17
Jan
2020
Child Care

RSV Cases on the Rise
01
Nov
2019
Child Care
by Linda Golodner, Guest Author Kaitlin Greenberg, MPH, Guest Author Christine Ortiz Gumina, MPH, Guest Author Francelli Lugo, MPH, and Guest Author Michéle Samarya-Timm, MA, HO, MCHES, REHS

How to Sanitize and Disinfect Surfaces in Childcare Environments

Childcare environments are notorious for spreading infections. Parents can teach children to wash their hands, cover coughs and sneezes (with a tissue or their elbows, not their hands), and keep hands out of their mouths and eyes to help prevent them from getting or spreading an infectious illness. (See, for example, this CDC cartoon video.) Unfortunately, these lessons cannot be taught to babies and very young toddlers. ... Read More »
26
Apr
2019
Child Care
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

How to Sanitize Ball Pit Balls to Help Prevent the Spread of Infection

Children love to play in ball pits whether for fun or as part of a physical therapy. When I see them gleefully navigating those tubs of colorful spheres, it occurs to me they are engaging in a form of “dry swimming.” In place of water, they “swim” through a medium of lightweight plastic balls. Unlike swimming pool water, however, there is no standard method to treat ball pit balls to help prevent the spread of infectious illness. Based on recent research that identified a host of pathogens in pediatric therapy ball pits, I suggest the time to evaluate the need for such guidance is now.... Read More »
28
Dec
2018
Child Care
by Water Quality & Health Council

Hand-washing for the Holidays

Proper hand-washing is one of the most important steps families can take to avoid colds, flu, stomach bugs, and other viruses swirling around us this Holiday Season. Make it fun: teach kids to lather up their hands with warm water and soap for about 20 seconds, which is approximately as long as it takes to... Read More »
23
Dec
2016
Child Care
by Water Quality & Health Council

A Fun Holiday Hand-washing Activity for Kids

As our families and friends gather to celebrate the holidays, we look forward to enjoying good company, delicious food and exchanging gifts.  One aspect of the holidays we don’t enjoy, however, is exchanging the germ du jour. Many adults are aware that frequent hand-washing—and hand sanitizer use in a pinch–can help avoid the “re-gifted” germs... Read More »
16
Oct
2015
Child Care
by Water Quality & Health Council

A Fun Way to Teach Kids about Hand-washing

How can you help your children avoid some of the infectious illnesses that will be shared this season? According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper hand-washing is one of the most important ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. But nagging kids to wash their hands is seldom... Read More »
14
Nov
2014
Child Care
by Fred Reiff, PE

Foregoing Childhood Immunizations: Fear and Consequences

Parents can use this CDC “button” to create a personalized vaccination schedule for children 6 years old or younger Childhood immunizations protect against a wide variety of diseases, including diphtheria, measles, mumps, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, rubella, varicella (chicken pox) and smallpox.  Yet, some parents reject these immunizations as unsafe, citing a fear of potential... Read More »
12
Jul
2013
Child Care
by Bruce K. Bernard, PhD

On Germaphobia

“Let kids be kids.” “Everything spreads germs. Stop being germaphobes and let your kids have fun.”  These were some of the comments from a lively exchange on the Moms Against Cooties Facebook page following a May 22 post on “How to Keep Kids Healthy and Prevent Illness at the Water Park.”  Is the Water Quality... Read More »