Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues : Candid Conversations on Health and Child Care
The Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues podcast aims to address commonly asked questions about health concerns in child care settings, covering topics including viral illness, mental and behavioral health, feeding, children with special needs, cultural diversity and inclusion, referrals to community resources, and so much more.
Join us as we take a deep dive into the sticky-icky world where ECE and illness meet.
In each podcast episode,
well-known early child care specialist Rachel Giannini and pediatrician Dr. Dipesh Navsaria discuss how early child care educators can improve the health and well-being of the children and families in their daily care, avoid unnecessary health-related exclusions from that care, and become better informed and prepared early childhood care & education providers.
Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues aims to help build early childhood educators’ understanding of, comfort with, and implementation of best health practices for children in keeping with the national Caring for Our Children guidelines authored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education.
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Episode Nine: Compassionate Conversations
Episode 09: Compassionate Conversations: How To Discuss Child Care Topics with Parents in a Kind, Effective, and Culturally-Sensitive Way
Conversations about children in an early child care setting involve three people – the child, the parent/guardian, and the teacher – and everyone in that equation will have thoughts and opinions on how to do things ‘the right way’. But how we share our thoughts and opinion matters. Today we’re talking about how to talk to parents – and kids – about some of the most common topics that come up in child care settings, including food, sleep, and clothing … and discuss some facts and myths along the way!
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Episode Eight: A Tripledemic?!
Episode 08: A Tripledemic?!
Break out the nose wipes and cough remedies, it’s respiratory infection season again! And according to the (often scary) headlines, an increase in Covid cases and the risk of an earlier-than-normal flu season has again raised the chance of a so-called ‘tripledemic’ in the United States. In this episode we break down all you need to know about RSV, Covid, and Flu, and how to help keep kids — and their classmates — safe.
Episode Seven: Rashes
Episode 07: Rashes
Red? Itchy? Crusty? Or all of the above? Today we’re talking about rashes. We’re going to discuss the most common rashes seen in Early Child Care settings and talk about what they are, why they happen, and how to approach thinking about whether a child with a rash should be sent home or not.
Episode Six: Head Injuries
Episode 06: Head Injuries
When is a ‘goose egg’ just a bump on the head and when is it a sign of something worse? And how can we tell the difference? Today we’re talking about head injuries: what they are, why they happen, and how to help when they do.
Episode Five: Seizures
Episode 05: Seizures
Seizures can be scary to watch for both adults and children, and even scarier if you don’t know what to expect or how to help. Given that seizures are one of the most common neurologic disorders seen in children — particularly in the first year of life — it’s important to know the basics. In this episode we’re talking about the who, what, why, when, and how of childhood seizures, and what teachers need to know about how to tend to a child experiencing one.
Episode Four: Poop Happens
Episode 04: Poop Happens
Color? Texture? Size? Smell? Consistency? With food bits, or without? This show will cover everything you ever wanted to know about poop (and a lot of what you probably didn’t).
Episode Three: From Pollen to Peanuts: Allergies 101
Episode 03: From Pollen to Peanuts: Allergies 101
Just over one-quarter of children in the United States have at least one allergic condition of some type. But the effects of allergies on kids are not equal — the severity of an allergy can range from a kid needing their nose wiped to needing an Epi-pen administered immediately…and everything in-between. Today we’re talking about allergies: indoor, outdoor, food allergies, and irritants. We’re going to discuss what an allergy is, what are possible symptoms of one, and how to help manage them.
Episode Two: Infant Feeding
Episode 02: Infant Feeding
How can you tell if an infant is getting enough to eat? How can you tell if you’ve given too much? Can you overfeed a baby? What’s the difference between spit-up and an allergy? What is the best kind of milk for a baby? Rachel and Dr. Navsaria break down everything you ever wanted to know about feeding our littlest ones, and more.
Episode One: The Common Cold
Episode 01: The Common Cold
What temperature is considered a fever? Does mucus color matter? Is a cough always worrisome? In the first episode of Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues, Rachel and Dr. Navsaria take a deep dive into one of the most frequent health issues seen in early childhood. We cover what the common cold looks like in young children, how to thoughtfully approach the symptoms you might be faced with, and when it’s time to call parents.
Trailer: Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues
Trailer: Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues
Join us as we take a deep dive into the sticky, icky world where ECE and illness meet! Hosts Rachel Giannini and Dr. Dipesh Navsaria discuss how ECE providers can improve the health and well-being of the children and families in their daily care, avoid unnecessary health-related exclusions from that care, and become more confident child care providers in the process.
About
Dr. Dipesh Navsaria
Credentials: MPH, MSLIS, MD
Position title: Program Director, Podcast Series Co-Host & Executive Medical Director
The Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues podcast is a production of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Health Consultation program housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Human Ecology. This podcast is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, and sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Early Childhood.
We offer general guidance on best practices for health and well-being in early childhood settings. Any questions about a specific child should be directed to that child’s primary care medical home. The cases we will discuss do not represent any specific patient or clinician and are either hypothetical or have had details changed for this podcast to ensure confidentiality. The information presented here is for informational purposes and are not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment in any particular clinical case or as a substitute for professional medical education. All opinions expressed belong to the speaker, not their institution, employer, or any podcast or program funders or sponsors.