The problem

Lead is unsafe to consume, inhale, or absorb at any level. Yet lead-based paint is common in homes built before 1978 and a home’s drinking water or soil can be contaminated with lead. How can home-based providers protect themselves and the children in their care? 

This is a free online course from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on managing infectious diseases in group care settings. The course is approved for 1.0 contact hours of training credit.  As described by AAP, the topic is important because millions of children attend early care and education settings every day. During the first 2 years of attendance, children enrolled in group settings experience a higher incidence of illnesses. When children are sick and excluded from an early care setting, it causes significant public health and economic impact. It is essential for child care settings to provide healthy and safe environments to ensure appropriate child development and learning.  

The problem

Keeping young children safe is a priority for child care providers. But safety practices vary, depending on a child’s age and developmental stage. Keeping an infant safe can be very different than keeping a toddler safe.

The problem: Many child care programs serve families whose native language is different than the provider’s. Communication on routine matters can be problematic, so how can providers share information with families on more complicated issues like early brain development or toxic stress?

In the first three blogs of this series, we explored topics related to the social-emotional health of children. CCAoA believes that in quality child care programs, the health and safety of providers and staff is equally important. In this final blog, we address the social-emotional health of these essential caregivers. 

When we talk about health and safety in child care, the discussion is often on reducing or eliminating physical threats to children’s well-being (e.g., unsafe playground equipment of the spread of an infectious disease). CCAoA believes that quality child care helps build healthy children, including their healthy social and emotional development. But what about children who have experienced trauma? How can the child care environment help them heal? This is the third of four blogs CCAoA is publishing on social-emotional health.