FAQs
What time may I drop my children off?
During the school year, September-May, you may drop off anytime after 12:30pm. Due to increased enrollment in Preschool and Daycare, we currently do not have space for drop-ins prior to 12:30pm. Please also call ahead to check availablity.
Why can’t we drop off children younger than 18 months?
Kids Cottage is not licensed to accept children younger than 18 months. We are licensed to serve children 18 months-12 years.
Why don’t you allow your staff to babysit off site?
Our staff members do not babysit for families outside of Kids Cottage because it interferes with their schedule at Kids Cottage. We are not licensed to be an off site babysitting service, and will not be held responsible for any babysitting errors outside of our facility.
What will my child do at Kids Cottage if they are dropped off?
Depending on the amount of time the children are here and the group size, the children will play on the indoor play equipment, play games in our media room, read books and do puzzles in our tree loft, and run and play on our outdoor playground. Our supervisors engage the children in more structured activities as well, including arts and crafts, reading and many other fun games.
**Children will be with a supervising adult at all times.**
What are the play equipment rules?
The small indoor equipment is for ages 2-5 and the large indoor equipment is for ages 5-12. Parents may sign a waiver for a child who is 4 years old to play on the large equipment. Our staff is strict on this policy for the safety of the children.
Do you provide snack for children?
We provide snack for our preschool students only. Parents may provide snack, lunch, or dinner for their child while they are visiting Kids Cottage. Our supervisors will make sure the children eat during our scheduled times: snack 10:00 am, lunch 12:15 pm, snack 3:30 pm, dinner/snack 6 pm
Is my child able to take a nap?
Yes, if you are enrolled in our Daycare Program. We have naptime from 1:30pm-3:30pm Monday-Friday. Parents may bring a blanket and pillow; we will provide a mat for your child. (please see our naptime policy at the front desk)
What are the pick up procedures?
We will only release children to those on the “Authorized to Pick Up” list. If the parent is not picking up the child, we will ask for identification. Kids Cottage reserves the right to call emergency contact for pick up if necessary. There is a late charge of $1.00/minute after closing hours.
What is the lunch schedule and policy?
We have lunch (provided by the parent) at 12:15pm daily. Please, clearly label your child’s lunch bag. Please do not bring food items that require heating. Let us know immediately if your child has any food allergies.
How do you deal with an injury?
We will assess the situation and apply first aid as needed. We will use the emergency information provided by parent/guardian for any emergency. An “Ouch Report” will be filled out to document the incident.
How is your staff qualified?
We are CPR and First Aid trained and all of our staff has criminal background checks. Our lead teaching staff has extensive education backgrounds and prior experience teaching various levels. Our supervisors have experience working with children of all ages, and most are students at the University of Delaware and Delaware Tech in Early Childhood Education.
How do you handle behavior problems?
We try to redirect the behavior and use positive reinforcement. A verbal warning is given. Then a time out is used. We will document the behavior on a discipline form and call the parent if necessary.
Does my child need to be potty trained?
No, but we encourage children age 3 and older to be potty trained. Please bring diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes for your child. Our supervisors will do their best to make sure diapers are changed when needed. If you forget diapers, we sell them for $1.00.
What is the attire for children?
They must have socks to play indoors (we sell socks for $1.00). No bathing suits, please. Shoes are also required to play outdoors.
What is Parents’ Night Out?
Every Friday and Saturday night during the Summer months, we show a movie from 7pm-9pm. This includes popcorn and a drink. (Please ask for our monthly movie schedule) You may come earlier and/or stay until 10pm.
What do you do with left belongings?
We have a lost and found cubby. We are not responsible for ANY personal belongings. We will keep lost and found items for 30 days and then we will discard.