Better Kid Care

Better Kid Care is a place to find researched-based, online training for those caring for children.

Better Kid Care program operates under The Pennsylvania State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, as part of Penn State Extension

06/05/2026

SUN & HEAT SAFETY 🔥🌤

Beat the summer heat with these cool strategies:

- Schedule outdoor time in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense

- Provide shade and cool-down breaks throughout the day

- Encourage students to wear lightweight clothing & hats

- Watch for signs of heat exhaustion

- Make hydration part of your routine - offer water frequently, don’t wait for thirst!

06/04/2026

WATER PLAY SAFETY 💦

Use the tips below to make a SPLASH this summer - safely!

💧 When near water, always provide active, close supervision.

💧 Ensure you are using proper child-to-staff ratios.

💧 Empty water tables & small pools immediately after use; no standing water means no surprises!

💧 For deeper water, ensure that properly trained lifeguards are present for all swimming and wading activities.

06/03/2026

Happy June! Are you ready for safe summer fun? This week, we will remind you of some special health and safety considerations for summertime.

☀️ FUN IN THE SUN ☀️

Hopefully you will be spending lots of time outside, so make sure you are safe from harmful UV rays by:

- Checking sunscreens for expiration and requesting more from parents as needed

- Getting parent permission to apply sunscreen and insect repellent

- Applying sunscreen BEFORE outdoor play

- Reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours (or after water play)

With a little preparation, you'll be safe in the sunshine all day long! 😎

05/30/2026

Books can help children dig even deeper into gardening and nature exploration. Stories about seeds, gardens, flowers, and growing things can spark curiosity, introduce new vocabulary, and inspire hands-on outdoor learning experiences.

Looking for ideas? Check out this list! 📖🌱
[Link] https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/1497890799/1652309710

05/28/2026

Want to learn more about gardening with young children?

Check out our “Fresh Harvest: Children Grow in the Garden” course for creative ideas to support hands-on learning through gardening. Whether you have a large outdoor space, a few containers, or a windowsill for seedlings, gardening can spark curiosity, exploration, and meaningful learning experiences for young children.

[Link] https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/lessons/fresh-harvest

05/26/2026

May is for planting! 🪴

From counting seeds to watering plants, gardening helps young children explore science, nature, and care for living things—one scoop of dirt at a time.

Here is a Better Kid Care resource to help you on your gardening journey with children!

[Link] https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/tip-pages/all/gardening

05/20/2026

Book share! ☂️📖

Read and share the book The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates with your pre-k kids. On a rainy Spring Day, the Big Umbrella is always there to help, include, and offer space to anyone who needs it. This book reinforces the ideas of inclusion, helping, sharing and caring.

05/18/2026

Heat Safety Week is here! ☀️

Mark your calendars! Heat Safety Week, May 18-26, 2026, reminds us to pause and reflect on our environments and communities to ensure safe spaces for children (and adults!) to play, learn, work, and grow! Spread the word with families, staff, and your community! Use the Heat Safety Week – Social Media Campaign, led by The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) and The Alliance for Heat Resilience and Health.

05/15/2026

Today is International Family Day! 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒❤️

To celebrate we would like to highlight just a few of the family child care homes we have visited throughout the years!

Leticia Flores Ortiz - Leticia Flores Ortiz Home Childcare
Sonya Sue Geisinger - Sonya Sue Geisinger Family Childcare
Monica Jackson - Jackson Child Care
Adrienne Briggs - Lil' Bits Family Child Care Home
Lindsey Brown - Brown's Family Child Care LLC
Jessica Courtney-Rivera - Lotus Family Education Center

We love our FCC providers and we are excited to share our thanks to more of them in the future. ☺️

Check out our family child care posters by viewing the links below!
English [Link]https://bkc-od-media.vmhost.psu.edu/documents/FCC-Poster.pdf
Spanish [Link]https://bkc-od-media.vmhost.psu.edu/documents/FCC-Poster-esp.pdf

05/14/2026

Food allergy safety tips 🍎

1. Read every label 🏷️
2. Prevent cross-contact ✋
3. Be emergency ready 🚨
4. Create allergy-safe environments 🏫

What are some other things you consider when creating allergy-safe environments?

For more information on safe food practices, check out these resources!

Food Safety in Child Care course [Link] https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/lessons/food-safety-in-child-care
Seguridad Alimentaria en el Entorno de Cuidado Infantil curso [Link] https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/lessons/seguridad-alimentaria-en-el-entorno-de-cuidado-infantil

Food Allergies: Preparation is key article [Link] https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/news/food-allergies-preparation-is-key

Handwashing Poster English [Link]https://bkc-od-media.vmhost.psu.edu/documents/HO_WashYourHands.pdf
Handwashing Poster Spanish [Link]https://bkc-od-media.vmhost.psu.edu/documents/HO_WashYourHands-esp.pdf

Address

103 Innovation Boulevard , Suite 214
State College, PA
16803

Website

http://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare, https://policy.psu.edu/policies/ad85#I.%20NON-DISCRIMINATION%20STATEMEN

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