Competency Goal I
To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
2. Functional Area : Healthy
Candidate promotes good health and nutrition and provides an environment that contributes to the prevention of illness.
One of my goals to promote hygiene is to prevent the spread of germs This is an important goal for the age group in my care because older youth tend to think that had sanitizer is a replacement for proper and frequent hand washing. I try to demonstrate good hygiene habits since germs can be easily spread when children are in close proximity with each other. I do this is by washing my hands after coming in from outside, after using the restroom, after doing craft projects, before meals and any other time my hands are dirty. I also prompt youth to wash their hands at similar times. Another way I promote hygiene is by washing and sanitizing tables daily and other items that may need sanitizing. I also make sure each child has his/her own locker and that there items are not all mixed up. I wash and sanitize blankets/ bean bags/ pillows weekly.
I promote nutrition by introducing the children to foods they have never tried. I try to expose youth to cooking new foods by different methods so that they also learn the natural tastes of the foods they are preparing. These foods are often nutritious and fun for the children to help prepare. This participation encourages them to try something new in their diet. I am a firm believer that children should be