Atlantian Children's Corner Guidelines

Please read the Chancellor of Youth Policy and the Children's Corner rules and familiarize yourself with them.  Please post Children's Corner rules at all Children's Corners.

The person in charge of Children's Corners shall be known as the "Children's Corner Coordinator" and shall wear a name tag or other item that clearly identifies them as the Coordinator. Children's Corner Coordinator shall be at least 18 years of age

Children can never be left unattended by an adult when participating in Children's Corner. Coordinators must have at least one helper, preferably a ratio of one adult to every five children. That helper should at least 14 years old. All helpers need to wear identifying nametags or other item that clearly identifies them as associated with helping at the Children's Corner. If a Coordinator cannot get the help they need, Children's Corner should not be provided or otherwise limit participation until you get the help necessary.

Have sign in Sheets for parents/guardians. Ensure you know child's name, parent's name (SCA and Mundane), parent location. Ensure parent/guardian knows time CC ends and requirement to pick child up within 15 minutes of closing.

Children's Corners are for children ages 4-8. Younger children can come but must have an adult with them at all times. Older children are also invited as long as they are not disruptive. For Children's Corners which will include non-SCA children, a parent/guardian must be present at all times.

Children must wear name tags with their name and that of their parents printed on it. In a pinch paper name tags and safety pins work or the sticky nametags you get at conferences.

Children's Corners should last at least two hours and each individual session should last at least one hour (sessions need not be back to back). Children's Corners could include a craft project, a game, a bardic-like activity (story, song, dancing, poem). We recommend that a particular activity run for between 15-20 minutes, before moving on to another activity.

Please let the troll and other staff know where Children's Corner will be held at the event. Make signs to place at troll and other locations around the site listing the times and location(s) of Children's Corner (and perhaps the schedule of activities). Ask a herald to cry when and where Children's Corner will be at the event (15 minutes before it starts). Also have a herald cry 15 minutes before it ends so parents are reminded to pick up their children.

If a child is a discipline problem (disruptive, sulky, crying, abusive), please remember that Coordinators and their staff may not strike or yell at the child (even if the parent verbally told you this was "okay"). The second adult helper will simply return the child immediately to his/her parent/guardian and the child is not to return until he/she agrees to behave.

If a child is badly hurt - bleeding, take the child to get first aid first, then get the parent (unless there is an extra adult to send then this can be done simultaneously). If the child is only mildly hurt (a bruise, bump and is crying for attention) - take the child to their parent for treatment.

Children's Corner Coordinators cannot leave until *all* the children are picked up. Coordinators can return children to parents who fail to show up by 15 minutes after the end of the scheduled time (by finding a herald and asking the herald to cry the camp for the parent. Coordinators should have the location of the parent on the Sign-In/Out Form).

No boffer activities are to be offered by the Children's Corner Coordinator. Please see the Youth Combat website at http://youth.atlantia.sca.org for more information about youth combat.

We ask that all SCAdian parents donate items or their time. Suggested items to donate: paper, crayons, washable markers, felt, non-toxic glue, glitter, games such as jacks, checkers and other board games, wood blocks, craft items, appropriate books.

We suggest Coordinators bring with them, in addition to the supplies for the crafts/games, the following general supplies: pens and something to write on, masking tape, safety pins, markers and paper/cardboard for signs, trash bags, paper towels, sanitary hand wipes, first aid kit (or have a chirurgeon standing by). For non-SCAdian Children's Corners the Children's Coordinators should arrange to have a chirurgeon or mundane licensed first aid provider near by.

Please clean up the site of Children's Corner at the end of the period it is offered.

Please send the Dean of Children (kmom@atlantia.sca.org), a list of all SCAdian adults who help out so that they can be sent thank you notes.