A huge part of our work is caring for the health and well-being of the children we care for. However, for us to do this effectively, we need to also care for ourselves. This resource created by The Office of Child Care, State capacity Building Center an office of the Administration for children & families, highlights the importance of caring for our wellness, exploring the eight areas of wellness ( physical, emotional, and mental health, environmental, occupational, social, intellectual, financial, and spiritual). The resource also helps in reflecting on how we currently support each area and how we can better plan to support all areas.
As caregivers, we experience stress in many ways, appearing through body sensations, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. This Town square-created resource can help you think about long-term strategies to break the stress cycle.
Strategies For Managing Stress
The trauma-informed approach is guided by the “Four R’s”: Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understanding potential paths for recovery; recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system; respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and seeks to actively resist retraumatization. (SAHMSA,2014) This Town Square-created resource gives practical ways to utilize the Four R’s.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), food allergies are common, affecting 4% – 6% of children and 4% of adults.
Infants and young children are at a greater risk of potential food allergy symptoms; as providers, we must be well informed and prepared. This fact sheet from the National Food Service Management Institute provides answers to common food allergy questions
Common-Questions-Family-Day-Care-Providers-Fact-Sheet
Outdoor play is very beneficial for young children; however, as providers, we have to be aware of the weather. This handout created by Child Care Weather Watch can help you decide if it is safe to be outside and what clothing, beverages, and protection children need.
No words could describe our sadness, outrage, and devastation over the past few weeks. We are thinking about the children, teachers, and families who were and continue to be tragically affected by senseless acts of violence. As educators, parents, and humans, we too are struggling with our emotions and with what to say to children. Below are a few resources to use as we face these difficult conversations.
- All Our Kin has curated a list of resources for speaking with children about difficult subjects.
Resources for Speaking with Children About Difficult Subjects
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Networks (NTCTSN) develop resources focused on talking about shootings and how to help children with traumatic grief.
Talking to children about the Shooting
Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
Lastly, we want to share a resource from the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center as a reminder of the importance of caring for ourselves, especially in moments of grief.
Caring for Ourselves as We Care for Others
Provider Appreciation Day® is an annual celebration of the vital work that child care providers do every day in communities across the country, and in 2022 it falls on Friday, May 6!
Town Square celebrates family child care providers that serve children and families daily; your commitment and care to this work are genuinely valued.
Explore more about this day by goin to providerappreciation.org
We hope you take some time to celebrate yourself and all your hard work!
The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning provides resources for parents, teachers, and providers with the goal to improve the social and emotional outcomes of young children. The resources include trainings and modules as well as resources specific for teachers and caregivers to download, all geared to help adults meet the social and emotional needs of young children.
Una parte importante de nuestro trabajo consiste en cuidar la salud y el bienestar de los niños que atendemos. Sin embargo, para poder hacerlo con eficacia, también debemos cuidarnos a nosotros mismos. Este recurso creado por The Office of Child Care, State capacity Building Center an office of the Administration for children & families, destaca la importancia de cuidar nuestro bienestar, explorando las ocho áreas del bienestar (salud física, emocional y mental, ambiental, ocupacional, social, intelectual, financiera y espiritual). El recurso también ayuda a reflexionar sobre cómo apoyamos actualmente cada área y cómo podemos planificar mejor para apoyar todas las áreas.
Summer is here and if you have a safe space for children to play outdoors and have fun in the sun. This fact sheet from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps you understand how to protect yourself and the children in your care from over-exposure to the sun. It includes information on how to read the UV Index and how to be safe when in the sun.
