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Health & Safety
At Peas in a Pod Daycare, we prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of every child in our care. Our commitment to creating a secure and supportive environment extends to our staff, children, and families, ensuring peace of mind and a positive experience for all.
Effective Approaches to Promoting Children's Health
Cleanliness
and Hygiene
Nutrition and Meal Safety
Staff Training and Qualifications
Emergency Procedures
We adhere to a strict cleaning schedule, ensuring all areas, toys, and materials are sanitized throughout the day. Our daycare center is thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day, with high-touch surfaces cleaned multiple times throughout the day. We teach children the importance of hand hygiene in a fun and engaging way.
We provide nutritious meals and snacks, focusing on well-balanced, allergy-conscious options. We are diligent in catering to children with food allergies or special dietary needs, and our staff is trained in managing food allergies.
Our kitchen staff adheres to strict food safety guidelines, ensuring food is prepared under safe conditions.
All of our staff members are certified in child development and early childhood education. In addition, they undergo background checks, regular training on health and safety procedures, and ongoing education to ensure they meet the highest standards of care. We provide staff with regular safety training in areas like emergency preparedness.
We have clear and practiced protocols for emergencies, including fire drills, weather-related events, and medical situations. Staff is trained in CPR and first aid to handle any medical emergencies quickly and efficiently. We maintain up-to-date emergency contact information for all children in our care, ensuring we can reach parents in case of emergency.
Weather-Related Closures
Frigid temperatures, icy roads, and heavy snowfall can impact not only the safety of public transportation but also the ability of parents and staff to walk or drive to the center. We also take into careful consideration the amount of time children may be exposed to these harsh conditions during drop-off and pick-up.
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At Peas in a Pod Daycare, we understand that unexpected closures can be challenging for families. Please know we do our best to provide as much advance notice as possible when there is a change to our normal schedule due to weather.
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We closely monitor surrounding school district closures as part of our decision-making process. Families will receive text alerts if a closure or schedule change occurs—so please be sure your contact information is always up to date in our system.
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A helpful tip for planning: If Chicago public schools (CPS) are closed due to weather, we will be too. Your child’s safety is our top priority, and we thank you for your understanding and cooperation during severe weather conditions.
Clean Air,
Happy Kids
At Peas in a Pod Daycare, we care about the little things—like the air your child breathes. That’s why we use Medify Air Purifiers throughout our facility. These powerful systems help clean the air by removing dust, allergens, germs, odors, and even tiny particles that can carry viruses.
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It’s just one of the ways we create a healthier, safer space for your child to learn, grow, and play. Because when the air is fresh, little lungs are happy—and that’s a big win for everyone.
When to Keep Your Child Home
At Peas in a Pod Daycare, we are committed to keeping our little pod healthy and safe. To help prevent the spread of illness, we ask families to please follow these guidelines when deciding whether to bring their child to daycare.
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👉 Please keep your child home if they have had any of the following symptoms within the last 24 hours:
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Fever
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Children must also be free of fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours before returning to care.
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Also, if your child is showing respiratory symptoms like excessive coughing, runny nose, or a sore throat accompanied by a fever, they should remain at home until they have been seen by a doctor and cleared for RSV or any other more serious conditions. They also must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.
Please note that these are just a few of the most common symptoms that may require a child to stay home. For a complete list and further guidance, we encourage you to review our full illness policy provided on-site.
Thank you for helping us protect the health of all the children and staff in our care. Together, we can keep Peas in a Pod Daycare a safe, happy, and healthy environment for everyone!
