2 26 8 8 Part Two Creating a Safe and Healthful Environment
Maintain Minimum
Adult-Child Ratios
Adult-child ratio relates
directly to safety. A classroom
should never have fewer adults
than required by state law for its
age level and group size. Having
more adults than the minimum is
even safer. These extra adults can
step in quickly to protect children
when unsafe situations arise.
At least the minimum number
of staff members set by your state’s
licensing rules must be present at all
times. Failure to comply may result
in the center’s license being revoked
or a citation indicating the center
was not in compliance. Remember,
too, if a child is injured and staff/
child ratios are not being met, center
staff may be held liable.
Develop Safety Limits
Limits are guides to actions and
behaviors that reflect the goals of fl
a program. Limits have also been
called rules. The most important
limits set by early childhood teachers
involve safety issues. These limits
protect the children in the classroom.
Make safety limits clear, simple, and
easy for children to understand.
Some typical safety limits include:
Walk indoors. Do not run.
Use blocks for building, not for
hitting.
Wipe up spills right away.
Tell the teacher when
equipment breaks.
Always fasten your seat belt
when riding in the center’s van.
Always use safety straps on
equipment when available, 11-2.
Climb the ladder to go up the
slide. Do not walk up the slide
from the bottom.
Wear a helmet when riding bikes.
Remind children about the
limits. Otherwise, they may forget
or ignore them. For example,
Eino may walk in front of moving
swings. When this happens, say,
“Eino, walk around the swings,
not in front of them.” Usually, this
reminder will redirect a child. If
Eino still fails to comply, you may
have to say, “Eino, you need to stay
away from moving swings.” Do not
allow anyone to continue swinging
until Eino moves a safe distance
away from the swings.
Teach children to wipe up spills
promptly. Always keep paper towels
within the children’s reach. When
children forget to wipe up a spill,
remind them. Likewise, it’s important
to praise children who remember.
Say, “Gerald, thank you for wiping
up that spill. Now no one will slip
and fall.” Praise will encourage all
the children to remember the limits.
In time, you may hear the children
remind each other of the limits.
Write a letter to parents explaining W
preschool r classroom limits and the
rules. Ask for parental support and r
encourageme en t in going over the limits encoura
with children at home. Some suggestions
include asking the child why he or she
thinks there needs n to be a particular rule.
Ask parents t to compare the limits and
rules that might g be in effect at home with
the ones followed o in the classroom. Your
teacher will re ev iew the letters in class and
decide which one will actually be sent
home with the e children.
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