Early Care and Education Resources

What's included

CDC and other organizations have developed tools and resources to promote healthy growth and prevent obesity in Early Care and Education (ECE) settings. States, communities, ECE providers, and public health practitioners can use these materials to support these efforts.

State and community resources

Gold bar with a circle in the middle. Inside the circle is a drawing of a playground slide.

Strategies for Early Care and Education

State and local organizations can affect the health of millions of children in care and education.
Differently colored circles from CDC's Spectrum of Opportunities Framework. Components of the Spectrum of Opportunities Framework are explained in the PDF on this page.

Spectrum of Opportunities Framework

Using this framework can strengthen Early Care and Education (ECE) policies and activities.
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Obesity Prevention Efforts Targeting the Early Care and Education Setting: Quick Start Action Guide

The Quick Start Action Guide presents an overview of the Spectrum of Opportunities framework and a s...
Children running outside in an open field.

What Others Are Doing

Read success stories about healthy growth and obesity prevention in early care and education (ECE).
image of four infants in diapers

High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards

This page describes the 47 high-impact obesity prevention standards for Early Care and Education. 

Data and surveillance

image of two children playing on playground slide

ECE State Indicator Report

The 2023 report documents how states promote obesity prevention in early care and education (ECE).
Image of a young girl on a swing

State Licensing Scorecards

See how well each state's childcare licensing supports obesity prevention.
Child playing on a slide from the cover of the 2022 Achieving a State of Healthy Weight report.

Achieving a State of Healthy Weight Report

Data on 47 obesity prevention standards and their inclusion in early care and education licensing.

ECE program resources

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Breastfeeding and Early Care and Education

This factsheet includes examples of state and community efforts to help ECE programs support breastf...
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Supporting Breastfeeding Families in Early Care and Education

Find information about how early care and education programs can support breastfeeding families
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Storage, Handling, and Preparation of Breast Milk in Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs

This resource has information about storage and preparation steps to maintain the safety and quality...
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Increasing Access to Drinking Water and Other Healthier Beverages in Early Care and Education Settings

Guide explains why your early education child care center or family child care home should serve wat...

Additional Resources

DNPAO Published Research

Bibliography of research published by CDC's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity staff. Learn mo...

Early Care and Education Portal

The early care and education (ECE) portal is an access point to all of the ECE related resources fro...

Association for State Public Health Nutritionists: Farm to ECE

Healthy Kids, Healthy Future

National Farm to School Network: Farm to ECE

Natural Learning Initiative: Outdoor Learning

Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC)

Penn State Better Kid Care Professional Development Courses

US Department of Agriculture: Child and Adult Care Food Program

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)