This handbook gives Arkansas child care providers current information on child and caregiver health, child illness, and development. The 16 chapters are: (1) "Child Growth and Development," on typical development from birth through 6 years; (2) "Children's Health Histories, Physical Exams and Immunizations," including immunization requirements and regulations for reporting communicable diseases; (3) "Nutrition," focusing on balanced diets; (4) "WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)," describing this nutrition program; (5) "Dental Health," with a focus on preventive dental care for young children; (6) "Preparing, Handling and Storing Food," including guidelines for purchasing food; (7) "Preventing Injuries," dealing with both indoor and outdoor areas; (8) "Preventing Illness," on procedures to prevent the spread of illness, guidelines for excluding children from child care, and typical infant illness; (9) "Preventing Communicable Diseases," describing for each communicable disease its symptoms, incubation and communicable periods, treatment, and prevention; (10) "Quick Guide to Communicable Diseases Chart," outlining for 21 diseases their incubation and communicable periods, symptoms, minimum isolation periods, and control measures; (11) "Regulations Relating to Spread of Disease," describing Arkansas' day care regulations; (12) "Reporting Communicable Diseases," outlining reportable diseases; (13) "HIV/AIDS Infection Control," providing a sample AIDS policy; (14) "First Aid in Emergencies," detailing first aid procedures; (15) "Child Maltreatment," presenting Arkansas' laws and reporting statute, and information on various types of maltreatment; and (16) "Protecting Health of Child Care Providers," including precautions for pregnant providers and preventing injury and illness. (KB)