R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

I made an unscheduled onsite inspection at Little Vikings Learning Center on 5/13/2022. I interviewed Licensee designee/program director Tara McMillin and child care staff members Caitlin Brummel and Nichole Carta. Tara McMillin informed me that Child A was initially upset about the bread that was served for lunch on 5/6/2022. Staff explained to Child A that it was the only kind of bread they had and attempted to get him various versions of the bread such as without butter and with the crusts cut off. Child A threw the bread and began screaming and banging his head on the table and chair. Child care staff member Caitlin Brummel is seven months pregnant and stepped in to assist, however, Ms. McMillin took over after Child A punched Ms. Brummel in the stomach. Ms. McMillin walked Child A over to the safe space located in the corner. The safe space has pillows and blankets and Child A is less likely to injure himself there. Child A then ran to the hallway outside the infant and toddler classrooms. In the hallway, Child A proceeded to scream, bang his head on the floor and walls, knock a chair over, kick Ms. McMillin in the leg and neck and threw his head back hitting Ms. McMillin in the nose, causing it to bleed. According to Ms. McMillin, the children in the center were frightened and Child A was a danger to himself and others. She then put shoes and a coat on Child A and took him outside. While continuing to scream, Child A took off his coat and shoes. Coat and shoes were put on him two additional times, however, Child A removed them each time. Although Child A continued to be inconsolable while outside, it was determined that he was less likely to harm himself in that location. Staff remained with Child A outside, attempting to calm him down until his mother came. According to Ms. McMillin, Child A was outside with staff for approximately 10-15 minutes. He was outside with his mother for an additional 15 minutes. Ms. McMillin stated there was a light drizzle outside, but it was not cold. The children were outside playing without coats earlier that day. I checked the documented weather for Hopkins, MI on 5/6/2022 at approximately 12:00 p.m. It was cloudy with a temperature ranging from 54 to 61 degrees. Caitlin Brummel is an assistant to the director and was working in the infant room on 5/6/2022, therefore missed what happened initially. Ms. Brummel stated that Child A has had previous meltdowns, but nothing like his last one. He usually calms down within a few minutes. Ms. Brummel said that he started a new medication that week which may have contributed to the escalation in his behavior. She observed Child A screaming and hitting his head on the floor. She observed Ms. McMillin put Child A's shoes on and had sent Ms. Brummel to get his coat once outside. Ms. Brummel and child care staff member Nichole Carta both stepped in to assist Ms. McMillin, however, no one was successful in calming Child A down. Ms. Brummel was not sure how long Child A was outside. She left for an appointment while Child A was 3 outside with his mother. Ms. Brummel stated that there was a mist outside but that the temperature was not cold. Child care staff member Nichole Carta was working in the Pre-K classroom on 5/6/2022 when Child A became upset about his toast. She offered him new food, however, he continued to cry and scream. She observed him stomping, kicking and banging his head on the floor. The children in the classroom were scared. Ms. Carta left the classroom to feed her infant after Ms. McMillin took over. Child A was outside when she returned to the Pre-K classroom. Ms. McMillin, Ms. Brummel and Ms. Carta took turns trying to calm Child A down while outside. Ms. Carta helped with getting coat and shoes on Child A. Child A seemed to escalate when his mother arrived. Child A's Mother was outside with him for approximately 10-15 minutes. Ms. Carta stated that it was sprinkling outside but was not raining hard. I spoke on the telephone with C

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.