By Lisa Mulliken Look around any infant or toddler classroom, and you will usually see a variety of equipment used to “contain” infants in sitting, standing, or back-lying positions. Containment equipment includes any device that restricts children’s movement in specific areas or situations. This can include a variety of items such as baby seats, exersaucers,...Read More

Barbara Bredell-Searle Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning – Bureau of Certification and Bureau of Policy & Professional Development published an announcement (Announcement C-24-01) on June 17, 2024, to clarify the intent of 55 Pa. Codes regarding toxics when it comes to plants. When you look at 55 Pa. Code 3270.66(d), 3280.66(c), or...Read More

Regina Wright The reason why I chose to write about this topic is because, I am asked often when visiting infant rooms and family childcare homes with only infants enrolled, “Why we require, “Keep out of reach of children” items, to be stored in locked cabinets?”  Many providers don’t understand the reasoning for locked items...Read More

Does changing a diaper seem daunting with all those steps that are needed? You may have been overwhelmed seeing those steps listed. The procedural steps that the Program Quality Assessment team follows was a collaboration between the authors of the Environment Rating Scales, The American Academy of Pediatric resource “Caring for Our Children” and our...Read More

Barbara Bredell-Searle If you are familiar with the Environment Rating Scales, you may know that somewhere in each of the tools, it is expected that children have appropriate furnishings for them to engage with others while conducting play as well as eating. We as educators are aware of what size furnishings are appropriate for these...Read More

Q-T Corner (quality tips corner)  The assessment team in PA is often asked if they have any tips to make meeting quality standards easier. Since they have experiences visiting many programs in their professional careers, they have seen many programs employ strategies to make things easier, more efficient, and more effective. Implementing quality can be stressful...Read More

Kitty Syster We all know hand washing is important to reduce the spread of germs. We also know that there is a right way and many not as effective ways to wash hands. Below are the recommended steps to hand washing. Moisten hands with water and use liquid soap. Rub hands together away from the...Read More

Suzanne Glenn With the continuation of the cold and flu season, it is a good time to review the proper hand washing procedures based upon guidelines from Pennsylvania DHS and Caring for Our Children, Third Edition (Standard 3.2.2.2).Read More