Promoting Children’s Safety

Safety Objectives Supervise children at all times Maintain at least the minimum adult-child ratio as required in the state Develop safety limits (i.e. walk in doors, use blocks for building, not hitting) Practice fire safety

Safety Objectives, cont’d Develop plans for weather emergencies Control building security and check building for safety hazards (i.e. broken windows) Know safety procedures for accidental poisoning Recognize signs of child abuse and report any known or suspected cases

Safety Objectives, cont’d Teach children how to protect themselves from assault Provide a safe environment Closely observing kids and setting safety rules for them to obey helps create a safe center Select appropriate toys and equipment

Selecting Toys Determine children’s needs, interests, and abilities Developmentally appropriate toys can reduce the number of injuries Follow guidelines for choosing educational toys . . .

Guidelines for Selecting Toys Classroom toys should reflect program goals Ex. If a program goal is to have children develop language skills, then language materials should be placed in the classroom Stay within the center’s budget

Guidelines for Selecting Toys, cont’d Consider if toys will add balance to items already available Keep in mind the space and storage needed for items Consider number of staff available for supervision Think about the maintenance and durability of equipment

Guidelines for Selecting Toys, cont’d Choose toys that actively involve children Purchase the appropriate quantity Select nonsexist and multicultural materials

Playground Equipment Plan the play yard with safety in mind Select safe play yard equipment Evaluate existing equipment, make needed upkeep and repairs