Dear Parents, we just wanted to reach out to you with some updates along with a list of questions that we have been receiving from families. We wanted to let you know that we are working with many different organizations from the City, State and Federal level along with working closely with the CDC and local health departments to respond as quickly as possible to the latest guidance and direction that we are receiving. We are currently slated to open in Phase 4 / currently there is no date for Phase 4. Phase 3 is supposed to open on May 29th. When we receive more information, we will pass that information along to you.
How does Toddler Town make decisions regarding coronavirus? We are working closely with the CDC and state and local health departments to respond as quickly as possible to the latest guidance and direction.
How does coronavirus spread? The CDC is a good resource for the latest information on how coronavirus spreads. Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) is a new disease and we continue to learn about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes. We are looking at all information from all over the world along with specifics in Illinois.
Can someone spread the virus without being sick? Because coronavirus is a new disease and we continue to learn about it, the CDC is a good resource for the latest information.
Am I at risk for coronavirus? This is a rapidly evolving situation and the CDC risk assessment may change daily. The latest updates are available on CDC’s website.
How would we be notified about reopening? We will communicate with you via email, through the Toddler Town Email address that you have already been receiving emails from, our website, Facebook and through the Teaching Strategies web app.
Will you continue to enroll families during this outbreak? This will depend on a visitor’s policy we put into place once we are allowed to reopen along with the recommendations put out for Phase 4. We welcome all families to join our center as long as they have not been exposed, are symptom-free and there are no restrictions from the health department.
Do I get charged tuition if I don’t bring my child to the center due coronavirus concerns? You will not be charged tuition when our center is closed or if you take your child out and do not return due to coronavirus concerns. However once we are allowed to reopen will restart with charging tuition again from the day we open.
Do you reserve spots for families that have been isolated based on recommendation of the Health Department? If the absence from the center is a recommendation or requirement from the health department, we will work with families to hold their spots as long as possible. Keeping our children and staff safe and healthy are our main priority.
How will you be keeping children safe and healthy in your center? We’re partnering with local health departments and closely monitoring the latest updates from the CDC and WHO to ensure we’re following their guidance on the most up-to-date recommendations. In our center, we will be practicing the following actions:
•Diligently following our hygiene and cleaning procedures, including disinfecting high-touch surfaces like door handles and sanitizing more frequently.
•We will have an assigned staff member which will be one of our teachers that will meet you at the entryway to the building for pick-up and drop-off
•Continuing to emphasize the importance of hand washing that aligns with the CDC-recommended 20-second hand washing techniques and reinforcing this action with children multiple times throughout the day.
•Asking for your partnership to help us keep our sites free of illness. If your child has had a fever or trouble breathing, we ask that they stay home until they have been symptom-free for at least 72 hours.
•We also ask that if you the parent, drop off person or pick up person are sick to please not come to the center at all during the time you are sick.
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our community, we’re being vigilant about enforcing our existing policy of excluding sick children and employees. While we realize this may be a burden, staying home when sick is one of the best ways to keep illness from spreading.
How does coronavirus affect children? The CDC has the most up to date and reliable information on coronavirus’s impact on children.
What if a child or teacher shows symptoms associated with coronavirus while they are at the center? If a child or teacher begins to show symptoms of coronavirus or any other illness, we’ll follow our exclusion for illness policy. In that case, the child or teacher would be asked to return home, see a doctor and partner with the local health department to obtain a recommendation on how to proceed. We’ll continue to be diligent about enforcing our existing policy of excluding sick children and employees. While we understand the additional burden this may cause, staying home when sick is one of the best ways to stop illness from spreading.
What can I do with my child to help prevent transmission? We see our centers as safe and clean sanctuaries for children to learn and grow, and we need your partnership. If your child has a fever or trouble breathing, we ask that they stay home until they’ve been symptom-free without medication for at least 72 hours the same goes for parents, and pick up and drop off people. If you choose to keep your child at home, please call the center and let us know. As part of our daily curriculum, we will continue to emphasize the importance of hand washing and align with the recommended 20-second hand-washing techniques. We will be reinforcing this action with children multiple times throughout the day. You can do the same at home!
Is Toddler Town doing what’s necessary to procure the necessary cleaning supplies? We are working with the state and city officials to see if they will also be supplying us with anything before we reopen. We also have all of the necessary supplies available at our centers and been purchasing supplies during this time. We have also purchased thermoscan touch free thermometers to take temperatures at the entrance along with looking into purchasing outdoor handwashing stations to be placed at the entrance of the building so children can was their hands before entering the building. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please contact your center director.
Are you hiring a professional vendor to clean the center & Are you going to do a deep clean? We have already had our floors scrubbed and polished, carpets washed, and cleaned and sanitized all toys. Before being allowed to open we will do this a deep cleaning once again before the children return. We will also be diligently cleaning and disinfecting the center throughout the day, as well as regularly practicing the handwashing routines.
These are the most effective methods outlined by the CDC in the prevention of spreading illness. We’re working closely with local health departments to determine if and when a deep clean is recommended. In the event the center has a confirmed a person with direct exposure to a confirmed case, is being tested for or has been confirmed having coronavirus, we would ensure a deep clean takes place prior to the return of any employee, child or family.
How is Toddler Town taking care of employees that are impacted by coronavirus? Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees and the children and families we serve every day. We have a dedicated people that are supporting all of our staff to ensure they have what they need to continue to work with our staff so that they can be ready to return to the center when we are allowed to reopen.
What happens if a teacher or staff member believes they had direct exposure or close contact with a confirmed case in the community? In this instance, we’d work with the teacher or staff member to gather details and then would work with the local health department on guidance. Until we have that specific guidance, we ask that teacher to stay at home. If the employee confirms they’ve had close contact exposure to a confirmed case, we follow the CDC guidance and ask them to stay home in self-isolation for a period of 14 days. We’ll welcome them back to our center at the end of 14 days if they haven’t experienced any symptoms along with the proper health clearances. If there were symptoms, they’ll need to notify us and get medical clearance before coming back
I hope that I have been able to address many of your concerns here, if I have not please feel free to reach out to me so that I can address them and also add them to any future updates. From the Toddler Town Family – we hope that you and your family are doing well and staying safe. If there is anything that you need or if you may have questions, please feel free to reach out to us so that we can be of further assistance to you and your family.
Looking forward to seeing you all very soon!!
Centers for Disease Control Website –
World Health Orginization Website –
Governors Phase Outline –
