your children, and daily tasks such as diapering, meal times, and the overall environment of our daycare. These representatives may contact you regarding our daycare.

We are mandated reporters for abuse or neglect of any kind. If we suspect a child is being abused or neglected, we will submit a report to the local children’s services agency. The safety of children is our primary concern.

Schedule Overview:

7:00am – 7:20am Breakfast

7:20am – 9:00am Free play/Outside Play

9:00am – 9:15am AM Snack

9:15am – 11:00am Free play/Outside Play

11:00am – 11:45am Lunch

11:45am – 12:00pm Movie/Settling in for Quiet Time

12:00pm – 3:00pm Quiet Time

3:00pm – 3:15pm PM Snack

3:15pm – 5:00pm Free play/Outside Play/Prep for Parent Pick-up

This is a basic schedule of what we strive for daily at Toddler Town Daycare. The nicer the weather is, the more we will be outside. If there is inclement weather, we will plan activities that are appropriately stimulating for indoors. Your child will need to come dressed appropriately for outdoor weather so please check the weather each morning before drop off.

Arrival and Departure:

Children should arrive on time (within 5-10 minutes of their contractual schedule) and ready for the day wearing weather appropriate play clothes. Avoid sending your child in clothing that you do not want dirty/stained. Children are encouraged to play dirty and explore their environment. Children feed themselves and are learning independence and their clothes should allow for this experience.

Drop off should be brief and positive to help your child transition from home to daycare. Please do not send food such as half-eaten breakfasts, breakfast bars, candy, coffee, milk, etc. with your child.

If children are picked up during the day for any reason (doctor’s appt, dentist, etc.), they will not return to daycare that day. We allow ONE drop off and ONE pick up per day. Having a child leave and return multiple times a day is disruptive and can cause stress for the child. **See “Doctor’s Visits” for more information.

Parents are expected to follow their contractual schedule for drop-offs and pick-ups, however we understand that on occasion there will be extenuating circumstances that affect the ability to arrive at the expected time. To ensure we can keep our daily schedule, the latest allowed arrival for drop off is 8:29am. If, for any reason, you arrive any time after 8:30AM (including 8:31AM, etc.), drop-off will not occur (unless agreed upon in advance).

We live in Michigan, which means there will be construction during the warm months and inclement weather during the cold months. Please take the time to create an action plan if these two events are likely to affect you. Examples include but are not limited to: planning to leave early to allow for extra driving time, and planning multiple alternate routes to avoid construction. The City of Grand Ledge often holds holiday parades. Keep in mind that these parades cause the main road in Grand Ledge to be blocked off for up to several hours at a time. The City of Grand Ledge promotes their parades in advance. Most of their parades are on Federally recognized holidays. Take note of the dates/times that these parades will occur and plan an alternate route to ensure you arrive on time for drop off and pick up.

All children must be signed in and out every day per the state guidelines. We will provide attendance sheets to maintain daily logs. Parents who receive state assistance must initial each day their child is in care. If your child will be absent for any reason, please notify us as soon as possible. If your child is absent due to sickness, please inform us of their symptoms and keep us updated on their health as they recover at home.

Curriculum:

Every day during free play/outside play, your child will be working on their musical, fine and gross motor, social-emotional, language, art, math, and science skills by coloring, building puzzles, using stepping stones, swinging, cleaning up after themselves, dancing, singing, reading, tracing, playing games (hopscotch, tag, hide and seek), using sensory items (playdough, chalk, etc.), and many more activities. We encourage a play-based education wherein the children learn by playing and developing their imagination and skills.

Meals and Snacks:

Toddler Town Daycare provides: Breakfast, AM snack, Lunch, and PM snack. We follow the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and provides nutritious meals and snacks that meet the federal guidelines. Nutrition is a key part of a child’s development and can help promote a healthy environment by ensuring children are able to focus on play/learning rather than their basic needs. Snacks consist of 2/5 food components, and meals consist of all 5 food components (milk, protein, grain, fruit, vegetable). Toddler Town Daycare MUST be made aware of any allergies.

Quiet Time and Sleep:

Every afternoon the children will lay down for quiet time. All children are expected to rest during quiet time. This allows time for their bodies and minds to recover and prepare for more learning and fun. If your child does not nap regularly, they may lay quietly on their cot and read a book or another quiet activity. We cannot force someone to sleep, and we will not keep children awake to avoid a nap either. Toddlers and children each have their own cot and blanket(s) which are washed regularly. You may send a blanket to be left at daycare for your child to sleep with during quiet time or your child may use ours.

What Not to Bring:

Children should not bring their own toys or personal belongings to daycare with them. Toddler Town Daycare will not be held responsible for any items damaged, lost or stolen while on premises. Items that are a choking hazard to any child in care will be taken and held in a safe space until pick up time and will be given to parents. Children are not allowed to bring electronics (iPad, tablets, phones, etc.) to daycare. Outside food and beverages are not permitted on daycare premises. If a child arrives with food/drink, we will hand it to the parents/guardians to be taken home.

Guidance and Discipline:

Children are guided by example to show respect for themselves, one another, and their environment. We model and encourage positive behaviors throughout the day, helping children learn how to interact kindly, care for shared spaces, and take responsibility for their actions.

Self-regulation is an important part of early development, and we support it through gentle, consistent strategies. One tool we use regularly is deep breathing, encouraging children to take slow breaths in through their nose and out through their mouth. Practicing this throughout the day helps children learn how to calm their bodies, manage big feelings, and begin to regulate their emotions independently.

Negative behaviors will be addressed as they occur. This includes, but is not limited to: hitting, punching, kicking, biting, spitting, standing or jumping on furniture, throwing objects inside the house, using inappropriate language, and excessive disobedience.

These behaviors will be managed using the following steps:
Redirection: Children will be told “no” and guided toward a different activity - “let’s do this instead.”
Discussion: Using age-appropriate language, we will explain to the child why the behavior is unacceptable and what they should do instead.
Cool Down Area: If the behavior continues, the child will be placed in a designated cool down spot for one minute per year of their age to sit quietly or read a book.

If a challenging behavior persists, we will communicate with parents regarding the steps being taken and the child’s progress. Toddler Town Daycare reserves the right to terminate care for unresolved behaviors that endanger or disrupt the wellbeing of other children.

Personnel shall not do any of the following: hit, spank, shake, bite, pinch, or inflict other forms of corporal punishment. Use any substance in a child’s mouth such as, but not limited to, soap, hot sauce, or vinegar. Restrict a child’s movement by binding or tying him or her. Inflict mental or emotional stress, such as humiliating, shaming, threatening a child, or using derogatory remarks. Deprive a child of meals, snacks, rest, or necessary toilet use. Confine a child in an enclosed area such as a closet, locked room, box, or similar enclosure. Use time out for children under 3 years old.

Health and Safety

Toilet Training:

Toilet training is an important milestone, helping children learn to recognize and respond to the urge to use the toilet and to stay dry, eventually transitioning to underwear. Parents may begin toilet training at home whenever they choose; however, toilet training at daycare will begin only when we believe a child is ready and has demonstrated the ability to independently (without adult assistance) pull their pants and diapers down and up, communicate the need to use the toilet, follow multi-step instructions, and manage their toilet station (including placing and removing the step stool and child seat).

We observe all children for readiness signs and encourage skill-building during daily routines (practicing pulling pants up after diaper changes). Parents are welcome to ask about their child’s progress, and we will communicate when we believe a child is ready to transition to pull-ups and begin toilet training at daycare. During toilet training, parents must provide plenty of pull-ups (we recommend Pampers 360 Cruisers) and extra bottoms.

Children remain in pull-ups until they are 100% accident-free at daycare for two consecutive weeks and can notify caregivers when they need to use the toilet (stay dry and use the toilet without adult prompting). If a child in underwear has two or more accidents in one day, we will switch them back to diapers or pull-ups for that day and try underwear again the next day. Multiple days with accidents indicate the child is not yet ready for underwear at daycare and must remain in diapers or pull-ups until consistently accident-free for two weeks.

Sick Policy:

Please keep your child home if they are sick. This policy helps us reduce the spread of illness and promote the health and safety of all children and caregivers. We are happy to care for children with very mild cold-like symptoms who are otherwise feeling and acting well. Mild cold-like symptoms include a clear runny nose, slight cough, and no fever.

We will notify you immediately if your child develops any of the following symptoms while at daycare: fever over 100.4°F, vomiting, or diarrhea. In such cases, parents are expected to pick up their child within one hour of notification. If you are unable to pick up your child, the emergency contact must do so. Toddler Town Daycare will also notify parents if a child is acting unusually uncomfortable or ill and arrange for prompt pick-up. While waiting to be picked up, the child will be separated from other children and made as comfortable as possible to help prevent the spread of illness.

Children must be symptom-free for a full 24 hours before returning to daycare after experiencing any symptoms that require removal or absence from care. This includes being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Siblings of an ill child should also stay home to prevent disease spread. All fevers/diarrhea/vomiting, regardless of cause, must meet this 24-hour symptom-free rule before the child returns.

Children with any of the following illnesses or symptoms must be completely free of symptoms before returning: unusual lethargy, irritability, persistent crying without cause, runny nose (except clear), cough, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, mouth sores, rashes, pink eye, chicken pox, mumps, measles, roseola, hepatitis A, impetigo, lice, bed bugs, ringworm, scabies, strep throat, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, shingles, or any other contagious disease or rash.

Children with head lice will not be accepted unless their hair has been treated with an approved product twice, 24 hours apart, and thoroughly combed through. We will personally check your child’s head upon arrival, and any signs of lice will result in the child not being allowed to stay.

It is critical that families take all necessary precautions to prevent bringing pests to Toddler Town Daycare, as an infestation can quickly spread and affect many other families’ homes. In the event that Toddler Town Daycare experiences an infestation of pests - including but not limited to bed bugs, roaches, or other insects - which the daycare determines is traced back to a daycare family’s home or belongings, that family will be responsible for 50% of the costs related to professional extermination and remediation. This policy helps ensure timely and effective treatment while sharing the financial responsibility fairly.

Toddler Town Daycare reserves the right to make the final determination regarding a child’s attendance. We will not allow attendance if we believe that allowing the child to attend could pose a risk of exposing other children, staff, or our family to infectious diseases or infestations. While we value and consider medical advice, our primary responsibility is to maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for everyone in our care.

Administration of Medicines:

Toddler Town Daycare requires a signed medication authorization form from a parent or guardian before any medication, prescription or over-the-counter, can be administered. Only the designated caregiver at the daycare is permitted to give medication to a child. We do not administer medications such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, or cough syrups. If your child requires these types of medications, they are not well enough to attend daycare and should remain at home until they are symptom-free and ready to return to group care. Supplements and routine medications such as Miralax, allergy medications, or vitamins must be given at home, where parents can monitor their child in a controlled environment. Medications we will administer include, but are not limited to: epipens, inhalers, or the remainder of a prescribed antibiotic once the child is no longer contagious - only if a dose is required specifically during daycare hours.

Doctor Visits:

If your child receives vaccinations at a doctor’s appointment, they must be monitored at home by a parent or guardian for 24 hours afterward. It is common for children to experience adverse reactions such as fever, rash, or lethargy following immunizations. For this reason, children may not attend daycare on the day of their vaccinations or within 24 hours after receiving them. To minimize disruption in childcare, we strongly recommend scheduling vaccination appointments on Fridays when possible.

If your child is attending a regular well-child visit (or another appointment, such as dentist, etc.) without receiving any vaccinations, they may return to daycare the same day only if arrival is before 10:00 AM and with prior approval from daycare staff. Otherwise, care will resume the following day. If a child develops any symptoms after a doctor’s visit, parents will be contacted and must pick up their child within one hour of notification. Additionally, if a child leaves daycare during the day for a doctor’s appointment, they will not return to care that day. Please plan accordingly by either scheduling morning appointments (so the child may attend care afterwards) or afternoon appointments (so the child can go home after).

Emergency Situations:

Toddler Town Daycare has a comprehensive emergency response plan in place for a variety of situations, including fires, tornadoes, serious accidents or injuries, water-related emergencies, chronic medical conditions, and crisis situations. Crisis management covers events such as home intruders, active shooters, bomb threats, or other human-caused emergencies. We conduct regular fire and tornado drills throughout the year, with the participation of all children. These drills are not only essential for safety preparedness but also serve as valuable learning opportunities to help children feel confident and secure during emergency procedures.

Emergency Care and Backup Plans:

Toddler Town Daycare may close on holidays, during planned vacations, due to illness, or in unforeseen emergency situations. Because of this, we strongly encourage all families to have a reliable backup care plan to ensure your child is cared for whenever we are unavailable. Please take note of our holiday schedule and any planned vacations throughout the year. In the event of an emergency closure, we will notify families as soon as possible, and children must be picked up within one hour of notification. Having a backup plan in place helps minimize disruption and ensures your child’s care remains consistent and secure, even during unexpected closures.

Authorized Persons and Release of child:

There may be times when someone other than a parent or guardian needs to pick up your child from Toddler Town Daycare. For your child’s safety, we will only release them to individuals whose names are listed on the enrollment and emergency contact forms. If a person is not listed, we will not release your child to them under any circumstances, including biological parents who do not have custody or who have not been authorized by the enrolling parent. Please ensure you provide a reliable list of authorized people with your enrollment paperwork before your child’s first day of attendance.

Notifications:

Toddler Town Daycare will promptly notify parents and the Department of Childcare Licensing of any emergencies, incidents, or accidents as required by childcare licensing rules 400.1961 and 400.1962. This includes, but is not limited to, situations such as a child being exposed to a communicable disease, any observed changes in a child’s health, a child becoming lost or left unsupervised, incidents or allegations of inappropriate contact, serious injuries, fires requiring suppression or causing loss of life or property, the death of a child, or when a parent informs us that their child has received medical treatment or hospitalization for any injury, accident, or medical condition that occurred while in our care.

We maintain an open line of communication between caregivers and parents to foster a strong partnership that supports the child’s wellbeing. This ongoing communication ensures consistency between home and daycare, promoting a safe and stable environment free from unnecessary disruptions. Communication may take place via email or text, and staff regularly update parents on their child’s developmental progress through anecdotal notes and daily observations. We make every effort to share updates, including texts, photos, and videos, to keep families connected to their child’s day.

Volunteers:

Toddler Town Daycare requires all volunteers to complete a comprehensive background check through the childcare background check website, which includes a search of the sex offender registry and fingerprinting. This process must be fully completed before any volunteer interacts with the children in our care. Parents who wish to schedule a visit during daycare hours must also complete the same background check and fingerprinting process required for volunteers before their visit. Visits are limited to 15 minutes to minimize disruption to the daily schedule and must be approved and scheduled in advance by Toddler Town Daycare. We ask parents to be mindful of our schedule, especially quiet time, when planning visits.

Parental Permissions:

All children enrolled at Toddler Town Daycare are required to have an annually signed parental permission form on file in addition to the enrollment contract. This permission form grants consent for activities including transportation by vehicle or on foot, photo release, water play, and the application of topical medications. Your signature on this form, along with the enrollment contract, serves as written parental permission for these activities. Permission is granted at initial enrollment and must be renewed each year in January. 

Transportation with a vehicle – We may transport children in our vehicles to pick up/drop off our son to school (typically during the winter months). All children will be restrained and in car/booster seats or seat belts according to state laws. Your child will never be left unattended in a vehicle. We may also go on field trips to the zoo, ice cream shop, etc. If we do one of these out of the ordinary trips, we will get explicit permission from parents in advance.

Transportation without a vehicle – We take daily walks to Holbrook Elementary School which is one block from Toddler Town Daycare (weather permitting). This is to pick up/drop off our son from school and/or to play at the playground (after school hours). We also take walks around the neighborhood. We will plan any trips according to parent pick up/drop off to avoid being gone during a scheduled pick up/drop off time.

Photo release – Photos and videos of children are taken regularly while they are in care. We make an effort to share these moments with parents by sending photos and videos when possible. Photos may also be used on our website and Facebook page

Water play – During the summer months, we may play in the wading pool in the backyard. We also use a splash pad, sprinkler, misting system, and water tables. Pools are maintained per state guidelines.

Topical medication – On occasion, we may need to apply topical medications. This can include diaper ointment, bug spray, and sunscreen. This does NOT include prescription medications or over-the-counter medications. Those medications each require medical permission/instructions form to be filled out (CCL-1243). For further information, see “Administration of Medicines” section.

Programs and Rates

General Tuition and Scheduling Information

Families are required to select and maintain a consistent drop-off and pick-up schedule to help us manage caregiver-to-child ratios and daily operations effectively. During enrollment (or at any time a permanent schedule change is needed), families will indicate their preferred drop-off and pick-up times within our operating hours. Drop-off is available from 7:00am to 8:30am, with scheduled drop-offs no later than 8:15am. Pick-up can be scheduled anytime during our operating hours, with the latest scheduled pick-up at 4:45pm. Parents must arrive at or before their scheduled pick-up time to avoid late fees. Any deviations from the agreed-upon schedule must be communicated to the daycare as soon as possible.

Tuition is due weekly, in advance of care, on Fridays by 12:00pm. A late fee of $25 per day will be applied to any payments received after the deadline. Children will not be permitted to attend if tuition and fees are not paid in full prior to drop-off. Rates are subject to change with a minimum two-week notice prior to any adjustments. Tuition rates are per child. We do not offer sibling discounts

Tuition is required for 48–50 weeks per year. The only unpaid weeks are our scheduled vacation weeks. Tuition holds your child’s spot and is non-refundable, regardless of closures or the child’s attendance. You may pay multiple weeks in advance if that better suits your household.

We accept MDHHS payments; however, parents are responsible for any costs not covered by MDHHS. Copays are due weekly, in advance of care, on Fridays by 12:00pm.

Payments are processed through Square, with recurring invoices sent to your email. You may choose to set up autopay or manually submit payment each week. We do not accept CashApp, Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, or other services. MSUFCU direct transfers may be accepted, ask us about this option. Cash payments may be made in person on Fridays before noon.

Regular Daycare:

7:00am – 5:00pm

Daily (one or two days, or drop-in care): $65 per day

Part-time (three days per week): $185 per week

Full-time (four or five days per week): $225 per week

Before and After School Care:

7:00am – 8:30am, 3:30pm – 5:00pm 

Before OR After care: $25/day

Before AND After care: $35/day

Limited spots for before and after school care are available at the discretion of Toddler Town Daycare. Drop-in care may be available for unexpected school closures. Please refer to the “Regular Daycare” section for daily rates. Drop-in care is subject to availability; please contact us in advance to check for open spots. School-aged families may choose to pay for and secure a full-time spot at the regular daycare rate. This guarantees both before and after care and full-day care during school closures, following Toddler Town Daycare’s operating schedule.

Weekend and Night Care (Unconventional):

Toddler Town Daycare may occasionally offer care outside of our regular weekday hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight care. This type of care is offered at our discretion and is primarily available to current or past clients, including drop-in families. It is intended for occasional scheduling needs and is not meant to serve as a regular, ongoing care arrangement. See our website for current tuition and availability.

Registration Fee, Holding Fees, and Late Pick-up Fees:

A non-refundable registration fee is due at the time of enrollment. This fee secures your child’s spot and helps cover the cost of new supplies and onboarding. The registration fee is $100 per child for full-time enrollment and $50 per child for any enrollment other than full-time.

If you are enrolling for a future start date, a holding fee may be required. This will be discussed on a case-by-case basis and is typically half the regular tuition rate. Holding fees apply when a spot is currently available, and we agree to keep it open for your child until care begins. This option may also be used by families with children who do not require summer daycare but wish to return in the fall, such as teachers with summer break.

If a parent is late for pickup and has not provided 24-hour notice and received prior approval, a late fee will apply: $15 for the first 1–5 minutes, followed by $1 per minute thereafter. This fee begins at your contracted pickup time. No exceptions. Repeated late pickups (three or more) are grounds for termination, as outlined in your contract. These policies exist so we can maintain smooth operations and preserve our invaluable family time outside of daycare hours.

Termination:

Care may be terminated by the parent(s) or the provider. There is a four-week trial period for each child wherein either party may terminate care without notice. The trial period for each contract ends four weeks from the child’s first day in care. A two-week paid notice prior to the last date of care is required after the four-week trial period ends.

Toddler Town Daycare may immediately terminate this care and the childcare contract without any notice if payment is continually not made on time (three strikes), a child’s behavior is harmful to other children and has not been resolved, there is any threatening, intimidating, or disrespectful behavior from parents or children, or daycare policy is not followed by parents or children.

Vacations/Holidays/Sickness/Bereavement/Closures:

Toddler Town Daycare is closed on the following Holidays or will be closed on a weekday if the holiday falls on the weekend:

New Year’s Eve and Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

President’s Day

Good Friday

Easter (recognized the Monday after)

Memorial Day (including days before/after to create long weekend)

Juneteenth

Fourth of July (including days before/after to create long weekend)

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Halloween

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day, the day before, and the day after

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the day after Christmas

We take 2-4 (separate) weeks of unpaid vacation every year aside from the paid holidays and you will be given at least a two-week notice of the closure(s). Alternatively, we may take some days off to extend the weekend rather than take the entire week off. No tuition is due when we close for unpaid vacation time.

We will have up to 10 days paid per calendar year for use in the event of a sickness, emergency, jury duty, mental health, unexpected closures, etc. These are used for days in which we absolutely cannot provide childcare due to the circumstances. We will have up to five paid bereavement days if a close relative passes. Close relatives include but are not limited to: grandparents, parents, siblings, children, aunts/uncles, and spouses.

In the event that we have only one caregiver and thus only seven total spots for the day (versus our usual fourteen), we will require some children to stay home so that we do not breach licensing ratio guidelines. We will ask for volunteers to stay home first, and if needed we will go by seniority (newest child(ren) stay home) until we are within ratio.