News and Insights

There’s a lot of great things to celebrate during this time of year! When planning your holiday parties, do you think about the kids with food allergies in your

Making physical activity fun ensures that your kids will enjoy the benefits of being active throughout their

Add a little bit of homegrown flavor to your child care program’s kitchen

It can be challenging to know what you can do to best support yourself, your staff, and your children during hard

The Importance of Sleep March 17, 2023 is not just a day to wear green!  It’s also a nationally recognized day to acknowledge the many health benefits of sleep. How Does Sleep Impact Children? Sleep is a critical component of health for children.  The amount of sleep a child

Kids with cavities miss school and have missed opportunities. Pain and infection from untreated cavities can lead to problems with eating, speaking, and

We are witnessing a sea change in early childhood, with providers and systems leaders embracing more holistic approaches to improving the health, learning, and well-being of our youngest children and their

Disease mitigation strategies are some of the most important things providers can do to help keep illness at

It can be hard to know exactly when to exclude a child for illness, especially when it comes to runny noses and

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the

You can create a policy for your program that protects children from smoke exposure and ensures that staff do not model tobacco use in front of the children.

Mealtime creates plenty of wonderful opportunities to provide children with education and social-emotional development.

Providers serve millions of meals to Kansas kids each year through programs like the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), universal school lunch and breakfast, and summer

Toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are major influences on a child’s overall development — affecting school readiness, student success, physical and mental health, and other

Our government should prioritize health policy that gives every Kansas kid the opportunity to grow up healthy and

General hygiene guidelines such as sanitizing, disinfecting, and excluding for signs/symptoms of illness in the Early Child Care Environment are still effective ways to prevent disease

Encouraging parents to keep their child’s vaccinations up to date is an important way to ensure that the children in your program remain healthy and protected against serious

As we head into back-to-school season, it’s time to think about preparing your program for the departure of school-aged

Here are some easy ways you can help your children, their teachers, and their child care providers make the transition from summer to

Strengthening ECE systems for health takes time, but we have identified a few key strategies to help state and local leaders get

Recent research and professional development topics for early childhood professionals revolve around the importance of playful learning within the context of building relationships as key to later academic success.

In June 2022, the FDA granted emergency authorization to both Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 years of age. Both the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend all eligible infants and children without contraindications get vaccinated. The COVID-19

Article by Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network An article about new research on SIDS that has been gaining traction in the Safe Sleep Community. This research may lead to greater ability to screen risk of SIDS, but that is only a small portion of sleep-related deaths. The recent

In our search to do just that with our own families we have discovered five apps that just might help families answer that age-old question: “What should we do

Babies, toddlers, and children rely on nurturing relationships with adults to assist them in learning how to control or respond appropriately to their

By participating in a social-emotional screening, providers of all kinds can evaluate a child’s development, address any potential concerns, and connect families to services and supports in their

By Rachelle Soden, Training Manager, Kansas Children’s Service League. Originally published in the Spring 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Connections matter in early childhood. Early care and education professionals — including child care providers, preschool teachers, and

By John Presley Originally published in the Spring 2020 issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Attachment is a word in mental health circles that has taken on a dominant connotation as relating to disruptions and disorders of relationships, particularly regarding the development of

By Elizabeth Burger, Senior Program Officer, Sunflower Foundation Originally published in the Fall 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. “Every child needs nature. Not just ones whose parents appreciate nature. Not just those of certain economic class or culture or set of abilities.

By Kim Lawson, Preschool teacher, Bennington Grade School Orginally published in the Fall 2020 Issue of Kansas Child magazine Children are not born with the skills to self-regulate. We instinctively help babies soothe by rocking, bouncing, back rubs, and singing. As children grow into

By Georgia Thompson, Senior Program & Policy Analyst, Nemours and Rebekah Duchette, Senior State Systems Specialist, Nemours for the Summer 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Just as young children need supportive relationships as they grow and develop, adults also benefit from