1. It's A Jungle Out There... Minimizing Hazards in the Child Care Setting
ALINDA T. UZEL, EXTENSION AGENT
Family & Human Development
Planning District 18
SUPERVISOR,
InterCounty Childcare Connection

2. Fundamental Resources for Children
An Ongoing Relationship with a Caring Adult
SAFE PLACES TO LEARN AND GROW - with high expectations
An Opportunity to Participate
This applies to home, school AND community!
(Establishes a network of protective factors)

3. What Should a Good Play Area Do?
Encourage play by offering:
Stimulate the child’s senses through:
inviting, easy access
open, flowing and relaxed spaces
clear movement from indoors to outdoors
appropriate equipment for the age group(s) using it
changes and contrasts in scale, lighting, texture and color
flexible equipment
diverse experiences

4. Nurture the child’s curiosity through:
Support the child’s basic social and physical needs by being:
Equipment that the child can change and manipulate
materials for experiments and construction
plants and pets
A comfort to the child
scaled to the child
physically challenging

5. SAFE PLACES TO LEARN AND GROW
As an owner/operator, director, teacher or play supervisor in a child care home or center, it is imperative you take every precaution to make your facility as safe as possible.

6. “SAFE” does not mean “accident proof’; it means “hazard free.”

7. What is a HAZARD??? a condition which a child would not be able to
perceive as having the
potential for harm.

8. How do you assess the hazards and risks in your childcare setting?
Pretend you are a child and move through your facility (inside and out) on the child’s level!

9. WHAT MAKES A PLAY AREA S A F E?
SUPERVISION
AGE APPROPRIATE
FALL SURFACING
EQUIPMENT MAINTAINED

10. S = SUPERVISION
CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS BE SUPERVISED BY AN ADULT IN THE PLAYGROUND ENVIRONMENT (What does this mean?)

11. A = AGE APPROPRIATE DESIGN
PLAYGROUNDS SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO THAT THERE IS A SEPARATION BETWEEN AREAS FOR AGES 2-5 AND 5-12.

12. F = FALL SURFACE
APPROPRIATE FALL SURFACE MATERIALS (CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISION HANDBOOK)
MAINTAIN PROPER DEPTH UNDER AND AROUND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
USE ZONES AROUND ALL STATIONARY EQUIPMENT. (DIFFERENT FOR SWINGS AND SLIDES)

13. E = EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
HAVE A PLAN FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION AND REPAIR (Whose responsibility?)
THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AGE OF EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE.

14. WHAT OTHER SAFETY and HEALTH HAZARD AREAS SHOULD YOU BE WATCHING FOR IN YOUR FACILITY?
General Indoor Areas
Toys and Equipment
Hallways and Stairs
Kitchen and Food Preparation and Storage Areas
Bathrooms
Water Play
Vehicles

15. Do you let your children swim in a toilet?
You are if you use a wading pool .
3/4 teaspoons bleach to 50 gallons of water - for 1 child
Suggestion:
Sprinklers, hoses or other water fun activities (Water Daisy)

16. What about the Sandbox? Remove toys and debris
Add 3 Tablespoons bleach to a gallon of water in a sprinkling can
Sprinkle generously over the sand
Let dry

17. How can you make a SWING more safe?
DESIGN APPROPRIATE TO AGE
PROPER SUPERVISION
ADEQUATE FALL SURFACE MATERIAL
PROTECTION FOR HANDS FROM ROPES AND CHAINS
COVER WITH TUBING OR OLD HOSE SPLIT DOWN CENTER

18. PLAY IS ESSENTIAL TO A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT
PHYSICAL SKILLS - Reach, Grasp, Crawl, Run, Climb and Balance
LANGUAGE - by interaction with others - evolves
SOCIAL SKILLS - Cooperation, Negotiation, Taking Turns, Playing by Rules
PROBLEM-SOLVING/CRITICAL THINKING
EMOTIONAL - Positive Play Experiences allow feelings of Success and Capability
BY ALLOWING PLAY TO OCCUR IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SETTING, YOU ARE PROVIDING A FIRM BASE FOR A CHILD’S FUTURE SUCCESS.

19. An Ongoing Relationship with a Caring Adult
SAFE PLACES TO LEARN AND GROW - with high expectations
An Opportunity to Participate
TURNS THE “JUNGLE OUT THERE”
INTO A WARM, LOVING SAFE PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW!!!
Thank you for your dedication to providing quality, safe care for our children!!!