Encourages Positive Health Behaviors

The professional working with young children applies practices that encourage positive health behaviors and support the physical and mental well-being of children and families

Resources & Media for Understanding Competency 5.5

Behaviors & Skills

• a
  Posts routines and reminders such as emergency plans, hand washing techniques, diapering instructions, etc.
  
  
• b
  Collects a developmental health history from families for each child that covers topics like physical health, self-care skills, and social relationships
  
  
• c
  Establishes good health routines including tooth brushing, serving only healthy foods, and hand washing
  
  
• d
  Makes drinking water available to children throughout the day
  
  
• e
  Provides children with at least 120 minutes of gross motor activity (for children attending a full day program) each day through both structured and unstructured play
  
  
• f
  Gives children opportunities to play outside every day
  
  
• g
  When children cannot play outside because of weather or air quality conditions, arranges for indoor gross motor activities
  
  
• h
  Maintains a quiet, calm atmosphere during rest time for children each day
  
  
• i
  Ensures that children under 2 years have no screen time (TV, computers, DVDs, etc.) and that children 2-5 years have no more than 30 minutes once a week of high quality, education or movement-focused, commercial free programming, and never during meal or nap times
  
  
• j
  Conducts daily checks of children's health and emotional well-being
  
  
• k
  Models acceptance, helps children understand similarities and differences among people, and how to interact with all kinds of people
  
  
• l
  Recognizes the importance of a child's secure home base, and facilitates families' access to applicable resources for consultation about nutrition, emergencies, diagnoses, treatments and other information
  
  
• m
  Creates a psychologically safe environment for all children and families
  
  
• n
  Explains reasons for health-related rules to children
  
  
• o
  Communicates with families each day about how their child ate, drank, slept, behaved, and voided, particularly in infant/toddler settings
  
  
• p
  Creates a mutually respectful environment, and encourages families to ask questions and express concerns