Importance of Safety

Safety is really important in early learning environment because kids are curious and always moving around. How children hey play affects what safety measures are needed like, active play, running, climbing, or playing with playground equipment. Younger children also like exploring by touching and putting things in their mouth, which can hurt them. (Healthy Foundation in Early Childhood Settings, 2024, p.415)

Safety for Toddlers

The Child Care and Early Years Act, help keep toddlers safe by setting rules for supervision, staffs, and health and safety. The act requires specific staff to child ratios so toddlers are properly supervised. Also centers are to follow safety practices like cleaning, sanitizing, and using safety equipment.

Attendance

The attendance form is used to record the arrival and departure of each child in the child care. This form ensures that staff know which child is present at any time, this is essential for safety, supervision, and emergency procedures.

Requirements for Completion

Child's full name
Date of attendance
Arrival time
Departure time

Purpose

Tracks how many children are in class
Supports emergency preparation
Provides record of attendance for parents and staff

medical Information Form

This form is used by childcare centers to document each childs medical history, allergies, medication, and special care needs. This is so staff can safely care for toddlers and respond appropriately to any health situation.

Requirements for Completion

Child's full name
Parent/Guardian contact information
known allergies
current medication, dose, instruction
Any special health needs

Purpose

Provides staff with medical information
Helps prevent allergic reaction, medication error
Helps staff respond quickly to medical incident

Importance of Nutrition

Good nutrition is important for young children because it supports healthy growth, brain development, strong bones, and strong immune system.

Nutrition for different ages

Infants

For infants 6 to 12 months, proper nutrition supports growth, brain development, and health eating habit. Infant menus should have variety of textures from pureed and mashed foods as the baby develops. Infants should also have 2-3 meals and 1-2 snakes by 8 months

Toddler

Caregivers should offer variety of vegetable, fruits, whole grains, and proteins , along with healthy drinks like water or milk and limit the sugar drinks. Toddlers should also have two to three snakes.

Preschoolers

offer wide variety of food, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains=, protein, dairy and healthy fats. Preschoolers should also have three meals and two snacks daily. Giving them child size portion, encourage self feeding and help with simple food prep also introduce new food,

School age

School age children should have variety of nutrient dense food, like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grain, dairy, limited sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. They should also have age appropriate portion size and and meals consistently and snakes.

Canada Food Guide & Active Living

Canada's Food Guide promotes healthy eating through a balanced plate and healthy habits they also focus on nutrient rich eating patterns rather than strict food groups or portion size.

Childcare also helps children with staying healthy by giving meals and snacks that follow the food pie chart and make sure that the children get up to stretch and move around.

Recipe Offering

Non-vegan

whole grain: Rice

Vegetable: Corn, mushroom, sweet pepper

Protein: chicken & bacon

Fruit: Raisin & cranberries

Dairy: Yogurt

Drink: water

Non-vegan

whole grain: Rice

Vegetable: Corn, mushroom, sweet pepper

Protein: Chickpeas or tofu