Additional Resources
Child Care and Child Development Organizations
- National Association for Family Child Care
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- Southern California Association for the Education of Young Children
- First 5 CA
- ZERO to THREE
State and County Agencies
- California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
- California Department of Education-Early Learning and Care Division (CCE-ELCD)
- California Community Care Licensing
- Department of Public Health – LA County – Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education
Additional Associations and Organizations
- California Early Childhood Online
- California Preschool Instructional Network
- Nemours: https://healthykidshealthyfuture.org/
- Choose Health LA: http://choosehealthla.org/
- Let’s Move: http://www.letsmove.gov/
- Alliance For A Healthier Generation: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/live_healthier/
- WIC: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/women-infants-and-children-wic
- Quality Start LA: http://qualitystartla.org/
Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding Toolkit for Child Care Providers Eng | Span
- Breastfeed LA: http://breastfeedla.org/
- La Leche League: http://www.lalecheleague.org/
- Videos on breastfeeding-friendly child care (10 minutes each):
- For Child Care Providers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IpDDxnbin7c
- For Parents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXXpmCn57ZI&feature=player_embedded
- Breastfeeding resources for moms from WIC can be found here
- Frequently Asked Questions about Breastfeeding from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Screen Time
- Let’s Move: http://www.letsmove.gov/reduce-screen-time-and-get-active
- Screen Free: www.screefree.org
Nutrition Information
- USDA: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/team-nutrition
- My Plate: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
- Mealtime Memo for Child Care offers information for child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, focused on good nutrition for young children.
- WIC educational materials for parents:
- Ideas for cooking with children
- Sesame Street materials (including printable posters and handouts for parents)
- Sesame Street videos to share with children
- Ideas for non-food rewards for children: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/food/nutrition/nutrition/life_stages/hgic4110.html
Healthy Recipes
- Here are some healthy recipes from champions for change and from cooking matters
- These healthy recipes are specifically approved for CACFP (the Child and Adult Care Food Program) found here and here
Financial Assistance for Healthy Foods
- WIC (for pregnant women and children under 5 years, no US citizenship required)
- Cal Fresh (Eligibility based on income)
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for child care providers
- LA Food Bank, just plug in your zip code to find food pantries and soup kitchens near you
Gardening
- Kids Gardening: http://www.kidsgardening.org/
- Grow It, Try It, Like It! Preschool Fun with Fruits and Vegetables is a garden-themed nutrition education kit for child care center staff that introduces children to three fruits and three vegetables:
- The Farm to Preschool program’s Harvest of the Month Curriculum
Physical Activity Ideas
- American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyKids/ActivitiesforKids/Activities-for-Kids_UCM_304155_SubHomePage.jsp
- Lots of physical activity ideas for preschoolers can be found here and here
- 75 TV Free Activities for Toddlers
- How to create an outdoor play space
- One Step at a Time: Helping Young Children Be Physically Active! A series of three free online modules to help child care providers promote children’s physical activity
Water Testing
- Information about water testing for lead
- See page 8 of this guide about how to get your water tested if you’re in a child care setting