How Mini U supports your child

We are passionate about leading children. Our goal is to lead with kindness and create inclusive environments that encourage children to be themselves. We focus on creating safe and enjoyable experiences, and are prepared to respond when children are in need of additional support. 

Together we provide care for thousands of children. Our consideration for their individual needs is critical for their well-being and success with our programs.

On this page

A Mini U child carefully walks along a slackline with the help of two Mini U leaders.

Creating an optimal experience

  • Inclusion

    Everyone is welcome. We create environments where people are mindful of the strength of each person's uniqueness. This is achieved by considering and respecting each individual's:

    • sexual orientation
    • gender identity
    • socio-economic status
    • race
    • culture
    • ethnicity
    • religion
    • age
    • learning styles
    • diverse needs

    We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and will address all claims of such promptly and with seriousness. Our commitment is to ensure that every individual feels valued and respected, and we will take appropriate action to maintain an inclusive and equitable environment for all.

  • Optimal Experience

    Our goal is to ensure each participant:

    • feels welcome and comfortable
    • is safe
    • is engaged in activities
    • is enjoying their experience

    We understand the optimal experience may not be achieved for everyone at all times. Creating opportunities to learn from mistakes and experiences is part of the process. We facilitate learning opportunities for participants throughout the program who need support in reaching our desired experience. 

    If your experience doesn't align with our goals, we would value the opportunity to learn more and work together on a solution. Please reach out to our leadership team at 204-474-7279 or mini.u@umanitoba.ca to share your concerns.

Common needs

Awareness and understanding of each individual’s needs is critical in our preparation.  Common special needs shared by families are:

  • learning differences
  • visual impairment
  • speech or language delay
  • cognitive delay
  • hearing impairment
  • limited mobility
  • emotional/behavioural disorder
  • autism spectrum disorder
  • Down syndrome
  • fetal alcohol syndrome
  • developmental delay
  • attention deficit disorder
  • cerebral palsy

  • Our environment

    Our environment is energetic and fast-paced. Our days are full of activities. Participants will likely have a new location and activity every hour and adaptations every 15 to 20 minutes. Activities are dynamic and participants often engage in groups.

  • Will my child succeed?

    If you believe your child will not be successful participating with a group of children of similar chronological age in this environment for at least 60 per cent of the day, then Mini U might not be the best fit. To discuss your child and our programs, connect with us: mini.u@umanitoba.ca

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Behaviour modification

Everyone learns and develops at different rates. We strive to positively contribute to the development of each individual by helping them learn from their experiences.

When a child displays disruptive or undesirable behavior, we lead. Our team helps the participant understand how to modify their behavior to ensure everyone is safe and having fun.

  • Undesirable behaviour

    Undesirable behaviours include:

    • not following the leadership of Mini U Programs employees.
    • not following camp rules and guidelines.
    • running away from the group.
    • inappropriate language.
    • physical violence.
    • being disrespectful of others.

  • Strategies for behaviour modification 

    We attempt to discover what might be the cause of a participant's behaviour and incorporate their needs into our solutions. We strive to achieve this by:

    • engaging the participant in a conversation.
    • asking open ended question to discover how they are feeling.
    • determining why they are feeling the way they are.
    • brainstorming solutions together.
    • incorporating their ideas.
    • creating a plan.

  • Consequences

    Reactions, both positive and negative, are consequences. Consequences are intended to reinforce/change behavior and should not be morally, physically or emotionally damaging.

    Types of consequences include:

    • Positive reinforcement
    • Natural consequences
    • Logical-related consequences
    • Suspension consequences

  • Engaging Parents

    You know your child best. Our team may connect with you to discuss your child’s behavior when:

    • We would like ideas on what might work best for your child
    • We have concerns regarding their ability to display optimal behavior
    • Your child has had repeated challenging moments
    • Disrespectful behavior has affected the experience of others
    • Physical violence has occurred
    • Inappropriate language has been directed at others

Managing change in behaviour

Once we establish a plan to modify the behaviour, our team will ensure it is reinforced. We strive to be patient, consistent and fair with our assessment. Progress is a good thing. We acknowledge successive approximation towards desirable behaviour and continue to assist in their development.
 

Removal from programs

Our goal is to ensure the behaviour of one person doesn’t negatively affect the experience of other participants. We believe in learning from our experiences and that everyone should be given opportunity to make changes to behaviour. In the event the leadership team feels a participant is not able or willing to improve undesirable behaviour, they may be removed from the programs. 

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Health and safety

Understanding the unique health needs of each participant is critical to our ability to provide proper care. Prior to the program beginning, families have the opportunity to share personal information with us to ensure we are able to care for participants during the programs.

Specifically it is helpful for us to learn about unique health needs during both typical and physical activity settings.

Medication

Any medication indicated on the participants personal information form will be required to be present at all times while attending programs. Participants who report to the program without associated medication may be asked to sit out of activities until it arrives. 

Leaders are responsible for carrying the medication for all participants 11 years of age and younger. Participants who are 12 years of age and older have the option to carry their own medication with them. We ensure medication is readily available when necessary and passed among our team during staff transition times.

Allergy aware environment

We do our best to create an environment that is allergy aware but due to the size and diversity of the university we cannot guarantee that all spaces will be free of your child’s allergens. 

Participants are expected to bring food that does not include nuts. Nut replacement products such as Wowbutter are permitted. In the event of a severe food allergy in your child’s group, you may be expected to avoid additional foods or ingredients.

In the event nut foods or foods that may trigger an allergy in others, we:

  • ensure the participant understands which item was identified.
  • share that they are not to blame and are not in trouble.
  • allow the child to eat the item in a safe area away from the general eating space.
  • join the participant during this time.
  • ensure the participant washes their hands after eating the item.
  • return to the eating area.
  • provide a note from the leadership team to give the family at the end of the day.

  • Attendance and head counts

    Supervision of each participant is required at all times. Frequent tracking of attendance and head counts is an essential part ensuring our success. We track the participants under our care:

    • upon arrival.
    • before, during and after transitioning to a new space.
    • throughout program activity time.
    • before and after lunch time.
    • at departure.

  • Facility

    The university is our playground. Our programs take place in various places and spaces on campus and within the surrounding community. Our role is to ensure that each space is safe prior to our using it.

    Annually, our Leadership Team:

    • Plans emergency exit routes
    • Identifies accessibility routes
    • Identifies potential hazards
    • Minimizes or eliminates risks 
    • Aligns the appropriateness of activities per space 
    • Identifies space limitations (no food/drink)

Photography

Capturing moments helps us tell our story. Photos and videos are an important part of our business but not something that can be done without careful thought. In order to ensure we uphold the safety of our participants we:

  • Provide families with an opportunity to either agree or decline consent prior to programs beginning
  • Record and share this response with Mini U Programs employees
  • Follow a photography protocol
  • Store photos safely

  • Consent

    Prior to the first day of programming participants and/or their guardians have the option to agree or decline to our photography consent.

    This information is then shared with the Mini U Programs employees. Together we ensure their responses are upheld while under our supervision. 

  • Use of Images

    We love to tell our story. Images are used on our web site, advertising materials, social media and administrative materials (signs, manuals, internal documents). 

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Protecting children

When a child’s life, health or emotional well-being is at risk by something a person does or fails to do, the child is in need of protection.

Our team understands what we are protecting participants from, how to identify potential issues and how we can offer support.

  • Types of abuse

    When an action, or failure to act, causes physical harm, could cause emotional disability or involves sexual activity, that is abuse. 

    • Emotional Abuse
    • Physical Abuse
    • Sexual Abuse
    • Neglect

  • Identification: The Law

    We are required by law to report any suspicion or disclosure of abuse under Section 18 of the Child and Family Services Act of Manitoba. If we suspect anything, we keep a written record of all our observations and discussions.

    If our team suspects a child may not be safe, either because of the child’s behavior or someone else’s, we are responsible for reporting it to Child and Family Services.

  • Identification: Communication with families

    When our team has concerns about the safety of a participant, we will discuss them with the primary caregivers indicated on the ‘personal information form’ whenever it is safe to do so. If the concerns are associated with a primary caregiver, we will discuss them with Child Family Services. 

Certification requirements of our team

All leaders of the program are required to submit criminal record, child abuse registry checks, as well as be certified in emergency first aid and CPR level C. 

Additional lifesaving and swim instructor certifications are required for aquatics staff. Standard First Aid and CPR C will be re-certified annually. Our summer camp first aid leader(s) holds a valid First Responder & CPR level C certification. 

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Emergency procedures and accidents

When accidents and emergencies occur, we are prepared to execute first aid and CPR skills and our emergency procedures.

  • Our team is annually trained on: 

    • missing children protocols
    • Identifying (and responding) when a child is in need of protection
    • medical emergencies
    • behavioral emergencies
    • fire alarms/evacuations

  • Communication with parents

    We want parents/guardians to be properly informed.  It is important that a Mini U Programs employee share the related information. We share accident information by:

    • sending accident report forms home with the participant.
    • speaking with parents/guardians at the end of the day.
    • calling parents/guardians immediately during urgent matters.

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