Parents, early childhood educators and other adults share the responsibility to promote children’s physical, mental and oral health, as well as nutrition to fit their rapidly changing needs, body rhythms and individual abilities. These significant adults also need to help children learn self-help skills appropriate to their ages and cultures.
The Council for Professional Recognition promotes improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children ages birth to 5 years old and presents these tips and insights for parents and other responsible adults who participate in very young children’s lives. The Council offers the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™ and has issued over 800,000 CDA credentials around the world.
But, as adults, our capacity to promote and ensure healthy habits in our home depends on our own health.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has presented us with new challenges. Many adults are home every day, and, in many cases, there are more people in your home right now. There are things parents can do to stay healthy in the home and make sure they eliminate the spreading of germs to young children and other family members.
Wash hands thoroughly with available soap and water before each diaper change and before each feeding. Teach and practice with children handwashing before eating and after toileting, and brushing teeth following proper hand washing sequence: wet hands, add liquid soap, wash for 20 seconds (or sing the Happy Birthday song twice), rinse, dry hands, and turn off water using paper towel.
Surfaces like doorknobs and kitchen countertops, or the refrigerator door handle should be cleaned daily with a solution that has a high level of bleach, or at least 70% alcohol. The good news is most disinfectants in the store have this level of bleach or alcohol. Another way to make sure germs are not being spread in the home is to wear gloves when cleaning and if possible, dispose of the gloves every day.
This is a stressful time, but there are steps adults can take to remain mentally strong. Remember, adults are role models for children. How parents handle this stressful health crisis can affect how children manage their concerns. Research shows just being in the presence of a compassionate, safe adult can help children calm down. At home, try to be “that person” for them.
That means getting up at the same time every day, taking a shower, getting dressed and eating on a regular schedule. It is also very important, with children at home, to maintain not only a sense of calm, but also a sense of control during this very uncertain and challenging time. A great idea is to wake up every morning and while still in bed think about three things to be grateful for and take five slow, deep breaths. It helps to keep the family engaged in fun and meaningful activities consistent with family and cultural values. Be sure to include young children as participants. For example, reading, watching movies, listening to music, playing games, exercising, or engaging in religious activities. Keep your children and family’s schedule consistent when it comes to bedtimes, meals, and exercise.
There are fun ways to break the routine of life, such as holding a picnic on the living room floor or setting up a tent by using the living room or kitchen table and covering it with large sheets. It is also fun to, dress up and dance like lions, elephants, monkeys, etc. Making time to cuddle with young children while reading books or looking at pictures is a simple and meaningful activity for the entire family. Fun is the goal not perfection.
Maintaining physical activity during this time is important for everyone Exercise is transformational for the brain, cognition, focus and is known to be a mood booster. We also know exercise is great for the immune system and important for maintaining mental health. There are many dance and exercise videos available online through various platforms Dance to the songs your children love and introduce them to new ones. Be creative and try something new!
Many grocery stores may be overcrowded, depleted of supplies or are far away from home, so stocking up on food as much as possible is a great idea. Maintaining a healthy diet right now is more important than ever. We encourage you to eat immune-boosting foods such as fruits and vegetables that are also high in antioxidants and foods that have omega-3 fatty acids such as fish. We also encourage freezing food and looking for frozen food options.
These are just a few tips to help maintain a healthy, safe and fun routine during this unprecedented time.
Additional Resources:
Beginning August 1, 2025, the Council is implementing a new exam-first approach for the CDA credentialing process. This change enhances standardization and streamlines the process, allowing candidates to demonstrate their expertise in a structured manner....
The month of June is rich with purpose and powerful reminders for those of us who support young children and their families. We celebrate National Safety Month, Family Health and Fitness Day, World Environment Day,...
Do you want to widen your career options in the early learning field and work with more than one age group of children? Many educators do, and the Council is giving you a new way...
The Council for Professional Recognition is proud to present the Child Development Professional™ (CDP) concept paper—presenting a bold vision for a nationally recognized credential to elevate early childhood education (ECE) by expanding professional pathways beyond...
The month of May is a time of heartfelt gratitude and thoughtful reflection. Not only is it the month we honor mothers, but we also celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9), Teacher Appreciation Day (May...
At the Council for Professional Recognition, we celebrate April as the Month of the Military Child—a time to recognize the resilience, adaptability, and global perspective that military-connected children carry with them throughout their lives. These...
A Shared Responsibility in Protecting Children Children’s well-being has always been the focus of attention in the early childhood field. However, the abuse and neglect of children remains a threat in our country. At the...
The Early Educators Leadership Conference (EELC) is an opportunity for ECE leaders to network and learn from one another. During EELC 2024, the Council engaged several trailblazers in the field to discuss the importance of...
March 2025 marks a milestone for the Council for Professional Recognition’s 40th anniversary. While we recognize early childhood educators’ invaluable contributions every day, this month is an opportunity to highlight key milestones, share inspiring stories,...
Vice President of Strategic Alliances
Elisa Shepherd is the Vice President of Strategic Alliances at the Council, where she leads initiatives to advance the Council’s mission and strategic plan through designing, managing, and executing a comprehensive stakeholder relationship strategy.
With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education (ECE), Elisa has dedicated her career to developing impactful programs, professional development opportunities, and public policies that support working families, young children, and ECE staff. Before joining the Council, Elisa held numerous roles within the childcare industry. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President at The Learning Experience and as Senior Manager at KinderCare Education, where she influenced government affairs and public policies across 40 states.
Elisa’s commitment to leadership is reflected in her external roles on the Early Care and Education Consortium Board of Directors, the Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Trustees, and as the DEI Caucus Leader for KinderCare Education. She has been recognized as an Emerging Leader in Early Childhood by Childcare Exchange’s Leadership Initiative.
Elisa earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a focus on child development from Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA.
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
Vice President of People and Culture
Janie Payne is the Vice President of People and Culture for the Council for Professional Recognition. Janie is responsible for envisioning, developing, and executing initiatives that strategically manage talent and culture to align people strategies with the overarching business vision of the Council. Janie is responsible for driving organizational excellence through strategic talent practices, orchestrating workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management as well as a myriad of other Human Resources Programs. She is accountable for driving effectiveness by shaping organizational structure for optimal efficiency. Janie oversees strategies that foster a healthy culture to include embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.
In Janie’s prior role, she was the Vice President of Administration at Equal Justice Works, where she was responsible for leading human resources, financial operations, facilities management, and information technology. She was also accountable for developing and implementing Equal Justice Works Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy focused on attracting diverse, mission-oriented talent and creating an inclusive and equitable workplace environment. With more than fifteen years of private, federal, and not-for-profit experience, Janie is known for her intuitive skill in administration management, human resources management, designing and leading complex system change, diversity and inclusion, and social justice reform efforts.
Before joining Equal Justice Works, Janie was the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Global Communities, where she was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of integrated HR and diversity strategies. Her work impacted employees in over twenty-two countries. She was responsible for the effective management of different cultural, legal, regulatory, and economic systems for both domestic and international employees. Prior to Global Communities, Janie enjoyed a ten-year career with the federal government. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she held key strategic human resources positions with multiple cabinet-level agencies and served as an advisor and senior coach to leaders across the federal sector. In these roles, she received recognition from management, industry publications, peers, and staff for driving the creation and execution of programs that created an engaged and productive workforce.
Janie began her career with Verizon Communications (formerly Bell Atlantic), where she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility, where she directed a diversity program that resulted in significant improvement in diversity profile measures. Janie was also a faculty member for the company’s Black Managers Workshop, a training program designed to provide managers of color with the skills needed to overcome barriers to their success that were encountered because of race. She initiated a company-wide effort to establish team-based systems and structures to impact corporate bottom line results which was recognized by the Department of Labor. Janie was one of the first African American women to be featured on the cover of Human Resources Executive magazine.
Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
Read our monthly e-newsletter and keep up to date on all Council programs and services, as well as the latest news in the world of early care and education. Subscribe today to stay connected with us. You’ll receive timely information on events, webinars, special promotions, and more.
