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What's In This Newsletter?
- FREE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES! In-service (STARS) credits available.
- Brain Building Training Opportunity
- NEW - COVID-19 Vaccine Training for Child Care Providers
- NEW - Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccine - June 24, 2021
- Building Resilience for Child Care Providers - now available at NO COST
- Norovirus-Like Illness and other Common Childhood Illnesses
- Potty Training Fun
- Breastfeeding and COVID-19
- Other Early Learning Resources
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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.
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JUNE FEATURED CLASSES COVID-19 Vaccine Training for Child Care Providers Several vaccines against the virus that causes COVID-19 were developed and are now being offered to individuals age 12 and up. This course is being offered at no cost to child care providers in Washington State, and will provide information on how vaccines help curb the spread of viruses, specifics about the vaccines available against COVID-19, and how to get vaccinated. This class is being offered at no cost to child care providers through a grant from the Washington State Department of Health. 1.0 in-service (STARS) credit will be provided upon successful completion of the course. To register, click here.
Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccine: June 24, 2021, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Vaccines have proven to be a valuable tool in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. This training will address vaccine hesitancy and provide resources and information to support confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. This will be a live, virtual training, and a live question-and-answer session will take place during the training.
The Snohomish Health District Child Care Health Outreach Program is offering this course at no cost to all child care providers in Washington State. 1.0 in- service (STARS) credit will be provided upon successful completion of the course. For more information and to register, click here.
Building Resilience for Child Care Providers We now have funding to offer this 2-hour course FREE OF CHARGE ( while funds are available) to child care providers in Washington State. This course will build upon our previous course addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). You do not need to have taken the ACEs course to understand this material, though the ACEs course may provide context as to why resilience is particularly important. This course will explain what resilience is, describe some foundational elements of internal resilience in adulthood, and provide opportunities to explore each of these elements in your own life. To register, click here. If you already took this course for in-service credit, remember that child care providers can apply for reimbursement through DCYF up to $250.00 once each year. Click here for more information.
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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.
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 Artist: Dave Coverly
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Potty Training Fun You have to admit that potty training can be frustrating for everyone involved. Whether you are the child, the parent, or the child care provider, learning and teaching this skill can be a challenge. However, it can and really should be a positive experience for the child. After all, it is when we feel loved and safe that we learn best! According to Maureen O’Brian, director of parenting and child development at The First Years, in Avon, Massachusetts, she notes that several things have to line up first. The child has to communicate well, be aware of her bodily feelings, and understand the time needed to get to the bathroom. Dr. O’Brian says that toilet training isn’t fast and isn’t smooth. The process can take around a year, according to a study out of the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. It can be helpful to think of potty training to be potty learning. Start by reading books, having them sit on the potty, talking about it. Most experts agree that kids are usually around age 3 when they start to be consistently successful. Most children will figure out when they are ready and will ask to use the toilet, or to use underwear. Most of the readiness skills and physical development occur between the ages of 18 months and 2.5 years. So, while total success may not come before age 3, it is okay to start between 24 and 32 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics also notes that, in general, starting before age 2 is not recommended. If you wait too long, you may encounter more resistance. Sometimes seeing the other children go to the toilet at child care can motivate a child. The parent and child care provider should communicate so that the routine at home and child care are the same. When parents and child care providers partner to teach a child to potty train, it gives children the consistency and support they need. Some families choose to use non-food rewards, but others choose to use praise and positive encouragement, or to make it a game or sing a potty song. In general, it is best to have the child sit on the potty at regular intervals throughout the day. If the child is successful you heap on the praise and cheerleading! If potty training becomes too frustrating, it really is ok to take a break and try again in 1-2 months. Experts agree that if you force toilet training with a child who is not physically, mentally, and emotionally ready, a caregiver can easily create anxieties, power struggles, shame and a strain on the adult-child relationship.
Remember that child care providers must follow WAC 110-300-0220 when toilet training children. It states:
(3) An early learning provider must discuss toilet training procedures with that child's parent or guardian when a child is ready for training. A provider must facilitate the toilet training process by encouraging the child with:
(a) Positive reinforcement (which may not include food items); (b) Culturally sensitive methods; (c) Developmentally appropriate methods; and (d) A toilet training routine developed in agreement with the parent or guardian.
The most important factor in potty training is to keep it fun! Sing songs, read books, laugh and forgive mistakes. Learning to use the toilet is an important developmental milestone and should be celebrated as such. Whether the child potty trains at age 18 months, or even at three-and-a-half years, it really won’t matter that much. What is important is to remain positive and patient. I want to end with a quote by poet Maya Angelou:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Happy potty training!!
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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.
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Other Early Learning Resources Summer Farmers Market Program for Kids! For more information click here for the Arlington farmers market and here for the Stanwood farmers market.
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Contact InformationSnohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker Ave., Ste. 104, Everett, WA 98201 Email: childcarehealth@snohd.org
Program Phone: 425.252.5415
Website: http://www.snohd.org/238/Child-Care-Providers
Received this as a forward? Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
The Child Care Health Outreach Program staff are available to consult with you on these and other health, safety, and nutrition topics by phone, by email, or at your child care.
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