Mothers Morning Out
A Clemson UMC morning program of childcare for children ages six months
to three years. If you have any questions about the program, contact Mothers Morning Out Director Linda Gowdy by email anytime or by phone on week day mornings from 8:30 to 9am.

What is Mothers Morning Out?

Mothers Morning Out, a program of child care for children ages six months to three years, is open to all children in the community. At Mothers Morning Out we provide:
n An atmosphere of Christian love and security
n Good physical care in a pleasant, safe environment
n Opportunities for play with other children
n The use of books, music, and creative activities

Procedures

For the program to be of maximum benefit to its users, a regular day or days to come should be established. Children may come one, two, or three days a week.

Registration and Payment
A $25 non-refundable registration fee is required to reserve a permanent space. This will be refunded only if moving out of the area.
The fee for MMO is $10.00 per day and is to be paid at the beginning of each month. A payment envelope will be sent home with your child on the first of each month. Make checks payable to MMO.

Hours and Late Fees
MMO hours are from 9 am to 12 noon. There will be a late charge for anyone arriving after 12 noon.
5 minutes late: $1.00
10 minutes late: $5.00
Each additional 15 minutes: $5.00
Please keep in mind that it upsets your child if you are late.

Drop-Ins
Drop-ins will be accepted if there is space available. You may call the church from 8:30-9:00 am at 654-5547.

Leaving Your Child at MMO
For infants: Parents may go into room 209 briefly with their infant, but please talk to the teacher about the best way to leave your child.
For toddlers: After a number of years of observation, we have decided that it is best if you do not accompany your child into the room. It doesn’t make the separation any easier for children this age when the parents enter the room to help them get settled. You may give any instructions to the teacher at the door. You may give the diaper bag to the teacher or your child may carry it in.
Occasionally children are not ready for the type of group situation we have at MMO. We will try to help your children adjust, but if they continue to cry continuously for several weeks, it may be best for them to remain at home.

Picking Up Your Child
We cannot let a child go home with anyone other than the parent or authorized person. Please notify us if someone else will be picking up your child.

What can you expect from us?

Activities
A morning in the Infant Room at MMO includes cuddling and rocking, bottle feeding and napping as needed. We have age appropriate toys and equipment in each room. A typical day in the Toddler Room includes free play, puzzles, looking at books and listening to a story or music. We also work with play dough, crayons, and paper & paste.

Snack
At 10 am we provide a light snack of crackers and juice for toddlers. Children may bring special treats to share occasionally, and they may bring treats on their birthday. No gum or candy please!

Active Play
We go outside every day at about 11am, if the weather permits. (Please label all hats and coats.) On rainy days we have active play in room 224 on rainy days.

Discipline
You will be notified by the director of any serious problems. We will NOT administer corporal punishment, but we will use “time outs” if the situation warrants it. We consider biting and other aggressive behavior (hitting, kicking, pushing) to be serious problems in a group setting. If, after a period of parental and/or teacher interventions, the child is still having difficulty, it may become necessary for the child to withdraw for a time.

Holidays/Calendar
You will receive a list of MMO openings, closings, and holidays for the semester in September and January.

Inclement Weather Policy
In the event of snow or ice storms, we will close when Pickens County schools close. If they have a delayed start, the director will call you by 8:30-8:45 am to notify you of plans.

Calling MMO
The director will be on call from 8:30 to 9:00 am each morning at 654-5547. If you have a problem or emergency, you may call the same number after 9 am. Someone in the church office will answer and deliver the message to MMO. We will call you if your child is sick or terribly upset. Therefore it is very important that we have a cell phone number if available

What do we expect from you?

What to Bring
Infants: In a marked diaper bag send formula, bottles, and disposable diapers (we are not equipped to deal with cloth diapers). Bring an extra set of clothes. Please mark clothes, coats, and bags or backpacks with your child’s name. Your child may bring a pacifier (with a clip to attach to clothes) or a security blanket. Please don’t send toys. Children this age do not yet understand “sharing.”
Toddlers: Bring a marked backpack or diaper bag with extra disposable diapers, change of clothes and a sippy cup of juice (we will refill at snack time.) Please mark all bags, jackets, and extra clothes with your child’s name.

In September and January, each parent is asked to bring one large bottle of apple juice and one large box of snacks such as Goldfish, vanilla wafers, graham crackers, Teddy Grahams, or Cheez-Its.

Wellness Policy
Please do not bring sick children to MMO. Children with fever above 99.4° orally, rash, cold, bad cough, or other contagious symptoms will not be allowed to stay. A child who has been on an antibiotic and fever-free for at least 24 hours is considered non-contagious. If a child becomes ill while at MMO, a parent or other responsible person will be notified immediately. Please notify a staff member if your child comes down with a contagious disease the day he or she attended MMO.

MMO will not dispense medicine. Please give prescription medicines before the child comes to MMO.

Immunization
For the protection of all children, you will need to bring your child’s up-to-date immunization card from his/her doctor or the Health Department. A copy will be made for MMO files. Please bring this card the first week of school.

Mothers Morning Out Director Linda Gowdy