HEALTH & WELLNESS

This course focuses on promotion and maintenance of physical activity, health, safety, and nutrition of young children. It provides an overview of the basic principles and best practices of physical education, health, safety, and nutrition utilized in early childhood and primary-aged settings caring for children from birth to age 9. The course works is informed by the following: National Health Education Standards; National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) standards; NAEYC health and safety accreditation standards; Pennsylvania Learning Standards; DPW regulations. Topics covered include: Physical-Education: recognition of the importance of physical education and the goal of life-long physical fitness; knowledge about and ability to provide physical education and movement activities aimed at promoting increased motor development and competence-use of standards, lesson and activity planning; strategies used to encourage children and families to foster life-long habits of health and wellbeing; the impact of inactivity on all domains of development; and cooperative versus competitive games and the value of both. Health and Safety: learning about the critical importance of health and safety issues in care and education facilities; obtaining knowledge about common childhood illnesses and communicable diseases; preventive health and safety measures; record keeping, supervision and reporting (including mandated child abuse reporting); arrangement and maintenance of indoor and outdoor equipment; knowledge about basic first aid and emergency procedures; and identification of dangers specific to developmental stages and individual needs. Nutrition: developing an understanding of the nutritional needs of young children and for planning nutritional and culturally sensitive snacks and meals; discussing nutrition related issues such as obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.