It is important that staff members provide a clean and healthy environment for children of all ages to learn and grow. This lesson will provide information about how you can teach, model, and observe general hygiene practices in child development and school-age programs.

Handwashing is the number one way of preventing the spread of disease. This lesson will help you teach, model, and observe hand hygiene practices for child development and school-age staff members.

It is critical to keep restrooms clean in child development and school-age programs. Toileting and diapering are a major source of contamination. Unsanitary practices put staff and children at risk for illness and infection. This lesson focuses on ways you can help staff members maintain hygienic diapering and toileting practices. It also includes information on working with staff members who are in contact with toddlers who are learning to use the toilet.

No one likes to be sick. You and all staff members play an important role in preventing the spread of disease. This lesson helps you know how to teach, model, and observe staff members using universal precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This includes making sure staff members know the importance of daily health checks and common signs of illness.

Physical activity and nutrition are important contributors to children’s overall health. Regular movement and a nutritious diet can promote health and prevent some chronic illnesses. You play an important role in encouraging and modeling healthy habits for children in child development and school-age programs. This lesson helps you learn how to teach, model, and observe practices that support healthful nutrition and physical activity. This includes supporting practices like family style dining and bottle-feeding practices.

It is important that you and staff members take a holistic approach to health. Mental health is an important component of overall well-being. This lesson will help you teach, model, and observe practices that support the mental health of children and families during times of stress, such as deployment.

Successful child and youth development programs are inclusive places. Staff members must understand and respond to a variety of health needs. Some children will enter your program with chronic conditions like asthma. Others may have allergies. This lesson will help you understand how to help staff communicate about and care for children with special health needs.