Category Archives: Health and Safety

On Wednesday, August 19th, state agencies released COVID-19 guidance for Georgia childcare facilities. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) joined together to develop the guidelines, which cover everything from drop-off/arrival, food preparation and meal service, to how and where to report confirmed cases of… Read more »

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DECAL Spotlights Dangers of Leaving Children in Vehicles. “Look Again” Campaign Urges Greater Awareness to Protect Georgia’s Youngest Citizens “For the seventh consecutive year, DECAL is calling for families and caregivers of children to increase awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. This year’s “Look Again” campaign aligns with National Heatstroke Prevention… Read more »

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The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) makes regular updates to its COVID-19 (coronavirus) web page.  Early learning professionals will find current child care guidance and resources.  These include, but are not limited to, the following: Governor statements DECAL Commissioner letters FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) Instructions for programs that choose to close or… Read more »

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Friday, May 24 is Look Again Day according to a proclamation from Gov. Kemp, but for parents and caregivers, every day is a day to Look Again and ensure that children aren’t left in unattended vehicles.  The state’s press release can be found here. Please spread the word and share this link for a 30-second… Read more »

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The State Fire Marshall rules require all child care providers to participate in a 5-hour initial fire safety training conducted by Caregiver Fire Safety Instructor and to reinforce that training with a 2-hour refresher every three years.  Fortunately, there are over 500 instructors throughout the state and a website that provides a simple method for… Read more »

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You may recognize that this post shares a title with a great board book from Elizabeth Verdick, but you may know that books alone can’t solve this frustrating developmental challenge. Recently, I read an article by Tamara Lush with the Associated Press about a Florida toddler that was bitten more than a dozen times over… Read more »

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How young is too young for children to play on a tablet? What are some good apps for children? Are video games safe for kids? Should screen time be limited? These are just some of the questions that many teachers and parents have been asking.  Doctors and researchers have been just as curious, too, so… Read more »

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Just a couple weeks into the school year, a Colorado father was surprised to hear that his second grade daughter wasn’t playing with peers on the playground but with a fourth-grade teacher, whom she referred to by first name, instead.  As the father of five talked with his daughter, he learned more that disturbed him… Read more »

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