How Healthy is Your Environment?

10/07/2022

How Healthy is Your Environment?

The health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable.
Richard Louv, Journalist and Author

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes, "Children are often more vulnerable to pollutants than adults due to differences in behavior and biology, that can lead to greater exposure and/or unique windows of susceptibility during development."

Coinciding with Children's Health Month in the United States, and with support from the EPA, the Community Development Institute (CDI) has released “Healthy Environments/Healthy Children Environmental Self-Assessment for Early Care and Education Facilities,” a helpful free tool for rating your indoor and outdoor air quality, the presence of mold and fungus, asbestos, radon gas, lead, water quality, pests, chemicals and irritants, and the health and safety of toys and equipment. CDI recommends using this 31-item checklist to self-assess quarterly.

“Taking this self-assessment will support your awareness of environmental exposures and provide resources to address identified concerns. Your environment will be positioned to provide a greater experience of health, safety and quality for children, families and staff.”

To learn more about the importance of environmental health in early care and education, join CDI on October 12 or 13.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.