FAMILY HANDBOOK · 2026
For families
Daily routines, what to pack, health and safety, and answers to common questions. Your Enrollment Agreement contains the tuition, fee, attendance, and withdrawal terms for your family.
Arrival and safety
Arrival & authorized pickup
Every drop-off and pickup
- Sign your child in and out each day using Playground.
- Make direct contact with a staff member when you drop off or pick up.
- Arrive by 9:30 a.m. Please do not drop off during rest time.
- Keep all authorized pickup information accurate and current.
Secured entry
Our building has secured entry doors. Do not share entry credentials with anyone who is not listed as an authorized contact on your Enrollment Agreement.
Who may pick up your child
Only authorized individuals may pick up a child, and written authorization must be on file. Anyone staff do not personally know must show a government-issued photo ID. We do not release a child to an emergency contact under 18 unless that person is the child's parent or guardian.
If you will be late
Arrange for an authorized adult to pick up your child, and call the center right away if there is an unavoidable delay. A late pickup fee applies after closing; see your Enrollment Agreement.
Packing guide
What to bring
Label everything with your child's first and last name. Replace spare clothes after a change and check sizes as your child grows.
Infants
Baby Bugs
- Two to three complete changes (onesie or shirt, pants, socks)
- Seasonal outdoor items: coat, hat, mittens
- Diapers
- Specialty wipes or formula, if needed
- Approved creams with authorization paperwork
Toddlers
Little Crawlers & Caterpillars
- Two complete changes, including socks (and underwear when toilet learning)
- Pacifier or small blanket or lovey for rest, if used
- Seasonal outdoor clothing
- Diapers or toilet-learning supplies as needed
- Approved creams with authorization paperwork
Early preschool
Cozy Cocoons
- Two to three complete changes with extra pants, underwear, and socks
- Training pants or pull-ups as needed, plus extra shoes during toilet learning
- Seasonal outdoor clothing and closed-toe shoes
- One small blanket or comfort item for rest
- Sunscreen or creams with authorization paperwork
Preschool
Bright Butterflies
- Two complete changes, including underwear and socks
- Extra underwear and pants if still practicing toileting
- Seasonal outdoor clothing and closed-toe shoes
- One small blanket or comfort item for rest
- Sunscreen or creams with authorization paperwork
Please leave personal toys and electronics at home. Doodle Bugs is not responsible for lost or damaged belongings.
Clothing & outdoor play
Made for outdoor play
We go outside daily, weather permitting. Choose comfortable, washable clothes; painting and exploring can be messy.
Shoes
- Closed-toe with rubber soles and a closed heel or heel strap.
- No flip-flops, sandals, or shoes with wheels.
- Shoes are required for all walking children.
Clothing safety
No ties or drawstrings around the neck or waist, except to accommodate personal or religious needs. Please remove drawstrings from jackets and sweatshirts.
Warm weather
Apply sunscreen before drop-off and choose lightweight, sun-protective clothing; hats are recommended. For staff to apply sunscreen, provide your own and complete an authorization form.
Cold weather
Send warm layers, mittens or gloves, a hat, and waterproof outerwear and footwear.
Health and well-being
When your child is ill
Staying home
If your child will be absent due to illness, notify the Director by 9:00 a.m. Children should stay home when they are too ill to comfortably take part in the day, including outdoor play.
Illness during care
We provide a supervised place to rest away from other children and contact you immediately. Please pick up within one hour of notification.
Returning to care
In most cases children must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Some illnesses need a doctor's note or health care provider clearance; the Director will confirm which criteria apply.
Records
Submit medical and immunization records at enrollment and keep them current. For exemption paperwork, contact the Director.
Illness return reference chart
| Illness or symptom | Return criteria |
|---|---|
| Fever of 100.4°F or higher | Fever-free for 24 hours without medication. |
| Vomiting two or more times in 24 hours, or with other symptoms | When symptoms are no longer present; general return policy applies. |
| General diarrhea | When stool is contained and frequency is back to normal. |
| Bloody diarrhea or Cryptosporidium | Health care provider clearance is required. |
| Persistent abdominal pain (2+ hours) | When symptoms are no longer present. |
| Boil, abscess, or cellulitis | When the lesion is covered and drainage is contained. |
| Chickenpox (varicella) | When all sores have dried and crusted, usually about six days. |
| Conjunctivitis with fever or behavior change | When fever and symptoms have resolved. |
| Severe coughing or croup | When symptoms are no longer present. |
| COVID-19 | Symptoms resolved for at least 24 hours without medication; confirm current public-health directions with the Director. |
| Cytomegalovirus with fever | When fever has resolved. |
| Diphtheria or E. coli O157:H7 | Health care provider and/or public-health clearance is required. |
| Fifth disease | When symptoms are no longer present. |
| Hand-foot-and-mouth disease with drooling or sores | When drooling stops and sores are covered. |
| Head lice or nits | When no signs of lice or nits are present. |
| Hepatitis A or B | Health care provider clearance is required. |
| Herpes simplex with drooling or sores | When drooling stops and sores are covered. |
| HIV or AIDS | Not a reason for exclusion alone; any other illness or draining lesion is assessed separately. |
| Impetigo | After 24 hours of treatment and with sores covered. |
| Influenza | Fever-free for 24 hours without medication. |
| Lyme disease | When fever has resolved. |
| Measles, meningitis, mumps, MRSA, or pertussis | Health care provider clearance is required. |
| Mononucleosis | When fever is no longer present. |
| Pneumonia | When symptoms are no longer present. |
| Ringworm | After treatment has started. |
| Roseola | When fever is no longer present. |
| Rubella, Salmonella, Shigella, or tuberculosis | Health care provider clearance is required. |
| Scabies | After treatment is completed. |
| Strep throat | After 24 hours of antibiotics and when fever-free. |
Health and well-being
Medication at the center
Whenever possible, give medication at home. Ask your provider whether a 12-hour dosing option would work.
- Complete the medication authorization form before any medication is given.
- Send medication in its original container, inside a clear bag labeled with your child's full name.
- Prescriptions need a pharmacy label with the child's name, dosage, date, and side effects.
- Sunscreen and other topical products need a Topical Ointment Authorization Form.
- Children under two need written physician instructions for nonprescription medication.
- Never store medication in backpacks, lunch bags, or personal belongings.
- We do not mix medication into food, formula, or drinks.
- Take unused medication home each Friday (emergency medications excepted).
Enrollment and fees
Tuition & attendance
Payments
Tuition is due the Friday before services. Auto-Pay is required through Playground's secure payment system; cash and checks are also accepted in person. If an account is two weeks past due, or tuition is repeatedly late, services may be discontinued.
Families receive 30 days' notice of tuition changes.
Absences
Notify the center by 9:00 a.m. for any absence, and give advance notice of vacations or extended absences. Full tuition applies to scheduled periods, including absences and holding your child's place.
Withdrawing
Provide written notice according to your Enrollment Agreement. Re-enrolling later requires a new registration fee.
Plan ahead
Holidays & closures
The center also closes for professional development. Use the current annual calendar for exact dates. There is no tuition reduction for holidays or closures.
| Holiday | Usual date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Friday after Thanksgiving |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
Family partnerships
Staying connected
Playground app
Available for iOS and Android. Use it to:
- View classroom photos and updates.
- Get notifications about meals, activities, and progress.
- Message our team.
- Sign children in and out and manage tuition payments.
Infant and toddler daily records include food intake, sleep, diapering, and milestones. Supervision always comes first, so the number of photos can vary from day to day.
Family involvement
- An open-door policy for parents and guardians.
- Conversations and scheduled conferences with teachers.
- Home learning recommendations and monthly newsletters.
- Posted menus and activity plans.
Questions and concerns
Start with your child's teacher. If a classroom concern is not resolved, speak with the Director. Ask the Director about our Referral Program, too.
Our community
Policies
Privacy and child protection
Children's records are confidential. Parents and legal guardians may request access to their child's records. Staff are mandated reporters and follow Michigan reporting procedures. Please do not share photos or videos of other children online without permission.
A safe, respectful community
Weapons, smoking, vaping, alcohol, cannabis, and illegal drugs are prohibited on center property. Solicitation and distribution of literature or products are not permitted.
Supporting continued enrollment
Suspension and expulsion are used only as a last resort. We work with families early, using observations and behavior plans to find solutions, and generally give at least one week's notice unless immediate action is needed for safety.
Equal access
Doodle Bugs Daycare does not discriminate on the basis of religion, color, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other factor protected by law, and accepts children in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
USDA nondiscrimination statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the responsible state or local agency or the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, available online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA with the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a description of the alleged discriminatory action. Submit the completed form or letter to USDA by mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.