Early Childhood
Yavapai County
Nature Ninos
Nature Niños is a free community program for families with children ages 0-8 in the Greater Prescott Area. Park rangers and community partners lead child-centered nature play events that includes take-home freebies, creative nature activities, story time, scavenger hunts, guided walks, lessons, imaginary play, and more.
2023 / 2024 Schedule of Dates and Locations
Note: The January event has been moved from January 6th to January 13th.
Preventing Illness in Yavapai County
With the colder weather arriving (and kids back in school after the summer), the flu, Covid 19, and other illnesses are on the rise. One of the easiest and best ways we can prevent illness in our community is by washing our hands. And one place where that is especially important is in our early childhood centers. We all know infants, toddler, and preschoolers get germs everywhere and pass them along to their friends and family. So what better way to prevent illness in the community as a whole than by focusing on helping these youngsters learn when and how to properly wash their hands!
Child Care Health Consultants, Iris Higgins and Michelle Buenafe, have been visiting early childhood centers in Yavapai County that are part of the Quality First program and leading handwashing activities with the preschool classrooms. Iris and Michelle are teaching them all about germs and when and how to wash their hands. The children love finishing up their handwashing practice by drawing pictures of germs. These pictures were all drawn at the Camp Verde Head Start in the preschool classrooms and the children were very proud of their work!
Iris and Michelle hope that as the children learn more about handwashing and how to really get their hands clean, the children, staff, families, and our greater community will all experience the health benefits of preventing illness through handwashing.
Resources for Child Care Centers
Basic Safety Tips
Nutrition
Sun Safety
Physical Activity
Oral Health
Child Care Health Consultants
First Things First
Resources for Parents
Injury Prevention
- Safe Sleep
- Car Seat Safety - Injury Prevention Basic Tips
- Water Safety - Facts About Drowning Pool Safety Boating Safety
- Keeping Kids Safe Around Garage and Shop Equipment