Healthy Child Care Information for Child Care Providers
Check to see if someone screens art supply purchases to ensure they are 'green' and not toxic.
Environmental Health Issues
Learn about major environmental health issues in child care settings and find resources to promote and maintain environmental health.
- Asthma
- Chemical Hazards
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke
- Green Cleaning
- Indoor Air Quality
- Lead
- Mercury
- Mold
- Pesticides/Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Plastics
Many of the following links exit the EPA web site.
- Asthma: Publications and Resources, from the US EPA
- Asthma-Friendly Childcare, from the Respiratory Health Association of Chicago
- Asthma in Child Care Facilities, from the Ohio Department of Health
- Asthma Information for Child Care Providers, from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter
- Health and Safety E-News for Caregivers and Teachers: Asthma, from the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Lung Diseases: Asthma, publications and fact sheets from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Model Asthma Plan in Child Care, from the Minnesota Department of Health
- Child Care, from Pediatric/Adult Asthma Coalition of New Jersey
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Art Supplies, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Treated Playground Equipment, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Reducing Your Exposure to PCBs, from the Oregon Environmental Council
- Reducing Your Exposure to PFCs, from the Oregon Environmental Council
- Proper Maintenance, Removal, and Disposal of PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts
- Fresh Air for Little Noses, from the Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California. Comprehensive guide provides information on developing and supporting smoke-free policies at preschool and child care centers.
- Secondhand Smoke Publications and Resources, from the US EPA
- Commonly Used Toxic Cleaning Products (PDF) (1 pg, 70K), from the California Childcare Health Program
- Green Seal: Certified Green Cleaners Products Search
- Informed Green Solutions: Cleaning for Health Fact Sheets
- Sanitizing Safely and Effectively (PDF) (2 pp, 52K), from the California Childcare Health Program
- What is Green Cleaning? (PDF) (2 pp, 121K), from the California Childcare Health Program
- Design for the Environment (DfE) Products, from US EPA. EPA helps purchasers select safer chemical products that do not sacrifice quality or performance —and are safer for people and the planet.
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Air Quality, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Asbestos, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Radon, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Indoor Air Quality Issues for Child Care Facilities: Train the Trainer Guide (PDF) (48 pp, 2.8 MB), from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- Health & Safety Notes: Indoor Air Quality (PDF) (2 pp, 146K), from the California Child Care Health Program
- Radon Publications: Testing and Fixing Schools
- Childhood Lead Poisoning: A Resource for Child Day Care Providers (PDF) (2 pp 176K), from the Connecticut Department of Health
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Lead, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Lead Poisoning Prevention, from the National Head Start Association
- Lead Safe Illinois: Childcare providers
- EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule:
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Eco-Healthy Child Care: Mercury
, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Mercury and Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs)
- Mercury in Thermometers
- Public Service Announcement: Don't Mess with Mercury
- Table of Products That May Contain Mercury and Recommended Management Options
Mold (see also Indoor Air Quality)
- Integrated Pest Management: Mold (PDF) (2 pp, 121K), from the California Childcare Health Program
- Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
Pesticides/Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Integrated Pest Management: a Curriculum for Early Care and Education Programs (PDF) (13 pp, 2.1Mb) from the California Childcare Health Program
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Pesticides and Pest Prevention, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Childcare (also available in Spanish)
- IPM for Child Care and Early Learning Environments, from Penn State University
- IPM in Child Care Centers, Pesticide and Toxic Substances Exposure Awareness Project, Kean University
- Child Day Care Facilities IPM, from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation
- The School IPM Listserv, from the University of Florida. Open for membership to anyone interested in IPM in schools
- Parent/Guardian Permission to Apply Insect Repellant to Child (PDF) (1 pg, 86K), from the California Childcare Health Program
- Safer Pest Control Project Factsheets, includes child care-specific resources
- What to do about Bugs, Weeds, and other Pests: Child Care Pest Information Series, from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation
- Check the Kind of Plastics You Use (PDF) (2 pp, 98K), from the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units. Also available in Spanish (PDF) (3 pp, 334K).
- Dr. Maida Galvez Speaking on Plastics and Childhood Exposure video, from the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center YouTube channel
- Eco-Healthy Child Care: Plastics and Plastic Toys, from the Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Reducing Your Exposure to Phthalates, from the Oregon Environmental Council
- Reducing Your Exposure to BPA, from the Oregon Environmental Council