SomaKids

Health Policy

Sick Child 

If your child is feeling unwell, or experiencing any of the symptoms listed below, we ask that you keep them from LittleSoma and BigSoma Kids classes until they are 24 hours fever and symptom free (without fever-reducing & symptom reducing medications):

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Diarrhea
• Rash
• Vomiting

We ask that you exercise caution and care when choosing to attend services and place your children in SomaKids if you have knowingly been around someone that is sick, or you (or your kids) are sick.

Discipline Policy

It is the heart of SomaKids to make every effort possible to ensure the safety and well-being of anyone who enters our doors. There may be occasions when some children have a difficult time adjusting to a classroom environment. Children’s Workers and Volunteers are asked to be proactive in reporting any instances in which our standards are being compromised by a child.

If a child is NOT Respecting God, Respecting themselves or others, or Respecting property, the following disciplinary actions will be taken:

1.  Verbal Warning: Reminding the child of the behavior expected in class. A worker should go to the child and communicate with them personally. We want to use as much positive verbal correction as possible, along with praising the child for good behavior. The SomaKids Directors will be the only one to discuss behavior with the parents. *We correct in private and praise in public.
2. 1st Group Separation: If a child is consistently disregarding correction from a Children’s Worker or Volunteer, the Worker or Volunteer may choose to  remove the child and sit them separate from the rest of the class and the behavior pattern. (2 minutes).
3. 2nd Group Separation: If consistent disregard for correction, as described in #2 above continues, the child will be separated again from the rest of the class and the behavior pattern. (2 minutes)
4. Paging a Parent (Possible Removal): If unacceptable behaviors resulting in #1-#3 above occurs, paging of the child’s parent will be required. The SomaKids Director will be notified, and parents will be paged so they can discuss the behavior. If the behavior did not involve physically or verbally hurting anyone, the parents will have the opportunity to take their child from the classroom and discuss the behavior with them and then return them to class to “try again.” It is our heart to correct the behaviors as they are exhibited and give every opportunity for grace and forgiveness. If the behavior did involve physically or verbally hurting anyone, the child will be asked to leave the class for the remainder of the day.

Incident Report

A Notification of Incident Report form needs to be filled out in great detail when a child is disruptive, not responding to correction or involved in an incident (physical/verbal). Documentation of these incidents is necessary in the event of future occurrences that warrant paging parents or removal of the child from the classroom following repeated unacceptable behaviors.

While Children’s Workers and Volunteers may be involved in documenting behaviors for a Notification of Incident Report, Children’s Workers and Volunteers should never discuss any negative behaviors with parents. The SomaKids Directors will confirm the completion of the form and subsequently discuss the issue with the parent when necessary.

Examples of behaviors resulting in Paging a Parent, Removal from Class & completion of a Notification of Incident Report:

• Biting, Hitting, Spitting, or Kicking
• Fighting
• Hair-Pulling
• Verbal Abuse
• Repeated disobedience that does not improve with verbal correction
• Tantrums (uncontrolled crying or screaming and flailing of the arms and/or legs)

Once a child is returned to the classroom after being removed for the day, each further incident will result in disciplinary actions to include the possible loss of rights to attend SomaKids. In these instances, attendance in SomaKids may be suspended for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Working and Praying Through the Behavior

It is never our heart to turn away a child, however sometimes for the safety and wellbeing of the other children, having parents pick them up for the day is the best option. When children who have had previous issues return to class, a Children’s Worker or Volunteer will watch carefully over that child to encourage them in appropriate behavior.

If the unacceptable behavior happens again that day or another day, removal of the child from the situation will occur, the SomaKids Directors will be notified immediately.