269 2 9 Chapter 11 Promoting Children’s Safety
Provide a Safe
Environment
Closely observing children
and setting safety rules for them
to obey helps create a safe center.
This is only part of the process. You
must also keep watch for hazardous
situations. Toys, equipment, electrical
appliances, hot water, and cleaning
supplies can pose danger to children.
Center vehicles and the building itself
can also be hazardous to children.
Toys and Materials
A teacher’s first job regarding fi
toy safety is to choose items wisely.
Picking safe toys and materials greatly
reduces the risk of serious injury.
Selection is just the start,
however. As a teacher, you must
supervise children using the toys.
Children often use toys in ways for
which they were not designed. While
most times this play is harmless,
sometimes you must step in for safety
reasons. For instance, a wooden
mallet for use with a pegboard might
be dangerous if children use it to hit
each other. A metal toy car can be
used safely for driving on the floor. fl
This same car poses a safety risk if
thrown, however. You must teach
children about safe toy use and
repeat safety limits often. Be firm but fi
pleasant when enforcing the limits.
Remember, a toy can be safe for
one child, but dangerous for another.
Accidents can occur when children
use toys that are too advanced for
them. For instance, five-year-old fi
children love to play with large
marbles. These same marbles are a
choking hazard for younger children.
Check toys frequently for safety.
To illustrate, check the seams of cloth
toys for tearing and weak threads.
C C C Child care teachers should use safety straps
when w available on outside equipment.
C
w
11-2
Surve ey the areas in the school S
ch hi ldren access and then that
docum me nt any possible hazards d
they could en nc ounter. This may include th ey cou
slippery walk kw ays, loose fl ooring materials,
equipment meant for older children,
dangers in the parking areas, landscape
plants, and w we ed treatments. What
changes could be made to make the areas
safe or reduc ce the hazards? Would child
care centers not associated with a high
school progra am be subject to the same
types of haza ar ds?
Workplace Connections Workplace Connections
Previous Page Next Page