Enrollment
Fill out once your enrollment has been accepted
Current Families
About the Child Care Center
Yes, we do have a waiting list. Click here to join the waiting list.
Yes, Sunflower Childcare Center is licensed by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHS). We adhere to all DHS guidelines and requirements and are regularly visited to ensure compliance. Licensure through DHS is a mandatory requirement for all child care centers.
For more details, including our representative's contact information, please refer to this page.
For detailed information on tuition and fees, please visit our Tuition and Fees page.
Each child must be enrolled to attend a minimum of three full days per week.
Parent Resources
Holidays
Sunflower will be closed to observe the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Tuition is not reduced during these weeks.
Closures
Sunflower will hold two Professional Development Days for all staff members, which will result in the center closing for a full day. Parents will be notified at least one month prior to that date to allow for appropriate and timely arrangements for their children.
Sunflower does not close when area schools do, but there may be a time when the weather is very severe that it is deemed necessary to stay closed or close early to assure the safety of the children and staff. Parents will notified through ProCare.
Within six weeks of enrollment, families must submit health records showing that their child is up to date on routine screenings and immunizations as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. If a child is overdue for any routine health services, proof of an upcoming appointment is required for enrollment and continued participation in the program, except in cases of religious exemption.
We also accept documentation for children who are under-immunized due to medical reasons or family beliefs. In such cases, if a vaccine-preventable disease is detected in the program, the child may be temporarily excluded for their safety.
For the health and safety of all children, please keep your child at home if they show any of the following symptoms: fever over 100°F, vomiting, diarrhea, pink eye with drainage, or a cough with congestion and excessive nasal discharge.
Children can return to the center under these conditions:
- Fever-free for 24 hours
- Chicken pox: one week after onset or when lesions are crusted
- Strep: 24 hours after starting medication
- Vomiting/Diarrhea: 24 hours after the last episode
- Conjunctivitis: 24 hours after starting medication or when drainage has stopped
When arriving at the center, children are observed for signs of illness or injury. If a child is too ill to participate comfortably, needs more care than we can provide, or poses a risk to others, they will be sent home.
If a child becomes ill during the day, we will notify you or your emergency contact immediately to pick them up. Please ensure we have current contact information. Until pickup, your child will rest in a supervised area to minimize exposure to others.
Yes, we offer field trips as an extension of classroom learning. We use Decorah Community School District buses for transportation. Parents are notified of upcoming trips through newsletters and classroom signs well in advance. A signed consent form is required for each child before participating. We may also ask for parent volunteers to help with supervision. Details such as trip dates, times, and destinations are posted at least 48 hours before the trip.
Yes, we provide daily opportunities for outdoor play, weather permitting. Outdoor time helps children develop large motor skills, stay active, and enjoy fresh air. We follow Child Care Weather Watch guidelines to ensure it's safe for outdoor play based on wind chill, heat index, and other conditions.
If outdoor play isn’t possible, we offer indoor activities that promote similar physical exercise, like using tumbling mats for active play.
We support children during toilet learning, recognizing it as a key developmental milestone. For children not yet fully toilet trained, our staff follows specific procedures to ensure safety and hygiene. Diapering takes place in a designated area, and children are checked regularly and changed when necessary. We use only standard toilets, not potty chairs, to minimize the risk of spreading germs.
Families are asked to provide a labeled change of clothes for their child in case of accidents. Our staff works closely with parents to create a consistent and supportive approach to toilet training.