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Child Care

Healthy Environments

Maintaining health environments at child care centres may include considerations regarding outdoor play, extreme temperatures, air quality, sun safety, and activities like gardening. 

When picking outdoor play items, think about safety and how well they hold up in different seasons. In summer, watch for toys that collect rainwater. Standing water can attract mosquitoes, which may spread diseases like West Nile Virus. Keep grass short to prevent bugs such as ticks. Ticks can carry Lyme Disease.

Place sandboxes in well-shaded areas or use a shade cover. Rake the sand and look for anything unsafe before each use. Cover sandboxes after hours to keep animals out. If animal feces are found, throw away the affected sand, clean and disinfect the area (if possible), then add fresh sand.

Extreme Heat

Extreme heat can be dangerous, especially for young children. Monitor weather forecasts and watch for signs of heat illness.

  • Make sure staff and children drink lots of water and have access to shade or cool areas. 
  • Reschedule activities which may cause overexertion during extreme heat events.

For health information and tips on how to stay cool and protect yourself, and the children under your care, please check out www.smdhu.org/heat and review SMDHU’s Extreme Heat: Guidance for Schools and Child Care Centres.

Extreme Cold

Cold weather can affect everyone, especially young children. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends keeping children indoors when the temperature or windchill is -27oC, or lower, as exposed skin can freeze quickly. Consider limiting outdoor time when the temperature reaches -15oC (or -20oC wind chill) Ensure children have appropriate winter gear and it stays dry.

For updates and safety tips during extreme cold, check www.smdhu.org/cold.

Refer to Canadian Pediatric Society for more information on winter safety and frostbite.

 

Outdoor air quality is affected by various sources including vehicle emissions, weather, and wildfires. Children are at greater risk of negative health impacts from air pollution. Short-term exposure of air pollutants can cause tiredness, headaches, difficulty breathing, irritated eyes, nose and throat. Air pollution can worsen existing health conditions like asthma.

For more information on air quality in general, please check out www.smdhu.org/airquality.

For more information specific to wildfire smoke, review Wildfire Smoke: Guidance for Schools and Child Care Centres.
The sun gives off harmful UV rays during summer and winter. Children should wear sunscreen on exposed skin. Sunscreen from home should be treated as a personal item and labeled with the child’s name. Ensure the play yard has sufficient shade for the children. It is recommended children wear wide-brimmed sun hats with a neck flap, sunglasses with 100% UV protection (“broad spectrum”) and loose cotton clothing. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends using sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher at least 30 minutes before going outside. Remember to put sunblock on ears, nose, back of neck and legs, and tops of feet.
 
Visit our Sun Safety page and the Canadian Pediatric Society’s Sun Safety page for more information.
Growing a garden can be a lot of fun for children and can provide many learning opportunities. Gardening is a great way for children to learn about food and nutrition and to take responsibility for caring for plants. It also promotes eating more fruits and vegetables, building teamwork and boosting self-confidence. There are, however, infection risks that can be prevented by taking appropriate precautions. Centres may refer to our gardening resource for recommendations to reduce infectious disease risks.
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