ADEQUATE SLEEP REST Sleep rest How much sleep

ADEQUATE SLEEP & REST • Sleep / rest • How much sleep do children need? How do you know when they are getting enough rest? We know that tired children cannot concentrate, are irritable, and just do not function well. Research is also linking sleep loss with obesity. For young children, the crucial factor in reducing the risk of obesity was getting more than 10 hours of sleep at night, daytime naps did not help. As a child care provider, you must provide a rest period for all young children (five or younger) if they are in your care for more than six hours OR if they show a need for rest. Babies and toddlers younger than 29 months need to follow individual sleep schedules; toddlers need about 2 hours of naptime during the day. Even if a child is not able to fall to sleep while in your care, they must be provided with alternative quiet activities. • Go to this site for an informative brochure to share with parents as you develop a partnership to ensure children get enough sleep and rest: www. parentchildhelp. com/PDF/brochure. pdf • Sleeping equipment • Where and how do child care providers get all of their children down for cozy naps? Floors are cold and hard – children need soft, comfortable, warm and clean sleeping surfaces. Each child must have his own separate bedding and it needs to be stored without touching other bedding.

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME • About one in five sudden death syndrome (SIDS) deaths occur while an infant is in the care of someone other than a parent, often within the first few days of care outside the home. Family members know that their baby needs to sleep on their backs. When babies who are used to sleeping on their backs are placed to sleep on their tummies by their child care provider, they are 18 times more likely to die from SIDS. This is called “unaccustomed tummy sleeping. ” You can reduce a baby’s risk of dying from SIDS by placing babies in your care one their back during naps. For more information: http: //www. healthychildren. org/English/family-life/work-play/Pages/A-Child-Care-Provider's -Guide-to-Safe-Sleep. aspx

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATION 60+60 MINUTES Discuss 60 + 60 minutes • The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends that all preschool children (ages 3 -5) participate in up to 60 minutes of structured and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day. Most children’s settings do not provide this level of active play. Consider these questions: • 1. Why do you think this is the trend? • 2. You notice groups of children sitting on a bench during outdoor play time. What ideas do you have to encourage them to be more active? • 3. What could be done to increase physical activity in child care? • Answer the questions above and submit with Module 7 Assessment

ILLNESSES AND CHILDCARE • Your first responsibility in keeping children healthy while in your care is to check them for signs of illness when they arrive, as well as throughout the day. • Children with common colds do not need to stay home. Usually a child has already exposed others before presenting symptoms. Refer to your local health department to get a list of contagious and non-contagious illnesses. Excluding or isolating children with non-contagious, mild illnesses can be a hardship on the family and child. • The center must have a clear policy on excluding a child from care. Some infections such as chickenpox, hepatitis, and meningitis require the child to stay home for a lengthy recovery period. The policy should be included in the Parent Handbook, and parents should be encouraged to have a back-up plan for their child’s care when their child is too sick to be in your program. If children are uncomfortable, disoriented, or irritable, they are better off at home getting the rest and individual attention they need. Talk to your health consultant or your local health department if you have questions about a particular illness view link to find out more : http: //www. doh. wa. gov/Youand. Your. Family/Illnessand. Disease. aspx

WHEN A CHILD IS ILL AT DAYCARE • When a child becomes ill or is injured while in your care • Children who become ill while in your care must be isolated. Have them lie down in a quiet space away from the other children, but within view of the staff. Staff must supervise ill children at all times. Contact the parents to come pick up their child. Your responsibilities include the following: • • Keep a confidential, individualized, written record in the child’s file that includes the date of an illness or injury, treatment provided and names of staff providing the treatment. (See your Guidebook / Guide for sample reporting forms) • • If you suspect the child has a communicable disease, remember to sanitize all equipment that the ill child used. • • If an injury or illness results in a visit to the child’s doctor and includes casting, stitches, or hospitalization, you are required to notify your child care licensor. • • Notify parents in writing when their children have been exposed to infectious diseases or parasites. The notification may be either a letter to families or posting for all in a visible location.

MEDICATION • What are your responsibilities when giving medication to children in your care? • If a child has a condition where the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) would apply, you must make reasonable accommodations and that may mean giving a child medication. The family must provide written instructions to caregivers on the proper administration of the medications or treatment required for the child. Care providers are free to choose whether or not to give medications outside of those required by the ADA. Your decision must be clearly documented in your health care policy and handbook. If a medication is prescribed two times per day or daily, oftentimes the family members will be able to administer it at home. There are exceptions, such as asthma medication, so be clear on when medication needs to be administered

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION • Key points to remember regarding administering medication: • 1. Only documented staff who have been trained and oriented to your medication policies can give medications to children. • 2. There must be a start and stop date for each medication. You can only give the medication for the duration of the illness. Medications cannot be given “as needed. ” (See WAC 170 -295 -3130 regarding use of Epi. Pens and asthma inhalers). • 3. Return any unused portion to the family. • 4. Read all labels carefully! • 5. Parents must give written consent before you give any child any medication. • 6. Non-prescription medications also require family consent, such as antihistamines, non-aspirin fever reducers / pain relievers, decongestants, ointments for dry skin or diaper area, and sunscreen. • 7. You may not mix medications in formula or food unless you have written directions to do so from a health care provider. • 8. Prescription medication must be in the original prescription bottle or packaging.

HEALTH POLICY • Health policy examples • Licensed programs must have a written health policy signed by a physician, physician’s assistant, registered nurse, or public health nurse. The policy must be reviewed and approved whenever any changes are made in your health practices or procedures, but at least every three years (usually at re-licensing time). Each program is unique, so new staff must be trained in the details of your health policy. All policies must be available for review by staff, parents, or others (licensors, health care consultants, etc. ). Many centers have a three-ring binder at a central location that contains the Health Policy, Disaster Plan, Pesticide Policy, and Animals on the Premises Policy. See your Center Guidebook Appendix A (page 233, “Health Policy”) or Family Home Child Care Licensing Guide Section 5 (“Health”) and Section 6 (“Health Plan”).

WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY • Your Health Policy will inform you of what to do in the case of a medical emergency. Among the forms families must sign when they enroll their child is a Medical Emergency Authorization form (also referred to as a Medical Consent form). With this form, families authorize and give personal consent for medical personnel to begin emergency medical treatment before parents arrive. Medical personnel cannot legally provide services for a minor without the consent of his/her guardian. For your protection and the safety of the child: • • You should not accept a child for care before the parent signs the medical emergency authorization form. • The medical emergency authorization form should be with the child at all times they are in your care. This includes field trips.

EMERGENCY POLICIES • Health Policies also include basic plans for Emergencies / Disasters / Crisis Preparation. Though each plan will be specific to the program and facility, disaster plans must include: • • What you will do if families are not able to get to their children for two or three days • • Who is designated to be responsible for each part of the plan • • Procedures for accounting for all children and staff during and after the emergency • • Plans for evacuation and meeting after the emergency • • Accommodations for children with special needs • • Plans for contacting parents, transporting and providing for children • • Written documentation of quarterly disaster drills for children and staff

DISASTER/EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS • Including children and families in preparing for emergencies increases the likelihood that children will be kept safe and out of harm’s way. Some examples: • • Teaching preschoolers how to “Stop, Drop, and Roll” • • Engaging families in collecting emergency supplies to provide for three days of care in your program • • Practice evacuation drills at different times of the day using alternate exits You take on huge responsibilities when caring for young children. Knowledge is powerful and skill development vital. Stay current with Pediatric First Aid / CPR training and practice so you will know what to do.

ACTIVITY – OUTDOOR PLAY OR NOT Outdoor play or no? • The Guidebook advises you to: “Encourage parents to allow their child to participate in outdoor activities, even if their child does have a slight cough or runny nose. Fresh air is invigorating and does not cause illness. Germs (viruses and bacteria) are the causes of illness. Active play often helps to clear clogged lungs and sinuses and can raise a child’s spirits. ” • • Do you agree with this statement of best practice? • • What should you do if family members insist that their child stay inside? • • Draft a statement for parents explaining your policy and include it with Module 7 assessment

ACTIVITY- HEALTH RESOURCES • How would you use these resources? • There are plenty of brochures, websites, and informational materials available on the topics of child safety and health. • Brainstorm various means for sharing these materials by asking such questions as: • • Who would most benefit from this resource? • • How could you share it? • • What topics do you think families and staff need more information on in order to give children a healthy start ? • Resources: • • Sleep brochure: http: //www. parentchildhelp. com/PDF/brochure. pdf • • Communicable diseases letter: http: //www. kingcounty. gov/healthservices/health/childcare/CDletters. aspx - • • Check list for Parents, dental care: http: //nrckids. org/dentalchecklist. pdf • • Parent’s guidebook to immunizations http: //www. cdc. gov/vaccines/pubs/parents-guide/default. htm • • Brochure on immunizations: http: //here. doh. wa. gov/materials/Immunizations-birth-to-6 -years/15_Immu. Guide_E 12 L. pdf • • Television time for infants and toddlers: http: //www. kingcounty. gov/healthservices/health/childcare/education/television. aspx • Choose three of this links above and write a summary of the site and how your would use it.

SUMMARY • Name one new thing you learned today or thought was particularly important • Write your answer and submit with Module 7 assessment.

MODULE 7 ASSESSMENT • 1. The only times that staff are required to wash their hands are when they arrive for work and just before they leave. • 2. Children are especially vulnerable to foodborne illnesses due to their smaller body size and underdeveloped immune systems. • 3. The regulations prohibit serving children food that has been home-canned, frozen or prepared unless it is for the family’s own children. • 4. Key numbers to remember are: Safe holding temperature: 45°F or cooler and 140°F or hotter, that means the danger zone is between 45°F and 140°F when bacteria will grow very rapidly in food.

MODULE 7 ASSESSMENT • 5. According to regulations food must be offered about every 2 ½ to 3 hours. • 6. Snack and mealtimes are social times, so they are good times for staff members to clean up the activity areas and set up for the next activities. • 7. It is considered best practice for all staff preparing, handling, and serving food should maintain a current food handler’s card. This includes all teachers and caregivers who serve children food and snacks. • 8. Some good tips for maintaining good dental care include: • o Wean children from bottles by age one • o Avoid prolonged use of sippy cup • o Between meals, water only – fluoridated tap water • o Limit fruit juice to no more than a half a cup a day • o Brush teeth after breakfast

MODULE 7 ASSESSMENT • 9. As long as the center is providing some type of physical activity, it is not important if that activity is interesting and developmentally appropriate as long as some type of activity is available to them. • 10. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends that all children (ages 3 -5) participate in up to 60 minutes of structured and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day. • 11. Physical activity provides many health benefits, including: • o Improved energy • o Ability to handle stress better • o Increased self esteem • o Stronger heart and lungs

MODULE 7 ASSESSMENT • 12. As a child care provider, you do not need to provide a rest period for all young children (five or younger) if they are in your care for more than six hours. You only need to provide a quiet time for those who are tired. • 13. You can reduce a baby’s risk of dying from SIDS by placing babies in your care on their back during naps. • 14. Each child does not need to have his/her own separate bedding and when space if tight, beds may be stored stacked on top of each othe

MODULE 7 ASSESSMENT • 15. Children with common colds do not need to stay home. • 16. Encourage parents to allow their child to participate in outdoor activities, even if their child does have a slight cough or runny nose. • 17. You are not required to notify parents in writing when their children have been exposed to infectious diseases or parasites. The notification may be done through a letter to families. • 18. When a child becomes ill while in your care you must: • a. Isolate them • b. Have them lie down in a quiet space away from the other children • c. Keep them within view of staff • d. Contact the parents/family member to come pick up their child

MODULE 7 ASSESSMENT FINAL PAGE • 19. If medications are required, the family must provide written instructions to caregivers on the proper administration of the medications or treatment required for the child. Medications can be given on a “as needed” bases. • 20. Emergencies / Disasters / Crisis Preparation policies describe: • • What you will do if families are not able to get to their children for two or three days • • Who is designated to be responsible for each part of the plan • • Procedures for accounting for all children and staff during and after the emergency • • Plans for evacuation and meeting after the emergency • • Accommodations for children with special needs • • Plans for contacting parents, transporting and providing for children