Health is the primary prerequisite to school readiness and social competence because it provides the foundation from which children can grow, develop, and learn. A child who is sick, tired, hungry, under emotional stress, or in an unsafe environment is at a serious disadvantage. His or her energy for thinking, playing, learning, and relating to others is sapped, leaving him or her at risk for additional problems. The more that we can do to prevent health problems, intervene early, and provide an ongoing model of health and safety, the more likely it is that the children in our care will enter school ready to learn and succeed in all areas of development. Full text» [PDF, 1.58MB]