Policies & Rules

Playroom Rules

Playroom Rules PDF

• The Playroom service is provided to our members without an additional charge. 
• Children 3 months through 9 years are welcome to visit the babysitting room once a day for a maximum of two hours. The time limit of two hours is strictly enforced.
• Only a parent, legal guardian, or designated person may drop off and pick up children in the Playroom (the designated person is defined as a person who has been identified by a parent; this can be a relative or friend who is a member). Parents and/or legal guardians MUST include the designated person on their registration form. Parent and/or guardian MUST be 18 years old or older.
• Only parents or legal guardians who signed the child in can sign the child out. No exceptions.
• An Apex Centre membership card or valid ID is required for check-in / out of children. Parents will be required to note on the sign-in sheet what they will be doing in the facility. Children will not be allowed to leave the Playroom unless checked out by a parent / guardian / designated person.
• A parent / guardian must remain within the Apex facility at all times while their child is in the playroom. No exceptions. Individuals found to have left the building will lose their babysitting room privileges for 30 days. We do allow members to use the outdoor pool area, and / or participate in an on-site program that may be outside the grounds. Please notify a staff member if you plan to do so.
• Based on the age and number of children in each age group, there is a maximum number of children allowed in the Infant/Toddler room at any given time. If capacity is reached, you may leave a cell phone number with the Playroom staff members, and we will contact you as soon as a spot opens. The staff-to-child ratios that will be followed in the Playroom are:
  • The ratio for children ages 3 to 11 months is 4:1.
  • The ratio for ages 12 to 23 months is 5:1.
  • The ratio for ages 2 to 3 years is 8:1.
  • The ratio for ages 4 to 9 years is 10:1.
• Parents / guardians / designated persons are not allowed in the Playroom except in the area near check-in / out. Space permitting, parents may stay for up to 5 minutes in this area if they want to observe care.
• Photographs and videography are not allowed in the Playroom.
• We are not responsible for any lost or stolen items from cubbies or other Playroom areas.
• Please do not bring personal items except those necessary for babysitting into the Playroom.
• Please do not bring toys from home. If your child has a special toy need or comfort item, please inform the staff so we can do our best to accommodate that request as a necessary personal item for babysitting.
• Please do not bring any electronics from home.
• Please make sure that any necessary personal items are clearly marked with your child’s name. Pacifiers must be attached to the child’s clothing or car seat.
• As an hourly Playroom operation, no food or drink may be brought into the Playroom. If a child expresses thirst in the Playroom, we will provide water. Sippy cups for water are allowed for younger children. They must be labeled with your child’s name and stored by staff members.
• Staff members are unable to change diapers or assist with toileting. Please change your child prior to check-in. If your child needs a diaper change, the parent will be paged. Soiled diapers are to be changed immediately. If the parent does not have a diaper, the parent will be asked to check their child out of the playroom.
• For children out of diapers, please take your child to the restroom before leaving them in the Playroom. If the child is old enough, they can use the facilities without assistance. If the child requires assistance, we will notify the parent to assist them.
• Pacifiers must be attached to the child’s clothing or car seat.
• Please notify the staff of any allergies your child may have or any other health or physical limitations our staff should be aware of. Medication will not be allowed or administered by staff members.
• If a child cries for more than 10 minutes and the staff members have made every effort to soothe the child, the parent will be notified / paged.
• As a health standard and courtesy to others, parents are expected to adhere to the Sick Child Policy.
• All children are required to have their temperature checked before entering the playroom.

Sick Child Policy

We reserve the right to deny babysitting to members with children who are ill. A sick child is defined as a child who is contagious or infectious and poses a health risk to others. A child who is not able to participate in Playroom activities in reasonable comfort cannot be left in the care of the Playroom.

Please Do Not Bring Your Child to the Playroom

IF: Child has symptoms of possible communicable disease (usually sniffles, red eyes, sore throat, headache, abdominal pain, fever, and/or skin spots, bumps or patches).

IF: Child requires more care than our staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children.

The following are sick child symptoms. We cannot accept children in the Playroom with these symptoms:

• Child has a fever of 99 degrees or higher.
• Child has vomited within the past 24 hours.
• Child has had a watery stool in the past 24 hours.
• New onset of any kind of rash within the first 3-4 days of its occurrence. The child has a rash not associated with diapers.
• Child has a sore throat and / or swollen glands causing difficulty in swallowing. Strep Throat is contagious if left untreated. A child may attend the Playroom 24 hours after the 1st dose of antibiotics for this or other bacterial infections.
• Child has any pox due to Chicken Pox.
• Child has any green or yellow mucous coming from the nose regardless of the use of antibiotics.
• Child has significant respiratory distress (a constant cough).
• Child has unexplained lethargy.
• Child with untreated and / or contagious lice, ringworm, or scabies.
• Child has a fever of 99 degrees or higher. They will not be allowed back into the playroom unless they have been fever-free for 24 hours.

If a child comes in with any of these symptoms, we will ask you to wait to use the Playroom until after the symptoms have been resolved. If staff observes any of these symptoms during the child’s visit, the parent will be asked to remove the child. If the child is without any of these symptoms but still seems ill, the parent will be asked to remove the child.

Behavior

To address behavioral issues, we will implement the use of “time-outs” for children two years of age and older. Activity redirection will be used for children younger than two. We will contact parents if the child’s behavior needs attention for longer than 10 minutes. If behavioral issues continue after three attempts of correction, the child will be suspended from the playroom for a minimum of 30 days.

Potential penalties for Playroom Room Misuse

Two-hour maximum stay

• Late pick up. If you pick your child up later than the time permitted for use, we will, after the third time, suspend your Playroom privileges for 30 days.
• The McKinney Police Department may be notified if the child is in the Playroom for more than 2 hours and we cannot locate the parent.
• Future use of the Playroom may be revoked.

Parents Leaving The Apex Centre

• The McKinney Police Department may be notified if the parent leaves the premises.
• Future Playroom privileges will be revoked for a  minimum of  30 days. Privileges may be permanently revoked if repeated offenses.

Please note: Future Playroom privileges may be revoked if your child causes severe interruptions while in the Playroom.

Potential Parental Notifications

A parent’s stay at the Apex Centre may be interrupted for the following reasons:

• A child is in need of a diaper change or toileting assistance. If the parent does not have a diaper, the parent will be asked to check their child out of the playroom.
• A child is crying for more than 10 minutes and the staff members have made every effort to soothe the child.
• A child is not following instructions from staff members and / or the child’s behavior needs attention for longer than 10 minutes.
• A child’s stay exceeds the 2-hour limit. (2 hours per day maximum).
• Staff members determine the child is sick.
• Staff members determine the child is in need of a parent.

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