What's In This Newsletter?

• Tips for Celebrating Halloween Safely
• Terrific Toddlers, Terrible Tantrums
• Seven Types of Self-Care: Sensory Strategies
• Important Immunization Update
• Farm to ECE Virtual Training – October 24, 2020
• CDC State Licensing Scorecards – How Did Washington Do?
• Child Care Health & Safety Classes – COVID-19, Preparing for the Flu, Outdoor Air Quality and more! 

Free STARS Credit COVID-19 Class

Click here to earn one in-service hour while keeping updated on COVID-19 requirements and recommendations. The class is updated regularly to reflect the most current guidance. For more information about the class, scroll to the end of this newsletter. Also, click here for an informational flier.

Terrific Toddlers, Terrible Tantrums

Often toddlers get a bad rap. In their effort to gain independence, seek control and exert their power, they end up saying “No” a lot. Many of the most challenging behaviors of toddlers are a part of normal development as they move toward more independence, learn to appropriately interact and play with peers, and learn social norms such as how to ask for help and indicate their needs.

While tantrums are a normal part of child development, it can be difficult for adults who are trying to keep to a routine. It is challenging enough to care for one toddler, let alone multiple children as child care providers do.  If one child melts down it can throw the whole routine off and disrupt the whole classroom.   You may be able to distract a child and help them to begin to cooperate, or they may stomp their feet, get red in the face, cry and even head bang.  

Tantrum Triggers

There are many factors that contribute to tantrums. Toddlers are often dealing with big conflicting feelings and do not know what to do with their emotions.  It is difficult for them to cope.  For example, they may feel love and affection for you, but simultaneously feel angry at you because you won’t give them dessert before lunch.

Knowing when children are more likely to lose control can help you to mentally prepare yourself to be able to assist toddlers navigate these difficult periods. They are more likely to lose control when they are denied something that they want. We also know that transition times can get tricky if the child is being asked to stop an activity he/she loves (like playing outside) and start an activity he/she is not as excited about (like lunch). Pick up time can initiate a tantrum because they have been having so much fun at child care and do not want to get in their car seat and leave. They are also more likely to lose control when they are tired, hungry or uncomfortable.

Lastly, a tantrum is more likely to occur when a child does not having the language skills to express their feelings in a frustrating experience --  either due to a developmental delay or simply because the child’s age and development is not yet at a stage to allow for clear communication.

Strategies to Pull Through

 
There are many strategies to help toddlers and older children who are losing control.  The trick is to try different tactics for different children because each child is an individual. Also, sometimes a strategy that worked well yesterday may not do the job today.

Touch can sometimes be helpful in grounding them and making them feel connected as well as the empathy being given in their moment of difficulty. Other times, it might be helpful to ignore the tantrum until the child barely begins to regain some control.  At that very moment, you praise the changed behavior, help them settle down and resume the activity the others are participating in. 

The main thing to remember is that it is impossible to reason with a child who is having a rage episode.  They cannot hear you or process what you are saying.  The key moment to intervene is the moment they begin to calm down.  It is important to show forgiveness to the child and help them integrate back into the group as soon as possible.  Forgiveness is extremely important because the way you see the child is the way the child sees themselves.  If you can be a mirror that reflects how wonderful, beautiful and amazing they are, they will feel loved, respected and accepted just the way they are.  They then can learn to love, respect and accept themselves as well. None of us act put-together all the time, but that is what makes us human.

I am in my mid-50’s, but still remember my child care providers from when I was quite young.  Mr. Fred Rogers talks about wondering what memories will persist for children as they go through life. He says:

“My hunch is that the most important will have to do with feelings of loving and being loved-friends, family, daycare teachers- whoever has been close to the child.”

Important Immunization Update

Immunizations are still the best protection against preventable disease!  Now is an excellent time for parents to contact their child’s primary care provider for a visit to bring them up to date on their immunizations.  Many immunization provider practices have implemented infection control strategies to help reduce the spread of COVID 19 and to help keep patients safe during wellness and immunization visits.  As of August 1, 2020, changes to WA state immunization rules for schools and child cares have taken effect, including the requirement of medically verified immunization records for school and child care entry.  More information on these rule changes, including criteria for what is considered an acceptable medically verified record, is available from the WA State Department of Health here. 

The Immunization Manual for Schools, Preschools, and Child Care Centers is an excellent resource for child care providers to access for questions regarding immunization requirements.  The most up to date version is available from the WA State Department of Health here. 

As we approach the start of the 2020-2021 flu season, it is now more important than ever to receive a flu vaccine.  A flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.  The CDC recommends for individuals to receive a flu vaccine by the end of October.  For younger children who may need 2 doses of the flu vaccine, the recommendation is to receive the first dose of vaccine as soon as it becomes available and the second dose at least four weeks later.  Contact your primary care provider or nearest pharmacy for flu vaccine availability.  For more information on the CDC flu recommendations for the 2020-21 season visit their influenza page here. 

Seven Types of Self-Care: Sensory Strategies

In the September Child Care Health Outreach Program newsletter, we began to look at self-care strategies and discussed emotional self-care. This month and in the following five months, we will continue to explore different types of self-care. 
 
Self-care is about taking the time to put your health and wellbeing first. According to psychologist Greg Markway, PhD there are seven types of self-care activities that we can use to soothe ourselves during stressful times.  Here are the seven types: sensory, pleasure, mental/mastery, spiritual, emotional, physical and social.  This month will address sensory self-care.

Realize that under stress our brains go into a fight, flight or freeze mode and our perspective and ability to think and problem solve is greatly affected.  You may want to create a “go-to” list of self-care activities to pull out when your perspective narrows and you are not able to cope well.  

When you feel that surge of stress hormones, and need a calm mind, focus on sensations around you—sights, sounds, tastes, smells and touch. This will help you focus on the present moment, and give you a break from your worries.  

It can be as simple as stepping outside to breathe in fresh air or sitting by a window where the afternoon sun streams in. Or after a busy day, with a little bit of planning, you can light the fire pit outside, and watch the flames dance around. Listen for the crackling and popping of the wood burning and think about what other sounds you notice.

Here’s a mindfulness exercise you can try after the children leave for the day.  With practice, you can try an accelerated version whenever you are feeling stressed and the children will most likely not even notice!  It’s called 5-4-3-2-1.  This exercise incorporates all five senses.   

Start out in a comfortable position where you can relax and perhaps have some privacy. If sitting still is a challenge for you at the moment, you can take a walk while doing this exercise. It’s helpful to bring something with you for your taste sense, like a snack, a mint, or gum. 

Otherwise in your comfortable position of choice, you may close your eyes or avert your gaze. Pay attention to your breathing, breathe deeply and slowly notice your chest and abdomen rise and fall.  If it feels comfortable you can breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.   

Now think of... 
5 different things you can see.  It’s ok to peek and look around the room.  Name the items in your mind.   

Next, identify... 
4 different sounds that you can hear.  Listen carefully as some sounds are very faint and difficult to hear.   

Continue breathing in and out slowly and deeply and focus on...  
3 things you can reach out and touch.  This is another one where you may need to open your eyes briefly and survey the room.   

Keep up you slow breathing and think of... 
2 things you can smell.  You can try to identify what you are smelling or just take it in. 
  
Lastly, focus on... 
1 thing you can taste.  It may be your toothpaste from earlier today, or a snack you just had.  Take a minute to experience this taste. 

When ready, re-orient yourself to how you feel now.  Hopefully, you feel less stressed and, more relaxed and grounded.  You can use this 5-4-3-2-1 exercise anytime you need it. 

We hope this has been helpful. Please take good care of yourselves during this unprecedented time.

“Oh what a beautiful mornin’
Oh what a beautiful day.
I’ve got a beautiful feelin’
Everything’s goin’ my way.”
- Gordon MacRae

CDC State Licensing Scorecards

Kids come in a variety of different sizes and body types. As child care providers, our goal is to support and model healthy habits for kids that will help them grow well and predictably (Ellyn Satter); thereby supporting kids to live healthy and meaningful lives. We can do this by fostering healthy habits at a young age which will go with them into adulthood.

To support this effort, the CDC has released State Scorecards which describes how well a state’s licensing regulations support specific practices related to nutrition, physical activity, screen time and infant feeding. Are you interested in seeing how Washington State scored? Overall, WA scored at or above the national average. So that is good news!

Click here  for more information on the Washington State report or here  for more information on the scorecards.