Early Care and Education

Promote healthy habits, growth, and learning for young children

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Overview

Early care and education (ECE) programs play a key role in shaping young children's health and development. They support kids from birth to age 5 in building lifelong healthy habits. 

A healthy ECE program:

  • Encourages healthy food
  • Provides healthy drinks
  • Gets kids moving
  • Limits screen time
  • Supports breastfeeding

By following these steps, ECE programs can help kids stay healthy and ready to learn.

Resources for ECE providers

Alaska's Breastfeeding welcomed here for child careprogram recognizes child care facilities that follow national standards for breastfeeding and infant feeding. This helps parents find child care options that support breastfeeding.

Go NAPSACC

Go NAPSACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care) offers simple online tools to ECE programs support healthy eating and activity for kids. Alaska providers can get one-on-one coaching from a Go NAPSACC Consultant and access online resources and support to reach their goals. 

Wellness Guidelines e-Learning Modules 

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development offers free, web-based Wellness Guidelines e-Learning Modules  training for ECE providers. These interactive modules help educators earn continuing education hours:

  • Module 1: Why Weight Matters
  • Module 2: Nutrition in the Classroom
  • Module 3: Physical Activity in the Classroom
  • Module 4: Serving Healthy Food
  • Module 5: Serving Local and Traditional Foods

Alaska Alliance for Healthy Kids - ECE Listserv

Join the Alaska Alliance for Healthy Kids - ECE email List, ECE providers will get updates, resources, and news about nutrition and physical activity programs for ECE providers in Alaska.

Resources

External Resources

AK Education and Early Development eLearning

Related Services

Breastfeeding Welcome Here for Child Care (BWHCC)

Go Nutrition & Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC)

Infant Learning Program (ILP) Free Developmental Screening

Infant Learning Program (ILP) Providers

Other Related Education

Physical Activity and Nutrition

Related Resources

Related Organizations

Program Contacts

3601 C Street, Suite 722Anchorage AK 99503Fax: 907-269-5446pan@alaska.gov

 

Webpage updated August 2024