3 Cheers for the Early Years

Health Promotion

Child Care

Information for Professionals | Health Promotion | Initiatives | Evaluation

The role of Child Care in healthy child development:

A generation ago, it was not uncommon for one parent to be at home with their children while the other parent went to work, but North American society has changed. Along with family structure changes, the support of extended families may or may not be present. For the vast majority of families today, both parents will work at some point in their child’s life.

Research indicates that high quality experiences in the early years leads to several positive outcomes for children including:

better communication and language development
better cognitive functioning and thought organization
improved peer relationship skills
improved social and participatory skills

If parents need to work, children need to be cared for – in a way that will help to promote their development. All children are entitled to healthy and safe child care settings.

How can you support Child Care in your work?

If you work with children:

Whether you work in a licensed care centre, or an unregulated facility (be it a day home or family situation), a preschool, nursery school or any program for young children, you can promote quality child care in everything you do.
Work with parents – a team approach is always most effective.
Keep in mind the early years last forever. The patterns you help to form today have effect much beyond the here and now. Early Childhood is a time for learning – how to trust, how to express and cope with emotions, and how to begin to learn that problems have solutions. But remember – they are just learning. Time, practice and patience are the keys to success.
Be proud of and support your profession. You are nurturing our future!

If you work with parents:

Help parents access resources (see below) that can help them make informed choices around child care.
High quality child care arrangements are one of the most important family support systems for working parents (Powell as quoted in Kyle, 2000)
Training is linked to quality care. Encourage parents to look at their care giver’s level of training, whether they have supports, and if they are accredited.