Brain Building in Everyday Moments

Did you Know? A child’s brain grows the fastest from birth through age five. In these first years, trillions of neural connections are made, forming the foundation for future learning. Helping kids learn now gets them ready for school, friends, and life.

Babies are Born with Tremendous Potential. They are wired to learn from day one. In the moments when we connect with children, neural connections fire in the brain, taking in all the things we say and do. While genes make up the brain’s blueprint, positive and supportive experiences with adults help a child’s brain grow strong and flexible. That makes you a child’s No. 1 brain builder.

You Have What it Takes! The time you spend with a child can help their brain grow strong. Even a few minutes count. Children love to learn from you. Your time together gives them a strong start in life.

Brain Building Activity 
See below for another example of an activity that supports brain building among young children. Be sure to read Brainy Background to learn how this activity supports brain development. 

STORIES COME ALIVE  
Stories and songs are always more fun when you become animated! Engage your child by encouraging them to make sounds and movements like the ones they hear in the story or song. Ask them things like, "What does the lion sound like?" or "Can you move like a fast car?" 

BRAINY BACKGROUND 
When you make stories and songs fun, you encourage your child to be active in their learning. By using their whole body to tell a story, they're learning through their senses and building strong connections between words and actions. 

All children should have joyful, enriching early experiences that fuel their innate desire to learn, and foster the skills and mindsets for lifelong success. 

Vroom can help you make the most of the child care day, and the information can be shared with your families to help them make little moments into treasured moments. Are you interested in learning more about Vroom and how it can help you and the families you serve? Sign up for our free training below! And click here for a free resource! 

Are you Interested in more FREE Vroom Materials? Click here to learn more about a unique opportunity to receive Vroom materials and apply. Applications are due June 11, 2021. You can also contact childcarehealth@snohd.org if you would like support in promoting Vroom at your facility and among your families. 

FREE Training Opportunity
STARS Credit Provided

To learn more about brain development in young children and how you can foster Brain Building Moments in day-to-day activities with children in your care, click the image below or here for more details about a free training event. To register for the class, click  here. 

Norovirus-Like Illness and other Common Childhood Illnesses 

During the past year, the incidence of illnesses that we commonly see in child care settings has been much lower than normal. With all of the practices we have been doing to prevent COVID-19, such as mask wearing, physical distancing, disinfecting, and handwashing, we have been keeping other illnesses such as influenza and norovirus at bay as well.
 
As our communities are increasing their levels of social interactions, some of the common childhood illnesses are starting to pop up again. We have recently heard of several outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) in child cares. Remember that many of the symptoms of COVID-19 are also similar to symptoms of some of these common illnesses.
 
While we are still in the midst of the pandemic, any child or staff member with one or more symptoms on the COVID-19 symptom list must be excluded from the child care. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are all on the COVID-19 symptom list. You should use the DOH flow chart to determine when an individual can come back to the child care after being excluded.
 
You will see there are class A and class B symptoms. For diarrhea or vomiting, if it is only one symptom, lasts less than 24 hours and there are NO other symptoms, the child could return once they are symptom free (for noro-like illnesses we generally say symptom free for 48 hours when there is an outbreak). If the child had more than one symptom (like diarrhea and fatigue or diarrhea and vomiting) OR if they had one symptom that lasted more than 24 hours then they need a negative COVID test to return. If they choose not to get a COVID test, they can return after 10 days as long as they are symptom free.
 
Snohomish Health District has drive-thru COVID test sites. You can find more information on our website: https://www.snohd.org/503/Drive-Thru-Testing-Available-by-Appointm
 
The Snohomish Health District Child Care Health Outreach program has fact sheets on many of the common childhood illnesses posted on our website. These can be used to notify parents when their child has been exposed to an illness. Please report all cases of COVID-19 to Snohomish Health District and we will give you guidance tailored to the specific situation. Child cares are also mandated to report cases of certain other illnesses, like E. coli or pertussis, and outbreaks of illnesses like norovirus within the child care. When in doubt, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will help you make sure you are doing all you can to prevent diseases from spreading.
 
If you have any questions or need any further guidance, contact the Child Care Health Outreach Program at Snohomish Health District by email at childcarehealth@snohd.org or by phone at 425-252-5415. 

Breastfeeding and COVID-19 

“Breastfeeding is the cornerstone of infant and young child survival, nutrition and development and maternal health. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond” (World Health Organization).

For Breastfeeding Moms Working Outside of the Home, the support and encouragement received from child care providers may impact whether a mom  continues to breastfeed. In fact, “The more breastfeeding support a mother receives from her early care and education provider the more likely she will continue to breastfeed her child” (CDC).

“Current evidence suggests that breast milk is not likely to spread the virus to babies. Breast milk provides protection against many illnesses and is the best source of nutrition for most babies” (CDC).


What Can Child Care Providers do to Support Breastfeeding Moms During COVID-19?

• Encourage breastfeeding in alignment with COVID-19 protocols. For information about the COVID-19 vaccine and breastfeeding, click here. 
• Remind moms of the benefits of breastfeeding, especially in a pandemic. Click here for more information on breastfeeding and COVID-19. 
• Offer a space for moms to breastfeed or express milk at your facility.
• Make sure you are following WAC 110-300-0285. 

“While limiting the number of people entering your facility, it is important not to limit access for mothers who are breastfeeding to meet the nutritional needs of their infants” (CDC). For more information on operating child care programs during COVID-19, click here.