In Sickness & Health: Walking Styles in Early Childhood

Are walking differences normal? Yes. Many young children tiptoe or are bowlegged or have knock knees.

Why do some children tiptoe? Many toddlers tip-toe, and it sometimes becomes a habit.

Are knock knees painful? No. And it generally corrects itself by age 5-7.

What are signs that might indicate problems? Pain, limping, swollen or discolored legs or feet, and conditions that are asymmetrical and affect only one leg or foot.

Safety First: Safety During a Stressful Economy

Can regular maintenance be cut due to cost? Most maintenance is necessary for quality care and safety.

How can I save money on heating/cooling? Switch to longer lasting filters. Have units inspected twice each year for efficiency.

How do I find a good maintenance service? Ask your enrolled families, friends, and neighbors for references. Consider bartering services if possible.

Should I require my staff to do the cleaning? While staff should have some responsibility for daily cleaning, their primary responsibility is care of the children. If you overwork your staff, you will lose them.

Nutrition Action: Picky Eaters

Are all children picky eaters? Many young children have “food jags” and may only want a few favorite foods.

Should I force a child to eat certain foods? Encourage children to try foods, including foods prepared in several different ways. Never force a child to eat or even taste a food.

What is family style? Serve foods in bowls and assist children as you teach them to serve themselves.

What are signs that indicate a need for medical advice? If a child is extraordinarily fussy about eating, lacks energy, does not seem to be growing as expected, or certain foods seem to make him ill.

Medicine Chest: Mumps

What causes mumps? Mumps is caused by a virus.

How is mumps spread? Through droplet spray or respiratory secretions (coughing and sneezing).

How can mumps be prevented? Children are routinely vaccinated for mumps as part of the MMR vaccine.

Is mumps dangerous? Several organs can be infected with the mumps virus. Mumps can cause hearing loss.

Health & You: Activity Pyramid

What is the Activity Pyramid? It is a figure that describes types of movements, along with information about how often, how intense, and how long you should be active during a week.

How much physical activity do I need? Adults need moderate or vigorous physical activity that adds up to at least 30 minutes each day.

What is aerobic exercise? It is planned and repetitive movements of the body that are strenuous enough to require use of oxygen and causes the heart and lungs to work harder.

What is the goal of strength training? The goal is to stimulate the muscles in your body more than they are used to.