Parent/Guardian-Helper Guidelines

Helper 1 Responsibilities (Green Apron)

Before Children Arrive (8:45 am- 9 am)

Receive instructions for the day’s activities from the teacher.
Help set out the day’s craft project and sensory materials.
Spot clean anything that needs immediate attention.
When the children come downstairs; assist with coats, shoes and backpacks.
Sit with students as they find their places on the circle rug for morning greeting.

During Free Play (9 am- 10:15 am)

Engage in and monitor the day’s activities in Room 1. But, please feel free to move from room to room, keeping in mind at least one adult per room is required if there is a child present in that room.
Encourage and engage the children to use their imaginations, creativity, and explore new ideas and ways to play. Remember to get down to their eye level.
Handle any child conflict that arises (see conflict resolutions sheet) or ask the teacher for assistance, if needed.
Make sure the children’s names are on their art projects. Hang or lay flat any art work that needs to dry. Assist children with hanging wet paintings.
At clean-up time, put away craft and sensory materials and wipe down tables with vinegar and water solution and a clean rag. Cover paint cups with foil.
Begin snack set-up while children are washing their hands. Be sure to wash your hands too! Snack set-up includes food prep, putting snack trays together and setting tables with plates, napkins, and the children’s water bottles.

Snack Time (10:20 am- 10:40 am)

Sit at table and assist children. Engage them and ask them questions.
When the children are finished make sure they have put their plates, napkins, and compost in the appropriate places.

During Outside or Big Room Play Time (10:45 am- 11:30 am)

Share clean-up responsibilities with Helper 3 if there is one.
Wash snack trays and stack them on the shelves.
Wipe off tables and chairs with vinegar and water solution.
Wash paint brushes and easel in sink upstairs in Friendship Room.
Cover paint cans with aluminum foil. On Fridays, discard old paint.
Dump grey water from under the sink and fill with fresh water.
Vacuum both classrooms and entry area. Use shop-vac under discovery table.
Sweep floor in Room 1 and hallway. Mop as needed and dump soapy water bucket into the janitor’s closet sink in the daycare. Friday mopping is required.
Straighten dress-up area, kitchen, shelves, blocks.
Take garbage, recycling, compost to dumpster/bins and replace bags.
Clean glass entry door upstairs with water and vinegar solution. Vacuum lobby area. This MUST be done on Fridays for the church.
If dismissal time begins before clean-up complete, all helpers will assist with finishing after children leave for the day. Please do not leave the school dirty.
Additional cleaning duties as indicated on the helper card.

During Circle Time (11:35 am- 12 Noon)

Continue cleaning, if necessary.
Sit with and participate with the children for circle time, if time allows.

Dismissal (12 Noon)

Sit with children on the rug. Help them listen and participate.
Stay with children in Room 1 until all have been dismissed.
You may leave after all children are picked up, clean-up is complete, and you have checked out with the teacher.

Helper 2 Responsibilities (Red apron)

Before Children Arrive (8:45 am- 9 am)

Receive instructions for day’s activities from the teacher.
Get warm, soapy water for wash tub. Set out new towel next to tub.
Open and prepare Discovery table.
Help the teacher stage Room 2 for play.
As students arrive, guide them to their places on the circle rug for morning greeting. Sit with the children, if time allows.

During Free Play (9 am- 10:15 am)

The Red Apron is the Bathroom person! Take children to the bathroom as needed. Make sure they use walking feet and quiet voices in the hallways, it is a shared space. Make sure they wash their hands before returning to play. Do not take more than three children at a time during free play or two while outside/in the Big Room.
Engage in and monitor the day’s activities in Room 2. But, please feel free to move from room to room, keeping in mind at least one adult per room is required if there is a child present in that room.
Help children participate in a safe, respectful, and fun manner. Encourage them to use their imagination and creativity, to explore new ideas and ways to play. Remember to get to their eye level.
Handle any child conflict that arises (see conflict resolutions sheet) or ask the teacher for assistance, if needed.
At clean-up time, help the children put away the toys in Room 2. Make sure all children help and are engaged in picking up/sorting.
Close the discovery table.
Additional cleaning duties as indicated on the helper card.
Turn off the lights and close the door. Children should be on circle rug awaiting washing hands and snack time.
Walk with the children to the bathroom with a large towel for handwashing before snack time.

Snack Time (10:20 am- 10:40 am)

Let the daycare staff know if we will be in the Big Room or outside by 10:15am.
If using the Big Room, pull toys out from the closet near the stage in the Big Room. There is a list of suggestions in our hallway on the bulletin board.
If going outside, check playground for safety and wetness. You may need a towel to wipe off wet surfaces, remember the towel!
Help the teacher escort the children to the Big Room or outside. There must always be at least two adults when using the Big Room or outside.

During Outside or Big Room Play Time (10:45 am – 11:30 am)

Monitor safe activity outside or in the Big Room.
Encourage safe, respectful play. Facilitate or suggest gross motor games and all inclusive games such as hide and seek, duck duck goose, red light/green light, etc.
Bathroom duty: Take no more than 2 children at one time to the bathroom, as needed. Two adults minimum, must be with the other children outside or in the Big Room at all times.
When returning to the school after being outside, make sure the playground gate is closed and latched, all water bottles and jackets have been retrieved, and you are the end of the line, making sure students walk behind the teacher.
If needed, assist children with muddy/sandy shoes at the door and then inside for circle time.

Two adults must be in the Outside/Big Room at all times.

During Circle Time (11:35 am- 12 noon)

Sit with the children on the rug; encourage them listen and participate.
The teacher may ask you to read a story, or lead a song, yoga flow, or some other quiet activity to end the day.

Dismissal (12 noon)

Stay with children in Room 1 while parents arrive.
Move to hallway and assist children with coats, shoes, and mailboxes, if needed.
You may leave after all children are picked up, clean-up is complete, and you have checked out with the teacher.

Helper 3 Responsibilities

Before Children Arrive (8:45 am – 9 am)

Receive instructions for day’s activities from the teacher.
Place old or accumulating artwork in children’s mailboxes.
Put out fresh paint, brushes, and paper on easel.
Set out games and puzzles. Set out playdough or other Room 1 sensory activity. Check with the teacher.
Help others if time allows.

During Free Play (9 am- 10:15 am)

Drift between rooms 1 and 2 as the children do.
Help children participate in a safe, respectful, and fun manner. Encourage them to use their imagination and creativity, to explore new ideas and ways to play. Remember to get to their eye level.
Greet children arriving late, visually monitor hall, and listen for chime on stairs and outside door.
At clean-up time, help children put games, puzzles, and playdough away.
Join children on the circle rug for hand washing and snack time.

Snack Time (10:20- 10:40 am)

Sit at table and assist children. Engage them and ask them questions.
When the children are finished make sure they have put their plates, napkins, and compost in the appropriate places.
Help teacher escort the children to the Big Room or outside.

During Big Room/Play Time (10:45 am – 11:30 am)

Monitor safe activity outside or in the Big Room.
Encourage safe, respectful play. Facilitate or suggest gross motor games and all inclusive games such as hide and seek, duck duck goose, red light/green light, etc. Monitor Big Room/outside.
When playtime is over, put away toys in shed outside or storage closet in Big Room.

Two adults must be in the Big Room/outside at all times.

During Circle Time (11:35 am- 12 noon)

Sit with children on the rug.
Help them listen and participate.

Dismissal (12 noon)

Sit with children on the circle rug. Help them listen and participate.
Send children out as they are called for, and help them with coats, shoes, backpacks. Hand the mailbox contents to the parents if they haven’t picked the stuff up themselves.
You may leave after all children are picked up, your duties are complete, and you have checked out with the teacher.

The job of Helper 2 is to take the kids to the bathroom when requested. Procedure is to inform the teacher of who you are taking and to walk with them down the hall. Allow them to go into the bathroom. Please stand in the hall. Listen. If the child requests help, please go aide them. If not, be sure to listen for the flush, remind them of washing and then make a quick trip in to flush if needed and a quick wipe of the counter. Walk back with the child.

We have many children in our school. Some are more competent than others. Yes, some will need more help. Just look at it as “if they were your child.”

If you are uncomfortable with helping in the bathroom, choosing a different helper job would be best.

Inside Days and Outside Days

Outside Days:

Sunny days are usually outside days. While the kids are having snack, Helper 2 or 3 will go outside to clean/set up the playground and wipe wet slides off with towels. If toys are brought out, they need to be put away before we leave the playground. Do not leave water bottles or jackets on the playground. This is a shared space.

The teacher leads the kids from the school hallway our the main door and onto the sidewalk to the playground. Remind them to walk. Then walk along with them to the playground. Helper 2 is the caboose.

If any child needs to use the bathroom, Helper 2 will walk them in. The teacher and the extra Helper(s) will remain on the playground. It is important that there are always two adults on the playground.

At 11:30 am students will walk back to the classroom for circle time and dismissal. Shoes may be asked to be taken off upstairs or outside if too dirty to wear inside. Please remind parents to get their children’s shoes before they leave.

By 11:15 am, Helpers 1 may come out to the playground if the cleaning is all done. If all the cleaning is not done within the school hours, please inform the teacher. The teacher will let you know if it’s ok to leave.

School is over at 12 noon. Please try to keep the kids from going back into the school. It has just been cleaned and sand, dirt, etc., gets tracked back in. It must stay nice for our neighbors who also use the building.

Inside Days

Helper 2 or 3 will bring out the preschool toys from the closet near the stage. There is a list of items to take out above the helper sign in board. Make sure to mix it up!

These toys are put out as the kids are eating snack. Please respect the other school if they are cleaning or departing the area.

At 11:50, the teacher will transition the kids back to the circle rug/quiet time. This time is to cool down and quietly look at books. Helper 2 should sit on the carpet with the kids.

Helper 3 will put the toys away, and then come help with coats and mail. The teacher will dismiss the kids.