When asked what information parents and kids ought to know before coming to SIL in the summer, many parents wrote that "kids love child care!"

The child care program is for children ages 0 through 13. (All children under 14 living in the dormitory must be supervised in some way, normally by being in child care. The program is also open to SIL families living outside the dorm.) Children are divided into groups by age; exact groupings are determined once we know who all is coming and are sometimes adjusted during the summer to better fit the needs of the children.

Information meeting

We will have an information meeting for parents at SIL before the child care program begins, on the Sunday evening before registration day (see dates). At that time you can meet the child care staff who will be working with your children and fill out necessary paperwork.

Hours

Child care operates in the dormitory during class hours (weekdays 8:00-11:00 and 1:00-4:00). Parents of smaller children sometimes choose to have their children with them during some of these hours; this can be arranged with the child care staff. When there are activities outside of these hours (such as the colloquium lecture series), parents are encouraged to work out private arrangements with each other or with resident teens.

Items to bring

• Proof of the following immunizations: OPV, DPT, MMR, and (for children under 60 months) Hib.
• Passport or official copy of birth certificate for each child.
• Any special sleeping equipment (cribs are not provided except in the nursery during child care hours).
• Swim suit and play clothes for swimming, painting, arts and crafts, playing in the sand (in the volleyball court—a HUGE sandbox!), outdoor sports, playing in the gym, camping, etc.
• If you have camping gear (sleeping bags, tent) and have room to bring it, please do. The older child care groups sometimes camp out overnight and will appreciate a sleeping bag and tent. Some gear may be rented from the student union.
• Many children bring bikes, trikes, etc. to ride in the courtyard of the dormitory (well away from traffic).
• Occasionally, child care groups will be able to view videos. If you have appropriate children's videos (like Veggie Tales or Focus on the Family's McGee and Me videos) that you would like to bring to share, that's great. (Children ages 4 and up visit the Grand Forks Public Library's wonderful children's library once a week to check out books, to attend story time, and to view a children's video.)

Babies and toddlers

Families with babies and toddlers often are assigned to rooms near their child care groups. When this is possible, the children can nap in their own beds during child care hours.

Please try to make schedule adjustments (feeding and naps) before you come to SIL. It makes it much easier for your child to adjust. Regular classes are held in the morning and begin on the hour, starting at 8:00. Most people eat lunch at 12:00.

Disposable diapers are required during child care hours.

For feeding, a bottle or cup is helpful; we are also supportive of breast-feeding. Mothers of infants sometimes choose to care for and feed their children in class; this is permitted (even encouraged) as long as it is not disruptive.

Parents of young children may choose to take a reduced course load (father or mother or both). Feel free to talk with the SIL-UND Director about this.

Teens

Children who are age 14 and over may apply to the SIL-UND Director to participate as helpers in the child care program; see contact info.

Health and special needs

Please do not allow your children to be exposed to chicken pox or other "childhood diseases" during the month preceding the beginning of the course. If they are exposed, please notify us in writing before you arrive so that we can help you prevent exposing other children and adults.

Please advise us of any special needs your children may have. We can often accomodate them but we are more likely to be able to do so if we have plenty of advanced notice.

Child safety

SIL-UND cares deeply about children and wants them to have a positive, warm, and safe experience. The emotional climate is family-friendly, with lots of opportunities to develop healthy relationships with adults. We are particularly concerned to keep children safe from sexual exploitation. In order to promote such an environment, we (in cooperation with UND) pre-screen all participants and provide a required seminar (1.5 hours) at the beginning of the program that focuses on appropriate behavior with children. Childcare workers receive extra screening and training.