This time of year, illness seems to be everywhere. For those of us who work with children every day, the sounds of coughing, sneezing and nose-blowing are an unpleasant soundtrack playing on repeat from November to May. And this year, Coronavirus, concerning new respiratory illness from China is getting a lot of attention and has many people worried about what will happen as it spreads in the United States.

(Editor's Note: This blog post was originally published January 30, but was recently updated on March 14 to reflect the most up-t0-date information around the spread and status of the illness.)

On Tuesday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m. EDT, Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) is hosting a free webinar for child care providers and Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies to share the latest coronavirus and emergency preparedness resources from CCAoA, along with updates and advice from our staff. In addition, the moderators will facilitate a discussion of what’s being done around the country at child care agencies and what people are doing to prepare and work with families. Register for webinar.

CCAoA has also created a new page with the latest coronavirus news and resources for CCR&Rs, parents and policymakers.  
 

The Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) Emergency Preparedness team is committed to ensuring the child care sector has the support it needs in times of uncertainty. Emergency preparedness, response and recovery is vital for the well-being of children, families and communities.   

We understand that you may feel confused or unsure about how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) could potentially affect your program, staff, children and families that you serve. We have heard your questions and continue to research and share up-to-date resources and solutions. This week, we are drawing attention to several guidance documents, leading practices and training tools that can assist you in the coming weeks. 

It’s impossible to avoid news about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) these days, and as child care leaders and providers, you are no doubt getting questions from parents about it. You are also probably wondering, how do I, as a child care provider, prevent Coronavirus from impacting the children in my care? What would I do if Coronavirus showed up in my community or child care facility?  

Introduction 

Caring for infants and toddlers is a big responsibility under "normal" conditions. However, when something unforeseen happens, such as a natural disaster or emergency event, caring for children becomes an even greater responsibility. 

Associations Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged Children Hutton, J.S., Dudley, J., Horowitz-Kraus, T., DeWitt, T., and Holland, S.K. JAMA Pediatrics (November 2019). 

Background: Many children under age 6 regularly spend time in front of TVs, computers and digital devices. Research shows that too much screen time at an early age can affect children’s behavior and cognitive development. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting screen time, viewing along with adults, and accessing only educational, developmentally-appropriate content. This study looks at the connection between screen time and development in the parts of the brain responsible for language and literacy.