Interested in Gem Kids?

Gem Kids provides daily breakfast and snacks for all children enrolled in care.

Included in tuition:

• Breakfast  each morning (served for all kids dropped off between 7am and 9am)
• Morning snack (served at about 10am)
• Afternoon snack (served at about 2:30pm)
• Water is offered throughout the day

Meals/snacks follow age-appropriate nutrition and safe-eating guidelines. If your child has allergies or a medically required diet, please provide documentation so we can safely accommodate their needs.

Families must send a packed lunch if their child is at the center during lunchtime (approx. 11:00am-12:00pm. To keep children safe and meet nutrition standards, please follow these guidelines. All lunches must be ready to serve/reheat and age-appropriate.

  Breast milk/formula

• Families provide breast milk or formula, labeled with child’s full name and date.
• Formula containers will be kept at the center so that bottles can be made fresh as needed.
• We store bottles with unused milk immediately in the refrigerator. Bottles are labeled with child name and time.
• No microwaving of bottles; we warm using bottle warmers or warm      water.

Solid foods (only when approved)

• Solid foods are offered only after parents approve foods in writing and your infant shows readiness.
• Send purées or soft foods in sealed, labeled containers.
• New foods should be introduced at home first whenever possible to watch for allergies.
• Please include a note if any food should not be served yet.

Do not send for infants

• Honey (under 12 months)
• Choking hazards or hard textures
• Any food not yet approved for your child

 Lunches for young toddlers must be soft, cut small, and easy to chew.

Please send:

• 1 protein (soft meat, beans, eggs, cheese, yogurt, tofu)
• 1 fruit and/or vegetable (soft or cooked)
• 1 grain (bread, pasta, rice, tortilla, crackers)

Safe size & texture rules

• Foods should be cut into small bite-size pieces (about ¼ inch).
• Meat should be shredded or finely chopped.
• Vegetables should be cooked until soft.

Do not send (choking hazards under 2):

• Whole grapes, cherry tomatoes, blueberries (must be quartered lengthwise)
• Uncut hot dogs/sausages (must be cut into strips then small pieces)
• Popcorn, nuts, hard pretzels, chips
• Hard/raw carrots, chunky apples
• Sticky spoonful's of nut butter or marshmallows
• Hard candy, gum

If unsafe foods are sent, we will return them home or modify only if it can be done safely.

Older toddlers can handle more textures, but still need safe cutting and supervision.

Please send:

• balanced meals with protein + fruit/veg + grain
• foods your child is familiar with and can eat independently

Safe prep rules

• Cut foods into ½-inch pieces or smaller.
• Grapes/berries still need to be cut lengthwise.
• Avoid very hard or round foods unless softened/cut.

Still avoid for under-3s:

• Popcorn, whole nuts, hard candies, gum
• large chunks of raw vegetables or fruit
• thick spoonful's of nut butter
• whole hot dogs or sausages

•  Every lunch must be in a bag labeled with your child’s name and date.
• Please pack only what you want your child to eat for lunch— we cannot store      leftovers for the next day.

A two-week written notice is required for any withdrawal or schedule change.

This allows us to adjust staffing and offer the opening to another family.

Tuition is due in full during the notice period.

If a child is withdrawn without notice, families are still responsible for the final two weeks of tuition.

Our center closes at 6:30 PM.
To ensure fairness and proper staffing, children must be picked up by closing time.

• Late pickups are charged $1 per minute after 6:40 PM, per child.
   
• Repeated late pickups may result in additional fees or a review of enrollment status.
   

We understand that emergencies happen — please contact us if you expect to be delayed.

Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance. Because your child’s space is reserved, we cannot offer refunds or credits for absences due to illness, vacation, or weather closures.

Gem Kids observes the following holidays:
New Year’s Day 

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

If a payment is returned for insufficient funds, a $30 NSF fee will be added to your balance.

After two returned payments, future payments may be required in cash or certified funds.

This will take you to Brightwheel to create an account. Once your free account is created you can complete the General Interest Application. We will review and contact you to schedule a walk-through of the center. If our center is at max capacity for enrollments you may be placed on the waitlist. 

We always provide a personal tour of our center so families can see our facility, meet our caregivers, and learn more about our programs.
This is the perfect time to ask questions, see our nurturing environment in action, and determine if Gem Kids is the right fit for your family.

Once you’ve decided to join our Gem Kids family, we’ll provide a full Enrollment Packet that includes:

• Parent Handbook and acknowledgment form
   
• Emergency contact and medical authorization forms
   
• Authorized pickup list
   
• Immunization record and health history form OR Idaho Exemption Form
   
• Off-Site Activity Policy Authorization Form for park outings and splash pad play
   
• Payment and tuition agreement
   

All enrollment paperwork must be completed and returned before your child’s first day of care.

To secure your child’s space, please submit:
 

• First Month’s Tuition or first bi-weekly payment. If you start mid month you will just be billed for the remainder of that month, then your next billing date would be the 1st of the next month.
   

Enrollment is confirmed once all required forms and payments have been received.

We’ll provide a “What to Bring” checklist based on your child’s age group (infant or toddler) to help you prepare.

This includes comfort items, extra clothing, diapers, bottles, and other essentials to ensure a smooth transition.

We encourage families to take time to communicate their child’s routines, likes, and needs with our staff — we want your little one to feel right at home!

 Infants (6 Weeks – 12 Months):

• Diapers and wipes
   
• 2–3 changes of clothes
   
• Formula or breast milk
   
• Pacifier or comfort item
   
• Blanket or sleep sack
   

Toddlers (1 – 4 Years):

• Diapers or pull-ups (if needed)
   
• 2 extra outfits
   
• Comfort item for nap time
   
• Weather-appropriate clothing (coat, hat, sunscreen, etc.)
   
• Breakfast and lunch (if not enrolled in the meal plan)
   

Please label all personal items clearly. We’ll make sure everything is returned to the right cubby each day. Items may be kept at the center and we will clean and wash items as needed. However, it must be understood that if items are brought and or kept at the center we can not be held responsible for any accidental damages to items. 

Your child’s well-being is our top priority.

Our center follows strict health, safety, and sanitation policies every day.

• Daily cleaning and sanitizing of all toys, surfaces, and classrooms
   
• Safe sleep practices for infants
   
• CPR and First Aid–certified teachers
   
• Secure check-in and check-out system
   
• Sick policy: Children must be fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours before returning
   

If your child becomes ill during the day, you’ll be contacted immediately for pickup.

We believe outdoor time is essential for growth and happiness!

Children enjoy daily outdoor play, stroller walks, and trips to Emmett City Park, where they can explore, play, and splash at the splash pad during warm months.

Outdoor play helps build physical strength, coordination, and a love for nature — and it’s one of our favorite parts of the day!

Only children with a signed  Off-Site Activity Policy Authorization Form will be permitted to participate in out of center outings to Emmett City Park and Emmett City Park Splash Pad. 

We value open, honest communication with every family.

We use Brightwheel management software to share daily updates, photos, and developmental notes through so you can feel connected to your child’s day and celebrate milestones together.

We encourage parents to reach out anytime — communication is key to creating the best experience for your child.

You may contact the staff through Brightwheel App OR 

center cell phone (208) 807-3842 OR email contact@gemkidscenter.com

After a busy morning of learning and play, children enjoy a quiet rest period each afternoon.

Infants nap according to their own schedules in the sleeping room with separate cribs, while toddlers rest on padded toddler beds with pillows, blankets. 

Soft music and a calm atmosphere help make nap time peaceful and consistent. 

We encourage parents to contact us by phone to arrange a quiet pick up if your pick up time is during our quiet time.

View our Daily Routine page for more information about center schedules.