ECED 2633 Health, Nutrition & Safety Syllabus W01 Summer 2026

Credit Hours 3.00 Lecture Hours 3 Clinical/Lab Hours 0
Type of Credit
CIP Code
13.1210
Course Meeting Time

Online

Course Description

This course examines the basic concepts of health, safety, and nutrition and their effects upon the child's observable behavior and areas of development. It includes identification of childhood disease and preventative techniques, exploration of positive mental health strategies, and identification of developmentally appropriate activities for young children. Proof of current first aid and CPR certification is required to complete the class. The cost of obtaining certification is the obligation of the student. This course is part of the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Early Childhood and Infant/Toddler Credentials.

General Education Outcomes

General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:

  1. Critical Thinking
  2. Responsibility
Explanation of Course Alignment

Relationship to academic programs and transferability

Catalog description

ECED 1513, Child Growth and Development or concurrent enrollment. 

This course examines the basic concepts of health, safety, and nutrition and their effects upon the child’s observable behavior and areas of development. It includes identification of childhood disease and preventative techniques, exploration of positive mental health strategies, and identification of developmentally appropriate activities for young children.

Early Childhood Education Knowledge Indicators:

The following tables describes competencies and standards this course will cover to meet membership/credentials required for employment in early education fields.

Gateways ECE Competencies

HSW1: Articulates components of a safe and healthy environment.

HSW2: Maintains a safe & healthy environment

HSW3: Creates a healthy and safe environment.

HSW4: Assesses healthy and safe early childhood environments.

HSW5: Designs and implements learning opportunities emphasizing healthy bodies, healthy lifestyles, and a healthy environment.

HSW6: Collaborates with families and community organizations to support children’s healthy development and learning.

IPTS1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1L, 2A, 2K, 2N, 3A, 3C, 3K, 3O, 4A, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4I, 4J, 4K, 4P, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8I, 8K, 8L, 8O, 8P, 8R, 8Q, 8S, 8T, 9C, 9L, 9N, 9R
NAEYC Standards1a,1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3b, 3c, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6b

 

Faculty Contact Information

Faculty Name
Chrissy Nojd
Faculty Email
Faculty Office Number
L333
Faculty Student Support Hours

By appointment

Faculty Information

Christina Nojd
cnojd@kcc.edu

Course Information

Textbook/s and Course Materials

OER TEXTBOOK available through LMS Canvas

Paris, J. (2021). Safety, Health, and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education. An Open Educational Resources Publication by College of the Canyons.

Methods of Evaluation

Methods of Assessment/Performance Objectives:

Quizzes -- (Gateways ECE - FCR1, FCR 2, FCR3, FCR 4, FCR5, FCR6)
Class Discussions/Activities- (Gateways ECE - FCR1, FCR 2, FCR3, FCR 4, FCR5, FCR6)
Homework-(Gateways ECE - FCR1, FCR 2, FCR3, FCR 4, FCR5, FCR6)
Projects- (Gateways ECE - FCR1, FCR 2, FCR3, FCR 4, FCR5, FCR6)
Observations- (Gateways ECE - FCR1, FCR 2, FCR3, FCR 4, FCR5, FCR6)

Evaluation

Discussion Post 40 points
Child Development, Health, 20 points
SIDS Training and Certification 15 points
Health and Safety Checklist 35 points
First Aid Scenarios 20 points
CPR Certification/First Aid 40 points
Recognizing and Reporting Child 20 points
Childhood Disease Brochure 20 points 
Accommodating Children 10 points
Community Resources 25 points
Trauma informed Practice 20 points
Snack Menu Re-Do 20 points
Community Resource File 50 points 
Total: 335 points
 

Academic Division

Business, Technology & Human Services

Dean, Paul Carlson; 815-802-8858; V105; pcarlson@kcc.edu; Division Office – W102; 815-802-8650

Course Policies

 

Mandated Reporter

State law mandates that workers in certain professions must make reports if they have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect. In this instance mandated reporters include: School and Child Care Personnel: Teachers, school personnel, educational advocates assigned to a child pursuant to the School Code, truant officers, directors and staff assistants of day care centers and nursery schools, and child care workers.

Mandated reporters who make good faith reports have the same immunity from liability under the law as non-mandated reporters. However, a mandated reporter’s failure to report suspected instances of child abuse or neglect to DCFS constitutes a Class A misdemeanor; simply reporting suspicions to a superior does not satisfy legal requirements.

Course Policies

Attendance/Participation

Students are expected to check in to the learning management system (LMS) -CANVAS regularly. All lectures, video lectures, learning videos, and assignments will be posted on the LMS. If for any reason a student is unable to complete their work due to illness or other circumstances, please contact the instructor prior to the due date.

Students choosing to select the following option may choose to complete an extra assignment as described below in order to make-up a portion of lost attendance points:

Late Assignment Policy

All assignments must be submitted by the posted due date and time. Assignments will close on the due date. Late work is not accepted unless a student has received prior approval to use a Bonus Late Pass.

Each student is granted three (3) Bonus Late Passes for the semester. A Bonus Late Pass allows a student to submit an assignment up to one week past the original due date without grade penalty. To use a Bonus Late Pass, the student must request via email and receive approval before the assignment’s due date. Requests submitted after the due date will not be approved.

Bonus Late Passes cannot be used retroactively.

Bonus Late Passes may not be used for the Resource Fair assignment. This assignment must be completed and submitted on time to receive credit.

Life circumstances can arise unexpectedly; however, students are expected to communicate proactively with the professor regarding any challenges that may impact their ability to complete coursework on time. If life situations arise and the student feels they cannot meet the deadlines, a meeting with the professor will be scheduled and support plans may be put in place.

Meeting deadlines is an essential professional skill in early childhood education, and students are expected to plan accordingly.

ECED Program Requirements: Basic laboratory experience is required or optional in many child development courses within the program. Specific tasks preformed in the lab setting will vary according to skills, interests and course requirements. Prior to initiating lab assignments and projects, Child Development Students must meet requirements for staff in child care facilities as outlined by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services Child Care Facility Regulations: (1) High School diploma or its equivalent; (2) Must be able to pass DCFS Criminal Background Check; (3) a completed health form; and (4) a signed mandated reporter form. It is a student’s responsibility to make sure all requirements are current and on file with the program coordinator.

Early Childhood Academic Honesty Policy

Cheating: Cheating can take many forms in a classroom: copying or using another student’s work, using your own work from another class without my prior permission (i.e., not writing original work for this class), adjusting format to make papers appear longer, working in groups on individual assignments (whether openly or in secret), sharing or stealing answers for tests or assignments, etc. No form of cheating is acceptable. Cheating on an assignment will be taken seriously and discipline action will follow. Email me your favorite candy by January 17th.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined in section 17.6.B of the KCC Code of Conduct: “Taking, reproducing, and/or using as one’s own, without proper attribution, the ideas, writings, paraphrases, data, reports, graphic designs, or computer codes of published or unpublished work of another person in completing an academic assignment. Prohibited conduct may also include the unauthorized submission for credit of academic work that has been submitted for credit in another course.”

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

  • submitting someone else’s paper
  • using published material, including materials published online, without proper attribution/citation
  • paraphrasing or quoting someone without attributing the quote in your paper (that is, without providing an in-text citation) even if the source is included on the works cited page
  • working with someone (without my permission) to write your paper & submitting it as your own

When in doubt, add the citation. You are expected to cite all sources of information. If you are in doubt, inquire with the faculty teaching the course or utilize KCC tutoring. In your ECED courses, you are expected to follow APA citation guidelines and formatting. 

Student Found to be in Violation of KCC Academic Honesty Policy: Students found to be in violations of KCC’s academic honesty policy will result in disciplinary action.

  • The first instance of academic dishonesty or plagiarism the student will be given a zero, required to meet with the professor, given resources for the student success center, and allowed to redo the assignment after meeting with the professor. A verbal warning from Academic Affairs may go on the student’s recorder if the severity of the academic dishonesty warrants it.
  • A second incident of academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the assignment with no opportunity to redo the assignment. The student will be required to meet with the professor to continue in the course. A verbal or written warning will be reported to Academic Affairs.

Additional incidences of academic dishonesty or failure to meet with the professor will result in course failure with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. The student will be reported to Academic Affairs and the incident of Academic Dishonesty will appear on the students record. Student found to be consistently violating the student code of conduct could potentially be suspended from the institution.

If a student utilizes AI in their assignment, they must include an acknowledgment specifying how AI was used. The use of AI should not make up more than 25% of the total assignment.

Code of Conduct

Students need to adhere to the Code of Conduct located in the college catalog.

Expectations for Classroom and Online Behavior

Guest Speaker Conduct

We will have several guest speakers this semester. You are expected to treat the guest speaker with respect. This includes but not limited to, distributive behavior when the speaker is presenting, or rude comments. Disciplinary action will be taken if a student for violating the guest speaker code of conduct.

Classroom expectations

Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions, activities, and group work, as engagement is essential to learning. Technology should be used only for course-related purposes during class time; non-academic use of phones, tablets, or laptops should be limited to avoid distractions and maintain a focused learning environment.

Course Calendar

 

 

 

Topic Outline

Assignments

Due Tuesday by 11:59 PM

Week

1

6/01/26

Course Overview

Syllabus

Children’s Well-Being and Early Childhood Education

-Health and well-being in childhood -Holistic Approach

-Understanding the role of licensing -what is safety, health, and nutrition

 

Preventing Injury & Promoting Children’s Safety

-Active supervision -Environment -creating culture of safety -safe risk -common injuries -safety plans -documentation plans -safety as curriculum

Module 1: Introduction to Course

Module 2: Introduction to child Well-Being and Universal Prevention

Week

2

6/08/26

Creating Safe Indoor Environments

-Creating safe classrooms -Unsafe behaviors & guidance -Toy & material safety -injury prevention -DAP technology -safe sleeping practices/ SIDS training – indoor water safety

 

Creating Safe Outdoor Environments

-Outdoor benefits -safe outdoor environments -fall zones -dap outdoor activities -outdoor hazards-playground safety checklist -outdoor evaluations

Caring for Minor Injuries & Preparing for and Managing Emergencies

-First aid care -first aid supplies -CPR -disaster preparation -lost/ missing child -unauthorized person -emergency management and response -emergency kits

 

Module 3: Creating Safe Environments (Indoors and Outdoors)

  1. Module 4: Emergency Preparedness

Week

3

06/15/26

  1. Child Maltreatment

-types of maltreatment -risk factors -protective factors and prevention -signs of maltreatment -mandated reporting

  1. Module 5: Child Maltreatment
  2.  

 

Week

4

06/22/26

Promoting Good Health & Wellness

-child health records -staff health records -daily health screenings -oral health and hygiene -importance of sleep -developmental screenings

 

Prevention of Illness

-ways illnesses are transmitted -immunizations -universal precautions -cleaning practices -diapering procedures -environmental hazards

 

Supportive Health Care

-childhood illness and diseases -exclusion criteria -mildly ill children -illness communication -medication procedures and administration

Module 6: Child’s Physical Health and Illnesses

Childhood Disease Brochure

Week

5

06/22/26

Children with Special Health Care Needs

-family-centered care -Individualized planning -IFSP -IEP -chronic health conditions & disorders -inclusive practices for children with special needs -adaptations and supports

 

Children’s Mental Health

-foundations for mental health -mental health in EC -common mental health issues -adverse experiences and trauma -educators role in mental health -teaching about emotions and social skills -trauma informed care

Module 7: Children with Special Health Care Needs

Module 8: Children’s Mental Health

Community Resource File

Week

6

07/06/26

Children’s Mental Health

-foundations for mental health -mental health in EC -common mental health issues -adverse experiences and trauma -educators role in mental health -teaching about emotions and social skills -trauma informed care

 

 

Module 8: Children’s Mental Health

Week

7

07/13/26

Basic Nutrition for Children

-macronutrients -micronutrients -food quality -challenge of food choices -healthy diets -nutrition programs -physical guidelines -nutritional guidelines & food labels -school nutrition programs

 

 

Providing Good Nutrition

-infant nutrition -breastfeeding -formula feeding -introduction of solid food -toddler nutrition -preschooler nutrition -feeding challenges in EC -school meals & nutrition -feeding children with special needs

 

Menu Planning and Food Safety

-menu planning and meal patterns -aesthetics and variety -cost -nutrition and balance -food groups -cultural & religious considerations -special diets -family style meals -food from home -food handling & safety -food service & hygiene

Module 9: Childhood Nutrition and Physical Health

 

Module 10: Planning for Child Nutritional Needs

Menu Plan

Week

8

07/20/26

Protecting Good Nutrition and Physical Wellness

-healthy active living -5,2,1,0 -physical activity -nutrition education -malnutrition -food insecurity -overnutrition -childhood obesity -food allergies and intolerances -iron deficiency anemia

 

 

Disclaimer: Syllabus subject to change

 

College Policies, Resources and Supports

College Policies

For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide. 

Resources

KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:

  • Clubs and organizations
  • Counseling and referral services
  • Office of disability services
  • Student complaint policy
  • Transfer services
  • Tutoring services, etc.