Healthy Surroundings in Family Care Settings
How to Use this List
- Go through each item on the list.
- Check off the things you already do.
- Don't worry if you can't check off everything!
- Use the items you DO NOT check off to create an action plan for improvement.
Furniture and Space
Furniture
o Enough beds, tables, and chairs for all children to eat and sleep comfortably.
o Furnishings are safe and in good repair.
o Children have a place to store their own things.
o Some furniture is used for play activities.
o High chairs or adult chairs with cushions are used while eating or doing other activities such as painting.
o Sheets are changed at least weekly.
o Tables are cleaned after meals and other use.
o Some furniture is child-sized (such as a small table and chairs).
o Furniture does not crowd the child care space.
o There are several child-sized play furnishings, such as a play stove or easel.
Relaxation and Comfort
o Cribs or cots are available for children to sleep in.
o Soft cushions are available.
o Children are allowed to use at least one piece of furniture, such as a soft chair or couch, in the child care area.
o There is a carpeted area for children’s use.
o Many soft toys are available to children.
o Adult holds and rocks infants and toddlers from time to time.
o Soft, child-sized furnishings are provided, such as cushions, beanbags, child-sized rockers and chairs, or a padded high chair.
Arranging Indoor Space
o A crawling space for infants is provided.
o There is a play space for toddlers and preschoolers.
o Play spaces are free of breakable objects and other “no-no’s” so children can play with few restrictions.
o Space has good light, ventilation, and temperature.
o Space isn’t crowded with furniture.
o Traffic patterns don’t interfere with activities.
o Materials with a similar use are placed together.
o At least two play areas are set aside for specific activities, such as doll play, building blocks, art, or reading.
o Enough storage and space is provided in each play area (for example, for block play there is a box for storing blocks located near an open space on the floor).
o Space is set up so children of different ages can use it at the same time.
o Materials in play area are labeled and organized so that children can use them on their own.
o Additional materials are available to add to or change the play areas.
Safety
o There is a phone in the home.
o Transportation is available in case of emergency.
o First aid supplies are well stocked and ready to use.
o Emergency numbers are posted near the phone.
o The home has passed official fire safety inspection.
o Hot water is managed safely.
o No obvious safety problems indoors or outdoors: medicines are in a locked cabinet, cleaning supplies are out of reach, toys and objects small enough to be swallowed are kept away from infants and toddlers, etc.
o A backup caregiver is available for emergencies.
o The backup caregiver is familiar with the children and the activities at the home and knows the emergency plans.
o Emergency exit plans are posted and practiced at least monthly with children.
o Caregiver uses car safety restraints for all: safety seats for infants and toddlers and separate seat belts for each older child and adult.
o Caregiver has had first aid training, including CPR for children, within the last two years.
o Caregiver teaches children about safety, including pedestrian safety.
Active Physical Play
o Safe outdoor play for all ages provided at least three times per week.
o Clean, safe indoor space provided for infants and toddlers to crawl and walk around much of the day.
o Outdoor and indoor play is closely supervised.
o Play things and equipment are in good repair.
o Outdoor space is used by children for 1-3 hours daily year-round, except in bad weather.
o Physical activity provided indoors for all ages in bad weather.
o Play things and equipment exercise a variety of muscle skills, such as crawling, walking, balancing, climbing, swinging, and playing ball.
o Toys and equipment are provided for each age group.
o Toys for toddlers and preschoolers offer imaginative play.
o A new physical challenge is added each week through planned activity, such as an obstacle course, a tunnel, or a ball game.
Supervision
o Caregiver is focused on children.
o Attention is paid to safety, cleanliness, and proper use of materials.
o Caregiver’s work or interests do not take away from care giving (for example, work is done while children are asleep, or children have fun helping to set the table or hang up wash to dry).
o Caregiver interacts with children and enhances play with teaching
o Caregiver helps children solve conflicts when necessary.
o Supervision is suited to individual needs: the caregiver closely watches toddlers, but allows three and four year olds more independence.
o Activities are set up in a way that avoids conflicts: there are duplicate toys for toddlers, enough blocks for several children to play at once, etc.
o Caregiver looks for opportunities to extend learning from one activity to the next.
Interactions between Adults and Children
o Caregiver often smiles at, talks to, and listens to children.
o Caregiver uses physical contact, including gentle holding, hugging, and patting on the head, to give attention to children.
o Caregiver gives each child equal attention.
o Caregiver and children seem relaxed.
o Voices are cheerful and children smile often.
o Children and adults respect one another.
o Children and adults show one another kindness.
o Caregiver praises children for being kind and helpful to others.
Communicating With Children With Special Needs
o Care provider communicates equally with special needs child and other children.
o Caregiver adjusts his speech to each child’s level of understanding.
o Communication aids, such as a communication board or a hearing aid, are used when needed throughout the day.
o Caregiver communicates frequently with the special needs child.
o Caregiver actively encourages the child to communicate with the caregiver.
o Care provider encourages children to communicate with each other.
o Care provider praises or reinforces the child’s attempts to communicate.
o Caregiver extends language interaction with special needs children.
o Caregiver teaches children new ways to communicate with special needs children, such as by teaching other children to sign or by adding new communication board symbols.
Health
o Child care areas are clean.
o Caregiver has emergency care and health information for each child, including contact information for the child’s parents, doctor, and dentist.
o Caregiver reports suspected child abuse.
o Caregiver has a yearly health exam.
o Caregiver cuts down on the spread of germs by wiping runny noses with clean tissues for each child and telling parents about illness in the day care home.
o Special health problems such as allergies, hearing loss, or hyperactivity are written down and the caregiver uses the information in planning activities.
o Caregiver remains alert to children’s health by checking irritable children for fever, etc.
o Rules are set up to govern attendance during an illness at a child’s home and parents are told about the rules.
o Medication is given only from the original container with written permission from parents.
o Caregiver has arranged for a medical consultant, such as a local doctor or nurse practitioner, to handle child care questions.
o A quiet area for sick children is available.
o Health information is provided for parents.
o Caregiver encourages good health habits through the use of nutrition activities, storybooks, etc.
o Caregiver is a living example of good health practices by eating healthy foods and refraining from smoking in front of children.
Napping
o Naps are scheduled daily.
o Naps are supervised.
o Napping area is quiet and well-ventilated.
o Each child has his own crib, cot or bed with clean sheets, blankets, etc.
o Naps are scheduled appropriately for different age groups.
o Children are placed at least two feet apart.
o Cuddly toys are available to help children relax.
o Soft, soothing music plays in the background during naps.
o Caregiver provides backrubs to children.
o Early risers and non-nappers are given separate activities.
o Napping schedules are changed to suit children as they grow.
Diapering/Toileting
o Diapers are checked and changed often.
o Caregiver treats toileting accidents as unintentional mishaps instead of punishable offenses.
o Diapering area is cleaned thoroughly after each use.
o Adults wash their hands with soap after changing diapers or helping children with toileting.
o Children’s hands are washed after using the toilet.
o Caregiver handles toileting accidents calmly.
o Diapering is done near a source of hot water.
o Toilets are child-sized (potty chairs for toddlers also work)
o Sinks are equipped with steps or are low enough for children to easily use.
o Caregiver works with parents to toilet train toddlers.
o Caregiver uses diapering as a time to warmly interact with children.
o Diapering and toileting are used to teach children self-help, cleanliness, and dressing skills (hand washing, using toilet paper, buttoning and snapping, etc.).
Personal Grooming
o Hands are washed before and after meals and after using the toilet.
o Each child has his own towel or washcloth (paper or cloth).
o A low sink or steps make it easy for children to reach the sink and wash their hands.
o Extra clothes are available to change children.
o Caregiver encourages children to care for themselves by placing a mirror at child’s eye level, towels within preschooler’s reach, providing aprons for art activities, etc.
o Bibs are used during meals for infants and toddlers.
o Teeth are brushed after meals.
o Each child has his own toothbrush.
o Children are cleaned up and hair is brushed after messy playing or napping.
o Personal care activities, such as singing a hand washing song or practicing hair brushing, are planned to teach self-help skills.
Planning Activities
o There is enough time for meals, naps, grooming, and changing diapers.
o Several activity periods, some indoors and some outdoors, are planned each day.
o Children are allowed to choose from a variety of play activities both morning and afternoon.
o The daily schedule provides a balance of active and quiet play.
o Caregiver uses routine activities to teach children new skills such as tooth brushing and correct hand washing.
o Caregiver creates smooth transitions from one activity to the next (for example, the caregiver sets out play materials for preschoolers before putting babies down for a nap). | 
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