The power of Verbal encouragement

“Children need encouragement like a plant needs water.”

    -Rudolf Dreikurs

Providing verbal encouragement to the children in your care can have a profound impact on their healthy development and success. In addition to strengthening your bond and increasing the number of positive interactions you have, verbal encouragement has been shown to increase performance in cognitive and simple motor tasks. A study examining the effects of verbal encouragement on 3- to 5-year-old children found that the children who received verbal encouragement before beginning a task succeeded more often than children who did not receive encouragement (Guéguen et al., 2015).

Practice providing verbal encouragement daily. Demonstrate that you value each child’s efforts and that you believe in their abilities. This will increase motivation, boost self-esteem, and help children express their boundless potential!

See below for some examples of verbal encouragement.

Reference

• Guéguen, N., Martin, A., & Andrea, C. R. (2015). “I am sure you’ll succeed”: When a teacher’s verbal encouragement of success increases children’s academic performance. Learning and Motivation, 52, 54–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2015.09.004

FREE Lead EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR FAMILIES

Did you know that Washington State has the lowest blood lead testing rate in the entire country? Even children who are on Medicaid and are required to be tested at ages 12 and 24 months, or at least once by the time they are 6 years old, are not receiving a blood lead test. This means that there are likely many children who have high blood lead levels that have not been identified. There is no safe level of lead for children. The sooner that children with lead in their blood are identified, the sooner the source of lead can be identified and removed. The longer lead is in a child's body, the more damage it can cause to the brain, nervous system, and other organs. 

Snohomish County Health Department would like to bring informational packets to child care facilities. In these packets are colorful small brochures, available in a variety of languages, that can be sent home with each family. There is also information for the child care on ways to make your center or home lead-safe. The visit by our staff only takes about 15 minutes. To schedule a visit and get your packet, please send an email to shd.childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us.

This event is free for WAEYC members and $15 for non-members.

Event Page: https://waeyc.org/events/waeyc-virtual-training-hidden-harms-at-your-child-care-site/

Direct link to the registration page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/waeyc-virtual-training-hidden-harms-at-your-child-care-site-tickets-825420905147?aff=oddtdtcreator

Free Car Seats & Car Seat Assistance - Car seats can be confusing, we can help! 

If your child care transports children, this is a great opportunity to make sure that your car seat installation is correct. Join SafeKids Snohomish County on Friday, March, between 1 and 3 p.m. to have a nationally certified child passenger safety technician check your car seat for free. We will also have some free car seats available to families in need, while supplies last. 

Appointments are required. Scan the QR code or email.

 outreach@southsnofire.org.

Poison Prevention Tips for Child Care

It only takes seconds for a child to be exposed to a poisonous substance. Here are some tips to make sure you are taking the steps needed to keep the children in your care safe:

• All chemicals, including cleaning products, should be stored out of reach of children and out of their sight. Many cabinet locks do not provide enough protection. 
• Keep all chemicals in their original containers. Make sure all spray bottles are clearly labeled with the contents, even if it is just water.
• Always follow the label instructions when using chemical products. Read the entire label before use.
• Have the poison control phone number posted near telephones and/or programmed into your cell phone. 1-800-222-1222
• Make sure that all indoor and outdoor plants in child-occupied spaces are non-toxic. If you are unsure, you can take it to a plant nursery for identification.
• Art materials should be labeled non-toxic and meet ASTM-D 4236 criteria.
• Store medications properly. Double check the label information each time you administer medication to a child. 
• Make sure no lead poisoning hazards exist in your child care. For a free consultation and materials, email shd.childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us.
• Mr. Yuk stickers can be ordered from the Washington Poison Center and applied to toxic products. 
• Teach children not to eat things they find without asking first.
• Share poison prevention information with families. The Washington Poison center has a good checklist for families to use at home.

Remember to check CPSC for Recalls

Don't forget to periodically check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for recalls that may affect your child care. Some more recently recalled products include a step stool than can collapse, an Ikea fishing game with a choking hazard, a croquet set with lead paint, and magnetic balls that have caused several deaths due to ingestion. 

Speaker available for parent education

Does your early learning program have parent education nights? Snohomish County Health Department has a speaker available to provide information on lead poisoning prevention at family education events. The majority of our availability is for online learning, although we do have some slots available for in-person trainings. Please contact us at shd.childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us or 425-512-5249 to get more information. 

We appreciate your patience as we continue to update our courses to enhance your learning experience. Classes are being offered AT NO COST at this time. 

 For questions about our online classes, contact our team at SHD.ChildCareHealth@co.snohomish.wa.us or via phone at 425.252.5415.

This Month's Featured Classes

Contact Information

Snohomish County Health Department
3020 Rucker Ave., Ste. 202, Everett, WA  98201
                                                                                     
Email: SHD.ChildCareHealth@co.snohomish.wa.us

Program Phone:  425.252.5415

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

Received this as a forward? Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.

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 facility.