When it comes to running a quality childcare center, health, safety and nutrition are paramount. Although health and safety may seem to be basic components of a quality childcare facility, they can help support the cognitive development in preschoolers. Health and safety are important to all parents, whether they’re looking for the best childcare facility for their child or daycare operators.
Cleanliness
A well-maintained childcare center will look good to potential families. This creates a safer environment for both children and educators. In an early childhood environment, it is important to keep surfaces clean in order to prevent illness.
Consistency is key to achieving a clean environment. It is important to keep the environment clean and disinfected every day. Here are some items that you should always have available:
Lysol Wipes
Mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide
Hand sanitizer
To stop the spread and spread of germs, it is important to encourage children to wash their hands frequently as well as employees.
All employees who prepare meals or snacks must also be certified in the proper handling of food. By handling food properly, you can prevent cross-contamination.
Early Childhood Health and Safety Curriculum
The safety of childcare facilities and their day-to-day activities is a priority. At all times, safety should be the primary concern of any educator.
Safety should be considered in all aspects of the classroom, from the placement of the desks and the room layout to the materials that are used for craft work. A safe environment can prevent accidents.
A good way to keep a classroom clean is to include tidying in the daily routine of the children. After each activity, allocate some time for cleaning up. It will save time for teachers and help children develop good habits.
First Aid
Children getting injured in the classroom happens all too often. All educators must have current first aid and CPR training.
A staff management app can help you keep track of the certification schedules of your educators. This will ensure that your staff is prepared for any incident.
In case of an emergency, a first-aid kit should be readily available. Check all kits for expired supplies, and replenish them frequently.
Always bring a travel first-aid kit with you on field trips. Always be prepared.
Nutrition
Parents are often concerned about ensuring that their children receive nutritious food at the childcare center. It is important to ensure that children get the proper balance of nutrients during their early childhood.
You should tailor a healthy meal plan to the age of the children you care for. You should also consider allergies and dietary requirements.
Remember that the standards set by your licensing body for early childhood education are only minimum requirements. Successful centers will strive to surpass these standards in order to provide the best learning environment possible for the children they care for.
Important Preschool Health Records
Did you know that on average, toddlers place their hands or objects in their mouths 40 times an hour?
It can be hard to tell if a child has a cold or an allergy reaction. Teachers are not equipped to make a good judgment about a child’s well-being (and shouldn’t!). It is difficult for teachers to make a proper conclusion about a child’s health (and they shouldn’t!)
Your child care center’s records should include a current health record for each child. Teachers and administrators must be in agreement on this, not only because the law requires it but also because it gives parents peace-of-mind knowing that their children’s health comes first at your child care center.
This article will cover a number of topics, including establishing a policy on health, keeping parents informed, and the best practices to follow when it comes to documenting health information and maintaining records. These steps can help ensure that your center is prepared for health and safety.
Child Care Health Policy
It is important to have a way of communicating and tracking each child’s progress at your center. This will help parents, teachers and pediatricians to be on the same page. A clear health policy will help to avoid situations where parents accuse your center of being the cause of their child’s illness.
A health policy can help create a safe and healthy environment for children. Here are some suggestions for your health policy, even though each center will be different.
Immunization records obtained from a health professional approved
Non-emergency accident documentation procedure
Notes on allergies
Documentation of daily health
Exclusion policies for certain health conditions
Hygiene and infection control procedures
Closed in the event of pandemic
To prevent the spread of illness at your centre, it is important that parents know when their child should stay home.
Clear Parent Communication
Naturally, parents will be worried when their child becomes ill. Families usually find the first few months at preschool to be the most difficult. This is due to a simple reason. Children are exposed to new things in a preschool environment. They meet new people and learn new things. It is normal for a child to get sick as they develop their immune system.
Even though parents may understand why their child is ill, they can still feel anxious. If not properly documented and communicated, the increase in sicknesses can be alarming.
To keep track of a child’s progress, it is important to document any abnormal reaction daily. Making strong connections with the families involved can help to reduce stress. Teachers should log reactions, as these may be useful when working with a doctor to diagnose allergies.
Best Practices for Child Care Health Reports
Each child enrolled at the center should be given a profile containing all of the child’s important information. All health notes should be in one location. It is important that all teachers have access to the information. This will help to avoid confusion about things such as dietary restrictions and exclusions.
When it comes to the health of a child, there are four important things to track: immunizations, allergies known, ongoing health notes and accidents. We’ll take a closer look at each of these components, as they differ slightly.
Immunization Records
Most states require that child care centers keep track of immunization records, schedules and other information. The requirements will vary depending on the state.
Be aware of the requirements in your state. As soon as you know this, you can work with parents to collect all the documentation needed for the child’s profile.
