1. Abuse and Neglect
2. Lead poisoning
3. Asthma
4. Unintentional Injuries
5. Oral Health

Abuse and Neglect

Anyone who suspects a child is being abused, neglected or exploited can and should file a 51A Report with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), as an early childhood educator you are a mandated reporter. You may be the first person to see signs of or be told about maltreatment.  As a mandated reporter you play an integral part in the protection of children.

Lead poisoning

Lead poisoning is one of the most common and preventable pediatric health problems. The Centers for Disease Control states that children are particularly susceptible to lead’s toxic effects. Most lead poisoned children have no symptoms, therefore, go undiagnosed and untreated. No socioeconomic group, geographic area, or racial or ethnic population is spared. To learn more read:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing lead poisoning in young children Atlanta: CDC; 2005.

Even low levels of lead can cause a range of chronic conditions from anemia, hearing loss, and kidney problems, to physical and developmental delays; severe exposure to lead can cause seizures, coma, and even death. Massachusetts requires pediatricians to regularly screen children under age three for lead exposure Developmental delays and behavioral problems can be a symptom of lead poisoning.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are at least 4 million households that have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead. To learn more watch the 3 minute You Tube video Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning (2014)

Asthma

Asthma is the most prevalent chronic condition of childhood in the U.S.; with about five million children under age 18 diagnosed.  Things in the environment trigger an asthma attack such as cold air, dust mites, mold, pollen, animal dander or cockroach debris, and some types of viral infections. Many of these triggers are associated with inadequate housing and with exposure to pollutants that are disproportionately found in low-income neighborhoods.

One of the most common causes of asthma symptoms in children five years old and younger is a respiratory virus. Viruses are the most common cause of acute asthma episodes in infants six months old or younger. Infants and toddlers have much smaller bronchial tubes than older children and adults. Their airways are so small that even small blockages caused by viral infections, tightened airways or mucous can make breathing extremely difficult for the child.  This is why preventing infections in your programs is essential.

Unintentional Injuries

For infants, injuries are the fourth leading cause of death; for toddler deaths, they lead all causes.  Non-fatal injuries are much more common than fatal ones. The majority of nonfatal injuries are from falling, being struck by or against an object, and animal bites or insect stings.   Schnitzer^[1] (2006) identified the injuries most common for each age group of children.   For infants, suffocation and falls are the most common.  For toddlers, falls and poisonings are the leading causes of nonfatal injuries, followed by scald burns and motor vehicle–related injuries.  There are many regulations designed to prevent injuries such as regular building inspections, use of guardrails and protective barriers, safety covers for electrical outlets, the requirement for an integrated pest management policy, use and storage of toxic substances, fire and carbon monoxide detectors, CPR and first aid training, and the use of injury reports.  How many of these practices have you seen in use? 

What about toddlers make them accident-prone?

Remember from chapter 2 that some of the developmental characteristics of toddlers include:  increased mobility, natural curiosity, inability to delay gratification (I want it NOW) and they can’t anticipate the consequences of their actions.  Toddlers may have difficulty judging distances and have trouble concentrating on more than one thing at a time so they’re more likely to focus on what they want rather than how they are getting there.  Is critical we anticipate and prevent injuries as much as possible.  Here are other developmental considerations from the North Carolina Division of Child Development:  Infant Toddler Foundations (2008).

Young toddlers may begin to:

• Experience cause and effect (going downhill fast cause falls; turning the TV up too loud hurts ears).
• Show some caution on uneven ground and heights.
• Notice and imitate adult reactions to dangerous people and situations.
• Respond to warnings and directions from others.
• Understand the difference between what should be eaten and what should not.

Older toddlers may begin to:

• Remember cause and effect experiences and apply their experiences to future situations (avoid touching cold railing, walk slowly down hill where fall happened).
• Increase self-control over their impulses.
• Recognize and avoid situations that might be unsafe.
• Understand what their bodies can do and understand their limits.
• Watch for adult reactions to unfamiliar things or situations that might be dangerous.
• Understand and follow basic health and safety rules. They still require close supervision from caregivers to follow these health and safety rules consistently.
• Feel proud when they follow safety rules and ashamed when they do not (say, “Look, I waited!” at the corner; hang head after trying to reach forbidden item).

Oral Health

Baby teeth play an important role in helping infants and toddlers eat and speak clearly. Healthy oral hygiene habits develop early. To see the importance of oral health watch the YouTube video  A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby . This 4-minute video is for families of infants or toddlers. It explains why baby teeth are important, gives tips on how to prevent early childhood tooth decay, and promotes a dental visit around 12 months. (2013)