From the playground to the classroom and from the grocery store to home, germs are ever prevalent in our environment, effecting your family whether your children attend daycare, childcare, or even stay home. When tissues multiply and sniffles spread, parents and teachers alike need practical, evidence-based ways to keep little immune systems resilient. No fads, no frills, just research that supports simple habits that add up.
Our teachers and staff here at Chester Child Development Center are excellent and intentional with their cleaning and classroom hygiene habits, working hard to provide your child with a safe and healthy place to further their early childhood education. Come for a tour and let us show you around!
1) Prioritize Sleep
Sleep is the true fuel behind health and immunity. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that preschoolers need about 10-13 hours of sleep daily for optimal health. When preschoolers meet their sleep targets, they acquire a range of health benefits, immune support being one of them.
Our early childhood education classrooms are designed with restful routines and calm nap spaces in mind. Come see how our daily rhythms support children’s health at Chester Child Development Center.
2) Feed Immunity
Nutrition is huge for supplying the body with the nutrients or building blocks it needs to function properly. Food matters. Offer a balance of colorful fruit, vegetables, quality proteins and dairy and grains in order to build up your little one’s nutrient stores and help their body (and immune system) function properly. The USDA My Plate program agrees, stating that balanced diets with fruits, vegetables and whole grains support strong immune systems.
Kids don’t need a bunch of supplements or even the newest and greatest health fad; they need quality food that will build their body up rather than tear it down.
Call us today to chat about our menus and meal routines here at Chester Child Development Center–we are happy to share what’s cookin’!
3) Hand Hygiene
Oftentimes it’s the little things that make the difference and that is absolutely the case with hand washing. Teaching proper handwashing routines and skills is huge, especially around particular events like before meals, after the bathroom, or after playing outside. The CDC actually supports that handwashing can prevent 1 in 5 respiratory infections! When your child is in a childcare or daycare setting, or when you run out and about, hand washing is extra important as kids tend to not think about what they touch, where their hands go, and just in general are typically mindful of hand hygiene.
Our teachers here at Chester Child Development and Learning Center are masters at turning the everyday occurrences into lessons–and handwashing is a big deal within that! Come by for a tour and see how our lovely early childhood educators manage their classroom hygiene.
4) Fresh Air for the Win
There is no getting around it, winter and colder weather brings people inside more often. With preschoolers running around and trying to maintain health through the colder months and holidays, taking a look at indoor air quality is eye opening. Viruses spread more easily indoors during winter. The EPA suggests ventilation and air filtration for reducing the spread or airborne viruses. Open windows when possible, use HEPA filters with your furnace and spend as much time outside as possible–the fresh air will truly do everyone some good.
As long as it is not too cold or the weather too severe to be a danger, we head outside everyday here at Chester Child Development Center. Children still need the opportunity to run around and be kids, and the exercise and outdoor air will be a benefit to all. Call today to schedule a tour and check out our outside time schedule and to see our engaging outdoor play areas.
5) No Smoking Zones
Secondhand smoke increases risks of ear infections, asthma attacks, and respiratory illnesses in children per the CDC. If you or a loved one is a smoker, intentionally keeping both homes and cars smoke-free gives kids’ lungs the best possible chance to stay healthy this winter. Step away and wait until the car ride is over, it might be what makes the difference in your little one’s health this winter.
Our childcare environments are always smoke-free here at Chester Child Development Center. Schedule a tour today to ask about the multitude of ways we work hard to create a safe and healthy environment for your child to learn and grow and play!
A Cozy Season of Health and Growth
As snowflakes swirl and jackets fill the hangers this winter, let’s turn childcare and daycare classrooms, home, and early childhood education as a whole into a haven of health where giggles and play are heard in the place of coughs and sniffles. Each nap, nourishing snack, and outdoor playtime is a quiet act of immune building and sets children up to be ready for another day of learning and growing.
Come see us here at Chester Child Development Center to tour our cozy facility, see our various health and hygiene practices in action and join in the winter fun!