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What's In This Newsletter?

Brain Building in Everyday Moments and FREE Training Opportunity
COVID-19 Updates
May Child Care Health & Safety Featured Classes

Brain Building in Everyday Moments

Did you Know? A child’s brain grows the fastest from birth through age five! In these first years, trillions of neural connections are made, forming the foundation for future learning. Helping kids learn now gets them ready for school, friends, and life.

Babies are born with tremendous potential. They are wired to learn from day one. In the moments when we connect with children, neural connections fire in the brain, taking in all the things we say and do. While genes make up the brain’s blueprint, positive and supportive experiences with adults help a child’s brain grow strong and flexible. That makes you a child’s No. 1 brain builder!

You have what it takes! The time you spend with a child can help their brain grow strong. Even a few minutes count! Children love to learn from you. Your time together gives them a strong start in life.

Brain Building Activity
See below for one example of an activity that supports brain building among young children. Be sure to read Brainy Background to learn how this activity supports brain development.

Still as a Statue
Ask children to pretend to be a statue and freeze in a pose, like standing on one foot. Try to have them hold this pose as long as possible while you do everything you can to make them laugh and move. Then YOU take a turn as the statue and see if they can make you laugh and move.

Brainy Background
This game is ALL about focus and self-control. Children are concentrating to stay in the statue pose, and learning to tune out distractions so they can achieve a goal. This kind of playful learning helps them learn skills for life.

All children should have joyful, enriching early experiences that fuel their innate desire to learn, and foster the skills and mindsets for lifelong success.

FREE Training Opportunity

To learn more about brain development in young children and how you can foster Brain Building Moments in day-to-day activities with children in your care, click the image below for more details about a free training event.
STARS Credit Provided!

COVID-19 Updates

There has been an increase in COVID-19 case rates since early March 2021. At that time, Snohomish County was at 85 cases per 100,000. Now, at the end of April, we are over 200 cases per 100,000. Our county is at risk of moving back a phase in the statewide Road to Recovery plan. In order to prevent further spread in our community, the Snohomish Health District maintains a 14-day quarantine for close contacts within congregate group settings such as child care and schools; this remains the safest practice.

teacher in class with students, masked and distanced

May Featured Classes

COVID-19 for Washington State Schools

This course is being offered as a public health service to teachers in our community, and offers 1 in-service hour (1.0 STARS credit which can be credited as a clock hour) at no cost for a limited time. Schools remain a critical place for children to thrive, grow and develop. The intent of this training is to provide evidence-based information and practices for COVID-19. Topics covered will include how the virus is spread and specific guidelines for limiting exposure in out-of-home settings such as school. This training will provide specific guidance for engagement in typical school activities children while practicing physical distancing, health screening and sanitation.

Mealtime Matters: Supporting Meaningful Mealtimes in Child Care

This course will reinforce the importance of mealtime practices which promote learning, development, and nutrition among young children in an early learning environment. This training will review components of meaningful mealtimes, including how to support “picky eaters” as well as the importance of fostering a positive feeding relationship between caregiver and child. Relevant Washington Administrative Codes (WACs), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines, Early Achievers quality standards, and Caring for Our Children best practices will also be reviewed in this course, as well as current COVID-19 mealtime guidance and exemptions.

Building Resilience for Child Care Providers

This course will build upon our previous course addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). You do not need to have taken the ACEs course to understand this material, though the ACEs course may provide context as to why resilience is particularly important. This course will explain what resilience is, describe some foundational elements of internal resilience in adulthood, and provide opportunities to explore each of these elements in your own life.

General Class and Registration Information

Classes are available to everyone. Learning courses can be taken at no cost. If you wish to obtain a certificate or in-service hours/STARS credit, cost is $10 per credit hour (unless otherwise noted). Remember that child care providers are able to apply for reimbursement through DCYF up to $250.00 once each year. Click here for more information.

Visit the SHD Child Care Health Outreach Program Course link. At the top of the page, select the SignUp link and enter the requested information. Search for classes in the Course Catalog. Once you successfully complete the COVID-19 class for schools, you will automatically be able to print a Certificate of Completion awarding you with one in-service training hour (STARS Credit) and your name will be entered into the MERIT System. An in-service training hour is also available for the Resilience and Mealtimes Matter course. To obtain credit, click on the STARS credit / certificate module of the course (in the Course Catalog) after completing the learning course.

For questions contact: childcarehealth@snohd.org or 425-252-5415

Click here for instructions on how to use our online learning portal.

Click here to go to the online learning website.

Contact Information

Snohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker Ave., Ste. 104, Everett, WA 98201

Email: childcarehealth@snohd.org

Program Phone: 425.252.5415

Website: http://www.snohd.org/238/Child-Care-Providers

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The Child Care Health Outreach Program staff are available to consult with you on these and other health, safety, and nutrition topics by phone, by email, or at your child care.