Policies & Procedures

Short-Term Child Care

"With a Twist"

Registration & Enrollment

To schedule and attend our Short-Term Child Care program, parents/guardians must complete our registration packet and pay the registration fee of $45 per family. Once your children are registered, you can schedule days/time when you need your child to attend each week. We can assist you with setting up a recuring weekly schedule or you can reserve on an as needed basis. Walk Ins are not accepted; time must be scheduled in advance to ensure availability.

Payment Policy

The registration fee and payments for short-term child care must be paid in advance prior to the scheduled drop-off time. Puddle Jumpers will send you an invoice or Link to Pay in advance. We accept all major Credit/Debit Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, & Cash.

Cancelations & Refunds

Puddle Jumpers will not provide refunds. If you cancel with less than a 24-hour notice, or do not drop off your child on time, Puddle Jumpers will not refund or apply a credit towards another scheduled day. If Puddle Jumpers cancels a scheduled day due to staff illness or an unexpected event, we will credit amount towards another scheduled day.

Sick Policy

For the health and safety of all children and staff, we cannot care for sick children. If your child has a fever of 99.9 degrees or higher, if your child is vomiting or has diarrhea, if your child has a contagious disease, we cannot accept your child. If you drop off your child and through Puddle Jumpers staff sole discretion determines your child is sick or is exhibiting symptoms, we will ask that you come pick up your child immediately. Also understand that since we are a small family operated facility, when staff members become ill we may close the facility as needed.

Medicine Policy

We do not administer any medicine of any kind at Puddle Jumpers. All medicines must be administered by a parent/guardian prior to coming to Puddle Jumpers or after their stay is complete.

Medical Conditions

Please make Puddle Jumpers aware of any known medical conditions your child has prior to dropping off. Because safety is so important to us, we regret that we cannot accept certain medically dependent or challenged children; our staff is not professionally trained in this type of care.

Emotionally Distraught or Inconsolable Children

Puddle Jumpers staff are trained to address children who may become emotionally distressed. We will help calm your little one in a positive and uplifting approach and use tactics such as redirection. In the rare case we are unable to console your child within 15 minutes, we will contact the parent/guardian to pick up child immediately. If the parent/guardian is not reachable we will contact your assigned Emergency Contacts and request them to pick up your child.

Discipline & Behavior Policy

We understand that Discipline is a tough job for any parent/guardian. At Puddle Jumpers we help parents reinforce respect for other people and belongings. If a child exhibits inappropriate behavior, we use positive reinforcement and redirection. No staff member will ever hit or yell at children for any reason. We want the opportunity to care for all children, however, for the safety of all children at Puddle Jumpers, we reserve the right to refuse care to any child for whatever period Puddle Jumpers staff determines appropriate.

We have a strict “NO BITING” & “NO HITTING” policy. If your child bites or hits another child and continues to do so after the initial discipline action or the bite/hit has broken the skin of the other child, we will contact the parent/guardian pick up the child immediately for the safety of other children in the facility.

Meals, Snacks & Drinks

Puddle Jumpers provides time during our Short-Term Care program for snack and lunch. We offer healthy snacks, juice and water at no additional cost. However, we do not provide meals, bottles, formula or milk. We ask that parents/guardians provide these items if necessary and pack a lunch meal for their child to be eaten during our scheduled lunch time. You are also welcome to pack your own snacks & drink too. Please notify Puddle Jumpers of any food allergies your child has.

Potty Policy

Children do not need to be potty trained to attend our center, however parents/guardians are responsible for providing diapers, wipes and a change of clothing for their child. There will be a $1 fee for every diaper provided by Puddle Jumpers.

If your child is in the process of being potty trained, we still require that your child wears a diaper or pull up style diaper due to sanitary reasons at our play center. We will routinely encourage children who are being potty trained to use the potty and celebrate successful potty trips.

Late Policy

We understand that unexpected events happen and cause delays. We know there are times that you cannot be back on time exactly when you planned. However, the state of NC requires that stays at Puddle Jumpers be limited to 4 hours per visit. Your assistance in following this rule will be appreciated. Please notify us in advance in the event you are running late. If you fail to pick up your child on time, there will be a fee of $1 per minute for every minute past your scheduled pick-up time. If you fail to pick up your child and we are unable to reach the parent/guardian, we will immediately call your emergency contacts and request they come pick up your child. If we cannot reach anyone on your contact list to pick up your child, we will contact the Department of Health and Human Services and transfer your child into their care.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures

Drop-Off Procedures

Arrive On time at your pre scheduled drop off time.
When you enter the facility, you will be greeted and directed to place belongings in the assigned cubby.
Sign our check in sheet.
After a brief farewell, we'll direct your little one into the play center area for all the fun adventures to begin.

Pick-Up Procedures

Arrive on On time. Late pick-ups are subject to a late fee of $1 per minute. If you are going to be late please contact us.
Authorized Pick Up Contacts are required to provide Photo ID before entering.
Gather your belongings from assigned cubby.
Sign the Check Out Sheet.
Our Staff will direct your little one, help get their shoes/coat on and we'll look forward to seeing you on our next scheduled day.

Locked Door Policy

During our Short-Term Care hours, our facility is locked. Only parents/guardians and authorized pick up contacts are permitted to enter the facility.

Releasing Children to Legal Parent or Guardian

We are required to release a child to his and her legal parent or guardian. If your child has a special custody arrangement and you do not wish the child to be released to the child’s other parent or guardian, we must have proper court documentation to support this. Without proper court documents, we are legally required to release the child to their parents or guardian upon request.