Do you have a routine for keeping your children’s area clean? Danielle Margarida, Youth Services Coordinator at the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, has compiled this list of resources for cleaning and sanitizing toys, manipulatives, spaces, etc.

• Cleaning, Sanitizing,  and Disinfection  Frequency Table (PDF)
  Document from the  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) outlining when and how to clean early childhood environments.
• Green Cleaning Toolkit for Early Care and Education
  From the EPA, includes information about when to clean vs. sanitize vs. disinfect and how to select appropriate non-toxic cleaning products. Also provides recommendations on when to use bleach and the dilution ratio.
• Cleaners, Sanitizers & Disinfectants
  From the American Academy of Pediatrics, offers guidelines for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing objects and surfaces.
• Best Practices for Cleaning Play and Learn Spaces
  ALSC blog post providing an overview of cleaning toys and children’s areas.

Guidance on non-toxic cleaning products:

• Environmental Working Group
• Green Seal

Additional Resource for Kids & Families:

• Kid Friendly Explanation of the Coronavirus
  Comic that includes information from healthcare experts interviewed for an NPR story. Can also be printed and folded into a zine.