Partners in Prevention: A Collaborative Project of Several Agencies

Cabell County Partners in Prevention : Individuals
Keeping Children Safe and Healthy

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HOW DO YOU KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND HEALTHY?
WHAT DO CHILDREN NEED TO BE SAFE, HEALTHY AND HAPPY?

During pregnancy, a baby is developing 100 billion brain cells. So, as soon as you find out you are pregnant, you can give your baby a healthy start by eating healthy foods, avoiding alcohol, nicotine, and drugs, getting regular health care and managing your stress. At birth, a baby has all the brain cells needed but the connections or "wiring" between the brain cells is a work in progress. Recent studies have shown that a healthy living and learning environment has a critical impact on your child’s development even more than was once thought. These important connections for learning and thinking will be made in the brain as your baby responds to the world, and from his or her view, you are the world. It is much more cost effective to practice early intervention and prevention than overcome learning barriers later in life. To ensure that healthy brain connections are made, make sure you give your child Love, Time and Attention, Guidance and Protection.

The following are ways that parents and adults who are significant in a child’s life can help him or her get the best start in life.

LOVE
Your love for your child is a key to the powerful connection between the two of you. Babies experience love in a variety of ways. They see the expression on your face, hear you talking, cooing, and feeling comforted when receiving hugs, kisses, and being rocked. Most of the brain development happens during their early development. How you respond to them makes the connections, which will affect how they feel, how they learn and get along later in life.

TIME AND ATTENTION
Time is the most valuable thing you can give your child. You have the opportunity every day to contribute to your baby’s healthy development. Infants need a stimulating environment in order to develop to their full potential. Just a few activities that contribute to your baby’s healthy development include:

•	Reading to them or telling stories
•	Playing games or sports
•	Making eye contact
•	Listening to music and singing

GUIDANCE
One person can make a difference in the life of a child. Adults should encourage children to explore the world around them. A child needs to be exposed to a rich and responsive language environment. Positive reinforcement and support makes the child feel valued. Celebrate with them as they reach developmental milestones, learn new skills and develop unique strengths.

PROTECTION – KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE AND HEALTHY
There are a couple of facets for keeping children safe and healthy – Home safety and Preventative health care. Children’s safety can be at risk in a variety of circumstances at home or in the community. Children are very active, but they are also small and fragile. Their curiosity and unpredictability can make them at risk for accidental injuries. One of the main items that come to mind is preventing physical injuries by providing a safe home environment. Common injuries can be avoided by: preventing the misuse of toys and household objects, avoiding exposure to cleaning products, falling, and using a car seat when traveling. Also, things like: stressed and/or inexperienced parents, family financial stress, substance abuse, and mental health issues can affect a child’s emotional health. Poor supervision and exposure to risky situations can also contribute to injuries from abuse, violence, or neglect.

Preventative health care is very important. Make sure a child’s medical needs are met. Children need to have adequate nutrition by eating a variety of healthy foods. Parents should establish a relationship with a doctor and take their child for well child check-ups and not just take them to the doctor when they are sick. It is important that immunizations to protect against preventable diseases be gotten on time. Also, regular eye exams should begin shortly after birth, at six months, before entering school and periodically throughout the school years.

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