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Welcome to our new video library, where we showcase a variety of videos from our award-winning webcast trainings.

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Archive of Early Childhood Education and Training Program video clips and movies

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Joiel Ray Alexander describes what a daily health check is, and how you should go about conducting one in a child care program. From "4-24-14 Child Abuse and Maltreatment: Protective Factors".

Date aired: 4/24/2014
Date added to library: 03/01/2016

Video Tags/Keywords:
daily, health check, health, Joiel Ray Alexander, Child Abuse and Maltreatment, CAM, child abuse, maltreatment

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Early Childhood Education and Training Program video

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What Does Lead Poisoning Do To Your Brain?

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Lead Poisoning - Possible Signs & Symptoms in Children

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Resources to Make You Smile! is a monthly newsletter featuring information and tools to promote good oral health. To sign up, select the button below, enter your email address, choose "Oral Health," and select "Subscribe." Subscribe to the Newsletter This series of handouts for pregnant women and parents of infants and young children provides simple tips on oral health issues.

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Handwashing and Basic Health Considerations for the Assessment Process

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Raising food allergy awareness and offering the option of non-food trinkets and toys in a separate bowl makes Halloween safer and more inclusive for all trick-or-treaters.

The Teal Pumpkin Project

The Teal Pumpkin Project is a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in 13 children living with food allergies, and many others impacted by intolerances and other conditions. Placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep signals that, in addition to candy, you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for all trick or treaters. Help us make this Halloween one to remember!

The Teal Pumpkin Project Map

By adding your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project Map for Halloween season, you are making your house easy to find for those on the hunt for non-food treats. The more houses added to the Map, the more inclusive (and therefore more fun) we can make Halloween!

Learn More

Information and Resources for All

Everything you need to have a safe Halloween.

Teal Pumpkin Shop

The Teal Pumpkin Project In the News

Follow Us on Social for Giveaways, Contests, and More!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Teal Pumpkin Project?

Putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep means you have non-food treats available, such as glow sticks or small toys. This simple act promotes inclusion for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.

1. Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters

2. Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to indicate to passersby that you have non-food treats available

3. Spread the word! Share the Teal Pumpkin Project with your friends and family

Why is this important?

Halloween can be a tricky time for families managing food allergies. Many traditional Halloween treats aren't safe for children with life-threatening food allergies. The Teal Pumpkin Project promotes safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies. This worldwide movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option. It keeps Halloween a fun, positive experience for all!

How did the project start?

The Teal Pumpkin Project was inspired by a local awareness activity run by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET). FARE thanks FACET for their ongoing partnership as we work to reach families across the country and around the world with the Teal Pumpkin Project's messages of awareness, inclusion and community.

Proud Supporters

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Make Halloween safer and more inclusive by joining the Teal Pumpkin Project

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5 Common Household Products that are Dangerous to Curious Toddlers

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at-home~​The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) lists 5 common household products than can be very dangerous for curious toddlers and offers recommendations to prevent injuries and keep children safe.

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Head Start and other early childhood programs play an important role in response and recovery efforts after a disaster or emergency. In the days and weeks after the event, Head Start staff can provide a critical service by providing stability and sharing information about resources and agencies that can assist families. Pre- and post-emergency planning for the program itself is, of course, also critical.

Tip Sheets for Families

Resources for Programs

A Guide to Building Healthy and Safe Early Childhood Facilities After a Natural Disaster
Program leaders can use this guide when building a new facility or renovating a facility after a natural disaster. This guide will inform conversations about health and safety with the building team.

Health and Safety Recovery Checklist
Use this checklist to gather information after a major disaster. This can inform your recovery efforts so you can make sure that the facility is safe for the return of the children in your care.

Introducing the Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs
In this webinar, learn how to use the Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs. Explore how to develop emergency plans to keep children, families, and staff safe if disaster strikes.

Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs
Programs can use this manual as a guide for their emergency planning process. Find the latest tools and resources to support children, families, and communities before, during, and after an emergency. An emergency may be a catastrophic natural event, like a hurricane, flood, or wildfire, or a man-made disaster, such as a shooting. No matter the crisis, early childhood programs need to be ready with impact, relief, and recovery plans.

Preparing for Emergencies with Mental Health in Mind
Emergencies can have serious effects on the mental health of staff, children, and families. Learn concrete strategies to use when preparing for and responding to emergencies from a mental health perspective.

Additional Resources

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Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery | ECLKC

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Explore and share materials about disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for Head Start families and programs.

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Arts and craft projects can help children build motor skills, attention, and self-esteem. They are also a fun and creative outlet for families spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. But how can parents know which art and craft materials are safe for children?

Here are some common questions we hear, and what parents should look for when shopping for art and craft supplies for their family: ​

Q: Are water-based art supplies always safe?

A: In general, water-based supplies are preferable because they do not contain chemical solvents. Unintentionally eating even small amounts of these solvents can be fatal.

Coloring agents used in paints and inks can contain potentially harmful substances such as toxic metals. Some water-based, cold-water dyes are chemicals that cause some people to develop allergic reactions after repeated exposures. Long-term health effects have not been thoroughly studied, so it's best to look for safer alternatives. Because some water-based paints may contain formaldehyde preservative, choose formaldehyde-free products. Water-based, unscented markers are a better choice than permanent or dry-erase markers. Make sure to avoid ingestion (such as licking paintbrushes).

Q: I heard on the news that some crayons may contain asbestos fibers. How can I make sure the crayons I buy do not have asbestos?

​A: An Environmental Working Group (EWG) report revealed that 4 crayon brands tested in independent laboratories contained detectable levels of asbestos fibers. All 4 crayon types were made in China. The source of the asbestos contamination was from the use of talc, which is used as a binding agent in crayons.

The risk of significant exposure to asbestos fibers from typical use of these crayons is low. However, when purchasing crayons, make sure the label does not show talc in the ingredients. The label should also have a statement that the product complies with ASTM D4236 (a label created by the American Society for Testing and Materials), and the label has the seal of The Art and Creative Materials Institute. The EWG report was the third study in 15 years to document the presence of asbestos in children's products and highlights the ongoing nature of the issue and need for reform on a federal level.

Q: I am a painter and work out of an art studio in my home. How can I protect my children from potentially harmful exposures from the paint and other materials I use?

A: Artists, such as painters, have unique job-related health concerns. They face potential exposures to a variety of toxic chemicals in art supplies, and unregulated settings where they often do their work (such as the home or studio). Artists may work in small and intensely contaminated home workspaces, leading to exposures for themselves and their families. Potential hazards in paints and related products include heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, or cadmium), solvents (such as xylene, toluene, or benzene), and others (such as methylene chloride, acids, or alkalis).

Children and family members should be kept out of home art studios and other locations where potentially hazardous materials are used, stored, or thrown away. Home art studios should follow basic principles of hygiene and safety. This includes selecting less toxic materials when possible, proper ventilation, use of protective gear, proper cleanup methods, and appropriate storage and disposal of materials. Before returning to other areas of the home, painters should wash their hands thoroughly and change their work clothing and shoes.

Agencies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offer more detailed safety guidance. The Arts, Crafts & Theatre Safety organization has a hotline that provides advice on health and safety issues in the arts field.

Q: What are safe art materials to purchase for my children?

A: To ensure that an art material has been evaluated by a toxicologist (an expert in poisons and their effects) for safety, look for the statement: "conforms to ASTM [American Society for Testing and Materials] D4236." It should also have an Approved Product seal from The Art and Creative Materials Institute.

Although this label cannot guarantee complete safety of a material, products with this label are a better choice than those that carry the Cautionary Label (do not purchase art materials labeled "Keep Out of Reach of Children" or "Not for Use by Children," or that have the words "Poison," "Danger," "Warning," or "Caution," or that contain hazard warnings on the label). Avoid using donated or found materials unless they are in the original containers with full labeling.​

Keep your family's arts and craft activities safe and fun. It's best to supervise children when they're using art materials. Remind them that safe cleanup, including handwashing (with soap and water), is important. When they've finished a project, make sure supplies they are properly labeled and stored. Then, enjoy their creations!

About the authors

​ Ruth A. Etzel, MD, PhD, FAAP is an internationally recognized pediatrician, environmental epidemiologist, and preventive medicine specialist. She performed the first study to document that children with secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke had measurable exposure to nicotine. Her pioneering work led to nationwide efforts to reduce indoor exposure to tobacco, including the ban on smoking in US airliners. She also produced the first research to show that exposure to toxigenic molds in the home could be dangerous to infants' health. She served on the AAP Committee on Environmental Health from 1986 to 1995 and chaired it from 1995 to 1999. From 2009-2012 she led the World Health Organization's activities to protect children from environmental hazards. She is the co-editor of the Textbook of Children's Environmental Health.

​​Sophie J. Balk, MD, FAAP, is a general pediatrician at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore and Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. Her academic work focuses on educating clinicians about pediatric environmental health. She is a past member and chairperson of the AAP Council on Environmental Health, and a past member of the AAP Section on Tobacco Control Executive Committee. She has served as Associate Editor of the 4 editions of Pediatric Environmental Health. Dr. Balk has published and lectured on skin cancer prevention, tobacco issues, and other environmental health issues relevant to pediatric practice.​

Adapted from Protecting Your Child's Health: Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions (American Academy of Pediatrics copyright 2020) ＆ Healthy Children magazine Fall 2020

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Choosing Safe Art & Craft Supplies for Children

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Parents are buying a lot more arts and craft supplies for their children these days. But which ones are safe? Read on for tips from pediatric environmental health experts Dr. Sophie J. Balk and Dr. Ruth A. Etzel. ​

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Call 1-800-222-1222 or get help online at webpoisoncontrol.org for all poison emergencies and questions. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Our poison experts are available 24/7. About Us →

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Call 1-800-222-1222 or get help online at webpoisoncontrol.org for all poison emergencies and questions. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Our poison experts are available 24/7. About Us →

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Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources include contaminated air, water and soil. Adults who work with batteries, do home renovations or work in auto repair shops also might be exposed to lead.

There is treatment for lead poisoning, but taking some simple precautions can help protect you and your family from lead exposure before harm is done.

Initially, lead poisoning can be hard to detect - even people who seem healthy can have high blood levels of lead. Signs and symptoms usually don't appear until dangerous amounts have accumulated.

Lead poisoning symptoms in children

Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children include:

Developmental delay

Learning difficulties

Irritability

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

Sluggishness and fatigue

Abdominal pain

Vomiting

Constipation

Hearing loss

Seizures

Eating things, such as paint chips, that aren't food (pica)

Lead poisoning symptoms in newborns

Babies exposed to lead before birth might:

Be born prematurely

Have lower birth weight

Have slowed growth

Lead poisoning symptoms in adults

Although children are primarily at risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous for adults. Signs and symptoms in adults might include:

High blood pressure

Joint and muscle pain

Difficulties with memory or concentration

Headache

Abdominal pain

Mood disorders

Reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm

Miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth in pregnant women

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Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth's crust, but human activity - mining, burning fossil fuels and manufacturing - has caused it to become more widespread. Lead was also once used in paint and gasoline and is still used in batteries, solder, pipes, pottery, roofing materials and some cosmetics.

Lead in paint

Lead-based paints for homes, children's toys and household furniture have been banned in the United States since 1978. But lead-based paint is still on walls and woodwork in many older homes and apartments. Most lead poisoning in children results from eating chips of deteriorating lead-based paint.

Water pipes and imported canned goods

Lead pipes, brass plumbing fixtures and copper pipes soldered with lead can release lead particles into tap water. Lead solder in food cans, banned in the United States, is still used in some countries.

Other sources of lead exposure

Lead sometimes can also be found in:

Soil. Lead particles from leaded gasoline or paint settle on soil and can last years. Lead-contaminated soil is still a major problem around highways and in some urban settings. Some soil close to walls of older houses contains lead.

Household dust. Household dust can contain lead from lead paint chips or from contaminated soil brought in from outside.

Pottery. Glazes found on some ceramics, china and porcelain can contain lead that can leach into food served or stored in the pottery.

Toys. Lead is sometimes found in toys and other products produced abroad.

Cosmetics. Tiro, an eye cosmetic from Nigeria, has been linked to lead poisoning. Kohl is another eye makeup that may contain lead.

Herbal or folk remedies. Lead poisoning has been linked to greta and azarcon, traditional Hispanic medicines, as well as some from India, China and other countries.

Mexican candy. Tamarind, an ingredient used in some candies made in Mexico, might contain lead.

Lead bullets. Time spent at firing ranges can lead to exposure.

Occupations. People are exposed to lead and can bring it home on their clothes when they work in auto repair, mining, pipe fitting, battery manufacturing, painting, construction and certain other fields.

Factors that may increase your risk of lead poisoning include:

Age. Infants and young children are more likely to be exposed to lead than are older children. They might chew paint that flakes off walls and woodwork, and their hands can be contaminated with lead dust. Young children also absorb lead more easily, and it's more harmful for them than it is for adults and older children.

Living in an older home. Although the use of lead-based paints has been banned since the 1970s, older homes and buildings often retain remnants of this paint. People renovating an older home are at even higher risk.

Certain hobbies. Making stained glass and some jewelry requires the use of lead solder. Refinishing old furniture might put you in contact with layers of lead paint.

Living in developing countries. Developing countries often have less strict rules regarding exposure to lead than do developed countries. American families who adopt a child from another country might want to have the child's blood tested for lead poisoning. Immigrant and refugee children also should be tested.

Lead can harm an unborn child. If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, be especially careful to avoid exposure to lead.

Exposure to even low levels of lead can cause damage over time, especially in children. The greatest risk is to brain development, where irreversible damage can occur. Higher levels can damage the kidneys and nervous system in both children and adults. Very high lead levels may cause seizures, unconsciousness and death.

Simple measures can help protect you and your family from lead poisoning:

Wash hands and toys. To help reduce hand-to-mouth transfer of contaminated dust or soil, wash your children's hands after outdoor play, before eating and at bedtime. Wash their toys regularly.

Clean dusty surfaces. Clean your floors with a wet mop and wipe furniture, windowsills and other dusty surfaces with a damp cloth.

Remove shoes before entering the house. This will help keep lead-based soil outside.

Run cold water. If you have older plumbing containing lead pipes or fittings, run your cold water for at least a minute before using. Don't use hot tap water to make baby formula or for cooking.

Prevent children from playing on soil. Provide them with a sandbox that's covered when not in use. Plant grass or cover bare soil with mulch.

Eat a healthy diet. Regular meals and good nutrition might help lower lead absorption. Children especially need enough calcium, vitamin C and iron in their diets to help keep lead from being absorbed.

Keep your home well maintained. If your home has lead-based paint, check regularly for peeling paint and fix problems promptly. Try not to sand, which generates dust particles that contain lead.

1. Sample JA. Childhood lead poisoning: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 10, 2021.

2. Lead FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/faqs/lead-faqs.htm. Accessed Nov. 11, 2021.

3. Sample JA. Childhood lead poisoning: Management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 10, 2021.

4. Markowitz M. Lead poisoning: An update. Pediatrics in Review. 2021; doi:10.1542/pir.2020-0026.

5. Lead poisoning. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health. Accessed Nov. 11, 2021.

6. Goldman RH, et al. Lead exposure and poisoning in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 10, 2021.

7. Protect your family from sources of lead. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-sources-lead. Accessed Nov. 11, 2021.

8. Sample JA. Childhood lead poisoning: Exposure and prevention. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 10, 2021.

9. What are possible health effects from lead exposure? Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/leadtoxicity/physiological_effects. Accessed Nov. 11, 2021.

10. Ferri FF. Lead poisoning. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2022. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 22, 2021.

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Lead poisoning: Spot symptoms and limit exposure-Lead poisoning - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic

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Learn about lead poisoning symptoms and treatment of lead exposure in children and adults. Explore ways to keep your kids safe from lead exposure.

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Enjoy Each Other While Eating Family Meals Together

Talk about fun and happy things. If meals are times for family arguments, your child may learn unhealthy attitudes toward food.

Lead by Example

Be a good role model. As a parent, you are your child's most important role model - especially when it comes to making healthy choices. They learn by watching you!

Eat with your child. If you eat healthy and try new foods, your child will, too.

Make Healthy Food Fun to Eat

Cut baked chicken, low-fat cheese, and veggies into bite-size pieces. Let kids "dip" these pieces into dunking sauces. Try hummus, low-fat ranch dressing, salsa, ketchup, or mustard.

Cut food into fun and easy shapes with cookie cutters.

Give your kids the ingredients to "build" their own healthy salad, taco, or pizza. Name the food after your child, eg. "Susan's Specialty Salad".

Let Kids Help with Meals and Snacks

Have your kids prepare meals and snacks with you. Children are more likely to eat food that they help make.

Let them help:

Make the shopping list

Pick out food at the grocery store

Wash produce

Slice, mix, bake, or cook food (as age-appropriate)

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Healthy Tips For Picky Eaters | Extension | University of Nevada, Reno

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Exploring Food: How to Explore New Food with Preschoolers

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Healthy eating during the toddler years

Encouraging a nutritious diet can help your toddler grow health and strong.

For parents, the toddler years can be a fun and wonderful, yet challenging time. As our little ones begin to gain language skills and independence, parents often begin to worry if their toddlers are eating adequately to fuel their growing bodies. Toddlers are very busy and often don't want to stop playing to eat. Toddlers can also be picky and some days eat everything they are given but other days hardly eat anything at all. All of these scenarios are a normal part of a toddler's development and nothing to be concerned about. As a parent here are a few things to remember when feeding your toddler to help them enjoy mealtime and learn to eat healthy:

Introduce new foods slowly and with other foods your toddler likes. New foods with different textures, smells and tastes can be intimidating for toddlers. Allow them the opportunity to try the new foods a few times in a neutral, no pressure environment.

Allow self-feeding from an early age. As messy as it can be, self-feeding skills are critical skills to master.

Offer a variety of healthy foods at meals and snacks. Be sure to include foods from all MyPlate's Food Groups.

Let your toddler choose how much they want to eat. Watch for signs that he/she is done eating: playing with food, throwing food and saying "all done" tell us that they are done eating, even if parents think they haven't eaten enough. Trust your toddler to know when they are full. It is not recommended to make a toddler, or any child, clean their plate. Let their hunger cues guide eating.

Serve proper portion sizes. You can always give the child more food after they have eaten their first portion. A toddler's stomach is much smaller than an adults and even older children, so we can't expect them to eat as much.

Set your meal and snack schedule and stick to it. Toddlers will have the security knowing that there will be a snack after nap or before morning playtime.

Snacks are very important for toddlers. Be sure to add two to three snacks to their daily diet. Healthy snack foods can help toddlers get nutrients they might miss at meal time.

Toddlers simply may not eat much on various days. You may notice their appetite goes up and down and that's okay. Continue to offer meals and snacks and let them choose what and how much to eat.

Eat together as a family. Family mealtimes are beneficial to children of all ages. You might even find they eat better if you join them. Being a good role model for healthy eating will allow your toddler to see you enjoying healthy foods.

Encouraging your toddler to develop positive attitudes towards food and helping them enjoy nutritious meals and snacks will help your child grow healthy and strong.

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Encouraging a nutritious diet can help your toddler grow health and strong.

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Early childhood is an exciting time, as children begin to learn about themselves and the world around them. It's a time when they begin to develop habits that can affect them throughout their lives, especially when it comes to food and fitness.

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Anyone who's ever tried to feed a child (something other than cereal or ice cream) knows they don't always eat what you want. Trying to figure out what to make to nourish their tiny bodies is stressful. Plus, just because it gets served doesn't mean your kids will eat it. But kids need nutritious food-healthy fats for their brains, calcium for their bones, and all the vitamins and minerals vegetables offer-and more.

To take out some of the stress and make sure you're offering your child nutrient-dense foods, we compiled expert tips for mealtimes and a list of the top 10 healthy foods for kids. These foods are not only healthy for your kids (and for you!) but are also versatile and easy to prepare.

"Yogurt is a wonderful option for breakfast, a snack or even a dessert but you have to watch the added sugar content," says Katie Andrews, M.S., RD, a childhood nutrition coach and owner of Wellness by Katie. "It's a healthy, filling snack that checks the boxes on protein and vitamin D, a nutrient many kids lack in their diet." Be sure to check if the yogurt you buy has vitamin D because not all brands do.

Yogurt also delivers probiotics, good bacteria that are important for maintaining a healthy gut. Looking for an easy way to pick out a healthy yogurt? Buy plain Greek yogurt, which has zero added sugars plus twice the protein of regular yogurt. Most yogurt that's flavored has added sugar; some new products are flavored with just fruit, but plain is always a safe bet. It's easy to add flavor yourself by adding berries and sprinkling whole-grain cereal on top or creating a fun parfait with fruit. Dress up yogurt even more for kids by turning it into frozen yogurt pops or frozen yogurt bark.

Pictured Recipe: Toaster-Oven Tostadas

Beans are a very nutritious food. They're loaded with protein and fiber, plus they're cheap and take little time to prepare. Buy low-sodium canned beans such as black beans, chickpeas or kidney beans. Simply open the can, rinse them to remove extra sodium and add to any dish.

"Replacing ground beef with beans in a quesadilla or tossing beans with pasta helps maintain high-quality, lean protein while adding a key nutrient: fiber," says Andrews.

There are pastas made from beans too. "Kids ages 4 to 8 need around 25 grams of fiber a day, and most products marketed directly to kids, like fruit snacks and cheese crackers, contain little if any. Fiber helps promote healthy digestion and helps your kids feel fuller, longer, so they aren't asking you for a snack five minutes after dinner ends," says Andrews.

Pictured Recipe: Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries

One large egg has 6 grams of protein and delivers vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iron, per the USDA. Some eggs are also fortified with omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in kids' brain development. Don't worry about the cholesterol-saturated and trans fats have a bigger impact on raising bad cholesterol than eggs.

At breakfast, skip the pastries, fried foods and processed meats and scramble some eggs for your kids instead. If your kids aren't fans of scrambled, try different presentations like egg salad or egg casseroles.

Eggs also make a great starter food for babies. Doctors used to recommend not giving eggs until babies were 12 months old. However, as of 2020, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology states that allergenic foods like eggs can be introduced when babies are ready for solid foods, and in fact, might help prevent food allergies.

Pictured Recipe: Avocado-Bun Turkey Sliders

Avocados are full of healthy benefits and are an easy way to get healthy fats into your child's diet. They are high in monounsaturated fats, which decrease inflammation and keep cholesterol levels healthy. Fat moves through the digestive tract slowly, so it keeps kids full longer. But the best part of avocados? Their versatility. You can eat them with a spoon, mash them on toast, throw them into a smoothie, mix them into chicken or tuna salad or make a pasta sauce like avocado pesto.

5. Sweet Potato

Pictured Recipe: Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Short on time and need something nutritious? Wash a sweet potato, poke some holes in it and microwave it for 3-5 minutes (depending on its size). Slice it lengthwise, let it cool, then scoop it onto your child's plate.

Whether your kid is 6 months, 6 years old or 16 years old, sweet potatoes are appealing across the board (because they're sweet!). They're packed with beta carotene that the body uses to make vitamin A, fiber and potassium, per the USDA. Adequate potassium intake keeps blood pressure and hearts healthy.

Milk helps build strong bones because it's full of calcium and vitamin D. According to the USDA, one 8-ounce glass of whole cow's milk is also high in phosphorus, vitamin B12 and potassium, and has 8 grams of protein.

Babies shouldn't have cow's milk or milk alternatives until age 1. Offer whole milk until age 2 but keep it under 16 ounces for the day or they might be too full to eat their food, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If your child doesn't like cow's milk, there are a variety of alternatives on shelves. But check the nutrition labels and choose unsweetened or plain varieties for your kids. Plain may have some added sugar to match the sweetness of dairy milk, which may be more palatable to tiny taste buds. Every alternative milk has a different nutrition profile, and some provide very little protein and low levels of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and vitamin D. Soymilk has the most protein, and you'll get the same calcium and vitamin D benefit as long as the milk is fortified.

7. Nuts and Seeds

Pictured Recipe: Salted Coconut-Caramel Energy Balls

Swap the low-fiber, crunchy kid snacks (you know the ones that are practically air) for nuts and seeds to deliver a healthful trio of fiber, protein and healthy fats. Mix it up by offering cashews, walnuts, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and more. If your child has a tree nut allergy, seeds may be a safe choice and a good way to get important nutrition.

Nuts are high in magnesium, a mineral that's crucial in bone development and energy production. Walnuts, pecans, chia seeds and flaxseeds are high in alpha-linolenic (ALA) acid, a type of omega-3 fat that the body can't make (so you have to eat it).

Offer nuts alone or with dried fruit, throw flaxseed into smoothies, sprinkle chia seeds on peanut butter toast, use sliced almonds to "bread" chicken instead of breadcrumbs or make your own granola bars.

8. Whole Grains

Pictured Recipe: One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta

Whole grains deliver a nutrient lacking in most kids' diets: fiber. Fiber keeps them full and regular, in addition to other health benefits. Kids need about 25 grams per day, but many snacks only contain 1-3 grams per serving. Look for 100% whole wheat or whole grain in the ingredients list and at least 3-5 grams of fiber per serving.

High-fiber whole-grain foods for kids include oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, whole-wheat tortillas and whole-wheat bread. If your kids don't tolerate whole-wheat pasta, try half whole-wheat, half-white. You can also use whole-wheat flour or white whole-wheat flour when making pancakes, cookies or pizza dough.

One cup of berries has 4 (or more) grams of fiber and is high in vitamin C and other antioxidants like anthocyanins. Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are also lower in sugar than many fruits. Fresh berries make an excellent snack for kids or a great topping for yogurt. If berries aren't in season, buy unsweetened frozen berries and mix them into a jar of overnight oats or a smoothie.

10. Vegetables, Any Kind!

Pictured Recipe: Maple Roasted Carrots

Kids and adults alike don't eat enough veggies. If you can get your child to eat any vegetable-kudos! And the more color and the greater the variety of vegetables, the better. Each color delivers different nutrients: Leafy greens like spinach and kale are high in vitamin K, orange and red vegetables have vitamin A, peppers are packed with vitamin C, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower contain cancer-fighting compounds and feed good gut bacteria.

"Really it is about taking the 'fear' away from veggies. While a slice of pizza is very approachable, a stalk of broccoli can seem intimidating," says Andrews. "So make veggies easy and accessible. Wash and cut celery, carrot and cucumber sticks and keep them in the fridge for snacking. If you have some green space available, plant a small garden with cherry tomatoes and sweet baby peppers; when kids grow their own food they are proud of the results, and therefore more willing to indulge in the bounty."

Andrews also recommends introducing new vegetables along with ones that your child is already familiar with. "Make-your-own taco bars or pizza night at home are great ways to encourage young chefs!" says Andrews.

Don't give up after offering a vegetable a few times. It takes repeated exposure. Switching up how you serve the vegetables can help too. Some kids won't eat raw tomatoes but will eat cooked diced tomatoes in a pasta sauce.

Tips for Getting Your Kids to Eat Healthy Foods

How can you get your kids to eat more of these healthy foods? Try these ideas.

Use MyPlate as a guide. Aim to make half of their plate fruits and vegetables, one-quarter whole grains like bread or whole-wheat pasta, and one-quarter protein like eggs, meat, cheese, beans or nuts.

Offer variety. Remember that your job as the parent is to offer a variety of food, it's your child's job to eat it.

Get your children involved in the cooking. A 2018 study in found that when kids were included in preparing the food, they tended to eat more of it. This extended to both healthy and unhealthy foods.

Serve food family-style. This way, kids can choose what and how much they would like to eat from the food on the table, recommends Emma Fogt, M.B.A., M.S., RDN, owner of The Biome Kitchen. "Always have one food on the table that the limited-eater child likes," she says. "The child may eat a lot of bread, but you will also have your other foods on the table for them to try."

Be a healthy-eating role model. "Kids are watching your every move!" says Fogt. "Sit down with your kids, eat every 3-4 hours yourself, enjoy healthy snacks and meals, make mealtimes fun and relaxing, play games at mealtime, get chatting, get rid of phones at mealtimes, take the pressure off the food and make it a time to connect. In our busy lives this downtime is sacred-it's not about the food."

Take off the pressure. Kids who are forced to eat certain foods as kids could grow up to dislike or avoid those foods as adults. Coercing kids to eat foods makes mealtime stressful for them and you. "Keep calm and carry on," says Fogt. "It's a long process-I hate to say it, but often can be years-as parents. You have to be so 'chill.' No pressure on the child to eat and no pressure on you to force-feed."

Be consistent and patient. It can take many exposures to the same food for a child to finally decide to try it. When they're ready, they'll try it-and still might not like it, and that's okay.

Remove negative language from the dinner table. "Saying 'you're probably not going to like it but give it a try' tells a child that the food isn't worth trying!" says Andrews. Introduce new foods along with those with which they are familiar.

Remember you're not alone. Seek help if needed. Registered dietitians, pediatric psychologists, pediatricians and feeding specialists can help.

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Feeding your kids and creating healthy habits can be challenging. Find out our top 10 healthy foods for kids and the best tips from our experts.

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Grow It, Try It, Like It! Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care is designed to help Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators provide garden-based nutrition education for children ages 3 through 5 years old in family child care settings. Through the activities in Grow It, Try It, Like It!, children touch, smell, feel, and taste new fruits and vegetables. Children also learn how fruits and vegetables grow. Planting activities help children connect the delicious food choices at the table with the farm, orchard, or garden.

Availability

Order Print Copies: [ English]. These are available for schools, CACFP providers, sponsoring organizations, and state agencies that participate in or administer one of USDA's child nutrition programs. All are welcome to download these materials and make copies. To download the file, please right-click on the link and "save link as."

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Grow It, Try It, Like It! Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care

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Grow It, Try It, Like It! Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care is designed to help Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators provide garden-based nutrition education for children ages 3 through 5 years old in family child care settings.

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While growth slows somewhat during the toddler years, it's a new era where kids will eat and drink more independently.

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MyPlate Tips on Alexa

Get MyPlate nutrition information straight to your home on your Amazon Alexa smart speaker, or on your phone or tablet via the free Amazon Alexa app. For more information, visit our MyPlate Alexa page.

Below are some of the many tips available for parents and caregivers on what and how to feed your kids. And just like the MyPlate.gov website and MyPlate tools, all of the information provided by MyPlate on Alexa is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

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MyPlate has information and materials for kids/ children. Get kids started on a healthy eating adventure with these games and activities! Teach them about MyPlate and the 5 food groups to set them on a path towards a healthy future.

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With your two-year-old's blossoming language and social skills, they're ready to become an active mealtime participant. They should no longer be drinking from a bottle, and can eat the same food as the rest of the family. Their diet should now include three healthy meals a day, plus one or two snacks.

Here are some tips to help your little one develop healthy, safe eating habits and get the nutrition their growing bodies need.

Mealtime tips for toddlers

Try not to fixate on amounts of food they are eating.

Avoid making mealtimes a battle.

Pay attention to adopting healthy eating habits-including sitting as a family at mealtime.

Focus on making healthy food choices as a family.

Unsafe foods for toddlers: choking risks

At two years old, your child should be able to use a spoon, drink from a cup with just one hand, and feed themselves a wide variety of finger foods. However, they are still learning to chew and swallow efficiently and may gulp food down when in a hurry to get on with playing. For that reason, the risk of choking at this age is high.

Avoid these foods, which could be swallowed whole and block the windpipe:

Hot dogs (unless cut in quarters lengthwise before being sliced)

Chunks of peanut butter (Peanut butter may be spread thinly on bread or a cracker, but never give chunks of peanut butter to a toddler.)

Nuts-especially peanuts

Raw cherries with pits

Round, hard candies-including jelly beans

Whole grapes

Marshmallows

Raw carrots, celery, green beans

Seeds-such as processed pumpkin or sunflower seeds

Whole grapes, cherry tomatoes (cut them in quarters)

Large chunks of any food such as meat, potatoes, or raw vegetables and fruits

The best foods for toddlers include:

Protein foods like meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds and soy

Dairy such as milk, yogurt, cheese or calcium-fortified soymilk

Fruits and vegetables

Grains such as whole wheat bread and oatmeal

It is normal for toddlers to choose from a limited number of foods, reject foods entirely, and then change their preferences over time. Never force your child to eat something they do not want to eat. The best approach is to let your child to choose from 2 to 3 healthy options, and continue to offer new foods as their tastes change.

Offering a variety of foods and leaving the choices up to your child will eventually allow them to eat a balanced diet on their own. Toddlers also like to feed themselves. So, whenever possible, offer your child finger foods instead of cooked ones that require a fork or spoon to eat.

Supplements for some children

Vitamin supplements are rarely necessary for toddlers who eat a varied diet, with a few exceptions.

Vitamin D. Infants under 12 months of age require 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per day and older children and adolescents require 600 IU per day. This amount of vitamin D can prevent rickets-a condition characterized by the softening and weakening of bones. If your child is not regularly exposed to sunlight or is consuming enough vitamin D in their diet, talk to your pediatrician about a vitamin D supplement. See Vitamin D for Babies, Children & Adolescents for more information and a list of vitamin D-enriched foods.

Iron. Supplemental iron may be needed if your child eats very little meat, iron-fortified cereal, or vegetables rich in iron. Large quantities of milk (more than 32 ounces [960 mL] per day) also may interfere with the proper absorption of iron, increasing the risk of iron deficiency anemia.

Calcium. Your child should drink 16 ounces (480 mL) of low-fat or nonfat milk each day. This will provide most of the calcium they need for bone growth and still not interfere with their appetite for other foods-particularly those that provide iron.

Note: Children stay on whole milk until they are two years of age-unless there is a reason to switch a baby to low-fat milk sooner. Whole milk contains approximately 4% milk fat. It may help to gradually switch your child from whole milk to a lower-fat milk. Therefore, many pediatricians recommend that children get reduced fat (2%) milk for a few weeks before switching them to low fat (1%) or no fat (skim) milk.

More information

American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Obesity (Copyright © 2022)

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diet~ food~ nutrition~ obesity~ healthy eating~ two-year-old~ meals~ language~ social skills~ choices~ supplements~ vitamins~ milk~ food groups

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Feeding & Nutrition Tips: Your 2-Year-Old

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By age two, your toddler should no longer be drinking from a bottle. They should be eating three healthy meals a day, plus one or two snacks. With their improved language and social skills, they'll become an active participant at mealtimes if given the chance to eat with everyone else.

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We are a non-profit on a mission to help families and communities overcome the barriers to eating well.

including Recipes, Favorite Foods, Meal-o-Matic, Picky Eaters, Menu Planners, and more see more

including Virtual Learning, Outreach, Toolkit Topics, In-person events & activites see more

including Sustainability, Community Support, Impact see more

https://www.doctoryum.org/

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We are a non-profit on a mission to help families and communities overcome the barriers to eating well.

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Food is essential for everyone. It plays a role in our culture, heritage and everyday lives, from ordinary days to special occasions and holidays. Learn about the importance of each food group and how to properly plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks in a safe way.

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The Science of Caffeine: The World's Most Popular Drug

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Healthy Eating

It's important for preschoolers to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy and fortified soy alternatives. Choose options for meals, beverages, and snacks that have limited added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.

The amount of food preschoolers need depends on a variety of factors, including age, sex, and physical activity level. Use the MyPlate Plan as a general guide to how much they should eat from each food group every day.

Preschoolers have a wide range of normal growth; every child is different. Your child's healthcare provider will monitor their growth over time using growth charts and other tools. Be sure to discuss concerns you may have about your child's growth with their healthcare provider.

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MyPlate has information and materials for preschoolers. Help your preschooler eat well, be active, and grow up healthy! Young children look to you as they learn, develop and grow healthy eating habits. Make every bite count.

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MyPlate has information and materials for toddlers. Give your toddler healthy choices as they explore new foods and flavors. Toddlers are learning to feed themselves and to eat new foods during this important time of growth and development. Young children have small stomachs and are developing food preferences, so make every bite count!

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As your baby begins eating solid foods , you may find yourself with all sorts of questions: When they push the spoon away, does it mean that they're full or that they don't like mashed peas? Will feeding them a few extra bites keep them from getting hungry before morning? Can that same subtle encouragement lead to overeating?

Follow your baby's cues

What every parent should know is that babies have terrific built-in systems for gauging when they need food and when they've had enough. If you let your child follow the cues of their natural appetite, they'll eat what they need to fuel their growth and development without overdoing it.

Stick to a schedule

While your baby's appetite can vary from day to day, it's best to stick to a general schedule for offering meals and snacks. If they pick at their food or mostly ignores a meal, don't force them to eat, as they'll likely make up for it at the next meal or the next day. There are some common signs a baby is hungry or full that you can pick up on.

Signs a Baby Is Hungry

Here are 5 typical signs a baby is hungry that you can watch for in your little one. You definitely want to make sure your baby is getting enough to eat and feeling comfortably full.

1. Opening their hands, opening their mouth.

2. Reaching for a spoon.

3. Pointing to food.

4. Acting excited when food is served.

5. Using words or gestures to communicate readiness to eat.

Opening their hands, opening their mouth.

A hungry baby is an eager one. If you make an exaggerated expression with your eyes and mouth wide open as you bring a spoonful of food toward your baby, they're especially likely to imitate you and eat willingly.

Reaching for a spoon.

Not only does your bright baby want to do everything that you do, like master holding that spoon, but they know from experience what's in the spoon. And when they're hungry, they want it right now.

Pointing to food.

Gesturing is a key way your baby communicates before they're able to say words like "applesauce!" or "cracker!"

Acting excited when food is served.

Your baby associates food with the happy feeling of having their hunger satisfied. So when food appears and they're hungry for it, they may wave their arms, kick their legs, and smile at the sight of it. This is a simple, easy way to tell when a baby is hungry.

Using words or gestures to communicate readiness to eat.

By about 10 months, your baby may make sounds to express hunger-"ba ba!" for bottle, for example, or mmm sounds! They may point to their high-chair tray or to their mouth when they see the food. This action lets you know right where they want it to go.

Signs a Baby Is Full

Here are 5 common signs a baby is full and doesn't want to eat any more. It's important your baby gets enough to eat, but it's also important you don't force them to eat too much.

1. Closing their mouth and refusing to open it.

2. Turning their head away.

3. Slowing the pace of feeding.

4. Pushing food away.

5. Shaking head.

Closing their mouth and refusing to open it.

Whether the food is liquid or solid, if their lips are clamped, it's a sure sign that your baby isn't interested in having more of it.

Turning their head away.

A baby who isn't self-feeding yet will turn away from an approaching spoon when they're full, and it is an easy sign a baby is full.

Slowing the pace of feeding.

At the start of a meal, your hungry baby will polish off the small portions you provide and eagerly accept more. By the end of a meal, though, they may not finish what you give them. They may dawdle more, and less food will actually make it into their mouth.

Pushing food away.

When your child has had enough, they may ignore the food completely or start to play with it. If it winds up in their hair, smeared all over their high-chair tray, or on the floor, these are pretty reliable signs that they have eaten enough.

Shaking head.

Older babies and toddlers may gesture emphatically to make their desires known, especially when their answer is "no!" It's not always easy to know whether your child is expressing dislike of a particular food or if they're just full. But if they show other signs of disinterest, and if they're refusing what's normally a favorite, chances are good that they've had enough and are ready to move on to the next activity.

Deciphering your baby's wants and needs when eating solids can be tough at first but follow their cues and you'll soon know all the tricks. Looking for more tips on which solid foods to get your baby started on? Get some .

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5 Signs a Baby is Hungry or Full | Enfamil

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Recognize the signs that your baby is hungry or full when eating solids. It's important your infant gets enough to eat, but it's equally important to not force them to overeat. Learn more.

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Some Keys to Good Nutrition for Toddlers (One- to Three-Year-Olds)

Offer a variety of foods, including, vegetables, fruits, dairy, grains and protein.

Offer whole-grain breads, cereal, crackers, rice or pasta for at least half of the grain servings each day. For example, if MyPlate calls for six grain servings, make sure at least three of the six servings are from whole grains.

Vary vegetables. Offer all colors, including dark green, red and orange vegetables every week.

Plan menus.

Offer proper serving sizes, and do not force children to finish their food.

Make meal and snack times enjoyable.

Do not use food as a reward or to comfort, and do not routinely withhold food as a form of punishment.

Offer nutrient-rich snacks such as crackers with peanut butter, cubed low-fat cheese or apple slices.

MyPlate for Toddlers

Recommen​ded Servings

Recommended servings are based on a 1,000- to 1,400-calorie food plan. A toddler's needs will vary depending on age and activity level. To create an individual plan for your toddler, log on to choosemyplate.gov, click on "Daily Food Plans," then choose the age of your toddler.

Dairy: 2 cups per day; be sure to choose lower fat selections.

Count as 1 cup:

1 cup (8 ounces) 1% or skim milk

1 cup low-fat yogurt

2 cups low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese

1½ cups low-fat or fat-free ice cream

1½ ounces of low-fat hard cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, or Parmesan)

⅓ cup shredded cheese

1 cup pudding (made with milk)

1 cup of calcium-fortified soy milk

Protein Foods: 2- to 4-ounce equivalents (or the amount of a food that has a similar nutrition value as 4 ounces of meat).

Count as 1-ounce equivalent:

1 ounce lean meat, fish or poultry

1 egg

1 slice lunch meat

1 tablespoon peanut butter

¼ cup cooked kidney, pinto or garbanzo beans

Fruits: 1-1.5 cups

Count as 1 cup:

1 cup (8 ounces) 100% juice

1 medium banana or orange

1 small apple

1 cup canned fruit

½ cup dried fruit

Vegetables: 1-1.5 cups

Count as 1 cup:

1 cup raw vegetables

1 cup cooked vegetables

2 cups raw, leafy vegetables

1 cup (8 ounces) 100% juice

Grains: 3- to 5-ounce equivalents (or the amount of a food that has a similar nutrition value as 3-5 ounces of a grain).

Count as 1-ounce equivalent:

1 slice bread

1 cup ready-to-eat cereal

½ cup cooked cereal, rice or pasta

1 "mini" bagel

1 small tortilla, 6 inches in diameter

1 pancake, 4½ inches in diameter

Most cakes, pies, cookies, soft drinks, sugar, honey, candy, jams, jellies, gravies, butter and sour cream have either an oil or solid fat and may be loaded with simple sugars. Offer them sporadically and in moderation; offer only if the child needs extra calories after eating the nutritious foods.

When One Food, or Group of Foods, Is the Only Item a Child Will Eat

Understand that this is a normal phase and that the child will grow out of it.

Know that, often, the child is in a resting stage of the growth process.

Understand that the best way to get through this period is to offer the child many foods, providing his or her special food on occasion.

Know that, when the child is hungry, he or she will eat, no matter what food is served.

Choices for a Healthy Future

Recognize that eating should be a good experience.

Understand that some children do not want to try new foods.

Try to offer just one new food at a time, and do not mix foods.

Know that serving one favorite food with one new food often helps the child try the new food.

Try to offer fun foods that the child can eat with his or her fingers.

Allow the toddler to help prepare foods. Little ones can sprinkle cheese, place raisins on top or spread peanut butter.

Use cookie cutters to form unique shapes in bread, shake up beverages and roll up tortillas.

Keep a bowl of fruit on the table, counter or refrigerator so the child can view it as an option. Good food at a young age plays a role later in life. Your child is only a toddler once.

Resources

Jana, L.A. and Shu, J. (2008). Food Fights: Winning the Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed with Insight, Humor, and a Bottle of Ketchup. Elk Grove Village: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Kirkpatrick, T. and Tobias, K. (2010). Pediatric Age Specific. UCLA Health System.

Satter, Ellyn. (2005). Your Child's Weight: Helping Without Harming. Palo Alto: Bull Publishing.

USDA. (2010). MyPlate. Accessed September 2014 at choosemyplate.gov.

Ward, E. (2005). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feeding Your Baby and Toddler. New York: Penguin Books.
This fact sheet is a revision of the original, written by Cheryl Barber Spires, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences.

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Some Keys to Good Nutrition for Toddlers (One- to Three-Year-Olds) Offer a variety of foods, including, vegetables, fruits, dairy, grains and protein. Offer whole-grain breads, cereal, crackers, rice or pasta for at least half of the grain servings each day.

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8 Great Ways to Promote Preschool Classroom Safety

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Learn top preschool classroom safety tips from the experts!

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2020's loudest toys to avoid; how to test the volume of toys at home - Daily Independent

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The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) recently tested some of today's hottest toys on the market and found 10 of them to be "too loud". These toys are categorized as any toy that reaches a sound level of 85 decibels (dB) or higher.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 85 dB is the maximum volume a child should be exposed to for no more than eight hours a day. Sounds louder than 100 dB can damage their hearing in less than 15 minutes.

Noise is the number one cause of hearing loss. Nearly 15 percent of children ages 6-19 have some degree of hearing loss. In addition, loud noises can increase fatigue, decrease a child's ability to pay attention, and reduce short term memory.

"All parents want to keep their children safe," said Sherri Collins, executive director for ACDHH. "This year most of us will be purchasing holiday presents online and parents will be unable to test toys volume before purchasing." She added, "We want to show parents that there is a fine line between a safe sound level and a harmful level. We give them a list of pre-tested toys to avoid and show them how easy it is to test a toy's noise level with an app that can be downloaded on their smart phone."

ACDHH examined some of this season's most popular toys chosen at random. Each dB measurement was taken as if the child placed their ear next to the speaker. If your shopping list includes toys for the children in your life, you may want to consider turning down the volume on these toys:
Toys to Avoid listed in highest dB order:

1. Leap Frog Scrub and Play Smart Sink: 103 dB

2. Vtech Turn & Learn Driver: 101 dB

3. Fisher Price Sing & Learn Music Player: 98 dB

4. Leap Frog 100 Animals Books: 98 dB

5. Nickelodeon Baby Shark Musical PlayPad: 98 dB

6. Jada Police Hero Patrol Lights & Sound 95 dB

7. Leap Frog Fridge Phonics: 94 dB

8. Vtech Helping Heroes Fire Station: 93 dB

9. Adventure Force Mighty Dragon: 92 dB

10. Leap Frog 100 Words Book: 92 dB

11. Vtech Peppa Pig Learn & Discover Book: 91 dB

12. Vtech Brilliant Baby Laptop: 90 dB

13. Vtech Magic Star Learning Table: 89 dB

14. Fisher Price Leave a Message Smart Phone: 89 dB

ACDHH encourages parents to purchase a toy from the "safe" list. (This list is not meant to be all-inclusive).
List of Safe Toys under 85dB listed by age:

1. Leap Frog Learn & Groove Caterpillar Drums: 80 dB

2. Leap Frog Pick Up & Count Vacuum: 78 dB

3. Vtech Care for Me Learning Carrie: 75 dB

4. Vtech Drop & Go Dump Truck: 75 dB

5. Vtech Bright Lights Soccer Ball: 70 dB

6. B. Toy Critter Clinic: No sound

7. Melissa & Doug Ice Cream Counter: No sound

8. Melissa & Doug Dust Sweep Mop: No sound

"It is important to consider how the child will use the toy," said Collins. "Children aren't always using these toys at arm's length as they may be intended. It's also important to consider the decibel levels of other sounds around the child in addition to the toy, such as the television, kids yelling or other loud toys all making noise simultaneously. They can quickly add up and cause hearing loss."

For parents who would like to conduct their own decibel test, there are free smartphone apps available to test the sound levels of any toy parents are considering buying or have already purchased.
A few suggested dB testing apps from a healthyhearing.com Simple test methods to ensure toys won't hurt young ears: report: How to keep the volume down on loud toys:

Apps for both Android and iOS

Decibel X

SPL Meter

Too Noisy Pro

Apps for iOS only

NIOSH Sound Level Meter

SPLnFFT Noise Meter

Apps for Android only

Sound Meter Pro

Sound Meter and Noise Detector

Use 'try-me' buttons on the toys when available

Hold the toy as close to your ear as your child would and ask yourself if the toy is too loud

Hold the toy eight inches away from your ear (approximately the length of your child's arm), and if you must speak at a higher volume above the sound effects, it's too loud

If the toy has volume control, ensure it's always set to the lowest level

Put waterproof tape or super glue over speaker to mute it

Put tape over volume control to prevent your child from increasing the volume to unsafe volume level

About ACDHH: Established in 1977 to improve the quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing residents, ACDHH serves as a statewide information referral center for issues related to people with hearing loss and aspires to be a national leader in communication access, support services and community empowerment throughout the state. The purpose of the organization, and its commissioners, is to ensure, in partnership with the public and private sector, accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing to improve their quality of life.

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2020's loudest toys to avoid; how to test the volume of toys at home - Daily Independent

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The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) recently tested some of today's hottest toys on the market and found 10 of them to be "too loud". These toys are ...

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Many families keep a gun in the home. But guns are dangerous. They can hurt or even kill you or someone you know.

It is safest to stay away from guns. That means having no guns in your home and staying away from guns outside the home.

If You Have Guns in Your Home

If your parents keep guns in the home, you can talk to them about the dangers of guns. A gun at home makes it more likely that someone will be hurt or killed by a gun.

If your family decides to keep a gun in the home:

The gun needs to be stored unloaded and locked up. The bullets must be locked up away from the gun. Only parents or responsible adults should know how to unlock the storage boxes.

Never get the gun out unless a parent or another responsible adult is with you.

At a Friend's or Neighbor's House

Before you visit a friend or neighbor, your parents should check with your friend's parents to see if they own a gun. If they do have a gun, you can ask them to come to your house instead. Or your parents can talk to them to make sure the gun is stored safely.

If you see a gun somewhere:

1. Stop what you're doing.

2. Do not touch the gun, even if it looks like a toy.

3. Leave the area where the gun is.

4. Tell an adult right away.

If a friend wants to show you a gun, say "no" and leave or call your parent for a ride. Tell your parent right away what happened up. Don't worry about getting your friend into trouble - you will be helping to keep him or her safe.

p

If Someone Is Carrying a Gun

If someone tells you they have a gun or shows you a gun:

Get away from the person quickly and quietly.

Tell an adult you trust immediately. If you can't find a teacher, parent, coach, or other adult, call 911.

Don't feel that you're being a tattletale if you tell an adult that someone has a gun. Remember, you may save a life!

Staying Safe When Using a Gun

If you are allowed to use a gun for something like hunting or target practice, follow these rules:

Never get the gun out when you are alone. Only use the gun with a parent or a responsible adult there.

Always assume a gun is loaded.

Never point a gun at someone, even if you think it is unloaded.

Top Things to Know

Guns are dangerous. Only cartoon characters get up and walk around after being shot by a gun. In real life, people are hurt or die if they're shot.

To keep yourself safe:

Ask your parents not to keep guns in the home. If they do keep guns at home, they should be stored unloaded and locked up. Only parents and responsible adults should know how to unlock the storage boxes.

Stay away from guns. If you see a gun somewhere, get away and tell an adult.

Never play with a gun.

If your family uses guns for hunting or target practice, follow all safety rules. Never use the gun when you are alone and never point a gun at someone.

Date reviewed: April 2023

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By now, you probably know what guns are and what can happen if they fall into the wrong hands. Find out how to protect yourself and how to learn about gun safety.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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The harmful effects of childhood lead exposure can be prevented. The key is to keep children from coming in contact with lead. Learn how to prevent children's exposure to lead.
Lead in paint, soil, air, or water is invisible to the naked eye and has no smell. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified.

Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child's health, including

Damage to the brain and nervous system

Slowed growth and development

Learning and behavior problems

Hearing and speech problems

There are many ways that parents can reduce children's exposure to lead before they are harmed. Lead hazards in a child's environment must be identified and controlled or removed safely.

Common Ways Children Can Come in Contact with Lead

Children may be exposed to lead through contact with paint chips and dust from lead paint in buildings and homes built before 1978. These paint chips and dust particles may land on windowsills, the floor, outdoor soil, toys, trinkets, or their fingers. Young children can be exposed to lead when they put their hands or other objects, which may be contaminated with lead dust, into their mouths as a part of their normal development.

Children can be exposed to lead if they swallow or breathe in chipped pieces of lead paint or lead dust. For example, old or worn lead paint peels and cracks, and lead dust settles inside and around homes. This occurs on doors, windowsills, and wells.

In addition, lead can be scattered when paint is disturbed in homes or buildings built before 1978 during the following activities:

Building destruction or remodeling

Paint removal

Preparation of surfaces for repainting

Children can also be exposed by swallowing or breathing in soil contaminated with lead while playing outside, or when it is brought inside on shoes or clothes.

Lead paint or dust are not the only ways lead exposure can occur in children. Other sources include the following:

Dust from soil contaminated with lead from leaded gasoline, aviation fuel, mining, or industries. Drinking water delivered through lead-based pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures

Traditional medicines and cosmetics such as azarcon and greta, which are used for an upset stomach or indigestion in Hispanic communities

Some candy and candy wrappers

Consumer products such as toys, jewelry, antiques, and collectible items

Lead-glazed pottery

Adults who encounter lead at work or from hobbies can unintentionally expose their family to lead dust.

Adults who are exposed to lead in their workplace or from hobbies can prevent take-home lead exposure by:

Changing clothes and shoes before leaving work

Showering before leaving work

Avoiding taking contaminated clothing and shoes home. If clothing is brought home, store work clothing in a closed plastic bag and wash work clothing separately

Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning

No safe level of lead in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood can hurt a child's ability to learn, pay attention, and do well in school.

The good news is that childhood lead poisoning is preventable. The following resources provide more information about how to prevent childhood lead poisoning:

Talk to a Healthcare Provider if You Think Your Child Has Been in Contact with Lead

If you think your child has been in contact with lead, contact your child's healthcare provider. He or she can help you decide whether to have your child tested.

A blood lead test is the best way to find out if your child has been exposed to lead. Most children with lead in their blood have no symptoms.

If your child has been exposed to lead, your child's healthcare provider can recommend needed services.

See frequently asked questions about lead and possible lead exposure.

For more information on sources of lead exposure and prevention tips

Visit our Sources of Lead Exposure and Lead Poisoning Prevention web pages.

Call CDC-INFO at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).

View the NLPPW Partner Information Toolkit [PDF - 8.6 MB] created by CDC and our federal partners to encourage information sharing, collaboration, and promotion of lead poisoning prevention activities.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

October 22-29, 2022, is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW). This year's theme is "Get the Facts, Get Your Home Tested, and Get Your Child Tested." Childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease of young children.

Each year, NLPPW is a call to bring together individuals, organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to lead. NLPPW highlights the many ways parents can reduce children's exposure to lead in their environment and prevent its serious health effects. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and our partners work to heighten awareness of lead poisoning, provide resources, and encourage preventive actions during NLPPW and beyond.

For more information, visit CDC's NLPPW web page. For more information about National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week activities in your area, please contact your state or local health department.

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Lead poisoning can be prevented. The key is to keep children from coming in contact with lead. If children are lead poisoned they must be treated. Learn how to prevent children's exposure to lead.

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World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.)

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Press Release with Nominees Print Nominees with Toy Photos View 2022 Slideshow of Toys www.toysafety.org Contact: Dominic Amenta | DPA Communications dominic@dpacommunications.com | 781.789.5074 W.A.T.C.H. REVEALS ITS 50th ANNUAL 2022 NOMINEES FOR THE "10 WORST TOYS" THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 50th Annual Report Cautions Parents: Beware of the Danger

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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CDC's Infant and Toddler Nutrition website

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Visit CDC's Infant and Toddler Nutrition website to learn about benefits of breastfeeding, what to expect while breastfeeding and more.

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Lead Ammo and Wildlife: Separating Science from Advocacy

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We know lead is a toxin, and we know the list of animals that have fallen ill from lead poisoning is a long one. This is not disputed, but we must differentiate between the science of lead poisoning and statements driven by advocacy intended to influence policy changes.
The issue of lead ammunition.…