A Public Health Guide For Child Care Providers
Parents, guardians and child care providers are entrusted with the important task of caring for the health and well-being of young children. Children depend upon their care providers to maintain a safe and healthy environment to grow and develop.
To protect children from illness and infection, it is vital to strictly follow specific infection prevention and control measures at home, school and at child care centres. These measures include things such as proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, sick policies, pest control, outbreak management and more.
See the following resources to learn more about preventing the spread of illness at home, school and at child care centres.
Resources for Parents/Guardians
Here are some resources to help prevent the spread of disease-causing microorganisms at home and at play:
Resources for Child Care Providers
The Public Health Guide for Child Care Providers offers child care providers current information and resources to support the delivery of safe and healthy child care in settings such as child care centres, schools, or homes. This guide is not intended to serve as legal or medical advice.
How is the guide organized?
The guide is organized into five chapters and include information on:
Chapter 1 – Preventing Illness
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Routine Practices
- Cover Your Cough or Sneeze
- Cleaning Up Blood and Body Fluids
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Diapering Routine
- Toileting Routine
- Personal Items
- Toys
- Sensory Play
- Sleeping Equipment
- Laundry
- Outdoor Activities
- Safe Water
- Food Safety
- Pest Control
- Rabies
- Animals in Child Care Centres
- Petting Zoos
- Inspection Reporting Program
- Self-Auditing Checklist for Child Care Centres
Chapter 2 – Outbreak Management
- Management of Outbreaks
Chapter 3 – Immunization and Health Records
- Immunization
- Staff Health Records
- Staff Health
- The Influenza Vaccine
Chapter 4 – Safe Environments
- Indoor Air Quality
- Hazardous Substances
- A Smoke-Free Environment
- Protection from Air Pollution
- Extreme Temperatures
- Sun Safety
- Recreational Water
- West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease
- Addressing and Adapting to Climate Change
- Emergency Preparedness
- Car and Booster Seat Safety
- Pedestrian Safety
- Cycling and Helmet Safety
- Concussions
Chapter 5 – Healthy Growth and Development
- Child Growth, Development and Early Identification
- Brain Development in the Early Years
- Healthy Eating
- Dental Safety
- Child Abuse and Neglect
Infection prevention and control
Cleaning and disinfection
Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
Emergency management
Visiting animals
- Visiting Animals in Public Places Fact Sheet
- Recommendation for the Management of Animals in Child Care Setting | Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
For any animal bite incidents contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 Ext. 4
Environmental health
Refer to Environmental Health for more information on the following topics:
- Bed Bugs
- Extreme Cold and Extreme Heat
- Giant Hogweed
- Indoor Air Quality
- Outdoor Air Quality
- Pesticides
- Preventing Rats and Rodents Infestations
Reporting infectious diseases and outbreaks
Promptly report infectious diseases, respiratory and enteric outbreaks in child care settings, to York Region Public Health. Visit Infectious Diseases and Outbreak Management to learn more.
Opening a New Child Care Centre
Anyone planning to open a child care centre must:
- Meet the requirements listed by the Ministry of Education. Review application details: Apply for or renew a child care licence | Ontario.ca
- Notify York Region Public Health of your intention to open a child care centre by completing the online notification form. A Public Health Inspector will follow up.
Refer to A Guide to Opening a Child Care Centre and Resources for Opening a Child Care Centre in York Region for more information about public health requirements.
