ECELS - Healthy Child Care PA

Summer in Pennsylvania can bring severe thunderstorms with high winds and the potential for power outages. Basic services that we count on every day – water, electricity, sewer, gas and telephone – may not work for days, weeks or longer. Having a well-stocked emergency kit at your disposal is one of the best ways to be prepared!

Summer is the perfect time to build a love of reading, and visiting your local library is a fun, free summer activity!

Many libraries offer:
📖 Story times
🎨 Crafts
🏆 Summer reading programs
🎭 Family events

A library card opens the door to endless adventures.

Outdoor play is important—but safety comes first. Before heading outside:
✔ Check the weather forecast
✔ Test playground surfaces for heat
✔ Apply sunscreen
✔ Bring water
✔ Plan for shade breaks

Watch this video from AAP's Healthy Children website to learn more about : https://youtu.be/eu2Rl1M692M?si=-whjTYWiSdPwHvWV

One of the best drink choices for kids is just plain water. Why? It has zero calories, no added sugar and helps keep all body systems healthy. 🫗The AAP created a campaign to educate parents about when to . Visit the Healthy Children website (https://ow.ly/mgAm50YWx9w) to learn more!

The weather is warming up, and with that comes the increased risk of vehicular heatstroke for children. While hot car deaths can happen in any month, there is typically an increase from May through September. Once you park, Stop. Look. Lock. For more information on vehicle heatstroke, what to do if you see a child trapped in a vehicle, and warning signs of heatstroke, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/heatstroke

May is Water Safety Month! DYK? Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children 1-4. The AAP recommends staying within arm's length, providing constant "touch supervision," whether it's bath time or swim time. For more valuable information on drowning prevention and water safety, visit https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Water-Safety-And-Young-Children.aspx

April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and this week is National
Youth Violence Prevention Week. Child abuse and neglect can have profound, long-term physical and emotional effects. It is the collective responsibility of all adults to safeguard every child. Refresh your awareness skills at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/keep-kids-safe

It's National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)! The AAP recommends 9 vaccines by 9 months, including HepB (starting at birth), RV (starting at 2 months), DTaP, Hib, PCV, IPV, plus flu, COVID-19, and RSV protection. Talk to your provider and ask for all 9 vaccines.

🌻Spring is in bloom, and with that comes seasonal allergies! 🤧 An estimated 7.1 million kids in the United States deal with environmental allergies. For more information, check out this health tip from CHOP on how to keep seasonal allergy symptoms in check: https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/seasonal-allergies-keeping-symptoms-check

April is Autism Acceptance Month and we want to support parents, families, and ECE providers as they live and work with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Take a look at these toolkits filled with resources from the American Autism Association to support providers and caregivers in this important work: https://www.myautism.org/information-kits