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Resource 1: Reducing the Spread of Illness in Child Care

Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/prevention/Pages/Prevention-In-Child-Care-or-School.aspx

Synopsis: This resource discusses effective strategies to minimize the spread of illness in childcare settings, such as frequent hand washing, sanitizing toys, and setting up isolation spaces for ill children. It also includes detailed hygiene practices for staff and children.

Why I Chose This Resource: This resource is valuable because it directly addresses the prevention of common illnesses in childcare centers, which is essential for maintaining a healthy environment. It emphasizes evidence-based hygiene practices that can be easily applied in real-life scenarios.

Intended Audience: Early childhood educators, childcare providers, and families.

How I Plan to Use It: I will use this resource to educate childcare staff and parents about best practices for hygiene and illness prevention in early childhood settings. It will help ensure a healthier environment and minimize disruptions caused by illness.

Source/Link/Reference: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/prevention/Pages/Prevention-In-Child-Care-or-School.aspx

RESOURCE 2: https://www.cdc.gov/orr/school-preparedness/infection-prevention/actions.html

Resource 2: Everyday Actions for Schools to Prevent and Control the Spread of Infections

Synopsis: This CDC guide outlines the necessary actions for schools to reduce the transmission of infections, such as promoting cleaner air, regular cleaning and sanitizing routines, proper handwashing, respiratory etiquette, and ensuring vaccinations are up to date.

Why I Chose This Resource: This resource is important because it provides specific guidance on how to reduce the spread of infections in school settings, which directly applies to childcare and early education environments. The strategies outlined are practical, actionable, and can be used to maintain a safe and healthy setting for young children.

Intended Audience: Educators, childcare providers, school administrators, and parents.

How I Plan to Use It: I plan to apply the recommendations from this guide in my practice to create a cleaner, safer environment for children and staff. Implementing these strategies will help ensure better infection control and healthier spaces for young learners.

Source/Link/Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/orr/school-preparedness/infection-prevention/actions.html

RESOURCE 3: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-providers/education-sector/early-learning-services/keeping-your-centre-healthy

Synopsis: This resource from Health New Zealand provides guidelines to help early learning services minimize the spread of infections. It includes information on how infections spread, the importance of hand hygiene, the exclusion of sick children and staff, and the role of immunizations. It also discusses how to handle outbreaks of gastroenteritis or respiratory illnesses in early childhood settings.

Why I Chose This Resource: I chose this resource because it offers comprehensive and culturally relevant guidelines tailored to early childhood settings in New Zealand. The clear focus on preventing the spread of infections is critical for maintaining healthy environments in childcare settings, especially in regions where children’s immune systems are still developing.

Intended Audience: Early childhood educators, childcare providers, and public health professionals in New Zealand.

How I Plan to Use It: This resource will inform my practice by helping me implement infection control measures in early childhood settings. I will use the exclusion guidelines to ensure sick children and staff are properly managed to prevent outbreaks, and I will promote better hand hygiene and immunization practices within the centers I work with.

SOURCE 4: https://pressbooks.atlanticoer-relatlantique.ca/ecenutrition/chapter/chapter-eight-prevention-of-illness/

Synopsis: This resource provides guidelines for early learning services to minimize infection spread, focusing on hand hygiene, exclusion of sick children and staff, immunization, and managing outbreaks. It highlights the importance of controlling infection in environments where children's immune systems are still developing.

Why I Chose This Resource: It offers relevant, culturally sensitive guidelines for infection control, crucial for maintaining healthy childcare settings in New Zealand.

Intended Audience: Early childhood educators and childcare providers.

How I Plan to Use It: I will apply these infection control strategies in practice.

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Whenever children are together, there is a chance of spreading infections. This is especially true among infants and toddlers who are likely to use their hands to wipe their noses or rub their eyes and then handle toys or touch other children. These children then touch their noses and rub their eyes so the virus goes from the nose or eyes of one child by way of hands or toys to the next child who then rubs his own eyes or nose. And children get sick a lot in the first several years of life as their bodies are building immunity to infections.

In many child care facilities, the staff simply cannot care for a sick child due to space or staff limitations, although in others, the child can be kept comfortable and allowed to rest as needed in a separate area of the room where they have already exposed the other children. When waiting to be picked up, an ill child who is being excluded should be in a location when no contact occurs with those who have not already been exposed to their infection. Often, it is best for the child not to be moved to another space to prevent their illness from spreading throughout the facility and to maintain good supervision of the child. In some programs, a staff member who knows the child well and who is trained to care for ill children may care for the child to a space set aside for such care and where others will not be exposed. If the child requires minimal care for a condition that doesn't require exclusion, there may a place for the child to lie down while remaining within sight of a staff member when the child needs to rest. In some communities, special sick child care centers have been established for children with mild illnesses who cannot participate or need more care than the staff can provide in the child's usual care setting.

Even with all these prevention measures, it is likely that some infections will be spread in the child care center. For many of these infections, a child is contagious a day or more before he has symptoms. Be sure to wash your and your child's hands frequently. You never know when your child or another child is passing a virus or bacteria. Sometimes your child will become sick while at child care and need to go home. You will need to have a plan so someone can pick him up. See When to Keep Your Child Home from Child Care.

Fortunately, not all illnesses are contagious (like ear infections). In these cases, there's no need to separate your sick child from the other children. Most medications can be scheduled to be given only at home. If your child needs medication during the day, be sure that the facility has clear procedures and staff who have training to give medication. Ask what they do to be sure they have the right child, receiving the right medication, at the right time, by the right route and in the right dose--and document each dose.

Measures to Promote Good Hygiene in Child Care:

To reduce the risk of disease in child care settings as well as schools, the facility should meet certain criteria that promote good hygiene.

Are there sinks in every room, and are there separate sinks for preparing food and washing hands? Is food handled in areas separate from the toilets and diaper-changing tables?

Are the toilets and sinks clean and readily available for the children and staff? Are disposable paper towels used so each child will use only his own towel and not share with others?

Are toys that infants and toddlers put in their mouths sanitized before others can play with them?

Are all doors and cabinet handles, drinking fountains, all surfaces in the toileting and diapering areas cleaned and disinfected at the end of every day?

Are all changing tables and any potty chairs cleaned and disinfected after each use?

Are staff and other children fully immunized, especially against the flu?

Is food brought in from home properly stored? Is food prepared on site properly handled?

Is breast milk labeled and stored correctly?

Are children and their caregivers or teachers instructed to wash their hands throughout the day, including:

When they arrive at the facility

Before and after handling food, feeding a child, or eating

After using the toilet, changing a diaper, or helping a child use the bathroom (Following a diaper change, the caregiver's and child's hands should be washed and the diaper-changing surfaces should be disinfected.)

After helping a child wipe his nose or mouth or tending to a cut or sore

After playing in sandboxes

Before and after playing in water that is used by other children

Before and after staff members give medicine to a child

After handling wastebaskets or garbage

After handling a pet or other animal

Make sure your own child understands good hygiene and the importance of hand washing after using the toilet and before and after eating.

Is health consultation available to deal with outbreaks or to review policies?

Additional Information & Resources:

Council on Early Childhood (Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics)

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child care~ germs~ spreading germs in child care~ sharing toys~ disease transmission~ good hygene~ school~ child care~ illness in child care~ prevent spread of germs~ flu exclusion recommendation~ when to keep child home from school~ sick kid

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Reducing the Spread of Illness in Child Care

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​​​Whenever children are together, there is a chance of spreading infections. This is especially true among infants and toddlers who are likely to use their hands to wipe their noses or rub their eyes and then handle toys or touch other children.

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Resource 1

Source: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/child-day-care/safe_play_space.pdf

Synopsis: This document outlines the standards for creating safe and developmentally appropriate play spaces in BC childcare settings, focusing on safety features like equipment, plants, and landscape design to ensure children's protection while promoting development.

Why I Chose This Resource: The resource provides specific guidelines for BC, ensuring that the play spaces meet the provincial standards and best practices for early childhood safety. This is crucial for creating safe environments for children.

Intended Audience: Early childhood educators, childcare providers, and facility designers.

How I Plan to Use It: I plan to use this resource to guide the design or evaluation of childcare play areas, ensuring they comply with BC regulations and support children's physical and cognitive development.

Source/Link/Reference: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/child-day-care/safe_play_space.pdf

Resource 2: Preschool Emergency Procedures and Preparedness Plans

Source:https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/preschool-emergency-procedures

Synopsis: This resource outlines critical steps for developing emergency procedures in preschools, including evacuation plans, emergency drills, and communication strategies. It stresses the importance of preparing for various emergencies, from medical incidents to natural disasters.

Why I Chose This Resource: This resource is comprehensive and helps prepare childcare providers for emergencies, minimizing risks and ensuring that staff and children know what to do in an emergency. It provides practical templates and guidelines for creating an effective plan.

Intended Audience: Early childhood educators, childcare providers, and facility managers.

How I Plan to Use It: I will implement this plan to enhance emergency preparedness in preschool settings, ensuring that all staff are trained and all procedures are documented and regularly practiced.

Source/Link/Reference: https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/preschool-emergency-procedures

RESOURCE 3

https://www.schoolcues.com/blog/10-safety-tips-for-child-care-centers/

Synopsis: This resource offers essential safety tips for child care centers, including conducting a risk assessment, creating an emergency plan, and ensuring children are supervised at all times. It highlights the importance of age-appropriate activities, storing cleaning products and medications securely, using child-safe furniture, and installing safety gates. Additionally, the guide advises keeping a first aid kit available, ensuring regular cleaning, and having staff trained in first aid and CPR to prevent accidents and minimize health risks.

Why I Chose This Resource: This resource provides practical, actionable steps to ensure safety and well-being in childcare environments.

Intended Audience: Childcare providers, educators, and childcare center owners.

How I Plan to Use It: I will apply these safety tips to enhance the safety measures at childcare centers I work with.

RESOURCE 4: https://www.virtuallabschool.org/fcc/safe-environments/lesson-1

Synopsis: This resource emphasizes the importance of creating and maintaining safe environments in family child care settings. It covers challenges like supervising children across various age groups, home safety, and working solo as the primary caregiver. It offers strategies to mitigate risks, such as daily checklists, emergency preparedness, and using safety procedures. It also highlights how family child care providers can balance safety with developmental activities for children.

Why I Chose This Resource: It provides practical strategies for ensuring safety while maintaining a nurturing home-like environment.

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Nutrition Category:

https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/VeganEatingPediatrics-trh.pdf

Resource 1: Healthy Vegan Eating for Children

Synopsis: This resource provides practical advice for planning a balanced vegan diet for children, covering important nutrients like protein, calcium, and vitamins, as well as meal planning tips and vegan-friendly snack ideas.

Why I Chose This Resource: Vegan diets are becoming more common, and this resource offers valuable insights on how to ensure children receive all the necessary nutrients while following a vegan diet. It helps parents and caregivers navigate potential nutritional gaps.

Intended Audience: Parents, caregivers, and childcare providers.

How I Plan to Use It: I plan to use this resource to educate parents about balanced vegan eating for children and provide meal planning support for children in my care who follow a vegan diet.

Source/Link/Reference:  https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/VeganEatingPediatrics-trh.pdf

RESOURCE 2

https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/early-childhood-nutrition

Synopsis: This UNICEF resource highlights the critical importance of nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life. It stresses the significance of breastfeeding, especially during the first hour after birth and exclusively for the first six months. At six months, children need nutrient-dense first foods and frequent feeding. The guide also addresses global challenges, including poor diets and malnutrition, with a focus on the need for diverse, energy-rich foods. UNICEF supports breastfeeding, improves food access, and provides micronutrient supplementation to reduce deficiencies and promote healthy growth.

Why I Chose This Resource: It provides vital information on preventing malnutrition in the critical early years.

RESOURCE 3: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/nutrition-for-kids/art-20049335

Synopsis: This Mayo Clinic resource provides essential guidelines on childhood nutrition, focusing on the importance of nutrient-dense foods and age-appropriate diets. It emphasizes protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy as the core components of a child’s healthy diet. The guide suggests limiting added sugars, saturated fats, and salt, and encourages children to eat a variety of foods to meet their nutritional needs. The resource also provides daily dietary guidelines for children at different age levels, from toddlers to teenagers, to promote optimal growth and development.

Why I Chose This Resource: This resource is selected for its comprehensive approach to children’s nutrition, providing clear and practical guidelines backed by current dietary recommendations. It is a valuable tool for parents and caregivers aiming to ensure healthy eating habits for children at various stages of growth.

Intended Audience: Parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals seeking reliable and clear nutritional guidelines for children.

How I Plan to Use It: I plan to use this resource to guide my practice by helping parents and caregivers implement healthy eating habits for children. The practical dietary recommendations will assist in creating meal plans that align with the nutritional needs of different age groups.

RESOURCE 4: https://schoolnutrition.org/journal/spring-2020-nutritional-quality-of-foods-served-in-child-care-settings/

Synopsis: This resource focuses on the nutritional quality of foods served in child care settings, with a particular emphasis on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The study compares the nutritional value of meals served in facilities that participate in the CACFP to those that do not. It highlights the positive impact of CACFP participation in increasing the consumption of nutrient-dense foods and providing meals that meet federal guidelines.

Why I Chose This Resource: I chose this resource for its in-depth analysis of the nutritional value of foods served in child care settings. It provides evidence supporting the benefits of CACFP participation, which is crucial for ensuring that children in early childhood settings receive balanced, nutrient-rich meals that promote their growth and development.

Intended Audience: Child care providers, nutritionists, policymakers, and researchers interested in improving nutrition in child care settings.

How I Plan to Use It: This resource will inform my practice by helping me advocate for the implementation of CACFP guidelines in child care settings. It will also guide me in assisting providers to plan and serve more nutrient-dense meals while addressing common barriers to meeting nutrition standards.