This week, the New Republic ran an article, “The Hell of American Day Care: An Investigation into the barely regulated, unsafe business of looking after our children.” The article reviewed the condition of child care in America today and highlighted the Texas child care program where a fire killed four of seven young children being cared for by Jessica Tata in February 2011.

Children today are exposed to a wide range of events involving violence, disasters, terrorism, death and loss. Children are often a witness to, as well as a victim of such events. In observing print and electronic news reports and the reactions of family members, friends, educators, acquaintances and peers, children are often confused and frightened about the impact such occurrences will have on their lives.

En un mundo complejo, los niños de hoy dia estan expuestos a una variedad de eventos chicos y grandes que implican violencia, desastres, terrorismo, muerte y pérdida. Los niños son a menudo testigos, así como víctimas de, tales acontecimientos. Observando reportes de noticias electronicamente al igual que en imprenta y las reacciones de miembros de familia, amigos, educadores y conocidos, niños usualmente estan confundidos y asustados sobre el impacto que tales ocurrencias tendrán en sus vidas.

Con la temporada ocupada de gripe, es importante recordarse porque la higiene de las manos es tan importante. Al mantener las manos limpias uno puede reducir el contagio de los microbios. Usted puede practicar esto en la casa, pero también puedo hablar con su proveedor de cuidado de niños para asegurarse que ellos tengan políticas sobre el lavado de las manos. Lo mas seguido, que su hijo escuche el mensaje, y lo mas probable que el o ella practiquen  buenos hábitos de la higiene de las manos.

Last week a front page story in the Washington Post shared the tragic death of 3-month-old Camden Lafkin in a Virginia child care program.  The child care provider and Camden’s cause of death are under investigation.  What is known is that the program was unlicensed. (Virginia does not require an individual to obtain a child care license unless the provider cares for six or more children in the home – seven or more if the individual is caring for her own children since they are exempt from the official count of children in the home).

A front page Washington Post story on Sunday, March 10, “After a baby’s death, a Virginia mother fights for stronger child care standards,” shared the tragic story of 3-month-old Camden Lafkin’s death in a Virginia child care program.  The child care provider and Camden’s cause of death are under investigation. What is known is that the program was unlicensed. 

(Virginia does not require an individual to obtain a child care license unless the provider cares for six or more children in the home – seven or more if the individual is caring for her own children since they are exempt from the official count of children in the home).