Childcares

Renseignements en français

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) recognizes the role childcare settings play in keeping children healthy and safe, and in helping them reach their learning and development goals. We want to support childcare settings in this role by providing programs, services, and information relevant to childcare settings.

Information for Parents and Caregivers

District of Nipissing

The Children’s Services Department of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) is contracted by the Ministry of Education to plan and manage the early years and licensed child care system in the District of Nipissing.

The Children’s Services Department can help with finding and accessing licensed child care, before and after school care, approved recreation programs and early learning programs (EarlyON Child & Family centres). They also provide resources, and support families with the cost of licensed childcare, before and after school care and approved recreation programs.

Visit the Children’s Services page on their website to learn more.

District of Parry Sound

The District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration (PSDSSAB) is the Childcare Service System Manager for the District of Parry Sound.
They support the provision of child care in the Parry Sound District by:

Providing families with information on licensed child care, before and after school programs, and early years programs in the community.
Investing in and supporting licensed child care operators and EarlyON providers.
Providing financial assistance for licensed, quality childcare to families who qualify.
Planning for the future of early years services based on the needs of the community.
Enhancing the quality of Early Years programs through the Quality Assurance program.
Helping provide special needs resourcing for children.

Visit the Early Years Services page on their website to learn more.

COVID-19

For information on COVID-19, please visit the Health Unit’s Schools, Child Care and COVID-19 page.

Use the school and child care screening tool determine if children can attend childcare.

Information for Child Care Professionals

Child care professionals, parents/guardians, and the Health Unit all share the common goal of protecting and promoting health in child care. The Health Unit’s A Public Health Guide for Child Care Professionals has been designed to assist childcare professionals in achieving this goal.

A Public Health Guide for Child Care Professionals is a resource specifically aimed at giving child care professionals the most up-to-date information and resources on how to provide child care in a safe and healthy environment.

This guide is organized into five chapters and includes information on:

Infection Prevention and Control;

Illness Surveillance and Outbreak Management;
Immunization (Vaccinations) and Health Records;
Safe Environments and Injury Prevention;
Healthy Growth and Development.

Note: PDFs are available in an accessible format upon request.

To reach main reception, call 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 toll-free. Main reception is staffed Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contacting the Health Unit

Looking for a specific program or service? View program contact information.
If you are still uncertain who to contact about non-COVID-19 services, please send your request to the general Health Unit email (contact@healthunit.ca) and your request will be forwarded to the appropriate program.

Under Illnesses and Outbreaks, you will find our exclusion guidelines, reportable and non-reportable diseases, and plenty of other useful resources and forms.

Illnesses and Outbreaks

Information on Reportable and Non Reportable Diseases and Exclusion Guidelines

Forms

Diseases of Public Health Significance Reporting Form

Diseases of Public Health Significance list
Chickenpox illness must be reported by a childcare setting. Use the online Chickenpox Reporting form to report new cases of chickenpox (varicella).
Outbreak Signs

Hand Hygiene

Healthy Hands: Hand Hygiene Resource Manual for Child Care Centres (2020)

This document supports child care professionals, children, and their families to learn about the importance of proper hand washing. This resource provides lesson plans, activities, and materials for educators to use to teach children about germs, how they are spread, and how to prevent the spread of germs through proper hand washing.

Hand Hygiene Resource Kit

The goal of this kit is to educate children about proper hand hygiene to reduce the incidence of gastro-enteric and respiratory infections and the consequences that accompany the transmission of such communicable diseases. Included in the kit is:
- Healthy Hands – Hand Hygiene Resource Manual Ages: 4 – 14
- I wash my hands – Stickers, Glitter bottles (one red, one silver)
- Glow Germ Kit: LED UV Lamp; Powder 4 oz.; Mini Gel 2 oz.
- Health Unit staff are available to conduct educational hand hygiene activities in your centre, at your request.

Resources

Cough Etiquette

Cover Your Cough Poster

Head Lice

Scabies

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases web page

Outbreaks: Information for Child Care Providers

Germs can spread rapidly in group settings such as a child care centre. Prevention, timely detection, and management of outbreaks are key to reducing the impact of the illness in these settings.

What is it?

An outbreak may be occurring when you have a greater than usual number of persons ill with the same symptoms (e.g., fever, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, and/or rash) in a specific period of time.

Gastroenteritis outbreaks

Symptoms of infectious gastroenteritis include vomiting and/or diarrhea. It is also known as the "stomach flu". Gastroenteritis can be caused by several different viruses, including rotaviruses and noroviruses, bacteria, or parasites.

A gastroenteritis outbreak exists when you have two or more cases of infectious gastroenteritis within a 48 hour period.
To be considered a case, one of the following must be met:

Two or more unexplained episodes of diarrhea within a 24 hour period.
Two or more unexplained episodes of vomiting within a 24 hour period.
One episode of diarrhea and one episode of vomiting within a 24 hour period, not explained by another cause.

Respiratory outbreaks

Symptoms of respiratory illness may include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sore muscles, or tiredness. Children can have as many as 8 to 10 colds per year. Illness is typically mild and often caused by a virus.

Since children are exposed to many viral illnesses circulating in the community and within families, increased respiratory illness at a child care centre does not necessarily result in an outbreak being declared. However, infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures should be put in place to limit the spread of illness at the centre.

Please call the Health Unit's Communicable Disease Control (CDC) program if there are a large number of children/staff affected with respiratory symptoms, they are experiencing severe illness (i.e., hospitalizations), or unusual symptoms. Some diseases (i.e., measles) should be treated like an outbreak even if there is only one case. Please call the CDC program to report any cases of a disease of public health significance.

What is the child care centre required to do?

Report suspected outbreaks to the CDC program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229 or by email at cdc@healthunit.ca.

Start to fill out a separate line listing for ill children and staff. If multiple rooms are affected, use a separate line listing for each room.

What questions should we expect to be asked?

When did the children become ill?
What symptoms are the ill children experiencing?
When did the ill children last attend the centre?
Are there any staff members with similar illness?
What is the total population of children and staff and how are they distributed in the centre?
Have there been any special events at the child care centre or field trips?
Have the children had any contact with animals?

What will happen next?

Recommendations will be provided by the CDC program to help limit the spread of the illness. An outbreak may be declared.

Forms

Vaccines (Immunization)

Child: Vaccination History for Child Care Registration Form (EN)

Child: Antécédents de vaccination aux fins de l'inscription aux centres de garde (FR)

Staff/Volunteer: Health Assessment of Child Care Personnel Form (EN)

Staff/Volunteer: Évaluation de l’état de santé du personnel des centres de garde (FR)

Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit

Medical Exemption

Child Growth and Development

Looksee Checklists

Resources

Health Unit Lending Library and Apps

Health Unit – Lending Library and Apps – Resources that can be borrowed from the Health Unit and apps to support learning and a healthy environment.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cleaning and Disinfection for Child Cares

Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (APH) Fact Sheet

Diapering

Diaper Procedures

Cloth Diaper Procedures

Infection Control in Sensory Play

Pets in Childcare Settings

MOHLTC: Recommendations for the Management of Animals in Child Care Settings

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has developed this best practice guidance document for the management of animals in child care centres to assist the operator in choosing appropriate pets and in implementing measures to be taken to minimize the risk of injury or infection to the children and staff.

Visits to Farms or Petting Zoos

MOHLTC: Recommendations to Prevent Disease and Injury Associated with Petting Zoos in Ontario

Animals at farms and petting zoos present the same risks as pets in child care centres. There are added hazards because the animals are unknown to you. Before visiting a farm or petting zoo, review this MOHLTC guidance document .

Vaccines (Immunization)

Reputable websites for information on vaccine safety and current research addressing myths related to vaccination:

Forms

Child: Vaccination History for Child Care Registration Form (EN)
Child: Antécédents de vaccination aux fins de l'inscription aux centres de garde (FR)
Staff/Volunteer: Health Assessment of Child Care Personnel Form (EN)
Staff/Volunteer: Évaluation de l’état de santé du personnel des centres de garde (FR)

Air Quality

Health Unit – Air Quality web page

Air Quality Alert Email Notifications

Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Video

Air quality video for children: Indi the caterpillar

Smoking and Vaping

Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 - How the Act Affects: Child Care Centres and Home Child Care

Health Unit – Tobacco and Substance Use web page

Learn how to help prevent tobacco and substance use, access teaching resources on smoking and vaping.

Toys

Health Canada’s Is Your Child Safe? Booklet

Concussions

Parachute Canada – Concussions

Learn the basics about concussion: what it is, the signs and symptoms, what you should do if you suspect a concussion, and how to treat it.

Parachute Canada – Concussion Collection

A collection of resources on concussions for professionals.

Health Unit – Concussions web page

The Health Unit also lends out educational resources such as Concussion Goggles and a Brain Mold Kit, see our Lending Library and Apps web page for details.

West Nile Virus (WNV)

Health Unit – Mosquito Bite Protection Fact Sheet

Health Canada – Personal Insect Repellents

Emergency Preparedness

Ministry of Education – Emergency Preparedness for Ontario Child Cares

Government of Canada – Ontario Risks and Hazards

Emergency Management Ontario – Be Prepared for an Emergency

Health Unit – Emergencies and Being Prepared web page

Hazardous Substances/Plants

Health Canada – Information for Art Class Teachers: Chemical Safety

Ontario Poison Centre – Household Hazards A-Z

Ontario Poison Centre – Mushrooms

Ontario Poison Centre – Plants

Sharps

Health Unit – Sharps web page

Health Unit Fact Sheet – Safe Sharps Pick-up and Disposal

Activities:

What to Do If You Find a Sharp?
- This activity is designed to teach students the three steps for what to do if they find a sharp. Appropriate for grades 3-5 and 6-8.
Sharps Trivia
- Appropriate for grades 3-5 and 6-8.
Circle the Sharp Objects
- Appropriate for grades JK-2.

Walking Safety

CAA – Walking Your Way to Safety

Lesson plan focused on pedestrian safety for children in kindergarten to grade three.

Cycling and Helmet Safety

Ontario Ministry of Transportation – Young Cyclist's Guide

General cycling safety, rules of the road, hand signals, helmet, and parent information

Parachute Canada – Cycling

Resources and information regarding safe cycling, road safety tips, and best practices for cyclists of all ages.

Parachute Canada – Helmets

Resources and information regarding proper helmet fitting and replacements, which helmets are safe to use, and which helmets to use for which activity.

Ottawa Public Health – Helmet Safety

Car and Booster Seat Safety

Parachute Canada – Car Seats

How to keep children safe while travelling in a motor vehicle or other modes of transportation, including how to choose the right car seat.

Transport Canada – Choosing a Child Car Seat or Booster Seat

Drinking Water

Health Unit – Drinking Water web page

Beaches

Health Unit – Beaches web page - see the status of beaches across our region

Health Unit – Swimmer's Itch web page

Health Unit – Harmful Algae Blooms web page

Public Spas, Pools, and Hot Tubs

Health Unit – Check Then Go web page - view inspection results in real time

Health Unit – Public Spas, Pools and Hot Tubs web page

Weather Safety

Health Unit – Sun Safety web page

Parachute Canada – Winter Outdoor Safety

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University – Adverse Childhood Experiences and Toxic Stress

Healthy Relationships

Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

Mental Health Supports

Health Unit – Mental Health web page

Learn about mental health and wellbeing

Health Unit – Mental Health Services web page

Find mental health services in your area

SickKids – Mental Health Learning Hub

This hub includes resources on how to support children’s mental health and general well-being through physical activity, sleep and nutrition. It also provides information on the signs, symptoms and treatments of different mental health conditions.

Child Growth and Development

Caring for Kids – Your Child's Development: What to Expect

Looksee Checklists

Parenting

Health Unit – Parenting Resources web page

Healthy Eating and Menu Planning

Ontario Dietitians in Public Health – Menu Planning & Supportive Nutrition Environments in Child Care Settings: Practical Guide
- This Practical Guide includes information for child care providers on menu planning, food and beverages that should be served, appropriate portion sizes for different age groups, sample menus and templates as well as strategies to create a supportive nutrition environment.
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health – Child Care Resources
- These childcare nutrition resources were created by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health to support child care providers in planning and preparing healthy food for children in their care. They reflect current best practices for creating supportive nutrition environments in the child care setting and will help providers meet the food and drink requirements set out in the Childcare and Early Years Act, 2014 (section 42 of Ont. Reg. 137/15).

Health Unit – Breastfeeding web page
Dietitians of Canada – Introducing Solid Food to Your Baby
Foodland Ontario – Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Availability Guide
- See when Ontario fruits and vegetables are in season.
Health Canada – Mercury in Fish
- Make informed choices about fish.

Temperature Log

Physical Literacy

Active For Life – What is Physical Literacy?
- Information on the physical literacy life cycle, how physical literacy is developed, and the benefits of being physically active.
Active For Life – Activities for Kids
- Fun activities to help children develop the fundamental movement skills that provide an early foundation for physical literacy, sortable by age and movement skill.
Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 years): An Integration of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep
- The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years combine physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines into one, and include sleep, showing the interrelationship between all three behaviours.
Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Children and Youth (5-17 years): An Integration of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep
- The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth are evidence-based guidelines to address the whole day.
CCCF-FCSGE – Exploring Nature with Children
- Information and resources on outdoor play.
OutsidePlay.ca
- OutsidePlay.ca was created by a group of experts to help parents and communities reverse the trend that is limiting children’s chances to play outside and take risks in play.
Canadian Public Health Association – Risk, Hazard, and Play: What are Risks and Hazards?
- This resource defines risks and hazards, identifies strategies to balance risks and hazards, and the need for risky but hazardless playgrounds is discussed.
Health Unit – Lending Library Physical Activity Resources
- The Health Unit offers Lending Library Resources that can be borrowed from the Health Unit, as well as suggested apps to support learning. Check out the section labelled Physical Activity to see resources available to borrow.

Dental Health

Ministry of Health – Healthy Smiles Ontario Resource Guide

The guide includes information on what services are covered, how to enrole, how to replace lost cards and how to update your client information.

Health Unit – Dental Clinic for Eligible Children Webpage

Information on the Health Unit Dental Clinic and dental services for children 17 years and under.

E-laws and Regulations

Resources for Francophone and Indigenous Professional Learning

Firefly

Supports professional learning for child care and early years staff in First Nation communities

The Ontario Aboriginal Head Start Association

Supports professional learning for child care and early years staff in urban Indigenous settings

l'Association francophone à l'éducation des services à l'enfance de l'Ontario (AFESEO)

Supports professional learning for child care and early years staff in Francophone settings.