Chapter Eight: Promoting Good Health for Children

Health Policies l Help manage risk to good physical and mental health l Should be developed and directed for children and staff l Promote healthy practices l Lay the foundation for child care health

Designing a Health Policy l Establish a process (What process will be followed?) l Assign responsibility (Who is responsible for making sure process is followed?) l Offer guidance for action (What needs to be done? Are there any time parameters for limitations?)

Providing High Quality Child Care Goal One  Maximizing health status of children Goal Two  Minimizing risk to health, safety, and well-being of children Goal Three  Using education as a tool to promote health and reduce risk Goal Four  Recognizing the importance of guidelines

Children’s Health Records Include l Health history and updates l Immunization records l Injury reports l Assessment and screening results

l Medication log and permission l Health communication history l Reports of illness in care l Growth chart

Staff Health Health History includes l Name, etc. and physician’s name l Pre-employment exam l Immunization records l TB test results l Hearing and vision screening

Maintaining Staff Health l Exposure to infectious diseases l Stress l Risk for back injury l Potential exposure to environmental hazards

Providing a Mentally Healthy Environment Check to make sure that your care l Establishes a good relationship with parents  Respect and mutual communication l Responds with consistency, predictability, and regularity

l Establishes daily routine = security l Provides support and emotional assurance for child  Attention  Affection  Respect  Mutual communication

l Helps children to express and identify emotions l Redirects anger and aggression through play and discussion l Provides quiet area so child can be away from stimulation

l Values each child’s uniqueness, including culture l Promotes responsive caregiving l Is flexible and reasonable in expectations

Promoting Good Health Health Policies l Help manage risk to good physical and mental health l Should be developed and directed for children and staff l Promote healthy practices l Lay the foundation for child care health

Designing a Health Policy Health Policies l Establish a process (What process will be followed?) l Assign responsibility (Who is responsible for making sure process is followed?) l Offer guidance for action (What needs to be done? Are there any time parameters for limitations?)

Implications for Caregivers l Role Modeling  Exhibits knowledge and practice of healthy behavior l Cultural Sensitivity l Education

 Reality Check: The Resilient Child Vulnerable child l Genetic abnormalities l Malnutrition l Preterm birth l Prenatal stress l Drug exposure l Temperament

l Have more difficulty adapting l Parent may have more difficult time coping and attaching l Insecurely attached children may be more vulnerable due to  Poverty  Abandonment  Chaotic living environment

Resilient child l Often first born l Securely attached l Has high intelligence level

l More likely to form close relationships that are trusting l Have positive qualities from both sexes l Outgoing l Autonomous l Nurturing l Emotionally sensitive

Caregiver’s Role Vulnerable child l Extra support l Responsive and stimulating care Resilient child l Secure attachment l “Cheerleader” support

 Reality Check: Secondhand Smoke Can lead to l Respiratory diseases (asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and allergies) l Middle-ear infections l SIDS l Vitamin C deficiency l Behavioral problems