Chabot College
Fall, 2010
Replaced Fall 2011
Course Outline for Early Childhood Development 54
CHILD HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION
Catalog Description:
54 – Child Health, Safety and Nutrition
3 Units
Aspects of nutrition, health and safety that promote and maintains the health and wellbeing of all
children and adults who work with young children. Topics include health and nutritional
guidelines, maintaining safe and healthy learning environments, state regulations, policies and
procedures, common childhood illnesses, infectious diseases, school-family collaboration and
emergency preparedness, first aid and injury prevention. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. explain the interrelatedness of nutrition, health, and safety;
2. identify and plan nutritionally balanced snacks and meals for all children with consideration to
cultural and special nutritional needs;
3. describe the methods for safe food preparation, handling and disposal;
4. demonstrate techniques of health, safety and hygiene practices for all children including
those with special needs;
5. identify the symptoms and transmission of communicable diseases affecting children and
adults in the early care and education environment;
6. describe the signs and symptoms of child abuse, responsibility as a mandated reporter and
prepare appropriate reports;
7. demonstrate techniques and activities that reduce stress in children and support children’s
emotional wellbeing;
8. identify and describe environmental health and safety risks for children as well as adults;
9. demonstrate basic skills of first aid and responding to common emergencies encountered in
the Early Childhood setting;
10. analyze current licensing regulations regarding health, safety and nutrition for Early
Childhood facilities and family child care homes;
11. evaluate classroom health policies and health records including health appraisal,
immunization record, and emergency card for compliance with regulations;
12. describe ways that families and teachers can work together to develop good nutrition, health
and safety habits in all children respecting family and cultural practices and traditions;
13. develop Early Childhood curriculum and activities on topics of health, safety and nutrition;
14. apply knowledge of research and community resources to address the specific health needs
of all children, including those with special needs.
Course Content:
1. Nutritional needs
a. Birth- school age
b. Special dietary concerns, eating issues and other special needs, such as allergies,
obesity and Diabetes
c. Children with special needs
d. Diet analysis
e. Common nutritional issues and challenges
2. Standards of food preparation, handling and disposal
a. Department of Social Services regulations
Chabot College
Course Outline for Early Childhood Development 54, Page 2
Fall, 2010
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
b. Nutritional requirements
c. Menu planning
d. Food preparation and curriculum design
e. Planning meals that appeal to all children and represent classroom culture
Teachers modeling health and safety practices
a. Exhibiting healthy practices
b. Exhibiting safe behavior
c. Practicing and modeling universal precautions
Children’s illness
a. Common Communicable illnesses
1) Symptoms
2) Precaution
b. Responding to illness
1) Informal observation of children and routine health checks
2) Notifying parents and record-keeping
Recognizing signs of abuse and neglect
a. Family and cultural dynamics
b. Observing children
c. Symptoms
1) Physical abuse
2) Physical neglect
3) Sexual abuse
4) Emotional abuse
d. Mandated reporting
e. Accessing community resources
Minimizing stress in the environment
a. Stress in young children
b. Stress in providers and teachers
c. Response to stress
d. Supporting children’s emotional well being
e. Techniques and activities to reduce stress
Teaching safety and emergency procedures
a. Involvement of children in identifying rules
b. Explaining safety rules to children
c. Activities that teach safety
Creating a safe environment
a. Environmental health and safety risks
b. Equipment and facilities indoor and outdoor
c. Explaining and practicing emergency and evacuation procedures
d. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
e. Basic skills of first aid and injury prevention
f. Responding to common emergencies
Health, safety, and nutrition regulations
a. Familiarity with current regulations
b. Following health and safety regulations
c. Health appraisals and health assessment
d. Maintaining records
Integrating health, safety and nutrition curriculum into programs
a. Activities which encourage healthy and nutritional practices
b. Activities which reinforce safety, emergency preparedness and injury prevention
c. Activities which promote children’s physical fitness
Collaborating with families to implement health, safety, and nutritional practices
a. Informing families regarding health, safety, and nutrition issues within a cultural context
b. Techniques for sharing health, safety and nutrition information
c. Utilizing community services including health care professionals
Chabot College
Course Outline for Early Childhood Development 54, Page 3
Fall, 2010
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lecture and discussion
Films, tapes, and resource speakers
Assigned reading and written work
Small and large group discussion
On-line research on childhood illnesses
First Aid and Community CPR
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Select a communicable illness from a list supplied by the class instructor and write a
research paper.
b. Observe a child care center and assess the health and safety components of that center
and submit a written action plan that addresses corrective measures.
c. Visit and report on a community agency, which offers health and safety materials, which
can be used by families.
d. Apply emergency first aid techniques to mock scenarios for an ill or injured child.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Mid term
b. Final examination
c. Class attendance and participation
d. Individual and/or group report
e. Demonstration of first aid techniques
Textbook(s):
Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child, Lynn R. Marotz, Marie Z. Gross, Jeanettia M. Rush, 6th
edition, Thomson Delmar Learning, New York, 2005
Safety, Nutrition and Health in Early Education, Cathie Robertson, 3rd edition, Thomson Delmar Learning,
New York, 2007.
First Aid, CPR/AED for School and Community, American Red Cross, 2007.
California Attorney Journal Child Abuse Prevention Handbook, 3rd edition, Sacramento Department of
Justice, 2000. (this is the latest edition)
Special Student Materials:
None
ECD 54, revised 9/09: cs