Planning should focus on strategies for

• providing for well-child visits to a doctor
• providing for immunizations
• maintaining health records
• identifying symptoms of and providing treatments for common childhood illnesses
• teaching children to seek medical help and other forms of assistance
• teaching children safety precautions and emergency procedures for all daily environments
• discussing with older children the reasons and ways to avoid smoking, drug and alcohol use, and sexually transmitted diseases
• providing open communication about personal space and potential sexual abuse at an early age. 

Teacher Resources:

• A Safety Checklist for Parents, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health
• Health and Safety, Child Care VA
• Parenting Helpful Links, Child Care Aware of Virginia
• Tips for Parents, CDC

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

• Why is it important for babies and young children to have routine well-child examinations?
• Where can parents find reliable information on risks and rewards of immunizations?
• Why is it important for children to be immunized?
• What are the consequences when children are not immunized?
• Why do some believe immunizations should be required for all children attending public school and some do not?
• What health insurance options exist for children?

Communication

• What communication skills will help parents teach their children how to protect themselves from illness or injury?
• What safety rules should parents set for their children?
• How can parents prepare their children for emergencies?

Leadership

• How do parents know when to seek immediate medical attention for a child and when to wait and see?
• What actions should parents and caregivers take to prepare a safe home or childcare environment for infants, toddlers, and young children?
• What health and safety items should parents have on-hand at home?
• What should parents do if they suspect their teenager is acting irresponsibly with regard to alcohol, drugs, or sexual behavior?

Management

• What first-aid procedures should parents know?
• What information do parents need to convey to a doctor who is treating their sick child? Why is it important for parents to accurately describe the child’s symptoms?
• What are the laws on child car seats? Why are these laws important?