Thriving Childcare: Social-Emotional Health and COVID-19 Guidelines

Zero to Thrive at Michigan Medicine presents a discussion for childcare providers regarding how to ensure the well-being of young children and their caregivers in the transition back to childcare. Keeping infants and young children healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic requires strategies to maintain physical health and safety, while also being attentive to emotional health and security. While social distancing is recommended to mitigate the spread of infection, emotional proximity is developmentally necessary for young children to feel safe and secure, especially in times of transition and uncertainty. For infants and young children, social emotional health and well-being requires physical safety and the emotional security that comes from being able to turn to their trusted caregivers for comfort and care.