Responding to ...

Every child develops in his or her own way and own speed. This also applies to toilet training. A child is trained when ready for it. In the Pre-School group we start the toilet training with regular toilet stops. (Seeing other children going to the toilet will encourage children to imitate this behaviour). The staff is alert to the child’s reaction and will frequently offer the use of the toilet. The staff will reward the child with every step taken towards becoming toilet trained. Abandoning the nappies will only be done in close coordination with the parents.
Parents provide the nappies and creams for their children.

Children in nappies will be changed when they are dirty and at toilet times.

The staff will work closely together with the parents to support the process of toilet training.

SmartKids will provide a healthy – home cooked – hot lunch. When possible, we will cater for children with food limitations.

A child will have many treats offered (birthdays, farewells etc). We strive to avoid sweet treats. 

In SmartKids we will celebrate several International and Vietnamese special days. Besides that, all birthdays and farewell parties will be made a particular day to remember.

Birthdays are an important celebration for a child and it is part of the program to celebrate each child’s birthday. Children like to be the point of focus for one day, with a hat, songs and gifts etc. “Kiddies/Pre-school” and “Big Kids/Kindergarten” parents are welcome to participate in these celebrations (max 2 adults).

As mentioned, the staff will support the child with an individually adapted approach. For a child it is important to learn boundaries. This is possible through clear and consistent rules stated not only in a friendly but also positive, consistent manner.

SmartKids prefers the positive approach of praising the child for all its behaviour. The words “NO”, “cannot” and “punishment” do not exist in SmartKids. Corrective action can be done in different positive ways providing a distraction or a warning (but not from a distance nor with an overpowering voice). Additional communication is essential when using corrective action. This involves a rejection of the action, not of the child. Staff will avoid interaction in a conflict between children as long as they don’t hurt or endanger each other. Often these conflicts are quickly resolved because no adult gets involved. If a conflict cannot be quickly resolved, staff will lend a hand by suggesting some arrangements and agreements i.e. “you play now with the dolls and you will play later” or stimulate sharing and playing together. In doing so, the staff will consider the individual characters of those involved. They will stimulate the shy children to be more assertive and will calm down the more dominant children.

If warnings are not successful and the child continues to demonstrate non-conforming behaviour, the staff will respond more firmly. The child can be confined to a chair moved away from the group for a brief while, which puts the child away from the group activity and quickly results in a change of attitude and more conforming behaviour.

A pacifier or teddy bear is for many children their most precious support to take to bed or to find comfort in during tearful moments. During their time in SmartKids the children will be trained to distance themselves more and more from these. The child will learn to put it in her/his cubby until bedtime. The child will therefore not be blocked in his/ her play and or language development.

The cubby is in or near the group and should the child need the pacifier or bear, the staff will have this comforter at hand.

Children are often tearful when Mum or Dad leave for the first time; tears are an expression of separation anxiety and a normal response during the settling- in process. It is a big step for children and parents, however tears usually stop shortly after Mum/Dad's departure!

SmartKids will assist you to leave your child in the nicest possible way so both you and your child are happy.  If, on the other hand, you feel you would like to remain a little longer with your child, then please do so; but be consistent and clear to your child – you decide and not your child!
Please do not “sneak” out while your child is otherwise occupied - saying goodbye and reassuring him/her that you will be back soon to collect him/her, is important. Also, as difficult as it may be, it is advisable to go if you say that you are going. Changing your mind when the tears start, will only make the parting longer and harder.
One of the most frightening things for a child is being left in a strange environment and feeling that they have been deserted. Please reassure your child that you are going to do some shopping etc. and will be back to pick him/ her up.
Upon collecting the children, parent needs to realize that their child might be active and thus will be frustrated if this play needs to stop immediately This change, again, might trigger some tears; this is all part of “school life”

Dropping the children off and picking them up are also important moments. First do it safely and relaxed, park the car on the site of the kindergarten and don’t cross the street rushing with your child. Secondly don’t just drop your child off, be motivational to you child, speak with the teacher to exchange information, on how your child feels, what happened at home, why she/he is excited or sad etc. The teacher will also provide feedback on how your child is progressing in class etc. Remember at the Kindergarten and at Home there should be similar messages, rules and boundaries, in order to keep things consistent.

Communication and cooperation between teacher/ location manager and parents is vital for your child’s development. Parents are always welcome in the group and are invited to join and help in some of the activities.

There will be parent-meetings, daily talks with the parents, written correspondence (in the form of a communication book) and reports.

All staff has annually first aid and CPR trainings.

If a child is sick or injured and needs to go home, parents will be contacted immediately.

When a child is sick (38°C), it should be kept at home and we expect that the parents inform the school about the reason of the sickness, in order to minimize spreading of diseases to other children.

For all children a medical form, with food limitations is to be filled out upon admission and parents are asked to keep the administration updated.

In case of a medical emergency, the child will be brought to an aligned international medical clinic and parents will be notified by phone a.s.a.p.

When a child returns to the kindergarten after an illness, the staff assumes, that the child is fully recovered and is able to join in all activities. Sometimes we might ask for a “fit for school” report from a doctor after a child has had a more serious (contageous) disease.

If parents request the staff to administer medication, SmartKids will only do so as per doctor’s prescription and mistakes in providing the medication cannot have an adverse effect on the child’s health.