Responsibilities of Childcare Providers

Provide Love and Understanding It is crucial that a responsible caregiver understands and loves children. In turn, he/she is usually liked by children. At the start, some people have a greater aptitude for these qualities, but one can learn to understand children by observation and study.

Provide a safe environment Good caregivers are safety-conscious and make every effort to protect the children they are responsible for from accidents. The safety-minded individual is alert to unusual as well as obvious dangers. He/she can quickly decide how to respond to potential dangerous situations

Ten Tips for Safety Never leave a small child alone at any time. Keep the child away from electrical equipment or hot objects. Keep gates closed or have a barrier across the top of stairs. Keep dangerous objects out of children’s reach.

Ten Tips for Safety Teach children how to use their toys safely. Teach children to pick up their toys when they are finished playing with them. Teach children to stay out of the street. If children leave their toys out they are a safety hazard as they can be stepped on, or tripped over

Ten Tips for Safety Do not let children run around with sharp objects in their mouths. Do not let them play with plastic bags they could suffocate Keep children away from water unless supervised constantly.

Know Emergency Procedures

Emergency Guide Choking: Children less than a year old – Place the child face down over your arm and tap the child four times between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Children older than a year old – Do the Heimlich Maneuver. Small children should not be allowed to play with toys smaller than would fit in a toilet paper roll. If it fits in it they could choke. . Choking Children less than a year old – Place the child face down over your arm and hit the child four times between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Children older than a year old – Do the Heimlich Maneuver. Fractures/Sprains For a fracture - Check for pain or swelling. Do not move! Call 911. For a sprain, apply cold compresses, and elevate the injured part. Convulsions Protect the child from injury. Place the child on his/her side with the head lower than the hips. Do not put anything in the child’s mouth. Call the doctor or 911. Animal Bites Wash the wound with soap and water and call the doctor. Locate and identify the animal for possible rabies. Nosebleeds Sit the child down. Squeeze his/her nostrils between your thumb and index finger for at least 5 minutes. Do not tip the head backwards as the child may choke on blood. If the bleeding will not stop, call the doctor.

Nosebleeds: Sit the child down. Have them lean their head forward Nosebleeds: Sit the child down. Have them lean their head forward. Squeeze his/her nostrils between your thumb and index finger for at least 5 minutes. Do not tip the head backwards as the child may choke on blood. If the bleeding lasts for more than 20 minutes, the nosebleed follows an accident, a fall or an injury to your head see a doctor

Skin Wounds: For bruises, apply cold compresses for 30 minutes Skin Wounds: For bruises, apply cold compresses for 30 minutes. For cuts, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth until the bleeding stops. Wash with soap and water and put on a bandage. If the cut is large or deep, keep up the pressure and call 911. For puncture wounds, wash with soap and water and call the doctor. Do not try to remove large objects Poisoning: Decide exactly what was taken and how much. Know the child’s age and weight. Take the bottle of poison with you to the phone, if possible. Call Poison Control Center or 911. Burns: Place the burn under cool running water or cover with a towel soaked in cold water Skin Wounds For bruises, apply cold compresses for 30 minutes. For cuts, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth until the bleeding stops. Wash with soap and water and put on a bandage. If the cut is large or deep, keep up the pressure and call 911. For puncture wounds, wash with soap and water and call the doctor. Do not try to remove large objects. Poisoning Decide exactly what was taken and how much. Know the child’s age and weight. Take the bottle of poison with you to the phone, if possible. Call Poison Control Center or 911. Insect Stings Remove the stinger by scraping it with your fingernail. Do not pull it out. Once it is removed, apply a cold compress. Check for allergic reactions and if so, call 911. Burns Place the burn under cool running water or cover with a towel soaked in cold water. For burns deep burns, call 911. Head Injuries Check for unconsciousness, drowsiness, convulsions, inability to move any body part, severe headache and oozing of blood or water from the ears or nose. Call the doctor.

Child Abuse

Types of Child Abuse Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Emotional Abuse Neglect Physical - Any injury or wound that is inflicted on the child with intention Sexual - It is defined as any act of sex between a child and an adult. Psychological - Any attitude, talk or expression that is demeaning and degrading for your child falls in this category. If your child has been screamed at, called names or called inferior to other children, he is a victim of emotional abuse. Any kind of emotional abuse has a long-lasting effect on the all round development of your child. Neglect - If the basic needs and requirements of a child are not being fulfilled, he is a victim of neglect. If a child does not get proper affection, care, food, clothing, medicine or supervision, he can be called a neglected child.

Physical - Any injury or wound that is inflicted on the child with intention Sexual - It is defined as any act of sex between a child and an adult. Psychological - Any attitude, talk or expression that is demeaning and degrading for your child falls in this category. If your child has been screamed at, called names or called inferior to other children, he is a victim of emotional abuse. Any kind of emotional abuse has a long-lasting effect on the all round development of your child. Neglect - If the basic needs and requirements of a child are not being fulfilled, he is a victim of neglect. If a child does not get proper affection, care, food, clothing, medicine or supervision, he can be called a neglected child.

Signs of Child Abuse Unexplained bruises, welts, burns, fractures that repeatedly occur. Hostile and aggressive, withdrawn, poor self-image. Begging or steeling food, constant fatigue, failing to attend school

Prevention of Child Abuse Strengthen the family through: Communication skills Decision making skills Conflict resolution skills Encourage family members to develop: Develop self-esteem Self-acceptance Self-control Professional family counselor