Health in Childcare

The question of what does it mean to be healthy is one that can be tricky as the definition of health can be different from person to person. For me personally it is a combination of so many things, it’s taking your family history, genetics, chronic diseases, environment, etc into account and creating your best version of health.

To achieve a healthy lifestyle I believe that personal preferences play a big role. Achieving a healthy lifestyle means finding an activity you enjoy to keep you moving, making smart food choices that you also like to eat, allowing for moderation because no one wants to feel deprived, taking time for one’s self, and working on relationships that make an individual feel good and eliminating those which bring stress.

Helping others to be healthy and make healthy choices is all about setting an example. The best way to lead is by example, particularly with children. Talk with your family about what you can all do, like cooking at home more instead of going out. Find a co-worker to go on walks with during your break It’s all about finding little things that add up to help you and everyone around you to be healthier.

It is the role of the adults in a child’s life to create healthy outcomes for them. Whether it be a teacher, parent, family member, etc, children need role models to demonstrate and influence them in making positive and healthy choices.. It is important to get children involved in making choices for their own health which will lead to long term healthy outcomes.

When choosing a daycare or school for a child there are many considerations one should make. An important thing to look for is max group size and what group size your child would do best in. Another important consideration is looking over the lesson plans the classroom uses and the balance of learning and individual freedoms the kids have. Red flags to look out for would be teacher consistency, looking for how much individual interaction the kids receive, how the teachers interact with the kids, and how the teachers respond to kids who are upset and kids who are being disruptive. Overall you want to find a place where you truly feel comfortable with the teachers and administrators to trust that your kids will be well taken care of.

Reading Response Chapter 1

1. What are the recommended child:staff ratios for child care centers according to your book?

Child Care Centers

1. Complete background checks should be conducted before employing any staff member.  This obviously includes teachers and administrators, but also includes…

“…substitutes, cooks, clerical staff, transportation staff, bus drivers, or custodians who will be on the premises or in vehicles when children are present.”

1. What are the recommended qualifications of lead teachers in a child care center?

“Lead teachers and teachers should be at least twenty-one years of age and should have at least the following education, experience, and skills: a) A Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, school-age care, child development, social work, nursing, or other child-related field, or an associate’s degree in early childhood education and currently working towards a bachelor’s degree; b) A minimum of one year on-the-job training in providing a nurturing indoor and outdoor environment and meeting the child’s out-of-home needs; c) One or more years of experience, under qualified supervision, working as a teacher serving the ages and developmental abilities of the children in care; d) A valid certificate in pediatric first aid, including CPR; e) Thorough knowledge of normal child development and early childhood education, as well as knowledge of indicators that a child is not developing typically; f) The ability to respond appropriately to children’s needs; g) The ability to recognize signs of illness and safety/ injury hazards and respond with prevention interventions; h) Oral and written communication skills; i) Medication administration training.”