This workshop provides childcare professionals with a foundational understanding of sanitary practices, infection prevention, health protection, and hygiene standards within early learning and childcare environments. Designed as the first step in a broader health and safety training series, this workshop introduces participants to the essential principles, procedures, and professional responsibilities that support the health and well-being of children, families, and educators.

Participants will be introduced to the role sanitary practices play in reducing the spread of illness, preventing infection, maintaining regulatory compliance, and creating safe learning environments. The workshop explores the connection between sanitation, public health, child development, and professional accountability, emphasizing the educator's role in implementing consistent health and safety practices throughout the day.

The course provides an overview of daily and outbreak-level sanitization procedures, including the differences between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting and when each process should be applied. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of infection-prevention strategies, environmental hygiene practices, documentation requirements, and risk-reduction measures that support safe childcare operations.

Participants will also be introduced to key areas of sanitary practice including toy and material sanitization, food safety and mealtime hygiene, hand hygiene procedures, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), diapering and toileting practices, handling soiled clothing, illness prevention, and health protection protocols. The workshop highlights how these practices work together to support children's physical health while also promoting the development of lifelong hygiene habits and healthy routines.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have developed a strong foundational understanding of sanitation, infection prevention, and hygiene practices that will support their success throughout the remainder of the training program and within their professional practice. Participants will gain an appreciation for the fact that sanitary practice is not simply a task to be completed, but a professional responsibility that is central to maintaining safe, healthy, and high-quality early learning environments.